Validation & Vaqeel
“Did u tell her u have a nut fetish? And love eating it off of women’s bodies” she cracked herself up in irritation
“No Just ONE woman’s in particular” he muttered laughing under his breath
She turned the bowl upside down on his bed, scattering them all over
“Oops?” she smiled sweetly looking at him
He began to laugh at her deliberate act of disobedience
“I told you what I said to her” he tried to grab her hand
“Raanav door raho” she fought
He chased her around the large room finally pinning her to a chest of drawer
“I wanted to meet to talk about the prenup, instead, your mother walked in on us” she covered her eyes with her free hand
“I asked her to knock next time”
She opened her eyes and clamped her mouth
“She must think I am some 20 year old”
“Why? Because you were making out with the man you are about to marry?”
“One of your verbal traps again” her shoulders slumped
He leaned toward her, gently stroking her cheek with the back of his fingers
“At least we know you have a temper” he goaded her
“TUMHARI wajah se hai” she looked up at him pissed
“Oh so its my fault you threw peanuts all over MY bed?” he taunted
“Main udkar waha jaakar nahi leti, samajh gaye na?” she accused “U carried me to your bed”
“I did I hate the fact that she interrupted us, I wanted to grab every damn peanut of your skin…….“Viveka, stop fighting” he said viciously causing her to vibrate like a tuning fork
“I cannot walk out the door without having her give me a snarky look”
“She will get over it” he sighed
“I cant even imagine how it will be after we get married
“Lets get married and figure that one out” he pressed himself on her and felt her tremble
“You can do nothing wrong according to your mother” she said flatly
He wanted to ask “How did you know that in meeting her only a handful of times”
Instead he said
“Rakshit is close to my Dad, I hung out with her when they went off to do stuff with her when I was little” he said softly kissing her cheek as she dodged
“And she never let go”
“You didn’t even open your eyes how do u know how she looked at you”
“I didn’t have to Raanav mujhe ehsaas hua unhoney meri taraf kaise dekha hoga”
“I am not taking you home, I want us to go meet my friends, we have a date”
“How can we make this work after we get married, I dread seeing your Mom” she groaned
“U don’t have to, she is hardly home”
“That’s not a clever answer” she pushed him away
The help appeared wheeling a cart in after knocking the suite door first and then the bedroom door
“Ma’am chai?” the guy asked pouring out the most aromatic tea in a cup
“Thanks” she smiled weakly
“Sir”
“Umm.. I don’t want any, thanks” he shrugged sitting down by her on the plush sofa
She had had coworkers or Research Advisors over the years with whom she had clashed, she would dread approaching them or bumping into them in the DU corridors
Now it was this guy’s mother
“Quit worrying about my mother” “I doubt she thought anything” he lied
“Oh please, she totally does, she has me slotted as a impoverished gold digger, having premarital s—with you will not exactly reverse that opinion” she said with a smile
“So you are seeking validation?” he cackled
“Wouldn’t you? Lets switch our places” she asked calmly
“I would seek validation” he said coolly
“Of course not… not as Raanav Parashar, but lets turn you into a JNU Lecturer” she smiled
“I still wouldn’t” he shrugged “That’s just me I guess”
“How does that work Raanav, I act like she doesn’t exist marry you with no prenup and waltz around this house and pretend like I am good?” she looked at him with fire in her eyes
“My mother is not who you are marrying, if you live your life according to her expectations then there is no end to it”
“Easy for you to say”
“What do u want me to say?” he asked leaning on the glass door
“pata nahi…. It was not right, what she saw”
“If u are expecting an apology from me, you are not getting it” he growled
“I don’t expect an apology from YOU on her behalf Raanav I expected her to say “Excuse me” “Theek hai, I will have my chai, mujhe ghar chhod do, or I can take an auto” she mumbled sipping
“Is this how its going to be then?”
She sipped quietly checking her phone
“This is not a battle of egos Raanav Parashar”
“You could have me fooled Viveka Mathur” he responded exactly like her
“Arguing about poverty is exciting, when it comes to our expectations its not so exciting is it?” she looked up at him with angst
“I am not arguing with you”
“Good idea” she said quietly pulled out a journal and read a few pages sipping her tea
He went out to the verandah and took a call pacing
She packed up her stuff
The help returned to ask if she wanted more tea
“aapne kuch khaya nahi” he smiled nervously trying to befriend her
“Main apne Mamaji, sorry Bua keg har lunch se aayi, kaafi kha liya” she said pleasantly
Not everyone around here has a massive ego she realized
“Phir aaogey madam?” he asked
“Hmm” she smiled and nodded
“Sir to kam rehte hain India mein, Dilli mein, Aurangabad kabhi kabhi Yavatmal, Bade saab ki factory hai” he explained
She nodded
“Ma’am?” she whispered wanting the tea on Smrita’s modus operandi
“Ma’am to bas yahi rehti hai, waha gaon unko pasand nahi, bas Sir ke saath bahar desh ghoomnbe jaati hain”
“Oh” she sighed sadly
There we go… lady of the house hardly traveled
“Aap kar rahe ho Sir se shaadi?” he asked with a smile
She smiled unable to arrest the blush
“Sir vaqeel hain” he laughed
“Suna hai” she laughed as Raanav reentered
“Where are you off to” he growled
“Ghar” she mumbled
“date’s off tonight?”
“Somethin like that” she said
“Do u want to pick up the stuff you spilled on my bed?” he demanded with unconcealed wickedness
“I don’t think so” she said with conviction
The thought of spending a lifetime with her thrilled him that moment
“Prenup ke liye kab milogey batao mujhe” she said stuffing her things into her bag
“If I want one right?”
“I want one” she said firmly
“Th..”
“This has nothing to do with your mother or being judged by her, this is about me and you”
She interrupted
“the help is going to be upset you didn’t eat much” he said
“I told him already” she mumbled
“I saw you chatting” he said
“Ah… I need an ally on the inside” “Right?” she exclaimed
“Of course!” he muttered silkily