RaBir FF -A Cast of Characters chapter 97/98 & Epilogue pg121/2 (4 - Page 33

Chapter 32

Kabir realized that Sonal would know their son's temperament better than he, but he still couldn't help but believe that he had been the unwitting participant in a contrived situation. Had he not been witness to Sanjay's moods previously, he probably could have accepted the interaction at face value. However in comparison to his recent behavior, the intensity of Sanjay's petulance had far outweighed the circumstance. His reaction to possibly not seeing his sister had manifested itself in a fit of temper Kabir would never have expected. His limited experience with his son had shown that once things were explained calmly to him, Sanjay had a fairly accepting nature. So from where this overwrought persona had manifested, Kabir couldn't say, but he could not help but think that Sonal was behind it somehow. Unfortunately due to his narrow involvement with his son, Kabir could only rely on his mother's guidance in dealing with this new side of Sanjay. After he submitted to his son's tearful demands to be able to visit Aryia , Kabir could not help but feel that the child's tears had been use to exploit the decision his mother had wanted. And it wasn't as if he could now go back on his word.

He had known that Sonal's manipulations knew no bounds, but it galled him that she would press this far and use their child in this manner to achieve some unknown goal. In his mind, the only reason he could think was her hope of entrapping Rachna into meeting Sanjay during his absence, and then using this against them in the future. But this was Sonal, so anything could be possible. He was furious that he had been so susceptible to her ploy. Glancing at his watch, he thought that he would have just enough time to contact their lawyer for advice after Naomi's fitting. Under no circumstances could he allow his family to be put at risk.

The assistant walked out of the dressing room her face worried. Fretfully she looked to her co-worker, who gestured back to her wondering what was wrong. She then looked at their boss. He wasn't in the best of moods at all today, and she knew what she would tell him would not help matters. She took a deep breath and walked over to KT's workstation.

"Um KT, Naomi..." She stopped when the designer looked up, her voice suddenly paralyzed by his impatient expression."

"Where is she; is she dressed?"

"Ah yes, but ... um she won't; I mean she can't come out."

"What?"

Kabir looked towards the dressing room and then back to his assistants. Today of all days he didn't need this, but knowing that Naomi was not one to give in to peevishness something had to be seriously wrong. He peered again at his watch. "Ladies, let's just end the day early. I'll see you all in the morning."

He sighed, as he watched his staff exit, wondering if he should call Rachna. She had mentioned at the last shoot that she thought that something was going on with their friend, but in the days since, he hadn't noticed anything out the ordinary and had thought no more of it. Now as he stood at the threshold of the dressing room, he realized just how well Naomi had been at hiding whatever issue she was dealing with. Dressed and ready for the fitting, she sat there staring into space, a steady stream of tears flowing down her face.

"Naomi?"

Her non-responsiveness made him cross the room to touch her shoulder gently.

"Naomi, are you okay; what is it?"

She looked up at him, sending a sad smile his direction. "Hey KT, just give me a second okay; I'll be right out." She smoothed her hands over the fabric of the dress she wore and looked up at him again.

"I really love this outfit KT; I swear it's one of the best you've ever designed." She laughed feebly. "But then again I think that of everything you design for me. Actually though, my first thought of this one was that even Rajeev wouldn't find too much fault with it since for all intents and purposes, I'm basically covered up." She released a shuddering breath before meeting KT's stare.

The designer watched, horrified as the flow of her tears increased.

"But then I thought why does it even matter if he likes it or not, since everything will probably be coming to an end soon."

Kabir was puzzled; he had seen no indication that she and Rajeev were having issues.

"Naomi, are talking about Rajeev moving out or is it something more than that?"

"Oh no, KT I think even that's workable now, although at the rate he's making decisions, he'll never finish furnishing his place." She shook her head. "Truthfully, I'll probably be gone for good, before he finally sorts himself out. I've never seen anyone so indecisive."

Well aware of the reasoning behind Rajeev's decision making difficulties, Kabir focused instead on what Naomi had disclosed.

"So you've decided to leave us, Naomi; when and more importantly, why?"

It's not by choice, but in all likelihood it seems I won't be returning with you after our trip. You see now that Rachna's work is over, and they are aware that I will be in America, my parents' subtle suggestions that I come home have become a bit more direct. They see no reason that I should return back to Banaras after the campaign launch especially when I will be already so close to home when we are in New York. They are not buying that there is a good enough excuse that makes the day or so in travelling to get back to Banaras being preferable to the ninety minute flight it will take to get me back home."

Kabir took a seat beside her accepting her head on his shoulder, and handed her his handkerchief. "Naomi, can I ask you a couple of personal questions?"

That got him a smile. "I only think that's fair since I'm practically in you and Ra's pockets most of the time."

He agreed. "That's very true." He put his arm around his friend. "Okay first of all, do your parents know about Rajeev?"

Her hesitation communicated her answer and he sighed. "Naomi, you should know from mine and Rachna's experience that non-disclosure is not an option."

"Well you guys didn't exactly have my track record do you?"

"And Rajeev is nothing like Abhi, but your parents will never know that if you don't at least let them know about him."

"And then what KT, my relatively new boyfriend is then put under the pressure of meeting his new girlfriend's parents, and convincing them that she should stay just in case he falls in love with her? If it was that I easy I would have called home when he dared me to the other day."

"He offered to speak to your parents?"

"It didn't mean anything; we were joking around at the time."

KT wasn't too sure about that, but moved on.

"I guess then, the answer to my next question is that Rajeev knows nothing of this either?" He felt her shake her head. "I see, so was the plan that you leave me to face his wrath not to mention my family's for that matter, when I returned home without you?"

"Of course not KT; I know I need to take care of this, but I'm so scared."

"Do you really think that convincing your parents will be that difficult to do?"

"I don't know, but what if it's all for nothing, he may not feel the same way I..." She closed her eyes and her shoulders sagged. "I love him, KT."

Aha, Kabir thought, here lay the crux of her problem.

"Does he know?"

Naomi pressed the palms of her hand hard against her eyes, hoping to stem her tears. She exhaled. "No he doesn't, which is why this is a situation I know I have to deal with on my own. You won't say anything to him right KT?""

"For now I won't, but honestly Naomi, I have to tell you that you are doing Rajeev a disservice by not telling him. And frankly you are letting these worries cloud your perception of what is really between the two of you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you are fretting unnecessarily when you should be concentrating on this fitting so you can wow him on the next shoot."

He was rewarded with a smile, and her agreement to get the fitting on its way.

It didn't take them long to complete, and soon Naomi had changed back into her clothes. Briefly they discussed the upcoming shoot and the third and final one which would happen shortly after. KT stopped her as she was preparing to leave. "Naomi, will you at least consider letting Rajeev know what is going on?" He smiled when at last she nodded. He wasn't certain that she would, but at least he could tell that she was more assured about the entire situation. "And just for clarification, Naomi, we are not booking a one way ticket for you right?"

"Definitely not, KT, I'll make my parents understand somehow."

He waited until he was certain that she had exited the studio, before calling his photographer to make the request for the next two shoots. His only specifications were that these extra photos be totally candid shots, and taken with the utmost discretion. His answer made no sense to the photographer who queried KT the reason for them. "It seems I need to play Cupid after all." KT had responded.

Later that night, when Kabir came into the room and sat heavily on the bed, Rachna immediately came to him from where she lay. Sensing the tension he was feeling, she knelt behind him and began massaging his temples, welcoming his sigh of relief. "That rough of a day, my love?"

He nodded. "I'm afraid the visitation schedule for the duration of my travel, may have become somewhat complicated. I just hope I have done the right thing by agreeing to it. And then if that wasn't bad enough this afternoon's fitting, well let's just say it was a challenge with an over-emotional model."

Rachna's fingers stopped, her concern for her best friend momentarily overriding the comfort she had provided her husband. "Is she okay?"

"Ji Rachna, I suspect that Naomi just needed some encouragement; that and perhaps a pair of eyeglasses."

Rachna held his shoulders, leaning over one so that she was facing him. "What KT?"

Kabir turned his head and kissed his wife lightly on the cheek. "Nothing love, but excuse me a second, I've just remembered something I have to take care of. I promise I will be right back."

It wasn't his intention to intrude on their privacy, but he stopped to witness their meeting, and couldn't help but overhear the conversation happening at Naomi's door.

"You've been keeping a secret from me; did you think I wouldn't find out about it?"

Naomi raised her head suddenly, unsure as to what Rajeev was referring to.

"How is that one of my hockey sessions is to become a fashion shoot, hmm? And better yet, that I hear this from the NGO Director instead of you?"

"Well we thought it best to go through the proper channels instead of appealing to you, as not to be seen as taking undue advantage of our relationship."

"I still don't understand why though; what I mean is that I don't get the correlation between the two."

Naomi looked away. "It's silly really, but basically the constant in all of the shoots are that they are meant to show meaningful experiences I have had here in Banaras."

"Accha , hence the shoot at SVC. I see, but I'm surprised that my boys' hockey sessions would merit."

His words got her complete attention, and she looked back up at him. "Of course they merit, how could you doubt that, when I love everything about them and everything they represent." She met his eyes, and smiled, hoping that he would read the feelings she sought to convey. He stared back, blinking it seemed only when she stifled a yawn. "I guess I better let you get to bed?" She nodded and bid him good night, slipping back into her bedroom and closing the door. Rajeev hesitated and then returned to his bedroom.

"These were the moments that needed to be captured," Kabir thought. Although he had not yet verbalized his feeling for her, every look Rajeev gave Naomi spoke volumes to the young woman, who blinded by her own feelings seemed unable to comprehend that he did in fact reciprocated her affection. And if she were ever to discover the lengths he had gone to in order to ensure her comfort, he knew Naomi would be more than willing to fight for him. The fact was that after everything the two of them had done for him and Rachna, there was no way that he would allow them to lose their chance to be together.