RaBir FF -A Cast of Characters chapter 97/98 & Epilogue pg121/2 (4 - Page 8

Chapter #6

Wincing, Naomi allowed Rajeev to take hold of her right hand to check it again. It was definitely swollen.

"Oh God, Ra what if it's really broken? I won't be able to do anything we've spent all afternoon planning; oh I'm such an idiot!"

"Naomi, stop, the launch is the least of my worries right now, okay?"

"Shoot Ra, Stef would be so disappointed with me right now. All that time he spent teaching me those self-defense moves and look what happens," she bawled.

Everyone stared at her like she had gone mad.

Kabir and Daadi, had been in the lounge with Aryia, discussing the surprise he had been planning, as they awaited Rachna and Naomi's return. He had stopped talking when he heard the door open and his wife's voice and got up to take Ariya to greet her mummy. Before he could do so a shrill cry echoed and he heard Rachna shouting.

"Take your hands off my friend!"

He immediately came back into the lounge with his daughter and gave her to Daadi, intent on stopping whatever had Rachna under such duress.

"Nanhe?"

"Just stay here with Aryia, Daadi."

I'm asking you again Naomi, when were you going to let me know you had come back?"

"Why the hell would I tell you anything; you are nothing to me!"

"You know and I know that's not true!"

"Are you crazy? Why would you even think that I would want to have anything to do with you?"

"Abhi, what the hell?"

"Shekhar you too, stay out of this!"

"Nanhe, that's Naomi. Oh God, what's happening...go, go!"

Whatever it was it was rapidly escalating. Kabir looked over to Rajeev who had just entered the room and motioned to come with him.

"Shekhar don't you dare drop that package it's fragile!"

"Yes you and your damn work always taking precedence over everything, right. Well not now. I deserve an explanation.."

Kabir's call got everyone's attention as he and Rajeev reached the door way. "What the hell is going on out here?"

Locating the source of the confrontation at a distance from the house, he stepped outside as Abhi spoke.

"Nothing that concerns you either, KT. She and I just need to talk."

And then the fool forcibly pulled Naomi with him as if to leave.

Naomi was in shock for just a moment before her fighting instincts kicked it. Obviously Abhi had both the weight and definitely the height advantage, but thankfully she thought, she had on her favorite wedge heels and a few tricks up her sleeve. She dropped her bag, praying that her IPad didn't get damaged in the fall. How dare this lunatic think he could manhandle me like this?' She thought.

Fueled by the fury that, in addition to hurt he had already levied on her friend that Abhi now the audacity to accost Naomi in front of her, Rachna rushed to prevent him from whatever he intended. Seeing the look of shock on Naomi's face, she went in, kicked Abhi on the side of one knee, and when he faltered grabbed at the arm holding her friend.

It was just the distraction Naomi needed. His grip on her wrist had lessened so she immediately went into a defensive squat and executed the arm motion that would prevent him from holding onto her. As she felt his hold weaken, she called for Rachna to move, and then rose from her squat with the heel of her palm up and sent a vicious blow to Abhi's nose. She noted with satisfaction the blood on his face, and backed away to escape him, forgetting the bag she had moments thrown aside. She went down hard, the breath knocked out of her, leaving her little time to react when he followed and made another grab for her. She flailed, kicking at him, aiming for his trachea, aided when Rachna jumped him from behind, and pulled his head back. It was enough , and the blow rendered Abhi helpless as he lay gasping for air .

She looked over to where KT was helping Rachna up and called to her, "Ra, you okay?"

Seeing that she was, Naomi sat up, breathing heavily from her exertions, as KT hauled Abhi away out of her sight. After a moment, she reached for the hands extended to help her up.

"Are you okay?"

"I am thank you."

"Those are some dangerous moves you have there," Rajeev said nodding towards Abhi, who looked to be suffering the worst dressing down from KT and Rachna.

"Hey a girl has to do what a girl's got to do. There's not always going to be a big strong man around to fight her battles you know."

Rajeev reached out to push back an errant curl that escaped the bun she had her hair in. "All you had to do was ask, I would have done your fighting for you."

She smiled, "You offer now that all the work is done, typical."

"Lining up your next victim Naomi?" Abhi called out hoarsely.

"You really don't have a brain do you?"

Kabir posed the question to the man who had caused this whole commotion. "For some unknown reason my wife is saving your worthless hide from the beating you deserve, and you still see fit to insult our friend?"

"I told you KT I just needed to talk to her."

"There's a difference between talking to and assaulting but you don't seem know that. Perhaps instead of a tiny woman you should try your methods on someone closer to your size. Although by looking at you, you couldn't even handle her."

"KT just let him speak."

Kabir looked to see that Naomi and Rajeev had come over to where he, Rachna and Shekhar stood with Abhi. "Nay, Naomi, he doesn't deserve to be anywhere near you let alone to talk to you. Rajeev take her and Rachna inside."

"Ra, you can go if you so choose, but since none of you men have any right over me, I'm staying."

"And that's your problem right there isn't it, you don't want any man to have the right over you!"

"What are you talking about, Abhi?"

"Are you sure you want your truth revealed for all, Naomi; how you have been living the past couple of years? You're just self-centered, vain woman, who thinks and cares about nothing but herself. How you used me and led me on forever with no indication that you would ever commit?"

"How dare you? If that's what you think, you never took the time to get to know her at all, and you have nerve to lay the blame on her?"

Naomi shook her head, "Ra don't he is so not worth it." She turned back to Abhi, "Fine, say that I am all that you think I am; what does it matter? You left me and married someone else, so what is the problem? You should be happy I'm not in your life then, so this whole conversation makes no sense. You know, never mind, you are absolutely pathetic and I have invested too much of my time and energy in you already, just go away."

Naomi turned away and was walking away when she heard Abhi speak again, but this time not to her.

"Rajeev, is it? Just a word of advice be very careful; what she is showing is all an act. It's all a facade. Oh yeah, and you have my apologies in advance,"

She stopped and turned, shocked at the malice on Abhi's face. She looked up at Rajeev who too had looked back. "But then again, I don't know you; you may be the type that doesn't mind another man's leftovers," he said shrugging.

His face recoiled from the slap Rachna delivered, "You filthy..."

"No Rachna." Her eyes glistening Naomi walked back over to stand in front of her tormentor. "Leftovers, you say Abhi, how's this for leftovers?"

She grabbed him by the shoulders, and pulled him down towards her, as she brought her knee up sharply. And when he keeled over, she threw her first ever right hook.

Hopefully he would be sporting a fractured jaw, to match his swollen nose.

"Leftovers... as if you ever had a chance," she muttered as she walked away.

Rachna walked back to the house, her armed looped through KT's, the biggest grin on her face. "Dare I even ask what has you so happy?"

"Nothing much, I just got the answer to something I was wondering about, that's all." She nodded at Rajeev walking ahead with Naomi's equipment.

"Yes, that was telling wasn't it?"

They had all watched Naomi leave her head held high, hopefully realizing that she deserved so much more than the fool who had treated her so shabbily. Kabir and Rachna had turned back when they heard Rajeev speaking

"Abhi is it; How about this for piece of advice? Do yourself a favor and forget she ever existed. I don't know you either, but I do know that it will be so much healthier for you not to come anywhere near her ever again."

And with those words, Rajeev shoved Abhi away, turned , and taking Naomi's package from Shekhar, walked back to the house.

Unfortunately, the sight of Naomi crying hysterically in Daadi's arms, dispelled any thought they had , that shei had finally rid herself of Abhi unscathed .

"Daadi, I just didn't expect it to hurt so much."

She stepped away from Daadi to sit on the sofa her cradling herself as she bawled.

"Oh God" Rachna rushed to her friend's side assuring her that she was well rid of Abhi ; that he had never deserved her and she was worth ten of him.

All the while Naomi shook her head, unable to control her tears.

Finally Rachna grabbed her friends hands, "Naomi he isn't worth your tears, stop it!"

If anything her cries got louder.

Rachna, let go of her now, she's not crying over Abhi. Kabir can you go get some ice quickly."

Rachna released Naomi's hands and moved over when Rajeev came to kneel beside them.

"Rajeev Sir, what's wrong with her?'

"Ra, I think my hand's broken."

... "Shoot Ra, Stef would be so disappointed with me right now. All that time he spent teaching me those self-defense moves and look what happens," she bawled.

"But why Beta, it sounds as if you did a stellar job defending yourself."

"Yes, Daadi, but one the first thing he told me was to avoid throwing punches since I stood more of a chance of hurting myself, but I was so furious."

"Well if anyone deserved to be punched it was Abhi. One thing is sure, at least we all know that Aryia will be well protected when you babysit her, " Kabir teased.

Naomi nodded in agreement, "Provided I don't lose her first, that is," she whispered. Rajeev looked up from checking her hand and met her smile with his own.

"What was that Naomi?"

"Nothing KT, just agreeing with you."

"Well I don't think it's broken, but I think we should keep icing it down and you'll probably need a couple of painkillers tonight. Probably after dinner we should ice it again, and then bandage it for the night"

Rajeev wrapped the bandage around Naomi's hand, so that finally she could finally get some rest.

"How does it feel?'

"It still hurts, but nowhere like it did before. Thank you Rajeev."

"You're welcome Naomi, or is it Pari?"

"Either will do; I'm Pari to Aryia and everyone here, but Naomi to the world."

"OK, why?"

"Because Aryia can't say Fairy...didn't you know I was her Fairy-godmother?"

"I see. Do you grant wishes to only her then?"

"For now. Why do you have a wish you need granted?"

"Not today, but I'll be sure to let you know when I do."

Coming up: RaBir and the launch of "Banaras Beauty!"

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