Anurag pulled up his car to the front of Prerna's house and fished out his phone.
She picked up his phone on the ninth ring already inducing full panic into Anurag.
"What took you so long?" Anurag asked, in his favourite pissed off tone.
"Who's speaking?" Prerna asked, in a polite, sugar sweet voice.
"Funny." Anurag deadpanned. "I am waiting for you outside your house. Come quickly."
"For what?" she asked, sounding clueless.
"The Engagement Party," he said, sighing in resignation. Why does she have to be so difficult?
"Oh that," she said, in a very small voice. "I was actually thinking if I should go Anurag you see, I am on my period-"
"Sharma-"
"-and I am nursing a really bad back ache and add to it-"
"Sharma, I swear-"
"-I am feeling so tired from all the work at office-"
"Sharma!" he said raising his voice by a few decibles.
"Say please."
"What? No! What for?" he asked, indignantly.
"Because I am doing you a favour, duh."
"Look! I was saving you from going out with the git and being a really good friend, okay? If anything you should thank me." He finished.
"We are friends? When is that from?"
"Why are you doing this to me?" Anurag asked sounding vexed.
"Oh my god! You are making me sound as if I am wrecking your life!"
"You are a sadist."
"Tell me something I don't know." she smirked.
"Come."
"Say please, Prerna Sharma, I have no where to go. You are my only chance. I would be stranded if you don't go."
"No."
"I am not going until you ask me properly," she chimed.
"Okay." He said and hung up.
If that was what she wanted, he would do it.
________________
Prerna was wondering what happened when she heard the door bell ring.
Wait. No. No. No. No.
Prerna shuffled out of her bedroom into the living room, to confirm her suspicions and found her dad unlatching the front door.
And there stood Anurag Basu looking absolutely handsome in a blue two piece, smiling at his father warmly like he wasn't the one who was the sworn enemy of his daughter since school.
"Hello, sir. I am Anurag Basu, Prerna's friend from work," he said, extending his hand for a shake.
"Oh, do come in," Prerna's dad said, shaking his hand, and smiling back kindly.
Prerna, for some reason, ran back to her room, almost closed the door but not totally and peeped in through the crack. She was curious about how this interaction was going to unfold. And for some reason a little excited too.
"Thank you, sir. I am actually here to pick Prerna up for this engagement party of my cousin. Would it be alright if we went? I'll have her home by eleven." Anurag asked, smoothly.
Prerna could see the cogs working in her dad's brain. He was definitely sizing up Anurag and by the looks of it, he did get on his good side.
"Sure. Make sure you stick to your word, young man. Okay?"
"You got it," Anurag said, smiling obediently.
Prerna was undoubtedly impressed with Prerna's move. She was going to make her presence announced, when her father's next words stumped her.
"Look after her properly, okay? Keep her happy always."
"I would, Sir." Anurag promised.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
Why did that sound like a father's warning to his daughter's boyfriend? Prerna had to get Anurag out before all of this went out of hand!
"Dad! Hey! It's getting late, I guess. Its better we go. Right Anurag?" she said, smiling.
"No, it's okay, there is no hurry," said Anurag said, offering her an assuring smile.
Great. This guy has left his brain at home.
"So what are your plans for this date?" Her dad asked next.
What the hell! She already told her dad she was going out to this party with her friend. Why is he subjecting Anurag to this win-the-trust-of-your-girl's-dad session even?
"Dad! It's NOT a date! I told you already!" She said, sternly. "And we got any plans of going today?" she said rounding on Anurag.
He flashed her an amused smirk. He seems to be totally enjoying the himself. Payback time, Sharma.
"Let's go!" she urged, pushing Anurag out of the living room after giving her dad a swift hug.
___________________
"I was so slick and smooth!" Anurag began, looking rather impressed with himself, as soon as they were out of her house, making way to his car.
"Yeah. Yeah. Are we going anytime soon?" Prerna said, cracking a reluctant smile at his endless obsession with himself.
"I guess you can't wait to be my girlfriend, Sharma!" He said cockily.
"Okay, I am going inside, you take yourself to the party, okay?" Prerna said and turned around.
"Stay, Sharma." Anurag said, hurrying forward and grabbing her hand. "God, you are being such a-"
"B-I-T-C-H, I know!" she said with a wink.
Anurag stared at her, perplexed.
"That's from K3G." Prerna stated with the air of someone stating something pretty obvious like the sun sets in the west, with a shrug. She gave him a pitying look because he didn't catch the reference at all.
Anurag continued to stare, tbourogjly confused. Also utterly cute, Prerna took notice. She pushed that haywire thought to the back of her brain.
She gave him a look of utter disbelief. "You don't know K3G!" She whispered in shock.
"Is it some kinda show or book?" He asked, wondering why on earth was she looking at him as though he were from an alien planet.
"God! You don't even know what K3G is! Are you human?" She said, her shock still not subsiding.
"Pretty sure, I am. Get into the car," he said, rolling her eyes at her theatrics.
Prerna sat in the car, throwing him a forlon glance every and now then.
"Prerna, put on the seat belt," he said, as he drove his way through crowded roads.
She ignored him.
"You know, you should watch this film. Its one of the best ever made." She suggested sincerely.
Anurag laughed at her usual exaggeration of the simplest things.
"Put on the seat belt first, will you?"
"Yeah. Tell you what?" Prerna said, as she fastened her seat belt. "I'll make you watch this movie. You will love it!" She said, her eyes gleaming in excitement.
"You have a lousy taste, Sharma. I don't trust you. Like that Rohan? Your crush?" He said, with a satisfied smirk noticing her death glare. "Besides, movie dates are so boring. We don't get time to spend with each other what with you being involved in the movie," He said with a sideward glance and a wink.
Prerna blushed on cue. "It's not going to be a date." She stated.
"But for today, you've got to pretend to be my date. So brace yourself, Sharma. We NEED to look convincing."
"Oh yeah, about that," Prerna said, her interest all perked up. "Tell me all about the people I am going to encounter. I have to be prepared."
"Okay," Anurag drawled. He thought about how he could describe his relatives in the simplest way possible. "Okay let's do it this way. You are most likely to encounter four to five categories of people. A - giggling, gossipy aunties, always trying to pull your cheeks asking you about your marriage, kids and stuff. You gotta be careful with those ones. They can turn anything into gossip. B - would be the overtly romantic newly weds pestering you about the details of your love life. Those are two many in my family. Guaranteed to encounter. C - would be these fashion mongers criticising about stuff. I won't let any of them get close to you. So don't stress. And then there is D, the ones aways discussing work and stocks and salaries. Show offs basically. Not a big bother. I am sure you can handle those. And then there is E - teenagers who don't give a shit about us so we don't have to give anything about them either."
"Wow."
"Thanks." Anurag laughed.
"I never knew you were so loquacious."
"Part of the charm." He said grinning. Ananya smoothly ignored the remark.
"Hey, you forgot another category. The Git's!" She reminded him, laughing.
"Yeah. Him. It's better we stay away from him as well." Anurag said, his face twisting into distaste.
Prerna and Anurag reached the venue and got down the car after handing over the keys to the valet.
Inspite of Anurag's thorough and virtually easy explanation, Prerna was nervous. She just hoped she didn't blow the whole thing up and embarrass both of them.
"Hey," Anurag said, softly, taking her hand and drawing slow, soothing circles over her knuckles. "Calm down, okay? I am going to be there with you every single second, I swear." He gave her an assuring smile which Prerna returned.
She got this.
They hadn't even made it to the first set of chairs, when Anurag was attacked by a missile or so it seemed.
A woman, maybe in her fifties, dressed in a golden saree appeared. Out of nowhere and drowned Anurag in rib cracking hugs. With a final magnificent kiss smack on his cheek, she let go him. A Category.
And then she turned towards Prerna. Her beady eyes judged her top to bottom in a millisecond and her contemptuous smile a second later only meant Prerna thoroughly failed to impress her. She hated the gaze. She hated being treated that way. A Cat Auntie is going to be nicknamed A-Hole auntie.
Prerna felt uncomfortable under her scrutinising gaze.
"And you must be?" she said with a patronising smile.
"I am Prerna Sharma," she began, her voice croaky.
"She's my girlfriend," Anurag put in, his hand involuntarily making way to her waist, pulling her slightly closer to himself.
Prerna, for some strange reason found the movement thoroughly comforting but at the same time highly distracting. Her heart was such a complex. She was hyper aware of his hand around her holding her in place next to him. She was so distracted, she didn't hear the next question the woman put to her.
It was when the A Cat auntie and Anurag stared at her for flat two minutes, waiting for a reply did realise that it was she that the auntie was talking to.
"She's working as the head of several departments for the Kashyap-Malhotra merger, Mrs. Ahuja." Anurag offered.
"Let her answer sweetie. You keep answering for her. It would be hard for me to actually believe she is running so many departments if she can barely talk," Mrs Ajuha said with another simpering smile.
That smile irked Prerna so much that for a second she forgot all about her goey feelings.
"Oh, Anurag was just being the proud boyfriend that he always is," Prerna said, with a smile of her own. "I've done quite well so far in managing my departments and talking to people. And I have a reputation for having a knack at shutting people up who criticise me without knowing anything."
That Mrs. Ahuja left without so much as a courtesy smile, her face all shriveled up.
"That went smooth," Anurag muttered, his voice dipping in sarcasm.
"What, you are blaming me for this?" Prerna asked, incredulously.
"No." he said, shaking his head. "Of all the people we had to run into her first. She is my cousin's family friend. A Cat."
"Figured that," Prerna said, with a disapproving glance at the auntie's retrieving back.
There was a pause.
"She's an asshole." They both said at a time.
Giving each other a surprised look, the burst out laughing and high fived.
"Let's get going. I'll make you meet the nicer ones," Anurag said, steering her towards the other side, his hand never leaving hers. Prerna didn't seem to mind one bit. It only felt too comfortable for someone who she has been close to for a while.
Wait. Are they close already?
Before she could dwell anymore upon this thought, Anurag introduced her to a whole new set of people. Cat B and C she guessed by the looks of it. They were all pretty young. Anurag left her talking to some of his cousins to get himself a drink.
Prerna was actually having a good time, Anurag noticed. He smiled indulgently as he saw Prerna throw her head back and laugh, her eyes twinkling. That was one of the best things about her. She had no inhibitions when she laughed. She looked ravishing in a blue knee length frock with no make up and accessories. It somehow made her look more beautiful.
As if she could sense he was thinking about her, Prerna turned around to look at him and gave him a smile of pure fondness. And laughed again.
Wait. Wait. Wait. Were these guys telling her some stupid and embarrassing childhood memory of theirs? F*L, Anurag thought. He had to stop them.
"What are you guys talking about?" He questioned, dubiously.
"Nothing that concerns you," came the prompt reply from Prerna.
"God! I love her. She snubs Anu like we all do!" One of his cousins said.
They all laughed and Prerna gave I-can't-help-it kinda shrug.
The evening then after had been pretty smooth.
They still hadn't run into The Git. When Prerna inquired about him, she only got a filthy glare in return from Anurag. She laughed at his expense.
Prerna was happy she got to meet Anurag's cousins. After her fateful meeting with A-Hole auntie, she was glad to be chatting up with these fun loving type of people. They didnt pose any questions to her delight and let her stay comfortable. Or so she thought.
Self jinx.
They had finished dinner and were chatting randomly when one of the Cat B cousins proposed they play 'The Compatibility Game.'
Some lame game that was going to up their whole game, Prerna thought miserably. Anurag shot her a helpless look.
Each one of the cousins' better halves were being asked a set of questions about their partners and the one with the the maximum points won.
And it was Prerna's turn
Favourite color? Blue? Black. Wrong.
Favourite movie? Not K3G? That's hardly any answer. Wrong.
Favourite pass time? Irking her? The game was about compatibility. Not showcasing her amazing ability at being sarcastic.
Screw it, Prerna thought. She would say what she felt like saying.
"Look guys, I knew I was going to fail at this one miserably the moment the game started," she admitted. "But I am sorry, I don't even think these things even matter. Not to me atleast. I dunno Anurag's favourite food or color or anything of that sort." She paused. And then she looked at Anurag. Straight in the eye. "I know some things about him. Very certainly. I know that he is a very very strong person. He stands for what's right. He cares about people around him. He's got little ego issues. But nothing that can't be sorted." She smiled, as she didn't look away one second from those chocolate brown eyes of his boring into hers."He is very sarcastic and very fun to be around. He is a charmer at times and then in another moment he such an adorable dork! He loves going to the gym in the morning. Hates eating Chinese for lunch. He loves the chai at Down Street and hates being interrupted when speaking. But I do it all the time." She laughed." Irking him his MY favourite job. And vice versa. He loves working. And hates me. I see him as a winner and I am proud of who he is." She concluded. Her little monologue was welcomed by thunderous clapping from all the cousins and lot of cat calling and wolf whistling.
Prerna only looked at Anurag, who looked at her like he has never looked at her before. A look she could recognise as a mix adoration, admiration, fondness and something she couldn't quite put her hand on. Prerna actually surprised herself with what she did. She spoke all that she knew and felt about him.
She broke from the chain of thc cousins making an excuse of getting herself a drink. Her heart was hammering inside her rib cage like she had just run a marathon.
Prerna picked up a drink randomly from the table and stood there thinking. What was happening? This, was supposed to be a pretense. So all she had to do was to pretend. Why then did all do this seem too real to her? She had to put a break to her thoughts or she would only ending up causing hurt to herself. She couldn't deal with all of this.
"Prerna?" said a worried voice, from behind her. Anurag. He was looking at her, his eyes mellow.
Her heart was back to thrumming at 150 beats per a minute.
"Are you okay?" He asked her, his voice laced with genuine concern. "My cousins can be too loud sometimes. Did something they do hurt you?"
"No. No. No. No." Prerna said, shaking her head vehemently. "They are SUCH sweet people! I was wondering you are even related to them."
"And you are back." Prerna said, with his trademark roll of eyes, ruffling her hair. "Shall we leave?"
"Okay," Prerna said, grinning.
__________________
The ride back home was pretty silent. Until the car made phutt-phutt sounds and came to a halt with a jolt that threw them out of their seats.
"What kinda of a khatara gadi is this?" Prerna asked, snidely.
"It's an Audi TT. Way better than that truck of yours. Okay?" Anurag retorted.
"Doesn't change the fact that it's khatara-ness almost got us killed, right?"
"Killed?" Anurag said, with a raise of his eyebrows. "You hardly got a scratch."
"Whatever, I am walking home. It's not that far." She said getting down.
"I am walking with you," Anurag said, falling in step with her. "I promised your dad." He said nudging his shoulder with hers.
Prerna just shook her head, smiling.
There was silence for a while. They were hearing faint jazz music which got louder with every step they took. It emanated from the basement that the band of boys took on rent, Prerna realised. Though she wasn't a fan of jazz, she thought the music was very beautiful. It added to the charm of the night.
"Dance?" Anurag asked, extending his hand.
Prerna was surprised. She looked back and forth between him and his hand, still unsure.
"Come on, don't make it awkward," he said, when she shrugged and took his hand smiling.
Anurag slid his hand round her waist, pulling her close to himself. He could smell her perfume and it did things to his senses. She placed one hand on his chest and the other in his. And they swayed slowly, in rhythm to the music, hardly moving.
"Prerna?" Avinash whispered, his voice all deep, looking into her eyes.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks" He said, his eyes completely genuine.
Prerna smiled at him with the same fondness that he found that evening.
"Thats all?" She asked, pretending to be hurt.
"What else do you want?" Anurag asked, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
"Maybe some Virginia Slims cigarettes?" She said, grinning slyly.
"God! She told about that you!" Anurag said, letting his head fall in embarrassment.
Prerna just laughed. "You actually got them for her?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Because she was crying that I hit her. Such a cry baby. And I thought she would give me up if I don't shut her up. And then I will be thrashed black and blue. So I got her what she wanted." He shrugged.
"Which were the cigarettes. You didn't think if you and she were discovered with a pack of ciggaretes you would be thrashed all colours in existence?"
"No. I wasn't SMART like Miss Sharma, here." Anurag said, with a mock smile."I was ten in my defence."
"Lame." Prerna said, laughing.
"I am never letting you guys meet again."
"Too late. I got all their numbers." Prerna said, with a wink.
"You suck. "
"Rubs off you. By the way, I don't even think this Git cousin of yours exists."
"Yeah? And that I made up all of this stuff to score a date with you?"
"Exactly."
"Yeah. That's what happened." He said. That shut Prerna up. She had nothing now to goad him about.
They danced in silence.
"Prerna?"
"Hmm?"
"You look very, very pretty today." The genuinity in his voice shook her.
Her cheeks coloured as she looked into his deep brown eyes, smiling involuntarily.
Anurag let their hands drop. It was then that Prerna realised the music stopped. His other hand was, however, still round her waist. He pulled her so close, there wasn't a lot of space left. He bent forward, his lips nearing her ears. Prerna's heart restarted its wild thumping. She was super aware of their proximity. And she started hyperventilating.
"Thanks," he whispered, "for everything."
He planted a light but a lingering kiss on her jaw just below her ear.
Prerna was sure had it not been for him holding her tight against himself, her knees would have buckled and she would be on the floor. Her cheeks coloured even more. And Anurag gave himself a satisfied smile on spotting her blush.
He dropped her off at her house. Bid her goodnight.
Prerna made way to her bedroom and collapsed on the bed without bothering to undress. It was going to be a long, long night.
That's super duper long! Read patiently. And tell me how it is. It truly means a lot to the writer to know what their reader thinks. It's a great feedback. Shot out to all those who constantly keep supporting me. 🤗
