The Quill Part 3 - Page 47

She blurts something out and expects him to save her. That has to count for something.

Open talk

This is the first time the elephant in the room has been addressed.

How will they handle the life with the baby? He will provide her everything materially, but not emotionally.

“Taaruni free”

“No that’s not the point! I am going to be there for the baby. I didn’t choose this decision. You should quit crucifying me” he growled, His best friends, Aman, Sandeep and Seher were with him, the men walked briskly down a Chanakyapuri road for a late evening walk, wherever police had streets cordoned off for embassies they turned around and took other routes.

“It was pretty crazy you would even get into such an agreement”

“Agree” Pradyut nodded viciously

“Just make peace give her what she wants and reconcile” Seher urged

“That’s your solution?”

“Do you want to keep flying up to Chandigarh?”

“Umm.. no” he sulked

“At least she wont get assaulted”

“She told my parents she was”

“S---t”

“Well she wants me to rescue her”

“one of the men chuckled out loud

“Knowing your Dad he will probably set a curfew in Chandigarh for the next 50 years”

“Nah… I don’t think so” Pradyut felt a wave of jealousy about his own Dad’s protectiveness

“Talk to Pia” Aman urged

“I am going to”

“Don’t bother, if she is not going to return then why burn the bridge with Pia?” Sandeep questioned

“Do you want to start dating?” Aman asked

“Umm.. no” Pradyut didn’t even want to have this talk

“Its crazy you would fall for her”

“No… its not” Pradyut saw her gorgeous face the conviction, the will power the fighting spirit, the smoking hot body….

He slowed down to savor that mental image

They paused and turned to look at him

“Yep” he nodded briskly joining them

His mother texted him

“Agli baar kab jaaoge?”

“For the next Doc visit?”

“When is that?”

He didn’t even have to calculate, it was the 16th week”

His heart raced in anticipation

His was going to be a Dad…

He wondered how Harold would react.

But then I am never going to have both with me. Harold will be with her. I will only get the baby.

“Should I contest Harold?”

“Nah, he was a gift, even though she thinks his Mom gifted him”

“Pradyut tum ghar pe Harold ko bribe kar rahe ho?” she accused one evening as she cooked up a storm

He held the then tiny pup in his arms

“Why would you say that?”

“I mean why else will he like you?”

He burst out laughing

She blushed deep red

“I have nothing going for me then?”

“He is MINE, par hamesha tumhare peechhe kyon hai?” she questioned waving her subzi ladle

“I don’t know… maybe becoz hes a guy? Maybe?” he quizzed running his fingers through his hair

“Jhoothe! You come home during the day and cuddle with him” she rolled her eyes disgustedly

“Hes at Mom & Dad’s place remember?”

“Haan(recovering from her faux pas) Haa I know you go over there” “Pfft!”

“You can review the security camera footage”

“Yeah right, like that’s going to be very real” “Hare…” come to me” she cooed

He raised his head and turned to lick Pradyut’s forearm and slumped back, and closed his eyes

“One of these days” she cursed at him

The next couple days flew by for both of them

One of his bike refurbisher friends from Chandigarh called him about a “beauty” he had found at a salvage yard, and paid too much money for it already

Pradyut was asked to fly down to take a look,Uday Gosain….. Tushar Bhushan and Dushyant Dogra and a couple others wanted to go serious with the venture

It was beyond a hobby right now

Pia gave him a earful when he announced at dinnr that he was going to Chandigarh the next day

He really didn’t care about what she thought. Sumedha was overjoyed. He didn’t tell her he wasn’t going to meet Taaruni

He had a group chat going with all 6 of his buds

Tushar and him were able to keep things “Non Taaruni” in the chat

He could hear her when he called Tushar sometimes

The dog chasing her nephews and she was mostly policing them all

Rains were late this year, it was hot as b---s in Chandigarh

The men met in Dushyant’s workshop and slogged away for 4 ish hours, Pradyut stepped away to go meet Ajit Singh at Zenith Astro

The bookstore was being refurbished but not much was changing structurally

He was hoping to put a high end houseware pottery store in there

Tushar headed home after work and was having a luxury motorcycle importer visit him at home, he invited Pradyut over to meet him

Uday was already headed over there

Tushar promised it was “safe” since Taaruni usually went to Dad Rajesh Bhushan’s after closing the bookstore

As cupid would have it, she was in Tushar’s house when he returned from work

The dog and the boys were running beserk

“Pallo, hata yaar isko, living room ko trash kar dia isne”

“He is cute, quit complaining Tushaar” she scowled

“Apni nand ko bol usko oopar leke jaaegi”

“Oh I see how it is” Pallavi told him off and left him

Uday and Pradyut arrived at the same time, thankfully the kids and Taaruni were upstairs

No…. they were heading down squealing

Pradyut saw her and his eyes grew wide, in a blue floral chiffon knee length dress, she looked lovely

She paused startled

Harold was already in Pradyut’s arms no longer caring for the nephews

“This is Uday Gosain” Pradyut introduced her “Uday, Taaruni”

The short and stout, man with thinning hair was very nervous

“Hello… umm.. hello Congrats”

“Thanks” Taaruni smiled warmly

“Kab hai due?”

“In 5 ish months”

Tushar rushed to them

“Chal aaja, bahar lounge mein baithte hain” he corralled Pradyut

“Kya chal raha hai?” Taaruni asked

“Ja na… khel, bache aise sawaal nahi karte” Tushar teased

“Tushar bhai”

“BIKE ka kaam hai”

“Tum phir se bike mein aaye?” she accused Pradyut

“Hmm” he nodded

She was not happy

The men gabbed for two hours with the importer

Taaruni lay in wait and pounced on him when he came back to the living room to grab his helmet and keys

“I told u what ur Mum said”

“You were not supposed to be here today”

“This is not Pia’s house sorry” she smiled sweetly

He was livid

“This has nothing to do with Pia” he growled charging toward her

“Bura laga?” she goaded him smiling flirtatiously

“We are separated I don’t want to see you unless I have to” she threw back at her

“Too bad I am here, maybe you can close your eyes” she reached to shut his eyes

He pushed her hand off

“Don’t Taara” he warned huskily

She took his hand and brought it to her waist

“See I am still here baby!” she whispered giggling

He pulled away

“Chhoooge nahi mujhe?” she whispered overcome with emotion

He pinned her to the wall and bend down on her neck, smothering her form with his

Her soft moans mixed with his grunts of pleasure

He turned around and walked away

She felt the spot on her neck, the first place he had ever kissed her… he had left a bruise

Tushar accosted him on his way out

“Ruk ja, khaana kha le yaar”

“No”

Will they let go their Ego and admit ?

Does plan to take away child from Taaruni?

He wondered how Harold would react.

But then I am never going to have both with me. Harold will be with her. I will only get the baby.

Is this guy really considering taking the child away from Taaruni?

If so, he is not worth it. He was wrong in the way he went about it.
yes, he didn’t force Taaruni for anything but did take advantage of her vulnerable position.

Never admit to his personal feelings.

The talk with friends is bringing it all out. Do they all know about Pia's attitude?

He doesn't want to date. Thats something.

How Harold would react to a baby? He is thrilled about the baby but can't show it to Tara.