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Chapter 3
At the country club - with Siddhi's childhood friends
While the introduction was made , Kunal kept his arm around Siddhi's waist. He had a charming smile and made all the necessary pleasantries, nods, and small talk with Siddhi's friends and made them feel very comfortable.
Once the intro was over, Kunal and Siddhi set on a love seat with Kunal's arm around Siddhi's shoulders holding her not too tightly but enough for anyone who had doubts, that Siddhi' was Kunal's woman with one leg crossed over the other..
Siddhi's friends were completely smitten with Kunal and they were looking at Siddhi with envy wishing if only their spouses were like Kunal . What a charming good looking gentleman were their thoughts.The ladies were looking with their hearts in their mouths.
Rakesh on the other hand seemed to be sulking and did not like the attention Kunal was receiving. He knew all was not well with Kunal and Siddhi. He had done some homework and knew that Kunal has filed for a divorce. He was thinking, what game was Kunal playing now. Why is he acting so possessively over Siddhi if had set the divorce in motion, unless Kunal now has changed his mind... Rakesh, thought, no way he is going to let Siddhi escape from him. He is going to pursue her and make her his wife. His clever sharp mind already started to plan something...
Priya to Siddhi at the ladies : Hey Siddhi, you dark horse, now I know why you didn't invite us to the wedding. Your hubby is such a charming guy. Good looks and brainy as well. Oh Siddhi, I am so happy for you and anyone can see he so completely besotted with you , you darling girl!
Jenny : Siddhi - I am really envious of you. You were always a quiet girl. Imagine you ending up as Kunal's wife , a gold medalist and I hear a briillant no nonsense lawyer.
Rani: Its a match made in heaven. You so lucky to have him as your husband. We know about your circumstances to the marriage. We were a bit worried about you but seeing you and Kunal now, we have no doubt that the guy is hoplessles in love with you.
Siddhi looked at her friends and were thinking if only they knew how stubborn and obnoxious her husband was. To the rest they might look like a perfect couple but they have very serious issues which they need to solve. Like their marriage. She really don't know where to go from here or what to think anymore. Where Kunal was concerned, she was totally clueless. Does he really love her or is he pretending in front of her friends to be possessive and show how caring and loving he was so as not to make her feel uncomfortable.? God knows what this man of hers is thinking. Sometimes she wish she could get into his head and see what he is thinking?
Siddhi just smiled at them and said all the right things.
Rakesh and Kunal were sitting alone while the ladies were in the powder room. Kunal facial expression changed when he stared at Rakesh. Both of them were staring at each without their eyes wavering, each one giving silent messages to each other. Total male macho standish off looks. Assessing each other squarely.
The ladies soon joined them. They proceeded for lunch and after some tea, everyone took leave and bid each other goodbye promising to see each soon..
Back in the Bedroom
Kunal was lying on the bed with his arms behind his head and staring at Siddhi. Siddhi was at the dressing table removing her make up. When she looked up she caught Kunal was staring at her
Siddhi: What?
Kunal: I like all your friends. Nice ladies.
Siddhi: Yeah I know them since I was a kid.
Kunal : But I don't like Rakesh though.
Siddhi: Why, what did he do?
Kunal did not want to go in details but just said: Nothing but I don't want you to see him again.
Siddhi look with bewilderment at him: Kunal, he is my friend...
Kunal : And you are my wife Siddhi!
Siddhi; Yeah not for long isn't it? Remember you asked me for a divorce ? Surely you have not forgottent that?
Kunal had the decency to look embarrased. Why couldn't he just say that he loves her and the last thing he wanted was a divorce. He loves this girl so much but she is not making things easy for him to express his feelings. She is equally stubborn as he is.
There was a knock on the door. Kunal look irriated. Why couldn't his family just leave them alone for a few minutes. For the first time he thought, how nice it would be if Siddhi and he lived alone on their own without the rest of the family. Just the two of them. Before he could go into a dream, the knock became more insistent.!
Siddhi went to open the door. Seema was at the other end beaming with joy holding a bouquet of beautiful white roses with a pink satin ribbons.
Seema: For you Siddhi and she peeped at Kunal and winked at him.
Siddhi took the flowers from Seema and closed the door and looked at the bed. Kunal was not in it. He was in the bathroom. She put the flowers on the dressing table. Kunal came out from the bathroom
Siddhi said softly : Kunal , the flowers are so beautiful...thank you.
Kunal glanced up and looked at her frowiningly.: What flowers?
Siddhi pointedly looked at the flowers on the dressing table and
Kunal said slowly : I didnt send you any
Siddhi flushed feeling so embarassed : Oh...
She walked back to the dressing table and saw there was a tiny little card. She plucked it to read. But before she could read, Kunal wrench it from her
" Missing you and thinking about you. Rakesh" - Kunal read it out loudly with sheer disbelief and he said with anger
" How dare he!"
Siddhi was still trying to get over her assumption that it was Kunal who sent her the flowers when Kunal words sank in.
Kunal lifted the flowers from the dressing table : I will dispose the flowers now! Damn the man
Siddhi: No, you will not do such thing! What wrong with Rakesh sending me flowers.?
Kunal face was like granite: IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A MAN TO SEND FLOWERS TO ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE!
Siddhi just gave him a shrug with a carlesssness because it was just a gift of flowers from a well wisher and there was no need for such a macho male stand off over such a trival issue. She gave him a warning look...
Kunal looked at Siddhi in disbelief when she snatched the flowers back from him and put it back on the dressing table. He was fuming mad and Siddhi sat at the dressing table calmiy combing her hair...
Kunal felt like prising the comb from her and carry her to the bed and and and...
Kunal pulled himself together and said with controlled force : I am going out for a while. I'll see you later. Dont wait up for me.
With that note, he left the room and closed the door with a loud angry bang.
Siddhi was all alone in the house. The rest of the family has gone to see some relatives. Rakesh called her to ask her to go for a short drive with him. She looked at the time. Ok, she thought still too early for dinner. Why not. ?
She went to change. She dressed in a white jeans and wore a long sleeve turtle neck black sweater like blouse. She let her hair loose.
Rakesh came . He too was dressed in a jeans and a long sleeve blue and white rugby sweater.
Siddhi thanked him for the flowers and got into the car. They drove for a while. They had light finger food and drove back to the house.
Rakesh glanced at Siddhi and remakred. : Siddhi, you are very quiet
Siddhi sighed and confessed: I have a lot on my mind.
Rakesh: Siddhi , I know about your pending divorce. No, it was not your family members who told me. I have my ways to find out. Siddhi, I think you should not think too much about it. . You need a fresh start. You are still very young.
Siddhi: Not now Rakesh. You don't know anything about my marriage to Kunal.
Rakesh: Why don't you just walk away from him? Your marriage was a disaster. The man never cared about you. You were his brother's girlfriend. Both of you compromised and married. No one will blame you if you back out now or even expect you to make a go for it.!
Siddhi was now getting restless and did not like the way Rakesh was talking about her marriage. He was just a friend. He has no right to make any assumptions or in a positon to give any advice.
Siddhi said very colding to Rakesh: I am not going to discuss about my divorce with you Rakesh. This is between me and Kunal only.
Rakesh was saying took Siddhi's hands : Listen Siddhi, I know i am a bit late but Siddhi you surely deserve a better husband and life than what Kunal can provide you with. Walk away Siddhi. Leave Kunal and come to me. I will take care of you.
The sound of the front door opening made Siddhi head swivel,her eyes widening in alarm when she saw Kunal striding towards them. Siddhi tried to tug free her hands from Rakesh but he would not let her go.
Rakesh was persistent: You don't have to be afraid of him. I will handle him.
" GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY WIFE NOW" Kunal shouted with a growl from several feet away.
Siddhi's heartbeat was accelerating at a crazy speed...
Rakesh: You are in the middle of the divorce.! She is not yours anymore, Kunal!
Siddhi looked at Rakesh with a horror look and said: No one owns me and I don't belong to anyone but me alone. Got that Rakesh?
She finally managed to pull free of Rakesh hold over her and got out of the car.
"Get inside the house now, Siddhi" Kunal instructed her with clenched teeth. He was concerned that Siddhi never denied Rakesh statement on their divorce.
Siddhi: And leave you alone with him, when I know there's going to be a some stupid male macho fight confrontation. Rakesh, why dont you just leave and I will see you before I go for mumbai.
Rakesh got out of the car and came round and stood in front of Kunal : Siddhi, you don't have to be afraid of him. Come home with me. You don't have to stay here...
Kunal closed his strong hand over Siddhi's wrist : She's not leaving anywhere with you. She stays here with me."
Siddhi, saw the two man squaring each other .Two aggressive males . Kunal was a very physical man. From the way he held her wrist, he was hurting her but she could feel his current angry mood which was now totally unstable and she knew Rakesh would be at the receiving end soon if she does not intervene...
Siddhi: Rakesh, just leave please...
Rakesh: Why must I leave. I am your friend. Am I not allowed to see you Siddhi? Is he forbidding you to see me?
Siddhi had enough of this male ego nonsense. She tore her hand from Kunal's grip and turned around to walk back to the house.They were not in the mood to listen to her. There's no point for her to remain there and be the source of some male ego fight. By removing herself from the scene, she thought the things would calm down. She just turned over her shoulder to give a last look and was shocked to see Rakesh punch Kunal.
She froze on her spot. She naturally assumed that it would be Kunal who would punch Rakesh, not the other way around.Kunal however wasted no time in striking back Rakesh. Rakesh went down to the ground on one knee.
Siddhi raced back to intervene to stop this madness.
" Stop it !" Siddhi screamed angrily " there's nothing worth fighting over..."
Kunal contradicted : You are worth fighting for, Siddhi"
Siddhi threatened Kunal : if you hit him again, I am leaving you Kunal!
Rakesh took that opportunity and lunged at at Kunal. Kunal who was caught by surpirise, fell to the ground heavily. That was then Siddhi realized how much she loves Kunal. She turned to Rakesh with angry eyes and wanted to hit Rakesh for taking this unfair advantage.
"Get out from here Rakesh" Just go and leave me alone"!!
Rakesh wiped the blood from his lips and looked at Siddhi. " I am leaving now but I will be back Siddhi when this man leaves you for good" He does not love you. You remember that !
Kunal stood up and said very rawly to Rakesh : Go from here before I kill you, Rakesh and if know what's good for you, you stay away from my wife!
Rakesh gave Kunal a disgusting look and drove away.
Siddhi asked Kunal : Rakesh hit you first isnt't it?
Kunal grimaced and said: Not really...
Siddhi flared : You mean you started the fight?
Kunal said without any remorsel: You are my wife and he stepped over the line.
Siddhi: If you had minded you own business nothing would have happened. This was totally unnecessary . For crying out loud, he was just talking to me...
Kunal: Not from where I could see. He was making a move on you.
Siddhi: So what if he was? Its none of your business anyway since you have no qualms about divorcing me anyway?
Kuanl: : Sidhhi...? we are still married and you are my wife.
Siddhi looked at him with condemn in her eyes: So all of sudden you acting so responsibly as a husband? You dont want me and you dont want other man to want me. Thats really a dog in the manger attitude , Kunal chopra and I wont be used as a bait for some ego male thing here. I have feelings too...
Kunal too was getting angry: No one takes away my wife from me..
He walked very slowly with a panter like grace as if he going to kill a prey. Siddhi s suddenly became frightened looking into Kunal angry eyes which was full of jealousy and possessiveness...and something else too as if he wanted to...
Siddhi realized that there was no one in the house to protect her from an angry Kunal. A Kunal she has never seen before. He eyes were now filled with anger and something else, and he was coming towards her with a detemined purpose.
Siddhi spunned around and ran towards the house. She could hear Kunal chasing in pursuit behind behind her. She was running fast like she never did, even faster than from the kidnappers. She raced up the stairs and she heard Kunal steps, taking the stairs two at a time to catch up with her.
As she was running, she was thinking to herself, this was really ridiculous, she is running away from her husband, with whom she is madly in love but she was really frightened to see Kunal in this new Avatar - the Jealous husband... a dangerous man... did she unleash some mad emotion within Kunal...
Chapter four to be continued next Sunday. Meantime, hope you enjoy reading.
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