FF: Perfect Match (SG) - UPDATED* |Pg 19| - Page 7

Part 5 – On the way to Mexico

27^th February, 2007

4:00 am

A lone figure stood in the room overlooking the window gazing at the night sky. It was late November, fall had just begun and the leaves had turned a shade of red, a few were wilting, while others still remained on the branches of trees only to be plucked by little kids.

The moon appeared to be bright and distant, and the only source of light in the otherwise dark room. It penetrated through the window falling across the floor like a blanket.

The window was wide open and the only occupant in the room was a lady in her low 20's, she stood in front of the window with the cool breeze ruffling through her hair, and appeared quite tensed easily lost in her own thoughts.

The night was still very much alive when Shiv Kapoor stepped out of his house, with the millions of stars embedded in the sky still shining brightly gazing at him, the moon light falling on his face, the light wind breezing past made it all seem stunning.

On the way up to his PA's house, he spotted a bunch of long coniferous tress lined up in a row. The view was indeed splendid, with trees on the side, small hills creeping up now and then, the road moving up and down like a inclined place, clouds forming up in the sky, and the air a bit distant and moist added a wonderful touch to the view.

The stars blinked in the night sky and they reminded her of her old habit, whenever she would be upset about something she would go out in the open and sit for as long as she could remember. She had been taught that once people passed away they would become the stars of the sky casting light in our lives. So, she would sit in front of the stars and complain about her life and imagine someone giving her advice.

Her life was similar to the stars in the sky unknown, uncertain, lost and most importantly scattered.

The Kapoor lad got down from his brand new Mercedes, and strolled towards the doorway in a relaxed pace. With his shoulders broad rising up, a lazy smile playing on his lips, hair nicely gelled back, and shoulders moving from the side, as he walked gave him the look of a gorgeous Greek god.

Before he could knock on the door, the door opened to reveal a tired looking girl standing in front of him with her hair left open and moving back due to the wind. Her face looking all tired, yet managing to give out that bright look and her eyes twinkled, as they took in his appearance.

Gauri had never ever appreciated this man's charm, from day one, she had termed him ugly all due to his personality, but if looks could be deceiving then Shiv Kapoor would be an excellent proof.

The guy was handsome, devastatingly handsome, nice broad shoulders, and muscles bulging from the side – that any girl would die for made him look all the more stunning. And, to add to it the unshaven look he wore all the time made him appear so manly, along with the strong jaw line giving him a rough look. While the gorgeous green big eyes, could read anyone's mind, with a gaze so powerful that anyone could melt under it. That there was no need of heat in this slightly cold weather – Shiv Kapoor was sufficient to provide 'the heat' to any girl.

"If you are done checking me out... can we leave?"

She instantly blushed at his words. Damn! He could really read minds. She turned her gaze to the floor and looked uncomfortable, as she looked around trying to find an excuse. But, soon the uncomfortable vanished, and instead replaced anger.

How dare he? What do he think of himself? She had to remember he called her ugly before, and she would die before admit that he was hideously handsome.

She pulled the bag in front so hard that it almost knocked Shiv out, it hit him flat on the leg making him wince in pain, while she strolled to the side and walked to the car, while behind her Shiv said some not so fine to her.

****

They had crossed the city, and were passing some secluded area with hills, beautiful mountains, streams, and farms when Gauri fell asleep.

Shiv looked at her sleeping peacefully she resembled a heavenly looking angel, her cute innocent face all relaxed, and the smile on those luscious lips indicated she was dreaming about something nice.

He smiled, as he recollected her one sentence before she fell asleep, "If you think I am stupid, then you have to get your brain checked. I have heard about all those k-shows, in which a guy and a girl go out of the place for some work matter, and of course have all those romantic scenes & fall in love, but ----"

To which he had chuckled and replied, "that is not going be the case with us, so relax we will have no romantic scenes"

In his life, he had dated so many models and actresses some of whom were beauty queens, but they really weren't any match to this beauty next to him. Gauri Ghosh was beautiful. Despite wearing some very cheap quality clothes some of were torn she had carried them with such grace, and made them all so stunning, that people would buy them would the dress for a price 10x more than they were worth.

He wouldn't exactly call her the prettiest girl on the face of this earth, since he had seen girls that were prettier than her. But, there was something unique about her, which he couldn't exactly pinpoint... she was pretty, yet at the same time she had this innocence on her face, which he had rarely seen.

She didn't have any trace of make up. Nor did he see any lip gloss on her lips, they were naturally shiny, her eyelashes needed no mascara, they were long, and curled nicely at the ends making her appear like a barbie doll. Her nose was straight and nicely centered – it was really small, her eyes were simply gorgeous – slightly chocolate brown, yet with a Grey tinge in them. They still held the innocence of a teenager; those chocolate brown eyes would be something anyone would die for. While, her cheeks were chubby and naturally pink, they needed no blush -- in his 26 years of life, he had never seen a natural beauty, but here was one sitting right next to him.... If without makeup this girl was a pretty girl, then he couldn't imagine what makeup would do to her.

The heavy rain brought him out of his thoughts, he was forced to stop the car, and bring the roof on top. It was very unusual for it to rain in Mumbai in November. The rain reminded me of his first encounter with Gauri Ghosh, which was also highly unusual, and he was forced to ponder on whether the rain had any significance in this story.

****

Gauri yawned, as she stretched her arms widely, and took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Panicking slightly she got down from the car shut the door, and wondered where her partner had disappeared.

She checked the trunk, and noticed his bag was still there, so he had to be around. She looked at the small hotel in front of her with very few occupants, which wasn't so strange, since it was only 5-00 AM, and in a area like this with virtually no land the only people inside the hotel would be travelers like her.

She made her way inside the hotel, and looked around for her partner. She glanced around for a couple of times, but she didn't catch him, so she was forced to make her way to the counter. The cashier was busy engrossed in his work, while a young lad stood in the corner taking in orders.

She went near him, bent down, and asked, "Have you seen a tall man here? He is about 6'1, has green eyes, slightly brown hair, which is gelled back, broad shoulders, and.... um" she knew she was forgetting something, "oh yes, he has muscles... that too very nice ones" the guy blinked for which she was forced to repeat everything again.

The guy looked up, and froze. Ugh, a young guy staring at her was not a pretty sight.

"Wow, I didn't know I was that good"

She turned around for which she was met with a chuckle. So, the young boy was looking at Shiv trying to match the description, and here she was thinking he had a crush on her. Sick. But, then again younger guys did always have a crush on her.

They made their way to the table. Shiv had motioned the young lad to come by, and ordered a few things for breakfast.

"Gauri, if you are out of your dreamland, would you order something? The poor boy is waiting"

She looked up annoyed, "I don't want anything. Just get me Iced tea" and she dismissed the guy.

"Hey you wait...." the boy came back, "Gauri, what is this nonsense?" he yelled angrily coming closer, "You are not getting her Iced tea!" he barked at the young boy who just nodded his head in fear "Gauri, order something decent. I know you will blame me, if the flight does not give food of your choice, and I don't want to hear any of your excuses"

"I won't. I don't need anything" she replied again

The boy began to walk away again, when Shiv stopped him, "get the same thing for her as well."

"What are you doing Shiv? Didn't I make myself clear that I am not eating anything"

"And, I think I made myself more than clear that you will eat something"

"What the hell man? Who are you to boss around with me?" she replied angrily now getting up.

"I don't want my PA to fall sick." He replied in a no nonsense tone, "Look, I don't care whether you want to eat or not. I could care less about you... my only concern is because you are my PA. We are not going to Mexico for a vacation. You are going to be on your toes working constantly, and I am pretty sure Mexican food is not something you will indulge in, so this is my final request to you eat something or you will have acidity problems..."

"So, if the boss says sleep, then I sleep, if the boss says eat, then I eat?" she said sarcastically

"Yes." he replied with a smile, "I am glad we are on the same page now"

Gauri gave him a angry look, and like a school kid she sat with her hands folded furious that she did not get her chocolate, which of course was the Iced Tea.

****

Shiv and Gauri walked up to the counter to pay for their little breakfast, as soon as Shiv forwarded a 100 Rs – Gauri forwarded her note, while the cashier looked confused at the two.

It was highly amusing when he met customers, in which many were willing to pay for the money – they would push each other away to pay for the bill or sit and argue over who is paying the bill for hours.

In this particular instance, the green-eyed boy put the money in front, and said, "Don't take it from her"

"No, take mine as well" she demanded from the cashier.

"Don't listen to her," he said looking at the cashier thoroughly ignoring the pretty girl next to him.

"No, listen to me" she replied giving the green-eyed boy an angry look, as she tried to push him away, and put the bill in front.

Now, this is what the cashier hated in his job. Customers, who were too enthusiastic over paying the bill was not a problems, but ones who kept going 'take it from me' it was so confusing to pick one, some times he felt like saying, "how about you both give me the money?" Since he hated listening to one, and turning down the other. As it is he wasn't good at making choices, which could explain his wife, who was ridiculously stupid, and was the butt of jokes by his mother.

Before he could make a choice between the pretty girl, and the green-eyed boy, the pretty girl was lifted up by the green-eyes boy, while she hit him on his hands, as he chuckled and turned her in the opposite direction still maintaining his good hold on her.

And, that's when someone chose to make a wrong entry. That someone would be his mother, a short, plum lady, looking sweet with her nice round face, her hair tied in two plaits with a pair of big round glasses, since her eyesight wasn't too good due to old age.

She came to tell him something, but when she noticed the couple in the side, the guy holding the girl tightly in his arms, while she hit him on his arms, and say, "Shiv, leave me alone" she smiled remembering about her husband.

"hayeee kya jodi hain/ haye, what a couple" she said to her son, the cashier, who pretended to not hear her words.

She put her hands in front, and pretended to take nazar away from them, as she added, "kisiki nazaar lage tum duno ko/ May no one's bad eye get you" she said this time loudly.

At her words she noticed the couple turn around, the guy turned around with the girl still in his arms, he looked completely shocked at her words, while she noticed the girl turn a deep shade of red.

"Ma," said the annoyed cashier, "go and check on chameli"

But, his mother continued to ignore him, and looked on at the couple, she quickly asked, "boy friend? girl friend?"

The green-eyed boy recovered completely from his shock, and instead replied, "nahin maaji humhari shaadi ho chuki hain/ no maaji, we are married" he said bringing the girl closer to him with a smile on his lips, the girl blushed, at least from the lady's perspective.

Gauri was furious in anger, as she heard Shiv say those words she immediately smiled, and tried to pull out of Shiv's tight hold, but failed miserably.

"honey moon pe jaa rahe ho kya?/ are you going on your honey moon?" she demanded smiling.

"Ma," said the cashier, pulling his mother, "go inside"

She waved at the pretty boy, and blew him a kiss, for which she was nicely returned one also with the words, "Maaji humhe ashirwaad dijiye ki humhara munna jaldi aa jayee!"

Gauri fainted in his arms at his last words

****

The next time she opened her eyes the sun already risen in the sky spreading its light and warmth everywhere. Shiv was driving the car with a medium pace humming some tune.

Holding her head she tried to recollect how she ended up in the car only to remember about the hotel incident, turning red now in anger she yelled, "Why did you have to do that?"

Shiv turned on the loud speaker to its loudest volume. She could hear the words, "Oh baby would you dance like that" coming out.

"SHIV!" she screamed with the loud speaker annoying her, and making her head ache worse.

She put her hands on the speaker to turn down the volume only to feel him catch his hand. Looking at him angrily she shot daggers at him for holding her hand.

He immediately dropped her hand, and turned down the volume of the speaker, "sorry" he said smiling, though he seemed far from sorry, "I just was in the mood to tease you"

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Tell the lady we were MARRIED"

He chuckled at her words, once he noticed her face, he stopped, yet the smile still remained on his lips, as he answered, "You know how you are a old fashioned cultural girl living in the 50's. I thought the thought of girl friend would disturb you, so I resorted to marriage"

She fumed in anger. He could see the steam coming out her ears.

A angry Gauri was surely a very interesting sight.

"And, why did you have to talk about kids?" she questioned looking at him. This time she looked determined – he would have no answer to that.

"Oh come on Gauri, don't me you didn't figure that one out?" he said giving her a glance, "old ladies like hearing such things!"

What?

She remained silent trying to figure a loophole in that. He was only fooling around. How stupid could she be?

For the first time he had managed to shut her up, and she didn't like this one bit.

"Besides Gauri, why are you taking my words so seriously? Don't you think I really meant that" he said smirking, "please, if you think I will marry you it will only be possible in your dreams. I had rather marry your buffalo chachi than you at least she has the manners to speak to me nicely."

And, there was another one of his insult to add to her already big long list of insults.

****

The rest of the journey to the airport went quite peacefully. Gauri pretended to be engrossed in the view outside though his insult remained on her mind, while Shiv listened to the music, and occasionally both glanced at each other, if Gauri gave Shiv murderous looks, then Shiv did the same. He was competing with her on who gave better murderous looks, and who hated the other more.

By the time they reached the airport, it was beyond 7-00 AM, as they made their way inside several people gave glances at Shiv.

Gauri had never felt more stupid in her life, as she walked along side with him with her ugly bag, and her outfit, which was worth very few bugs. She was highly aware of the class difference between the two of them, as people gave admirable glances at Shiv, while she received the disgusted look.

She felt like running away except she didn't, instead she found her self walking as far as away from Shiv as possible. She knew he would not want someone like her walking beside him. It would lower his dignity.

In her hurry to walk away from him, she completely lost him somewhere. She looked around unable to find him, feeling stupid now, she felt like crying for Shiv's insult from earlier & now this, and that's when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to notice Shiv.

"What are you doing Kapoor?" she found her self asking

"The one thing you are supposed to do – you don't even do that properly! Is anything even up there?" he said pointing towards her head

She blinked. Tears came in her eyes.

"Shiv, why are you holding me? What will these people say?"

"You don't know how to come with me, so what can I do?" He said looking at her "And, people won't say anything"

"Shiv, don't you get it? You are a handsome, rich, charming and perfect, while I am ugly, pathetic, poor and stupid"

"Don't be stupid Gauri" he replied still holding on her

"Shiv, I am ruining your image" she said tears falling on her cheeks

Before he could reply to her comment, he noticed tears in her eyes, "oh no!" he yelled moving his hand through his hair, "not that now" he said looking everywhere looking frustrated.

At his words she started crying more, and before he could stop her she had run away to the nearest washroom.

Silently swearing under his breath and cursing himself for leaving her, he made his way to the washroom.

****

When he entered the washroom, he was met with a pair of silly teenage girls, all of whom turned red at his sight, feeling awkward he asked them to leave, as he had something important to discuss with someone.

They giggled at the words 'important' and 'someone'. Never had Shiv met such silly and stupid girls in his entire life.

When they left, he locked the door behind him, since he really couldn't bear another one of those girls.

"Gauri," he said patiently knocking on the door of one of the cubicles.

"Go away," she screamed, "I have had enough of your insults!"

"Gauri, I want to talk to you... come out"

"Get lost! I am not talking to you." She replied crying, "I am not coming with you to Mexico. And, I am going back home." Something had just snapped inside her. She was furious. Just beyond furious at this man.

Who did he think he was?

"Gauri, this is the last time I am asking you to come out"

"Do whatever you want to Kapoor. I could care less of your stupid threats"

"Don't make come there Gauri" he replied

She laughed, "This is your problem. You treat me like I am some kid, which I am not." Before she could continue she covered her mouth, and as Shiv moved to the side to jump into her cubicle, the next instant the door to her cubicle flew open, which thankfully did not hurt him, since he had moved to another cubicle. Covering her mouth she ran up to the basin and threw up.

"Gauri," he said walking behind her

"Go away!" she replied, and she threw up again.

"Are you alright?" he questioned

She started crying again. As he caught hold of her shoulders, she pushed him away, and screamed out loud, "There you have another thing to insult me. You can always remind me how horrible I look when I throw up"

"Gauri," he said holding her shoulders now, "listen Gauri, I don't know about people all I can assure you is that to me you are the most prettiest girl I have come across. You look pretty even when you cry and throw up" she choked on her tears, and laughed when he said throw up, "So, get rid of that ugly word from your mind. As far as class is concerned, it's too bad if people notice the class. I don't see that. I don't care about your class or anything. And, by the way you add beauty to that dress you are wearing," he replied looking at her dress.

She laughed still crying.

"And, Gauri please don't cry," he said looking at her, "sorry, its just I hate it when people cry. I really do. And, I have my selfish reasons for that – I have no idea how to stop someone from crying"

"Can I hug you?" she asked

"Ah! Of course, I know it must be hard to resist hugging a cute guy" he replied chuckling.

She hit him lightly on the shoulder at his words, and hugged him.

To walk into his arms was like walking into a home. His arms provided warmth, security almost everything – something she hadn't found in years.

****