Chapter 19: The Lunch Partners - The Mentor, The Tormentor and Instigator
Shivvay explained his reaction to his brothers who were very relieved to know that he was still of sound mind and had not suffered a nervous breakdown of some sort. They looked at their phones and realized it was almost time for lunch. As they headed home Shivvay explained that he would speak with the family as well but not with Tia around. After what they had seen it was important that she be kept in the dark about any upcoming family matters. The brothers were in agreement about that and decided it would be better to wait a day or two.
While at home Annika was trying to understand the changes she was seeing in Shivvay since yesterday. The man was turning into a regular puzzle.
It was close to lunch time and I had my notes ready for the two articles that Badi Ma helped me pick from the mornings Business Times. Thankfully she had picked the simplest ones and Saumya showed me how to put it together in point form.
I was gifted a new Apple MacBook Air that morning by none other than my workaholic husband cum mentor who wanted me to learn to put together the same articles as presentations in a week or so. He had apparently instructed Saumya to help me with the technology bit and that was to be my half hour training with her after breakfast and before she went to college.
Shivvay had not given Saumya the chance to refuse when he had handed her a cheque, with the Oberoi office stamp on it, for the first installment of her training fees earlier that morning. He had officially enlisted her services as a consultant and it was payment towards any and all time she would spend training me.
So the Bhagad Billa was serious about being one of my mentors then, I thought amazed. I thought he agreed to train me only because it would be the perfect way to control and keep an eye on me. I was also surprised that Shivvay left immediately after breakfast and did not linger to watch or inquire my movements for the day. What had gotten into the man??!!!!
As I sat in the kitchen munching on an apple and contemplating these things I saw Saumya and Prinku walk in to prepare lunch. We greeted and exchanged details about the day as we began prepping for the afternoon meal. The meal was almost done when my phone buzzed and I saw that it was Daksh again.
I knew I would have to take the call and excused myself as I strolled into the dining room. I explained to him that I would not be home today if he came over as I had to go to the office with Badi Ma and then was training there till later tonight. I thought it wise to leave Shivvay out of the conversation in case it upset him further.
He was surprisingly calm and understanding about it and mentioned that he was going back to Delhi this evening annd had been hoping to meet me before that. But maybe on his next visit I would make some time for him.
I promised I would and as we said our goodbyes I turned to find Shivvay walking into the room with Om and Rudra. It was weird but I could swear something had changed between the three and did I detect Mr. Oberoi with red puffy eyes? The Bhagad Billa looked like he had been crying!!!! Wonders would never cease I thought astonished. What were these three musketeers (as I had named them) hiding?
"Anni Bhi!!!I missed you so much!!", shouted my darling DevRu as he ran over to me and hugged me sideways. I ruffled his hair as he bent down for his customary kiss on the forehead.
"And how much do you miss someone you haven't seen for 3 hours DevRu?" I inquired teasingly as I patted his arm still circling my shoulders affectionately. As I casually turned to look at him I was very startled to see his eyes misty with unshed tears. I immediately turned in anger to the other 2 musketeers and demanded, "What have you both done to him??!!"
"Nothing Anni ... !!", replied Om coolly as he walked over and pulled Rudra towards him in an loving neck lock and continued, " you know how Rudy gets if he is away from you for more than half a day. He needs his 'Anni Bhi comfort blanket' to warm him and recharge him every few hours or he feels unloved. You have spoilt him rotten."
"Well", I responded, as I pulled Rudy back to me, slid my arm in his and led him away, "that is my privilege to give as his Anni Bhi and his to enjoy as my DevRu till as such time he gets a wife to replace my affections with stronger ones."
As I said that DevRu came down with a coughing fit and I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard a loud clattering sound coming from the kitchen. I thumped him on the back to clear his wind pipe as I inquired with Prinku if all was well in there. She said that Saumya had dropped the salad plate on the ground by mistake and that they were just cleaning up the mess now.
I turned towards Om and Shivvay about the sudden confusion that hit the room and was met with the same baffled expressions on their face as well. Om went into the kitchen to help the girls clean up the mess while I placed my hand on DevRu's shoulder and made him sit.
Shivvay walked over, poured him some water to drink and rubbed his back to stop the coughing. The next moment I found Shivvay's hand deliberately cover mine while he kept a straight face and concentrated on DevRu sipping from the glass.
I tried to pull away but found him tighten his hold on my hand, lift it off DevRu's shoulders and pull me firmly towards him with a lopsided smile. Caught off guard by this action I found myself losing my balance and bumping into him and found his arm go around me to catch me least I fall.
Body flush against him while my hands instinctively shot out to hold on to the lapel of his jacket to steady myself I found myself looking into his blue eyes. I felt the blood rush to my head and make me dizzy while I stared at Shivvay wide eyed.
I had no idea how long we stood like that till I heard clearing of throats and Bade Papa's teasing voice float over to us saying, "It is very nice to get a dose of your out of control romance with your wife at least once a day Shivvay?? It replaces the need for any soap operas that we might want to watch as a family. Besides I am hoping it gets at least one of my two boys excited enough to bring a girl home to introduce her to us."
I snapped out of the trance and tried to push him away but the hold did not loosen. In fact I found myself being led, arm still firmly round the waist and smile still in place, to the other side of the table to be seated next to him. I looked at Dadi and found a bright smile on her face and an appreciative nod towards Shivvay.
"I was just making sure that Annika did not forget that the seating arrangements had changed Bade Papa. After all I do have to catch up with my elusive wife to find out if she had spent a productive morning," replied Shivvay wittily, seating himself besides me, his eyes never leaving my face.
Everyone laughed as they took their seats, chatting in good humor and began serving themselves.
I did notice Tia, who was hovering behind Shivvay, moving down the table to sit next to Pinky Aunty on the other side. I almost caught her arm to make her sit in her seat so that I could escape but found Shivvay's arm wrap casually over the back of my chair to cut the escape off.
The man was insufferable I thought as I turned to glowered at him only to have him lean into me slowly and whisper in my ear, "Don't forget we have a date at 3pm this afternoon Mrs. Annika Shivvay Singh Oberoi, so don't be late. I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my new protege and equally new bride."
I felt flushed and uncomfortable at the insinuation and took in a sharp breath at the statement. I turned away from him, lowered my lashes and stared at my empty plate as I felt my pulse quicken and my breath get ragged. He stayed in the same position and I felt his warm breath fan my cheek and felt the hair on the back of my neck stand.
I was damned if I was going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he affected me. I willed myself to stop reacting and stretched out my hand calmly to pick the jug of water. At that very moment the cursed 'blue eyed devil', who had his arm draped on the back of my chair, decided to lightly run his fingers down my neck, past the bare exposed skin of my back and all the way to where my low back Anarkali suit started.
That set in motion a series of disastrous and embarrassing events. I yelped, tipped over the jug and stood up with a jerk that sent my chair almost flying across the room behind me. Pinky Aunty held her hand to her chest with an alarmed look that went with her 'O My Mata', Om spat out his soup, Dadi exclaimed 'Anni Bahu' in a shocked and puzzled voice while all the rest stopped whatever they were doing and sat still like statues, while they stared at me.
"Shivvay!!!", I yelled looking down at the infuriating man who was wearing an innocent look with a slight smile while his eyes twinkled with unbridled mischief. Curse this devil, I thought.
"Yes Annika dear", he asked in an amused voice." Is something the matter?", then, before I could recover from my shock and reply, he continued smoothly, "I don't understand why such a strong reaction to me just asking if you read the Business Times today? I did mention yesterday that you would have to read it every morning, did I not??"
I realized to my horror how this all looked to the others seated at the table as 'The Bhagad Billa' had smoothly diverted everyone's attention to me. I knew I had to; literally, think on my feet while I had everyone staring at me and waiting for an answer. I smiled inwardly and thought to myself, I did not say that my mind was like a rabbit on skates for nothing Mr. Oberoi. You are so going to regret this.
"Well!!", I answered trying to sound indignant, "of course I would be upset and cross!! You broke the 'Oberoi Code' again today, and by the way Dadi", I continued as I looked towards her, "Mr.Oberoi has not apologized for yesterday's actions either."
"Billu??!!!", inquired Dadi in a very disapproving voice, "I expect a double apology will be in order then by the end of the day today!!"
It was such a pleasure to wipe the smirk off The Baghad Billa's face and replace it with a frown. I turned to move my chair back in its place and smiled smugly.
"What did I say to break the code?? I only inquired about the articles you read in The Business Times that is all??!!", challenged Shivvay in a questioning voice one eyebrow raised almost to his hairline.
I sat down, smiled sweetly and leaned into his face with my hand on his arm as I said, "Well the article I prepared to present to you today was about one of India's young leading business tycoon and most eligible bachelor, since your premature marriage, and your Arch Business Rival."
His face looked like the storm clouds as he inquired in a dangerously low voice, "And who might that be Mrs. Annika Singh Oberoi?"
"Why Mr. Oberoi, it is none other than our very own handsome and debonair Rohan Veer Singhania ", I replied slickly and was rewarded with hearing him mutter a sharp curse under his breath.
"What's that language Mr.Oberoi?", I said in a teasing shocked voice as Shivvay's narrowed eyes changed to a steel blue and he stared at me angrily.
Chapter 20 - page 57
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