Unequals
You wouldn’t have known if you had met Viveka that evening at the Parashar home that she was dealing with such a huge disappointment
Viren and Nupur Dhamija were returning that night, their daughter Sarika Dhamija was in town (Viveka did not know until they all gathered for dinner)
There was none of that “Arey rishtedaar aaye hain bahar se lets go get more veggies, or lets ask the milkman to supply a couple extra litres business in these wealthy homes
Raanav was in the shower when she returned and was going through the journals in her bookcase. He had had a nice grand oak book case set up in the music room next door to the bedroom so she could keep her 100s of books
“When did you get home?” he quizzed, bending down to kiss her shoulder He was cold damp and clean and smelled like the minty woody thing he always smelled like
She shut the door and leaned on the door shyly
“Thanks for looking like how I asked you to when I get home” she whispered
“Anytime” he nodded spraying her with hair water
They checked each other out heatedly
“Dinner’s not until 9” he held her chin
“Already 7” she smiled holding him softly and leaning on his vest covered chest
“Aaj kya kiya tumne?”
“I gave myself the afternoon off” “Hung out with friends” he said gruffly
She raised her head and looked at his face
“NY eve moods?”
“Ya I know its only two days away” he nodded
“Do you get a set time off or can you take as much as you want?” she asked curiously
“I am a legal counsel I am on payroll I get set time off” he said softly
“Ah”
“You thought I went and left as I pleased?” his lips twitched
She looked sideways to hide her shame
“My Dad runs a tight ship Viveka”
“Hmm”
“I don’t get any privileges an employee might not” he said diplomatically
They stood staring at each other
It was always better if they did not have such deep philosophical conversations about social justice and equality
She was not completely on board with his claim that “he was an equal”
But she was married to him now, she didn’t have much leg to stand if she were to mock him
“Unless you believe execs do not deserve time off” he said softly
“Of course they do” she said turning red
“Being married to me should not entail shutting yourself down forever” he taunted her again
She fell for it
“Oh I speak up Raanav I will when I feel I don’t care for what I hear, but”
“You will allow me me the afternoon off in this case?” his lips twitched
“You are pitching for a fight and I don’t care for it right now” she said softly
“ If you agree that I am entitled to vacation, Then the judgmental tone must have been purely because you must be worried your husband used up half a day of his vacation”
She side stepped to move away
“I have no vacation plans or personal appointments I expect you to attend so no” she paused turned around and spoke calmly “Please feel free to take as much time off” she shrugged with a polite smile
Pushed up her glasses and turned away
He went to the walk in closet to change
Mahesh appeared at the suite door and knocked she went o answer
“Bhabhiji Ma’am ne kaha aap log dinner ke liye aa jao, 9 baje”
She nodded confused
“Haan?”
“Who Mamaji ki beti Sarika bhi saath khayengi”
“Oh?”
“Aur?”
“Inder bhayya nahi hai ghar pe” he sais with a smile and walked off, he did not know about naina and Inder
She went back to the bathroom and showered and wore a beautiful peacock blue silk kurta and a magenta phulkari salwar
Raanav was already at the courtyard when she went to join him
The silence between them was awkward
“How did your Doc appointments go?” she asked Satyen
“I am not saying anything until u end the sentence with Dad” he smiled
“Dad” she nodded
“I am doing well he asked me to slow down tho”
“Both Docs?”
“Yes both, he and she, Ortho and neuro, and I even saw the heart specialist just as a bonus”
“So much waiting” she nodded makinga face
“They just came home” he nodded
She realized this was yet another “unequal” perk the wealthy enjoyed
They did not have to go to RML or LNJP the Docs showed up at home
“Kya kiya aaj tum dono ne?”
“I prepped for the January mela at Maurya and looked up what it takes for Jaipur Lit fest”
“Ah yes!!” he nodded
“And then went home for a bit” her expression crumpled Satyen noticed
“Ghar ki yaad aa gayi?”
“No Papa was home, my Dadu needs surgery, bypass”
“Oh?” “main baat karta hoon” Satyen was embarrassed
“No worries… so yes”
“Baaqi kaam kaise ja raha hai?”
“Its great. I hope we can get to a point between Ishwar Ratna and I about what and who we want showcased at Maurya
“Aur Raanav kaise behave kar rahe hain?”
“Great” she nodded
She was used to talking o parents and guardians about students
She knew how to be discreet and noncommittal
“You sound like he is a student” Satyen muttered looking deeply into her eyes
“Oh no” she smiled disarmingly
“U can feel free to give him an F if he doesn’t step up” Satyen offered
“India mein F kaha dete hain” she said politely turning red
“JNU mein kya grades hain?”
“I just grade mid terms and other papers, not like u know the thing that goes on a transcript”
She was feeling especially low today
She wasn’t about to say anything to inflate her ego
“That irrelevant huh?” Satyen poked her
She blushed, both father and son had the exact same way of teasing her
She turned to Raanav he stood at a distance sipping some drink talking to people that seemed like either friends or relatives. She did not know
Everyone assumed she had met them?”
“Have u met the Gujrals and Sethis?” Satyen asked caringly
“No… I don’t think so”
“Aayiye milwaata hoon, they need to meet you”
“Satyaaa… u are not getting anything fried tonight” Smrita hollered after him hoping to break the FIL DIL party
“Whatever u say darling” he nodded
He looked at viveka and winked
“Sometimes you just agree… or I shud say MOSTLY u just agree” he laughed
“Good lesson”
“With this one…. Baap rey… I wish you good luck… he is argumentative and persistent” Satyen shuddered like he feared Raanav
“I am not afraid of him” Viveka said smoothly
“U will be the first” he complimented her though it might have been pretend she thought later
The intros were made
Satyen dragged Raanav verbally to stand by his wife
“What happened no intros for wife?” he admonished his son gently
“Umm.. I assumed she met”
“When? How?” Satyen accused
“U are right” Raanav nodded raising his glass in apology
The friends seemed wonderful
“Will you be running the company too? Mrs Sethi asked politely
“I don’t think so”
“Unless if it means representing the union” Raanav joked
The joke was not lost on her
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
Tum Se Tum Tak
Sampoorna
Jhanak
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