Jerk… free
Papa had asked her last night when he was returning and she had casually indicated “This weekend some time”
He hadn’t bothered to call her back after that Monday? Night to talk about it
Agreed, she should not have mocked him But he was freezing her off
Dadi and Dadu were returning for breakfast itself Papa received a text from Piyush
Mayank Awasthi’s parents wanted to meet Akash about the Karuna alliance
It was a shock to all the Mathurs
They did not believe in daughters being married before completing education and setting forth on a career
But instead of being rude, since Awasthis were related to Varsha Asthana Papa agreed to entertain one meeting
They were likely to come by in the evening
Karuna had refused to be home for that, being completely shocked such a proposal would arrive like in the movies
“Arey andar aao na beta” Akash greeted Raanav
Dressed in his Saturday best, jeans and an orange plaid flannel shirt, he looked very much the part of a wealthy scion of a elite business family
“How is everyone?” Raanav asked politely
“theek hain” Akash mumbled grabbing the fallen newspapers from the floor and picking up his tea cup
Anu was downstairs at a yoga class as a friends had suggested she try that for dizziness related to BP
Naina was in the shower, the twins were asleep
Viveka was up early to hang with Papa, they had gone for a walk around the society in the foggy end of January morning, Viveka and Papa talked about how the Naina matter was going to play out
She told Papa Smrita had gone off to Nasik to be with Satyen… for no reason
Viveka did not know what was cooking
She did not hear from Nupur or Inder
She wondered if the Inder even had been a one time thing or of Inder was planning something more to disrupt
Satyen had called her multiple times to check on something about the NGO and she had called him a couple times to check on him
“Aapka husband hamari khabar nahi deta aapko”
“Oh sure I do get it, but I tho… I was concerned”
“Mum’s here beta she has my feet and wrists clamped down” he laughed
She cares for you” she muttered
“I am lucky… just like Raanav is” Satyen insisted
“I will remember to tell him that”
“U know what DON’T I WILL”
“Oh?? Umm”
“Aur kya kahoon?”
“Umm.. nothing” she was suddenly shy
“I am going to tell him he needs to pamper you like a princess, and lay a bed of rose petals under your feet and never say no to you”
“He wont believe it but yeah sure” she had laughed
“He is a lucky man” “I cannot wait to see you beta”
“Me too u.h.. um.. Dad”
“U can call me Satyen if that’s too hard”
“I know in the West they use first names for in laws”
“Your Mum will lose it, we should try and prank her sometime”
“Deal”
This man… this man!!
This man made her feel welcome, was kind, did not talk family politics, did not judge her, did not ridicule her
He had not once asked her about the insurance or car repair or where it was at
He had quietly paid the workshop and left insurance completely out of it
He had had a “chat” with lekha to rein in her hysterics on the matter as well
It was no longer freezing cold, papa had closed all the glass balcony windows, the sun was beginning o shine through, with no damp laundry the balcony was a great place to be grating carrot
“Viveka betaaaa”
“papa I want to switch out, can you get me a bigger bowl for the gratings?” she yelled back
She was ensconced in the swing, with her ipad playing a TV show on CC, with FM playing on the radio
Raanav knew her hideout, he just walked right in
She handed a bowl of grated carrot
He took it from her
“which show?” he asked, he knew which one it was…. Gossip Girl
She turned startled to find him holding the large steel bowl
“Tum kab aaye?” she said weakly trying not to show how nervous she was
“that’s a nice welcome” he muttered setting the bowl back down and tucking his hand into his pocket and leaning on the door jamb
She scooted making room for him, not bothering to get up to greet or hug
He sat down deliberately letting his thigh overpower her
“Raa…” she scowled followed by an Uff!! And pushing up of glasses
“what are you watching?”
“Gossip Girls!” she shrugged
They watched quietly for a minute or two
“Why are you listening to FM?”
“I love Sunday morning FM they play old songs”
“How old”
“From the time I was a baby, not Raj Kapoor old” “Or Raanav old”
“Ah” he laughed under his breath
“Can I help?”
“Haath dhokar aao”
She didn’t fawn over him… ever
If she was doing it on the inside, he could not tell
Well… she was married to him wasn’t she?
He chuckled smugly
“I am not washing my hands now” he growled
“Theek hai main khud kar loongi”
“You knew I was returning last night” he was not happy
“Jaanti hoon”
“U were there until 7?”
“8” she said gleefully, she was lying, the guards probably spotted her leaving
“Is my surround sound done?”
“Nope”
“why not”
He reached for her hand, she fought it and finally relented with a groan
He was gorgeous and persistent
Sunday mornings were magical back home
“I didn’t call the AV guy I thought what if he saves my number and started calling me at midnight?” she sweetly smiled turning to him
“Witch” he grit his teeth
“Return my hand”
“No” he sat there, as she held the bowl and the grater and a half grated gajar in her hand balancing all on her thigh
He reached and shut off the TV show
And grabbed her phone by reaching across her and shutting off her phone
She pushed him off her body, the thankfully empty bowl clattered on the dhurrie
Papa did not check on them
Gingerly walked up to the bedroom and shut the door instead and stood guard nearby… kinda…
“U didn’t go run? Why are you so dressed up?’
“what? This?” He yanked the shirt tail
“Hmm… at least compared to me”
“I li…” he gently crept his hand up to grab a sliver of carrot from a few inches below her collar bone
She slapped his hand off
She is going to make him agonize he realized
“Kya lene aaye yahan?” she asked innocently
“We seem to love playing this game”
“Its not like I was not going to return… and have you come for me” she said sadly
He was pissed she didn’t didn’t have that expectation
He wanted to be wanted
He was a jerk
But he wanted to be wanted
“Dad said I didn’t have to feel obligated to be there, and should choose where I wanted to be”
She inadvertently irritated him by mentioning the man who he didn’t fancy at all at the moment
“Huh” he grunted
“Mera haath chhodoge?” she asked politely
“Free it” he goaded tightening his grip linking his fingers into her slim slender soft ones
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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