Chapter 2:
There's nothing like falling in love at first sight. Mahi was not even sure if people still believed in love at first sight. She did. She moved to States at the age of ten and three years later, after her father's death, she and her mom moved to California. Mahi loved the feeling of falling in love, that throat-tightening, heart-pounding feeling. She loved the knowledge of that everthing will be different, you will be different. Your life will never be the same ... nor you.
Actually, the first time she fell in love was when she was thirteen years old. Joshua was 16. He was her neighbour. He was tall, dark and very ... masculine. When she saw him first she knew she was in love. She never talked to him though. Everytime she wanted to go introduce herself, her chest started pounding. Then one day, he moved away and her heart broke into million tiny pieces. Hell, life goes on ... Joshua become a sweet memory.
Then Albert Khanna came into their lives. Actually, in her mother's life. After her father's death her mother became some kind of a gypsy. She was always moving to one city to an other --- to search for --- what? Art? She was a big fan of art. Peace? Though, she never wanted to go back to India. She told me she didn't have any family in India, so what's the point? Albert and her mother, Moni, never got married, but she did leave her with him when she decided to leave for Mexico. Her mother said it was just across the border, she will be back for her.
Suhani is Albert's daughter. She was eight years older than her. Mahi'd half forgotten those feelings when Suhani brought Shabd Sareen home to meet her father, and Mahi was suddenly thirteen years old again. Her heart pounded so fast that she knew it will come out of her chest any second. Those feelings --- that quick rush of excitement and fear. She knew this one was the one. But the joy had lasted only for a minute. Who was she kidding? He was Suhani's Fiancee. She told herself a lot of times, she couldn't mourn for something --- or someone --- which wasn't hers. Mahi hadn't been able to shake the feeling of loss.
Now, here she was, on her way to tell Shabd that he was a free man again whether he liked it or not. Once, again he was a bachelor.
Today, there was a lot of traffic, Mahi thought. Her VW, Sam, was giving her enough trouble. ''Don't worry, Sam. Ignore those idiots. They don't know what real class is.'', said Mahi. Mahi spotted Shabd's house. Mansion, she corrected mentally.
Shabd was probably there, waiting for Suhani so they could go to somewhere romantic or maybe have a romantic dinner? Later, he was probably looking foward for Suhani to spend the night. Mahi decided she didn't like that idea for one single bit. It added the acid bite of jelousy. If she knew Suhani well enough, she knew they were probably sleeping together. Muttering under her breath, she turned into the driveway.
Sighing, Mahi got out and spotted the doorbell. After ringing it, she shifted nervously to one foot to the other, fighting the urge to shove Shabd's letter under the door and run like a madwoman. Before she could decide, the door opened and she was surprised to find herself looking into Shabd's gorgeous blue eyes.
''Mahi?'' Shabd sounded surprised. At least, he knew who she was, Mahi thought with a relief. It could have been embarassing to know that she was mad in love with a man who didn't even know she existed.
''Shabd ... I-I didn't expect you.''
He arched one brow in surprised: ''I live here.''
Mahi flushed. ''No, I meant ... I was expecting your housekeeper.''
''Oh. It's her day off. Suhani isn't here, is she?'' She shook her head.
''Why don't you come in?'', he asked. Mahi hesitated before accepting his invitation. She wanted to tell him she was fine standing here, but God she was freezing out here.
''Thanks.'' His home was simply beautiful. He certainly had a good taste. His furniture looked both elegant and comfortable. There was a small fire in the fireplace which added a warm intimicy to the atmosphere.
Shabd: ''Would you like something to drink?''
Mahi: ''No, thank you.''
He stood there, arching his brow in question.This is the time, thought Mahi. She should say something smooth ... something gentle ... for the bad news yet to come.
''Suhani isn't coming.'' she blurted out. Oh yeah, that was great Mahi! Good going. Real sensitive.
''I kind of figured that.'', he said. Mahi couldn't read his expression. ''So tell me ...I take it ... her absense is permanent? She decided to become a nun? Having a sex change operation?''
''A ... dairy farm.'' Mahi said to Shabd's astonishement. ''She's ... uh ... marrying one.'', she continued. ''Bobby was her High school sweet-heart ... he came back ... and well ...''
''Hit a home run with my Fiancee?'', he finished for her. Mahi nodded.
''That's a relief. I would hate to think that she dumped me for a jerk. Any reason she couldn't do her own dirty work?'', he asked a bit irritated.
''She thought you might be upset.'', she stated.
''Upset? She runs away with some psyco a month before the wedding and she thinks I might be upset?'', he asked in disbelief.
Mahi pulled the letter out of her back pocket and handed it to him. ''She ... left you this.''
He stared at it for a long moment before taking it from her. He opened it and Mahi thought maybe it was her clue to leave.
''Have a seat, Mahi.'', he said. Mahi obliged.
Shabd laughed out loud. ''She says she's sorry to leave me in the lurch like this, know I'll understand that true love is more important than money. Hopes I won't have much too problem canceling wedding arrangement.'' He crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fireplace.
''I did suggest she should return her engagement ring.''
Shabd stared at her and said: ''I give a damn about it. Your sister can have it.''
''She's not really my sister ... she ... uh ..not even my stepsister. My mother and her father never got married. Then my mother left me with them.'', she explained.
''Abandoned you?''
''No. Not exactlty.'' No one understood Moni better than she did.
They both felt silent. ''Are you hungry?'' Shabd asked a moment later.
''No.'' Mahi smiled. She cleared her throat and said: ''Suhani told me the thing with your Tayaji. Not everything though. She said you had to get married before your .. 36th birthday?'', she made it sound like a question.
''She did, didn't she?''
Mahi waited for him to tell her it wasn't any of her business or go straight for ''Get out!''.
But he shrugged and said: ''He is after me ... He wants me to have kids .. couple of little Sareens ... get settle. I wasn't interested ... so, he came up with this scheme. He won't give me a penny until I do.''
Mahi grinned, ''Well, it does sound a little ... odd.''
''Odd, yes. You can call it that.''
''So ... you still have this ... deadline ... hanging over you?'', Mahi asked.
''I guess. Hard to say. Tell you the truth, he wasn't really impressed by your ... not-so-quite stepsister. So, he may cut me some slack. Then again, maybe not.''
''When is you birthday?'' An idea hit her.
''Two months.'', Shabd replied.
''That's not very much time, I must say.'' Mahi leaned foward and clasped her hands together and pressed them between her knees to hide their nervous shaking.
''Not much time.'', Shabd agreed.
''You could ... I mean ... it might sound a little odd ... but not really odder than the whole idea of ... Not that there's anything wrong with it ...'' She realized she was babbling and shut her mouth with a snap. Shabd was looking at her, his expression midly curious.
''What could I do that isn't any odder than marrying your not-so-quite stepsister?'', he asked.
Mahi stared at him. Paralyzed, helpless. She knew there was no way of stopping her.
''You could marry me instead.''
To be continued ...
Vanshaj
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Udne Ki Aasha
