Chance Encounter
He dropped family off and parked far away from the bustle of Khan Market. Parul loved the market though Gagan would never allow her to shop there.
Now with him being indisposed she hijacked her in-laws and headed there with Vyas and Tapan
Arya was home too along with Rahul so it was a veritable bounty
Tapan was spending his days tryingt o investigate the hit and run. There were no leads and no one was willing to step up to identify the Tata Sumo
The security footage from the guard station at the gate showed the camera tilted sideways for some reason so it was not capturing cross traffic
He had let the security team be dormant for now, just guarding Gagan for the most part
"Strawberry itni mehangi, hamare haldwani mein itne mein 2 kg mil jaawe hai" MIL was not happy
"Yeah KHAN MARKET hai Ma, yahin se khareedte hain aapke saare pyaare Unnao, Hardoi ke MP, Jai Prakash Rawat, Sakshi Maharaj wagerah
"Unko itna paisa nahi milta" Amma was defensive
"Sure Ma" Parul rolled her eyes
"Yahi rehte hain woh Pandara Rd"
"To Vyas ko kahen Bauji ko milwa laayen" Amma had her agenda
Vyas was shaking with laughter
Parul was his favorite of his two SILs
She was affectionate and simple
Her brother was rolling in money in Chicago but she always dressed simply and gave generous gifts
"Amma Tapan par MP se zyaada Lakshmi ji ka bhaag hai" Vyas teased
"Haan woh to hai, kaam kitna karey hai woh..." Amma loved him too sadly, thank god Nitin was not within ear shot
Parul entered a ice cream shop/cafe and ordered
They ate the ice cream and were stepping out when they ran into Tapan
"40 minute lagey tumhe?" Parul was shocked
"You timed it?" he laughed
"Haan Amma ne tumhare liye kaafi achhi baaten bolin tum to the nahi"
"Amma loves me" he hugged MIL
"Main to iske liye hamesha achhi baat kahoon"
"Oho... Ma aapka ek beta bhi hai yahan" Parul winked at Vyas
"Beta Bauji ko belt leni thi" Amma started showering love on her husband
"Di lets go to Da Milano" Tapan herded the family through crowds
"SHUBHRAAA" Parul yelled
Shubhra had lowered her window and was asking the parking attendant for directions
There were empty spots "reserved" just like every pl;ace in India
For the wealthy and connected
Being a property dealer and a crook Manik was no stranger to this market
the attendant blew his whistle and moved cars out of the way
"Shubhraaa" Parul yelled
"madam yahan laga lo aap abhi ke liye" the attendant invited her to park in yet another spot
Shubhra's face broke into the biggest smile
"Amma Tapan ki bahu"
Achha jee?" Amma wanted to chat too
Bauji grumbled as he stepped off the corridor... wincing as his knee hurt
Tapan walked around casually and waved
"Hi!"
"I am showing... or should say I showed houses" she mumbled
"Ah"
"Gale nahi lagogi?"
"Tapan I am wearing a dress" she whispered peeking out the window as Tapan bend down
She was indeed he noticed, a grey summer dress with yellow polka dots, unusually bright for her taste he noticed
"Love it" he whispered in her ear
"I cant get off"
"UTROOO!" Parul shrieked
"Tapan"
"I doubt Amma cares"
"Uncle is there nahi?"
"He is too grumpy to look at you" Tapan laughed
She gingerly got off, and hid behind the partially closed door
"Arey?" Parul looked at her curiously
"I am wearing a dress"
"Achhi baat hai na?" Parul mocked
Shubhra did not get sarcasm "Yeah its one of my faves"
"Nobody cares" Tapan gently peeled her off the car door
"I am sorry Aunty" Shubhra mumbled
"Kyon?"
"Maine dress pehani hai"
"Poti ke umar ki ho tum" Amma hugged her tight
Bauji was like "Get me outta here I dont care who wears what"
"You look adorable" Parul was now free to praise Shubhra since Nitin was not in ear shot
"Ghar pe sab log aaye the aap nahi aayin" Vyas enquired
"i went to my Mom and Dad's" she lowered her gaze
"Tumne family reunion miss kar diya" Parul declared
"I heard there was good food" she smiled
"Thanks... finally koi to achhi baat boli" Tapan exclaimed clapping
"Jo HUM boley WOH?" amma pretended to be hurt
"Amma biwi to gussa hai, usko thoda sa mana loon chalkar?"
"You are married?" Shubhra asked the most inane question
Parul and Vyas laughed uncontrollably
Amma did a face palm
"Aapko keh rahe hain shaayad" Vyas explained
"Umm.. OK"
"We have to buy a belt for Bauji and then we plan to eat pizza, care to join?"
"I have dinner plans at home" she said quietly
"JA uske saath, Bhayya hain Bauji ka haath woh pakad lenge" Parul whispered shoving him
"Dono ne ek rang ke kapde pehne hain" Amma pointed to Tapan's tan shorts and lemon yellow tee
"Haan Ma hain to dono romantic"
"See you in 30?" Tapan turned to ask Parul
"30 nahi 3 ghante" Parul ordered
"When is dinner?" he growled grabbing her hand as they snaked through the cars
"Oh no I was not supposed to park there"
"I doubt he would mind it... prin"
"You think my Dad owns the parking lot"
"Oh no... the market? possibly!"
She tried to pull her hand away
"OK I am sorry" he begged
"No" she mumbled stiffly
"Lets go sit down, let me buy you a glass of wine and we can chat? please?"
She let him hold her hand and they walked into a pub
It was still light out the crowd was thin
They found a spot by the windows
On tall bar stools
Ordered wine
"Who did you show the houses to?"
He was clevery drawing her out...
She explained
"I am trying to recuperate some losses" she finished after explaining what she has been doing
"Hmm"
"thanks for the wine" she sipped
"Can I say something?" he nodded in ack
"If u are going to justify why you cannot see my parents..."
"I am not the bad guy Shubhra" he growled
"My parents are?"
"I... I mean... if u want to hear it honestly... then yes"
Her face fell
" I am not going to let him blackmail me" he declared
"Go to dinner" he tapped her finely manicured nails with the glossy silver pink polish
"I am eating at home"
"Then stay here and flirt with me" he ordered
"We are engaged" she said matter of factly
He burst out laughing at her "Yep! romance ends when its all official" tone.......
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