||Amorous|| #2 //Chapter-4 page-67// - Page 17

Chapter 2 - The After Effect.

Kriya called Vishakha as she caught a cab to her house. "Kameeni, how can you just leave me like that last night in that state?!"

Vishakha was fully confused. "What are you talking about? Swayam dropped you home!"

"Right, Swayam! Both of you left me there! I wake up to find myself in someone's house and in someone's bed. And JKR is home. I'm so dead!"

"Wait what? Where are you right now?"

"On my way home. Today I'm dead meat!"

"Want me to come by?"

"Nah. It's fine. If it gets out of control, I'll call. Chal, bye. And give that Swayam a beating from me please!"

Vishakha laughed. "Sure. Bye. Take care!"

Kriya took in a deep breath and calmed herself before entering the big gates of her huge house. She cautiously walked in hoping her mom would be asleep and she can sleep by. Much to her bad luck, she heard Smriti's voice just as she tried to climb up the stairs to her room.

"Aa gai madam ji? Aaiye, aap hi ka intezaar ho raha tha. Ye ghar thori na hai. Ye toh dharam shala hai na?"

Kriya shut her eyes and reopened them before turning to face her mother's wrath and her sarcasm that was hard to miss.

She started saying without waiting to take a breath. "Mom! Hey, so nice to see you! You know, you should blame Swayam and Vishakha! They left me there! And you know me na. I don't drive after I have had a little drink. Against the rule. How can I break any rules, right? So I just had to stay the night at the club. I'm so sorry. I promise it won't happen again. Please don't get mad now? You've just came back. You must be tired. I don't want to trouble you. How about you go rest and I'll fix us some lunch? Yea, okay, Bye! See you later."

She turned hastily hoping her words would startle Smriti for at least few seconds so she has the opportunity to slip by.

Next thing, she heard her say, "Not so fast!" Once again, Kriya cursed her luck. When Smriti didn't continue, Kriya knew she'd have to face her mother. She did and then she continued. "You're right. It won't happen again." Kriya looked at her confused. "Because you won't have the opportunity to."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning go to your room and don't come out. Enough of your careless behavior. You'll do what I say and as I say from now on. No going out for the month and absolutely away from boys. No questions asked."

"Swayam too?" She immediately asked. Smriti rolled her eyes. From everything she said, Kriya is worrying about Swayam? And not about the strict behavior?! God, save this girl! Seeing that Smriti was serious, Kriya pleaded. "Mom please! Swayam's my best friend since as long as I remember. I can't spend a day without him. Please, please, please!"

Silence followed for few seconds as Smriti made the decision. "Fine. Swayam and Vishakha are the only one who can keep you in check. So you can meet them. But no one else. Now go to your room and behave. I have work to do." Kriya lowered her head and started sulking up the stairs.

Smriti moved to dial a number. Kriya had only climbed a few steps when she heard her mom say, "Mrs. Sharma? Hi! Smriti Ghai here. You were talking about someone for Kriya, right?"

Hearing that, Kriya's eyes went wide and it almost looked like they would pop out any second. Someone? For me? Boy? Marriage? Is mom crazy?! All the thoughts ran in her head as she forgot the order of going to room and rushed down the stairs. As soon as phone call ended, Kriya showered her bucket of questions.

"Mom, a boy for me? Are you planning to get me married? Are you crazy? What are you doing? I'm just 20!"

"I told you, no questions. Bohut manmani ho gai tumhari. Ab meri baari. And I was married by the time I was 21! So don't you dare give me any lecture."

"21 na mumma. I'm just 20!"

"You'll be 21 in 3 weeks and trust me baby, I plan on getting you married before that."

"MOM!" She let out, fear getting the best of her. "You can't do this! I'm your daughter. Not the maid's daughter"

"Exactly. I'm your mother and I certainly can do this. You need to learn to be responsible and that'll only happen when you go live with those who do not know you. Getting married is just the thing you need right now and no one can stop me, understand? Now go to your room."

"Mom, no no no! You're wrong. Please! How can I marry?"

"Kriya, I said go to your room!" Smriti replied with authority. She turned to go and then stopped to add. "And yes, you will not meet with Vishakha or Swayam today. Don't let me catch you three plotting a plan. Am I clear?"

"Yes, mom." She replied with head hanging low. When Smriti left, Kriya rushed up to her room, tears being filled in her eyes. There was nothing she could do now. She probably could come up with a plan to stop this all. But she did not want to hurt her mother by doing this. Her whole life, the only person she loved is her mom and Smriti had given her everything she had ever asked for and even handled their whole business all by herself, after her dad's death. First time, Smriti wanted Kriya to do something and she simply did not have the heart to refuse. She wanted to talk to Vishakha. But she resisted the temptation.

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Rey woke up around 10 a.m. when his loudest friend entered his room and shook him up to wake up. "What is it Sharon? Let me sleep!"

"Get up you lazy a**" Sharon replied, shaking him again by his shoulder and showing her anger. Having no option to escape her, he had to get up minutes later. Just like Kriya, he held his head like it was throbbing inside. Sharon forwarded him a glass of lemon juice.

She sat down next to him and asked, "When it bothers you so much in mornings, why do you drink?" Rey drank the juice and did not reply. As usual. Sharon looked away, disappointed. She always asked him and he would never reply. Then she put up a smile and looked back at him.

"Get ready fast. Uncle and aunty seem mad for some reason."

"Uh-Oh." Rey replied and rushed to the washroom, not even remembering that he had brought in a girl last night. Just like Kriya, he had no memory of it. It was just like any other night for him and just waking up like any other day. Half an hour later, Rey walked into the main house and looked around to see if the coast was clear.

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He saw his parents sitting on the couch. He greeted them. "Hey mom. Hey dad. Good morning."

His mom gave him a weak smile while his dad completely ignored him and said coldly, "Rey, we need to have a talk."

Confused at his tone, he sat down opposite his father, wondering what he had done now. His dad continued, "How long will this go on? You're wasting your life away in parties and simply wasting the money and your talent. Look at all those trophies. All those dance trophies you've won. Why don't you get serious and take over the Dance Academy? It'll relieve me the pressure as well."

"Dad please… I've told you many times… I'm not interested. Yes, I love dancing. But I just don't want to treat it like business. It's my talent…my passion. I'm not going to 'sell' it." He said sell like it was a dirty word.

His dad was shocked. "Son, I'm not asking you to sell it! Many others like you who dream to become dancers but are not that good come over there from all over the world to learn dance. Teaching and selling are two different things! Dance is an art of feeling. It can't be sold! I'm simply asking you to help me take care of formalities and the housing while teaching those students a thing or two about dance that you do know."

"Dad… I don't know."

"I've been asking you nicely, not wanting you to force into anything. But you're going to have to take a decision and it better be yes. I'm not going to let you waste your life away anymore. Kashish, talk to your beloved son and make him understand. Or else if things go my way, neither of you will like it."

Saying so, Sujal got up and left. Rey looked up at Kashish, looking for answers. "What happened to him suddenly? What'd I do this time?"

"You brought a girl home last night, Rey." Rey was wide eyed, shocked.

"I did what?!" He asked even when he had clearly heard his mom.

"Yes… he saw her leave this morning. And Rey, this time, I have to say… I agree with him. We've let you do everything but you have to also respect our morals." Rey could understand what his mom was getting at. In his drunken state, he felt like he took advantage of another girl, which was not right of him to do. Even in conscious state, it wouldn't have been right.

"I'm sorry mom… I really don't remember anything… But please… explain to dad… he can't send me away to take care of the academy! It's not meant for me…"

"Then who is it for? Beta, ever since you were a kid, you've always talked about dancing. It was because of that that your dad worked so hard in building up this dance academy and now it's the top best over the world. It's all for you. Just imagine… You'll be surrounded by dancers and those who love dancing just like you all the time. What more could you ask for?"

"Mom… it's not that… You're not understanding…"

"Am I not?" Kashish asked getting up and speaking clearly without any sympathy. "Rey, like I said. This time I'm on your dad's side. You need to start taking responsibilities and if his way is the only way you'll learn, I won't be there to save you from him."

"And what exactly is his way?" Rey asked, getting up a bit irritated and feeling as if no one was understanding him.

"There are envelopes in the study. It's either academy or marriage. You decide." She said and left to go to her room and calm herself. It was the first time she had talked to her son in that tone and she hated that. But she also knew it was needed if her son was to learn anything.

While Rey stood there too shocked. Neither of the two things were something he wanted. If he chose academy, then he'd be in a place where he didn't belong. And he couldn't marry as it was a life time commitment that he wasn't ready to make! He walked back to him room where Sharon was waiting for him. Of course, she was scared of Sujal and would not come in front of him whenever he was home.

"What happened?" she asked. He simply looked at her, not even knowing where to begin.