Separation anxiety and like I warned, terrible with keeping deadlines. Here is the end result:
"Hey, whatchu doin?"
"You're quite unoccupied for a first night in the party city".
"I was just offering you company cause your dog days are clearly over".
"Don't remind me".
"Looking at the skyline? How do you like it?"
I guess he wanted me to be excited but, I was rather depressed leaving Shimla . There were no stars visible in the smog filed skies; the tall buildings did a mediocre job of hiding the slums. "It's nice".
"You are certainly not a very good liar which makes me question your choice of profession".
"To screw corporate, one does not need lies, only the ability the see through them".
"You can screw corporate without going through all that trouble, un un?"
"Kundra, classy, very classy". I actually laughed at his corny joke.
"Well, you start law school tomorrow and I will be joining the office. I have decided to parachute my way into management rather than going through all the schooling trouble".
"You owe to it to yourself to go to college".
"My journey has already been planned out".
"But, you are so smart".
"Didn't see that coming". Rishabh was taken aback by me praising him.
"What I mean is, you're.. You should...' okay, I am in no place to talk but, I think you are too intelligent to let your brain power go..to...waste. At the risk of sounding cheesy, I think you should keep reading".
"I will. I have the world's best educators at my disposal".
"I am sorry if overstepped my boundaries". I was quite uncomfortable saying what I had said. I wished this conversation never happened.
"That's fine. By the way, I may have forgotten to mention we are not exclusive".
"Excuse me?"
"I am certain that my heart is a slippery slope. I like to mess around with girls. Wanted to give you a heads up".
"Yeah". I nodded my head as his body brushed against mine and finally left sight. That was by far the most awkward conversation I had ever had with Rishabh. I was not very thrilled with the idea of having other partners. Rishabh's needs were understandable. I might be able to become a nun and serve children in Africa but, not everyone is built the same. He needed companionship. Heck, why was I censoring my thoughts? Uh, I was getting too caught up in the details. Best to tackle the troubles as they came through the door.
In school, I met a wonderful group of scholars. James, tall and slim man who shared all the political ideals as me. If I owned a law firm, he would be the senior partner. If I were a entrepreneur, he would be my personal secretary. If I were in an alternate universe, I would marry him and have all his babies. He was the yin to my yang. Except, he was queer. So, we established our relationship dynamic as BFFs. He was now my portable confessional and I his debate partner. Then, there were Geeta & Rohit, a madly in love couple and a question mark at the competency of the admissions committee. Unlike all the other students selected in our program, they barely had awareness of their surroundings. Typical rich kids who scrape by thanks to their parents' seat in the trustee board. They were nice human beings though. They had pledged to accompany James and I to the slum volunteer project. That was enough change for today. I went back home to the one constant of my life, my husband. His feet on the glass table, Rishabh seated in a position ready to annoy me.
"Welcome home. Remember how I talked about the girl coming home tonight?"
"No you didn't but, go on".
"She is not coming any more. She fell on the ramp".
"Let me guess. She crashed under the weight of her own stupidity?"
"Jealous?"
"What do you take me for? A Mormon sister wife who would open up her arms to a wench you fancy?"
"Do we have a fidelity clause now?"
"I cannot share you".
"I am not surprised. I can be a priced possession".
"It's not you, it's the idea of being married and all. People know. And, I have an image to maintain".
"I am sure that's the reason".
"Don't interrogate me". Now I was just self-loathing. "I will be right back".
In that moment, I would have really liked to read his mind. "I know how much love your birthday and you are probably gonna have a huge party. So, I got you an early present".
"A Lagerfield suit?"
"I don't know much about fashion. I had help from a friend".
"This is incredible. Your friend has good taste", he striped down to his undergarments.
"Indeed. You should change in the closet". I partly covered my eyes with my fingers. A part of me wanted a peek at his chiselled chest and rib cage sticking out . He was as close to perfection as one can find.
"Have you never admired a scarcely clad male model?" , removed my hand from my face. "For a small town girl, your views on nudity were surprisingly liberal. This is the height of hypocrisy". He inched closer with a signature smirk plastered on his face.
"I am only stating common courtesy. I wouldn't mind some eye candy", I touched his bare shoulder. The minute I responded to his flirting, he backed away. Works every time I tell ya.
"How did you get so much money? Your bank account had 18 dollars last time I checked".
"I worked a summer job. I pay my debts".
"Of course you would do that cause you are'.you". He slipped into the grey blazer and struck a pose for my amusement.
"Marvellous. I am going out for a college mixer. I will see you tomorrow".
"Listen", he called from behind. "Do you think I stand a chance against this friend of yours?"
"He is gay. You have nothing to fear".
"Fashion ranking. I was talking about style", he stated in a lulling voice.
"I believe you", I was dotting at the blushing Kundra boy dressed boxer shorts and an overpriced blazer.
__________________________________________________________________________________-
"I hear you have a dashing boyfriend", James nudged me in front of our class mates.
"Husband", a tabloid reader Ricki pointed out.
"She is a Kundra, Madhubala Kundra", Mickey the gossip girl was quick to jump in.
"Isn't that right?" Was my professor kissing up too? Come on, can I be treated like a normal human being for once?
"I would very much appreciate my personal life not being dragged into academic conversations. Excuse me for being forward". James pulled out of the crowd.
"So, how is he? I want all the deets. Where did you go for your honeymoon? Is he hot? Of course he is. Does he treat you nicely? No, he gives you faux fur to wear. Poor baby", James went from being excited about Rishabh to pitying my outfit in a split second.
"James, not his fault. I am against corporate culture and exploitation of wild life. I bought this with my own money. How is he? He is pretty much a straight version of you when it comes to style and intellect. A bit more sarcastic and cocky and a flirt. I love his stubble and his baby face when he does shave. He has bony abs which indicates that his body is not infiltrated with steroids. He doesn't rest the laptop on thighs, very important".
"Always good to know the sperm is doing okay", he pressed on his nose trying hard to maintain a stern look.
"I am rambling aren't I?"
"Honey, you are in love".
"Am not".
"Are to".
"I like him, you know. That's why we married but, love is a little far fetched".
"I understand you are reserved but, you've got to tell me. We are both scholars. I hold a masters degree. Don't mean we can act like school girls. Come on, spill the beans". He tried the best ghetto accent a city boy could pull off.
"OK. You're probably the only person I am going to share this with but, I am terribly fond of him. If we are arguing, I drop a hint when he gets stumped. When he texts me stating an emergency and what he really needs is an excuse to get out of the meeting, I go anyway. Tell him to read books once in while but, make his point for him. When he can't pronounce that French dish but, really wants to order it. I make a fool out of myself cause I can't read it either. And, when he asks me if I like the half burnt cake he baked, I feign the best surprised look I can conjure up. And, I want to buy him things and I feel this tingling sensation in my"
"Boobs".
"Shut up", I hugged him tight. I might have redirected my affection onto James. "I have this fear that one day, I am going to fight him in court. And, I will deliberately lose to see him win".
"There, there".
"He is calling".
"Answer him and tell him James sends kisses".
"James sends you kisses Rishabh".
"Here is a kiss back, muah".
"I am melting", James heard his beau.
"Go away James", I was looking for privacy.
"I see you have told him all about my pretty face".
"I didn't need to. The paparazzi did my job".
"You admit I have pretty face?"
"What's the piercing sound?"
"Topic successfully changed. I accidently turned on the smoke alarm. Come home soon".
"Waft the smoke away".
"The cake, I think I burnt the oven. I told you we should hire a chef".
"How bad is it?"
"You need to come here or the police will kind of bad".
"Get the fire extinguisher and remember P.A.S.S. I am on my way".
"What the hell is P.A.S.S.?"
"This is why you shouldn't have missed the fire safety class".
"We are doing this now? Really?"
"I am coming. Got to go James. Lovely meeting you all. Muah, Muah".
"Would stop with the kisses?"
"Getting worse isn't it?"
"Got it under control. Aaah".
"Rishabh, hello?"
________________________________________________________________________
I saw Rishabh in a corner hugging the fire extinguisher. The alarm had stopped ringing and no smoke was visible in the otherwise burnt oven. Rishabh had either fainted or was fast asleep on the floor.
"Honey, are you okay?" I put his head in my lap oblivious to the fact that he was awake.
"Yes honey", he did not let this opportunity to mock me slide on by.
"Stay there. I will check for a burn ointment".
"Your fault for telling me to stop microwave cooking".
"Simple suggestion. You didn't have to follow through, Mr. injury prone".
"Yes, Mrs. Kundra, the nagging wife. Will you be my date?", he gave me the puppy dog eyes as I applied Polysporin to his injured arm.
"What's the occasion?"
"Charity. I am the face of the company for some slum development shenanigan".
"I am the leader of that shenanigan".
"I wasn't aware".
"I don't expect you to be. Dress down if you are getting down and dirty". He took off his shirt. "Dear God, not strip. I said dress down the day of. Wear casual".
"Sure blame me when you are the one with misleading sentences".
I made an ugly face at him. His expression of mischief vanished. Something or someone else had taken over him. He dimmed the lights and talked in a deep monotonous voice, "Madhubala Rishah Kundra"
To be continued...
Edited by iiDona - 12 years ago
CID
