A/N: This was actually part of Chapter 10 but I didn't edit it last night and
so am posting this separately. This is a sort of filler and it may seem very
boring. I thought of deleting this whole bit but then figured that since I've
already written it, I might as well post it. And sorry for going overboard
with the football banter, both with Chapter 10 and this one. I'll cut it
down from the next Chapter. Thank you for reading and for all your
comments.
Chapter Eleven
Later that evening:
"So, that means you would eventually work with your Dad?" Maithili asked
him as they sipped their coffee. She had refused dessert ["What. Not
celebrating Chelski's win properly!"] Dinner itself had been too
sumptuous. She leaned back in her chair.
"Do you know Maithili, the rays of light from this chandelier give you the
effect of having a halo above your head."
"Adi, are you changing the topic?" she asked him quietly, " Is this too
personal?"
He grinned at her ruefully. "Maithili, I…." He looked down at his coffee
cup and then at her, "It's a little difficult really. It's what's expected of me.
I know that it is my Daadu's most earnest wish."
"And I also know, deep down inside, that someday I will do just that" He
paused and looked at her.
"But sometimes I can't help but wish I could do something else, you
know, shape my own destiny."
She tilted her head slowly until her face was cradled in her palm, elbow on
the table and looked at him, her eyes very earnest, "So, more than having
an alternative career mapped out, you wish that you had the right to
make a choice."
"It sounds pointlessly rebellious, doesn't it? Poor little rich boy stuff right?
That's what you're thinking right?" He looked away for a moment, his
face set.
"That's the trouble! Nobody understands, that's the problem."
She opened her mouth to say something but he continued, "I know I've
been heavily indulged and am the archetypal spoilt brat but don't you
see….?" He ran his hand roughly through his hair and looked at her coolly
as if waiting for her to make an adverse comment.
He was looking just like a little child with his hair slightly ruffled, the
lights playing on his face, turning his eyes into little pools of reflective
medium. The sullen look on his face was unusually endearing and before
she realised it, she had leaned forward slightly and covered his hand with
hers.
"I'm sorry if I sounded judgmental Adi. I really really didn't mean to, I
swear," she told him, her eyes gazing steadily into his, "you have every
right to decide what you want to do of course."
"But you think it's rebellious, don't you? Be honest Maithili." he asked her,
the sullen look fading away with every syllable he uttered.
He looked so defenseless suddenly, so unlike the Adi she was used to,
she felt completely unnerved. She felt like comforting him and she didn't
know how. She squeezed his hand gently, wishing she had the nerve to go
around and give him a hug. He looked like he could use a hug.
He gazed at her steadily, intently, trying to read a response in her eyes
and she sighed, wishing she could say something that would bring the
familiar smirk back to his face.
It was so odd seeing him like this, as if her opinion mattered so much to
him. And she had the strange feeling that she had the power at that
moment to hurt him, really hurt him, just by saying the wrong thing.
Some memories flashed into her mind unbidden, one after the other……..
"Even if I was a waitress, I would be associated with some work, unlike
you living off your father and grandfather."
"I would like to see a ten rupee note earned by you not taken from your
Father"
"What have you accomplished by yourself Vikram Aditya Mehra that you
strut around so arrogantly and superiorly?"
"Could you fend for yourself even one day without all these luxuries of life
that you take so unconcernedly and ungratefully for granted Vikram
Aditya Mehra?"
"Do you have any goals or aims in life Vikram Aditya Mehra or is it just
your intention to be the biggest parasite on earth?"
"Can you even handle a day's honest work Vikram Aditya Mehra? I think
not."
At various times during their initial stormy encounters, she had thrown
the above and various similar statements at him. And right now, she had
the uncomfortable feeling that he was remembering it as well.
Thinking back, she recollected that although his stance had been
aggressive, his eyes shooting sparks at her, his face reflecting his rage,
he had never answered her back, not once. Not once, she realized. Those
comments had struck home, he had been affected by it, she thought dully
and suddenly she felt miserable.
She looked at him silently, her eyes beseeching him to understand her
silent apology. He stared back unblinkingly.
"I wanted to be a doctor, you know, when I was younger," he told her
quietly, after a while.
"Mamma was…well, she was, you know, in and out of hospitals, and I had
just one thought as I was growing up, I wanted to be a doctor."
She nodded quietly, transfixed by the depth in his eyes.
"The family thought it was just a childish ambition, you know like all little
boys want to become pilots or firemen." He smiled softly.
"Daadu would put me on his knee and keep talking to me of the business
all the time. I was of course too young to understand anything at the
time."
"You know, Daadu's practically brought me up, that too single-handed. It
wasn't easy for him, I know that now. He was pretty much handling
everything on his own at the time. Dad was immersed in his worries
about Mamma, Nikhil Chachu was away, Ashu Chachu totally estranged.
Daadi was always flitting between New York, London and here."
"So, it was just Daadu and me actually. You know, Maithili, it was Daadu
who used to read me a bed time story every night when I was little, it was
Daadu who tucked me into bed every night, it was always Daadu who…"
Adi shook his head and smiled ruefully, "I'm rambling, sorry."
"No, go on Adi," she told him quietly. She wanted to know everything. She
needed to know everything.
"Daadu used to tell me how I was his only ray of hope and how he wanted
me to grow up quickly and join him. How he was building the Mehra
empire just for me. Stuff like that. I used to soak it all up.
Then of course, in time, I started understanding and appreciating the
glory that comes with fame, money and prosperity, with being in the
limelight as the heir to such a huge business conglomerate and to be
honest, it was a wonderful feeling. And, I slowly outgrew the doctor
ambition. All I wanted was to make Daadu proud of me."
"At school and later, I quickly got used to the power that money brings,
the adulation that being a Mehra automatically guaranteed! I was treated
like royalty by teachers and students alike. I lapped it all up. Took it for
granted, I did."
"Then there came a time where I thought that I really didn't need to do
anything much. The rebellious stage! That just my name and heritage
were sufficient. That nothing else mattered. And it worked for me. At
least I thought it did. Until you!"
She blinked, shocked "Adi, I'm sor…"
He shook his head. "No, Maithili, no one ever stood up to me like you did.
I hated you for it. I really did, for springing those vile facts at me. But in
solitude, I used to hate you even more for I could see the truth in your
statements. I then started feeling the pressure. Suddenly, for the first
time, I was doubting whether I could actually go ahead and do what
Daadu expects. And it used to make me absolutely furious."
"The worst thing is that it actually increased my rebellion, well, you know
how I used to retaliate."
He laughed tonelessly. "And now, I'm so confused about everything, I
don't know what to do anymore. I want, more than anything, to make
Daadu proud of me, but I don't know if I can do it anymore."
"Why, just this afternoon, Daadu asked me to help him with this new
project he wants to start and my mind immediately rejected it. A big NO
flashed across my mind and do you know why?"
She shook her head sadly.
"I feel, Maithili, like I couldn't do anything right anyway. Daadu means the
world to me, you know. What if I botch this up totally? Daadu would be
heartbroken. I don't think I could bear that!"
He suddenly looked away from her as if unable to look at her anymore.
"Adi, listen to me," she said softly but firmly, "Adi, look at me, please."
"It's human to feel insecure and it's human to err. But we are only human
Adi. We make mistakes. We all do. We are not super beings with super
powers. I do not think your Daadu expects you to turn in the best ever
employee performance or wrap up the most stunning deal in the world
with your first project."
"But I'm sure he expects a lot from you and Adi, the best thing is that
every step of the way you have the benefit of his guidance and support,
the guidance and support of your dad, both stalwarts in the industry,
honestly, that itself is such a huge advantage. Think about it. How many
people have the good fortune to have such a start?"
"And of what I know of you Adi, you like to be the best at everything
don't you? You hate being second best, don't you? That's just what will
always give you the leading edge. Plus you're so utterly competitive. If
you ask me, that's a total recipe for success with a capital S."
"And you know what Adi, I am totally confident that you will exceed all
expectations. Seriously! But you know what, you will never find out until
you try."
A shadow of a smile touched his chiseled features and she was struck by
the sweetness of his expression. Suddenly, all she wanted was for him to
give her a real smile and she smiled back recollecting that she could
actually bring a smile back on to his face with the information that she
had.
"Adi, I'll tell you something confidential, something I would not otherwise
say, and you have to promise not to tell another soul." He nodded.
"Guess what I overheard Professor Pithawalla say to Janki Ma'am Thursday
evening? Adi, he told her that you have the best corporate legal mind he's
taught after R A Bhatnagar. He's planning to send you as our
representative for the International Corporate Law Moot Court and…"
"Good God, not the one at Sydney," Adi broke in, his voice disbelieving,
his eyes shining suddenly.
"The very one," she told him happily, "I just passed on the papers and the
notice with Janki Ma'am's signature into the inter-office mail Friday
evening. So, it's official. It'll be on the notice board on Tuesday
morning."
"Are you serious Maithili?" he asked her, delight and disbelief varying in
equal proportions on his face.
"I wouldn't joke about something like this Adi," she told him seriously.
"As it is, although it's technically not classified information anymore, I
probably should not have told you. You would have felt even better when
Professor Pithawalla told you personally."
Adi shook his head, his face aglow with happiness, "No way Maithili. I'm
thrilled I heard this from you. I'm especially glad I heard it right now.
Honestly Maithili! I feel wonderful! Thanks so much. And believe me, I'm
happier about the R A Bhatnagar comment actually. Are you sure he said
that or are you just trying to make me feel better?"
"I swear Adi, everything I said was the truth, the truth and nothing but
the truth." she told him quietly and then gasped softly.
He had turned his hand over carefully, gently entwining her fingers in his
(she had forgotten about her hand). As he held her hand, she could feel a
blush creeping up her cheeks. She tried pulling her hand away but his
clasp though gentle, was firm.
As if her glowing cheeks amused him, he leaned slightly forward, turning
her hand upwards as if inspecting it.
"Such a soft hand Maithili, one would think this hand had not done a
day's work," he said smiling, stroking her palm softly.
A strange quiver ran slowly up her spine, a strange but intensely exciting
feeling. Maithili, drag your hand back this instant, he's flirting with you!
Remember that day at the Mandir!
Her arm felt boneless but she could feel streaks of awareness shooting
through her arm. She stared at him unblinkingly, waiting, wondering,
when he tilted her palm slightly, lifting it closer to his face. What is he
doing!
Is this where the knife cut into your palm that day with my Mamma?" he
asked her suddenly, his voice sharp.
"Huh? What?" she asked him uncomprehendingly, wondering why he had
stopped smiling.
"Does it hurt?" he asked her softly, tracing the scar on her palm with his
index finger and she suddenly understood what he was asking.
She tried to snatch her hand away again, suddenly uncomfortable, but he
held on.
"I can't believe what a moron I was then! I was so horrible to you Maithili,
so horrible," he told her seriously, eyes downcast, "I think about it all the
time these days and believe me Maithili, if I could wipe it all off, I would."
"Adi, it's alright, I…"
"I just stood there didn't I," he asked her quietly, "while you were getting
hurt…"
"Adi, you listen to me," she told him firmly, "we've been through this
several times. You've apologized a million times. For the last time, just
forget all of it. It wasn't just you back then, I've been equally nasty to
you. Let's agree to mutually forget everything. Start afresh, huh! Friends?"
He looked up at her at that, still unsmiling.
She rolled her eyes. "Well, if you must talk of repetitive stuff, let's discuss
the FA Cup final." A small smile tugged at his lips.
"And how," she continued teasingly, "the best goalkeeper in the world,
Petr Cech, displayed his brilliance as a goalie, with that fabulous save
against Giggs."
He was shaking his head and smiling ruefully now.
"And how Drogba, the top scorer of the season completely outplayed
Ronaldo."
"Miss Chelski," he mouthed with a lop-sided grin.
"And how ManU had only 11 shots on goal while Chelsea had 16 and so
the better team did win. And how…."
"Stop! Stop! Stop! Good Lord Maithili! You are crazy. Are you sure Roman
hasn't bribed you to be Chelski's official spokesperson?"
"And that's another thing Vikram Aditya Mehra, stop saying Chelski okay,"
she warned him with a frown.
"Everybody says it," he told her arching his brow, "why shouldn't I?"
"Oh! So if everybody jumps off a precipice, you will too is it?"
"That's so terribly juvenile, I used to say stuff like that back in
kindergarden"
"Which basically means the recent past, right Adi?"
"Ha Ha! What repartee!" he retorted mock-sarcastically.
"Thanks Adi," she said mock-seriously, "this is what I adore about you,
the way you dole out compliments."
"Good! Things are simple now that you've admitted it finally. You adore
me! Is there something else you'd like to say to me, perhaps?"
"Yes! Can I have my hand back please?" she asked him, trying not to
smile.
"I kind of like the way it feels in mine actually," he told her with a
mischievous grin.
"This is so silly."
"What is?"
"Why are you flirting with me?"
"What? Holding your hand constitutes flirting! Come, come.."
"Oh my God! Adi," her eyes suddenly widened, "what in the world is your
grandfather doing here?"
He almost jumped in his hurry to turn around, his hold slackening. She
immediately retrieved her arm.
"Where?" he turned back to her puzzled, "Where did you…?" he saw her
doubled up on her seat, trying to control her laughter.
"Oh, Grow up Maithili! It's not funny anymore."
"From where I'm sitting, it damn well is. How you jumped!" She went off
into fresh peals of laughter. He glared at her.
"Just wait and watch," he promised her threateningly, "Just wait, I'll get
you for that." She was too busy laughing to say anything.
"Oh Adi!," she said when she'd caught her breath a bit, "your expression
was so funny, so priceless…" She giggled again.
"Laugh away my dear," he told her eyeing her sourly, "remember, he who
laughs last…."
She continued to laugh though and after a while, he joined in as well.
As he parked outside her apartment block, he turned to her, "Thanks
Maithili. I can't remember a time I've enjoyed an evening more."
"I had a wonderful time as well Adi. It was great, really."
"And thanks for listening. You've really helped. But I've probably bored
you out of your wits."
"Absolutely not Adi. Please don't think that. What are friends for?"
"And Adi, remember to be really surprised when Professor Pithawalla tells
you about the Sydney Moot Court?"
"Yeah! Thanks Maithili."
"Anytime Adi."
"I'm planning to go sailing tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?"
"Sailing! Wow! That sounds very exciting. I've never been sailing. But Adi,
…."
"Don't think Maithili, just come, I promise you a lovely time."
She nodded, suddenly feeling shy.
"Great!" he said happily, "I'll call you in the morning."
He was out and opening her door before she realised it.
"Thanks Adi, good night" she said shyly.
As she stepped past him, she felt him catch her hand. She turned around
slowly, her heart beginning to race as she looked at him.
Before she could gauge his intention, he raised her hand to his lips,
turned her palm and softly pressed his lips against her palm…….right on
the little scar. Oh my God! She just stared at him.
"Sweet dreams Maithili," he whispered softly, "I know mine will be," he
looked at her meaningfully before turning and walking to his car. She
stood silently and watched him drive away, her mind a bewildered
whirlpool of emotions.
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