Chapter 30
Rachna held the crying woman in her arms, unsure how to proceed. Beside her Naomi stood with her camera having taken a few snapshots of the bride to be in her finery. The young woman in question walked over and pulled her mother out of Rachna's arms. "Mother, please calm down, it's getting embarrassing now." The woman took a shuddering breath, before reaching into her purse, extracting a handkerchief to mop her tears. "Oh Rachna, Shryia is a vision in your creations. Her insistence on getting you to design was the very best choice."
"I'm truly honored that you think that Mrs. Mehta. It has been a pleasure designing for Shryia." She turned to the young woman. "So Shryia, I know that your mother is happy, but I haven't heard from you. Has everything met your expectations?" The young woman nodded, suddenly too full to answer herself. Rachna stepped to her and gave her a quick hug. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity."
"You have to come to the wedding, I want everyone to meet you," the young woman exclaimed suddenly.
Rachna laughed, "Truly I would love to, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to due to work commitments, but thank you so very much for the invite. Please let me congratulate you now, and to wish you a happy married life. Although, If I may, I do have one request."
"Anything Rachna."
"I would love to receive a photo of you and your husband on your wedding day. Obviously I have those Naomi has taken already, but I would love have one from your special day. If it's alright with your husband, perhaps we can post it on our website."
"Of course, that is a given, Rachna; I have no problem in claiming my spot as Banaras Beauty's first client. And once he sees me..." motioning that her fianc would be putty in her hands, the women laughed making sport of the foibles of a man in love.
Seeing off her clients, Rachna returned to the studio, and sighed in contentment. She looked over to where Naomi remained, and began to reprimand her. "No Naomi...no, don't you dare start crying, because that will start me off, and I have a new client to meet in just a couple of hours. Plus I'm not going to be the one to explain to Rajeev why you look so pitiful today."
Attempting to laugh off Rachna's comment, Naomi sobbed, "I can't help it, and he will just have to understand that I have puffy eyes because of you, Rachna. I am so proud of you, you can't imagine how much!" Rachna herself had to wipe her eyes. "It's so wonderful Naomi. To know that my design is what she chose for probably one of the important days of her life, well it's just an amazing feeling. Oh look at us, we're hopeless."
"No offence Rachna, but if this is the reaction a stranger gets what is going to happen when you have to design for me?"
Rachna passed the tissue box to her friend first, and then took a couple for herself. "Well first and foremost, an endless supply of tissues will be a must." Naomi nodded in agreement.
"Pari, Pari where are you?"
Rachna looked up from her sketch on hearing the little voice echoing just outside her workspace. She faced the door as it opened and saw the little boy stick his head in. "Pari, are you in here?"
"Sanjay, beta, Pari isn't home right now, but shouldn't you be in the nursery anyway?"
"Daadi is cleaning up Aryia, she made a big mess." He conveyed what sort of mess by holding his nose. "So I left."
Rachna covered her mouth to contain her laughter, and then cleared her throat. "Ah well, yes little ones like Aryia do tend to make those sort of messes." She waited to see what would happen next. Following with her eyes, Sanjay's examination of her space, she was surprised when he came over to her desk. Considering his timidity around her this was definitely an unexpected move. "Do you make pretty clothes like Papa does too?" Rachna nodded. "I do, just like Papa does, I sketch them and color them, and then make them with fabric afterwards. Would you like to see the drawing I'm working on?" She smiled when he nodded, and picked him up and put him in the chair she had just vacated. She lowered the sketch paper to him. "See this is what I've been working on. What do you think?"
"It's pretty."
"Thank you Sanjay, so what is that you have in your hand?"
The little boy's downturned face pulled at her heartstrings. "I finished Rajeev uncle's place. I wanted to show Pari, but she's not home."
"Well I'm sure that she is sad to have missed seeing this. Maybe you can show me and I can tell her about it when she comes back." She listened solemnly and assured the young boy that she would explain everything to Pari and Rajeev once they got home. She was going over the design when they both heard the deep voice calling for Sanjay.
"Sanjay did you let Papa know you had left the nursery?" She could see his discomfort, even before he shook his head. "Is he going to be mad?"
"Nay Beta, that's Papa's worried voice, but you shouldn't have left without letting him know where you were going. You will have to say sorry to him for worrying him."
The door flew open allowing a frantic Kabir entrance. "Rachna have you seen..." He looked at the scene in front of him, his wife and son together.
"Sanjay came for a visit and we were just having a discussion on designs. Sanjay do you have something to tell your Papa?"
"Sorry Papa for leaving the nursery. I won't do it again."
Kabir nodded and came to collect the little boy. Before moving away he reached over to kiss his wife's furrowed brow, hoping to relieve her new worry over this turn of events. He noticed that Sanjay waved goodbye to Rachna on his own accord as they left, and along with his son, walked up the steps back to the nursery.
"Papa?"
"Aye Beta?"
"Aryia's mummy is not scary anymore."
"Beta, I don't think she ever was."
"Maybe one day she can play with us."
Naomi stood back to admire the area rug they had laid and the artwork that been hung on the adjacent wall. "Isn't it perfect, it just defines the space doesn't it?" Rajeev looked at her unsure. "Don't you think we are doing this backwards, Naomi, shouldn't we have the furniture first before this frivolous stuff?" Her look showed what she thought of his statement. Patiently she answered as if to a child. "Well considering your dining set will be delivered in a couple of days, then having the rug in place is good, since we will be able to set it in place, without having to worry about moving it again to lay the rug. And you should never, ever overlook a piece of art that calls to you. Trust me between these things will make the space once the table and chairs get in." He still looked unconvinced, so she continued. "Think of it like our relationship," she teased, "You are the furniture: sturdy, functional , good-looking" she winked at him , "You're just fine by yourself, but when you add the frivolous accessories' as you call it then that is what makes the furniture look even better which in turn completes the room. Does that make more sense now?"
"I see what you are saying, but there are a couple of holes in that theory." He held up one finger to emphasize his point. "First of all, I could never consider you just an accessory since you have far more worth than that. And secondly, accessories can be changed or discarded at a whim, and I'm pretty sure I would prefer to keep you for good. So your analogy isn't quite gelling with me."
She stepped into his arms, sighing at his words. "I never thought that furnishing your place would be so romantic. But really, Rajeev Agrawal, you do realize that talk like that will get you in so much trouble don't you?" He smiled at her. "Accha?"
She nodded, "Definitely, that sort of talk will have you talking to my parents, in particular my Dad far sooner than you would like to be."
"Thik hai." He stepped away from her, pulled his mobile out and passed it to her. "Dial the number. Personally, I would prefer to have done this in person, but if you insist."
She narrowed her eyes. "You know, I should call your bluff."
His expression may have been the height of mischievousness, as were his words, but the intent behind them another matter entirely. "I double dare you to call home, Naomi."
She took the coward's way out and kissed him instead, but he was more than willing to accept that for now.
Naomi stared as the pregnant woman entering the building did a double take at Rajeev, and then looked at her with a knowing smile. Confused as to what could have caused the reaction, she looked back at the woman only to see that she had paused to run her finger over her lips before turning away, chuckling to herself. "Oh God," Naomi muttered, realizing what the source of her amusement was. "Rajeev, stop!"
"Naomi, we're running late already, we don't have time..." He caught her around her waist as she rushed him, balancing her as she went up on her toes, reaching for his mouth. "Be that as it may, I'm certain this isn't a lesson our little hockey boys need learn just yet."
He turned his head to the lipstick stained tissue she held , finally noticing her smudged lips.
"Okay, I'm done. We can go now."
"That's too bad, I was just getting comfortable holding you." He laughed when she smacked him on the shoulder playfully. "Come on, " he said motioning to the car.
Witness to this little display, Abhi still couldn't believe that everything she had withheld from him, she now flaunted without hesitation. Rajeev's hands on her pert figure enraged him like nothing had. He would ensure the man's complete devastation before he was done. His call was short and to the point. "I'm in." He disconnected the line to make sure that they did not get too far ahead, and trailed their vehicle to their next destination.
He could only shake his head at the utter clumsiness on display, surely no one could that inept. Knowing that she had a photo-shoot ahead of her, he shouldn't have allowed her on the pitch for fear of injuring herself, but between her enjoyment and the confidence she was actually instilling in some of the youngest players he realized she was doing more good than not. Still a more ungainly sight would be hard to find. He sighed, when she completely missed the easiest of passes.
"I take this to be the infamous Pari?"
Following the sound of the voice, Rajeev turned, surprised to find the director of the NGO there. "Sir, this is unexpected."
"Well I thought it best to see what all the hoopla was about. She is quite the topic amongst the youngsters. Actually some of the stories were so unbelievable, that I decided to see if there is any truth to them."
"Sir if I thought it a problem, obviously I wouldn't allow her participation, but in all honesty there is actually some benefit to her being here."
"Oh don't misunderstand me Rajeev, I have seen the results you've speak of. I must confess that initially the thought was this was just a young woman vying for the attention of the hockey coach, but soon we noticed in the changes. For instance, the young lad who is demonstrating how she should hold the hockey stick, has progressed so much. He has gone from being a total introvert to interacting with his fellows on a regular basis. I'm not saying that the teamwork he is learning through sport isn't helping, but I would be remiss not to mention her part in his progress. Is her background in Child Studies perchance?"
"Not at all; I'm inclined to say that's just Pari being herself."
"Well that makes it and her a bit more remarkable then."
"I think she is pretty remarkable myself." He cringed as she stumbled again. "But she's no athlete that's for certain."
The Director laughed and agreed. "Would you mind introducing me to her?"
"You see Rajeev, someone sees the method behind my madness, and appreciates my efforts."
Holding the door for her, Rajeev let her enter the house before him. "Sweetheart I'm not saying that your efforts aren't being noted, but your prowess is just not on the field."
"Hey I may be no Rachna on the hockey field, but.."
"No you definitely aren't."
"Did I hear my name being called?"
"Hey Ra, how was your meeting with your new client?"
"It went really, well. We can talk about it later, but KT wanted me to let you know that he needed you in the studio as soon as you got back."
"Sure, I will go now, in the meantime you can let your coach know that he should be nicer to me."
"Actually Rajeev Sir, I needed to speak to you anyway." She smiled at his querying expression. "I've been asked to let you know that bunk-beds are a must for your new place. Apparently they are very good for sleepovers. Oh and you should definitely have a space for Naomi's computer since she has great computer games. I have the design plans if you wish to see them."
It had always had been a possibility, but still it was a shock to know that it was actually expected of her.
"I did my best, so the majority of the shoots will be done here, but they are insistent that at least a couple are done in New York, and after that will be launch of the new campaign." Kabir couldn't help but notice how stunned she appeared. "Naomi, are you okay?"
Forcing a smile Naomi nodded. "I'm fine KT. I mean you told me it could happen, so... anyway it won't be for a while yet. We still have our shoots to do here, and then what are we talking about ten days tops that we will be away? No everything is okay. What is that they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?"
That's what they say; I would say it's true for the most part."
She sighed, "Oh well, it is what it is. So travel buddy, what sort of mischief do you think we can get up to together in the Big Apple?"
Edited by crtkelly - 9 years ago
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