"Where the hell is this woman ?!" Randhir muttered fed up. It has been 3 hours he had been waiting in the car for Sanyukta to return from her bloody shopping...What was taking her so long ?!
"3 f*cking hours..." he muttered.
Some curses later, he finally saw her getting out of the mall... Finally !!!
She neared the car and opened the back seats doors, putting down her shoppers then settled herself in the passenger seat, a tired sigh escaping her lips.
"What did you do...world war three ?!" mocked Randhir, appalled by her antics.
"Kind of..." came her tired and dismissive reply. Every girl could testify, going for shopping was no less than going on war... especially during sales period... Now that was pure suicide ! ...Armed with sharpened nails and pointed heels, wicked woman sneaked their ways into the stores shelves...sending discreet glances left and right...keeping tabs on the situation... hiding behind some fat plush... waiting for the right moment to pounce on their pray !... It was all about right timing and applying the right strategy ...If some calculus went wrong...and by some unfortunate circumstance two woman spotted the same product at the same time... all hell broke loose !!! ...Ultimately there was only one law... the law of jungle... and only the fittest survived ! So it was not an understatement when she said she had been on war...
"And what the hell is in those bags...why do you have so much bags ?!" he asked her, curious. He had expected one or two shopping bags... not a whole family of shopping bags...he was pretty sure he could open his own store with those goods.
"Chill Mr.Gangster...It's not like I have stolen your credit card and hacked your passcode" she answered him, chuckling.
Randhir's posture went still looking at her with a poker face... she didn't do that, did she ?
Seeing his serious expression she sighed, shaking her head left and right "That was sarcasm Mr.Gangster". Randhir relaxed at her words... not that he couldn't afford that but he believed his hardly earned money would have been wasted if spent on...well whatever was in those bags.
"Whatever..." he said starting the car and driving away.
"So what now ?... are you going to tell me what's this plan of yours ?" Randhir asked without looking at her, his eyes fixated on the road ahead.
"Nope" she said emphasizing on the 'p' just to irritate him.
"Tell me" he ordered her.
"Mr.Gangster have you ever heard a magician disclosing his tricks ?" she asked him, tired of his repeating questions.
"Are you a magician ?" he retorted back, he was not going to leave it that easily, he wanted to know what was cooking up in that crazy mind of hers.
"Do you want me to try the "cutting-in-half-and-seeing-if-you're-alive" trick on you ?" she snapped at him, she was tired, her feet were hurting and he was getting on her nerves by asking pointless questions.
He didn't reply... why was she always so defensive around him... He kept on driving. After a good five minute of dead silence, he finally broke the silence, not processing twice the words that escaped his mouth.
"Why are you always angry on me ?...Do you ...hate me that much ?" he said trying to stay emotionless, without sparing a glance at her.
Sanyukta's eyes snapped toward him at his words...Had she really heard that ?...no the question was, had he really said that ?... I mean come on the gangsters who cuts throats and does not give a f*ck about other opinion was asking her if she hated him ?...like...like it mattered him ?!...No way...So not him ! ..And there was this hidden emotion lying behind those words...slight desperation ? she wondered. ...Like he wanted her to contradict him...to tell him he was wrong... woooah...thought Sanyukta. The barbarian was slowly evolving !...Not evolving like...like a pokemon...but...no...yes...actually yes... evolving like a pokemon... but on the human scale.
Speaking of which, if Sanyukta was to position him on the human evolution scale according to Sir Darwin...which basely consisted in four stages : homo habilis the little weirdo with his sharp stones, then the homo erectus, the dude who stood vertically, then homo neanderthalensis the guy that had the decency to burry the dead and finally the homo sapiens, what we considered as the modern man... she would have probably pinned him as an homo erectus. Yeah that was the stage that suited him the most...As you all knew, burying the deads was not in his job description, so even if she wanted to, she could not promote him to the stage of homo neanderthalensis !
But right now... right now, she was tempted to promote him to this stage...the guy had displayed another emotion than anger...no groaning or grunting...clearly articulated words with a slight touch of emotion...Yup he definitely deserved to reach the stage of homo neaderthalensis. ...That was a big step in history ! She sighed...may be one day he could reach the stage of gentleman...NOT.
Snapping out of Darwin's theory, she concentrated on the words he said... a smile made its way on her face... she had understood long ago he was interested in her as she was in him...she knew he cared somewhere... but it was another thing to hear him say it in words...
"It's not like I hate you..."she started a smile hanging on the corner of her lips. "I am just not necessarily excited by your existence" she finished smirking at him.
Randhir briefly looked at her. Seeing a smirk on her lips, a ghost of smile appeared on his own lips, as he turned his head back on the road.
***
Randhir and Sanyukta entered the den, carrying the shopping bags. They made their way to the dark meeting room where was gathered the rest of the gang.
"Get ready guys" Sanyukta told Parth, Sahil and Vidushi, putting the bags on the table in the center.
"I'll be back in a minute then we can go Raghav-hunting" she said showing them a usb key and leaving the dusty room.
After Sanyukta's departure, the gang gathered around the table in a small circle. The little lamp hanging from the ceileing just above the table was illuminating the bags displayed on the table, tempting the gangsters to look into them.
"What's in there ?" asked Vidushi, expectently looking at the bag.
"I don't know" said Randhir. They all looked like they just found a treasure, thrilled about all the goods and golds they were about to find in there.
Not being able to wait anymore, Sahil broke the tense silence "Let's have a look !"
He held the two shopping bags in front of him, and took out the items in it.
A wool top, an long skirt, an extravagant hat, a baby pink coat.
"A disguise... so typically Sanyukta" chuckled Sahil.
Vidushi caught the next bag and took out the items.
A fan and a cane.
"An old lady ?" guessed Sahil looking at the items they had in front of them. They all looked at each other curious. They were still two bags on the table waiting to be opened and unfolds Sanyukta's plan mystery.
Parth grabbed the next bags and emptied it.
Speakers.
"Speakers ?!!" wondered Sahil puzzled, reflecting the confusion on everyone's face. An old lady's attire and speakers...well...
Finally Randir emptied the last bags in hope that the last item will make things clearer.
...A hammer.
They all fell silent, trying to comprehend... trying to give a sense to the items they were seeing... to find a connection between them.
Randhir looked at Sahil, who in turn, looked at vidushi. Following the movement, Vidushi turned toward Parth...who turned toward... well, back to randhir.
Sahil broke the silence "An old lady's attire, speakers and a hammer... what the hell is she going to do with that ?!" he finally exclaimed.
As soon as the word escaped his mouth, Sanyukta stepped in the room.
"Let's go guys !" she said tucking the usb key in the pocket of her stylish burgundy blazer.
They all looked at her perplexed.
"What ?!" she said raising her eyebrow. What had happened to them ?... why did they look like a bunch of lost children ?!
"What the hell are you planning ?!" demanded Randhir.
"You already asked that twice and I didn't tell you... what makes you think that I have changed my mind and I am going to answer your question ?" she challenged him, crossing her arms. A no was a no, it was not going to turn into a yes just by repeating the question.
"Tell me already !" he snapped at her.
Sanyukta snorted, if he thought bossing her around will actually make her cower and answer him, he was highly mistaken !
"I'd rather dance over dead monkeys..." she replied bored.
"Again monkeys ?!!...You have an obsession with monkeys or something ??? " asked Randhir frowning, why did she always bring monkeys into the picture...
"Excuse me ?" she asked back confused. ... What obsession ?
"You always find a way to bring monkeys into a conversation... so tell me you're obsessed with monkeys or something ?" he repeated his question.
Sanyukta paused thinking for a second.
"Actually I think it is the other way around... I think it is you who have an obsession with monkeys" she said smirking at him.
Randhir raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah that's right... how come that whenever I mention monkeys, you pin point it ? ...han ? bolo ?" she asked him back, turning the tables.
"Yeahhh...It's like you have an alarm set you know... that triggers some reaction in you every time someone says the word monkey..." she exposed her own theory.
"So am returning you the question...are you obsessed with monkeys or something" Sanyukta said quoting his sentence, utterly amused and satisfied with herself for successfully turning the situation to her advantage.
Randhir only looked at her dumbfound... Sanyukta chuckled in her mind at his reaction.
Sahil cleared his throat looking at Ranhdhir then at Sanyukta "If you monkeys...umm i mean if you guys have finished debating over monkeys, can we go hunt the big fish ?" he said.
...That earned him two pair of eyes glaring at him.
***
They stopped in front of the first hotel on their list, out of the four they had short listed. Sanyukta quickly changed her appearance, under the watchful eyes of the gangsters. She put on the top, the skirt, the coat over her own clothes and set the large and fancy hat on her head... she swore her big round glass and hastily applied make up to hide her youth. The irony...people did everything to look younger and here she was doing her best to look as old as possible... She took the other two shopping with her as she stepped out of the car.
"Wait... you're going alone in there?" Sahil asked her incredulous, as she prepared to pave her way in the hotel.
Sanyukta, or rather the old lady, turned back toward Sahil, her hand resting on her cane as the other was holding a fan, half covering her face. She took the most high pitched voice, speaking extra sweetly as she uttered the set next of words "Don't worry my son...Everything will be fine" she said getting into her character.
Her eyes spotted a fuming Randhir.
"It might take some time...just wait here I'll be back" she said turning again.
"Be careful" she heard Randhir whispered. And turned back again staring into his eyes.
"Be careful darling, it almost sounded as if you cared" she said recalling his own words.
"Shut the f*ck up...and don't do anything stupid...or I'll personally see to it that you are punished..." he growled.
"Now that's more like you" she winked at him and finally entered the hotel.
***
15min later
Sanyukta came out of the building, hurriedly getting in the car.
"Next" she ordered. "Raghav is not here" she informed them, throwing the over bearing hat at sahil who was sitting behind, who shrieked in return.
"What that's it ?" inquired Vidushi.
"Yeah that's it..."
"But...are you sure ?...I mean just went in there, and came back after 15min informing us there was no raghav...what the did you do ?" added Sahil.
"They is a lot a ways to find out something...besides blackmailing and shooting you know" she answered, rolling her eyes.
***
1 hour later, Hotel Paladium
Sanyukta came out of the building and repeated the same sentence. "Next ! Not here."
"Another failed attempt I guess" Vidushi spoke as Sanyukta sat back in the car.
"Will you tell us what the hell do you do in there ?!" asked a frustrated Randhir.
"Just some chit chat...nothing much... really..." she told him vaguely, remembering what she did in the hotel.
15min ago
Getting into character, Sanyukta entered the hall spotting the receptionist, she slowly made her way toward her, clutching her shopper bags... her cane taping on the floor, announcing her arrival.
"Does your hotel provide no facilities for elderly people ?!" shouted Sanyukta, in the most irritatingly acute and aged voiced she could muster...well as far as voice could be aged.
The receptionist, a young innocent looking woman with a plain white shirt immediately looked up at her asking her the matter.
"Can't you see ?! ... I have luggage here" she said gesturing at her bags. " I need assistance !!! ...or maybe you want me to lend you my glasses !" she said quickly taking of her glasses and forwarding them under the young woman's nose. The poor woman instantly took a step back by fear of being poked by the glasses.
"Hum...we are very sorry ma'am, we will correct that right away" she said nervously, calling a waiter.
The waiter stood next to Sanyukta and took the shoppers from her.
Sanyukta hit him with her cane, earning a puzzled look from the waiter.
"These are not your mom's asparagus that your bringing back from market...what's inside is fragile, handle it with care." she told him pointedly.
"Yes ma'am" the waiter quickly answered, exchanging a look of distress with the receptionist.
Sanyukta was laughing inside, poor guys...who would have thought that playing an old lady could be so funny. She smiled in her mind. The first part of her plan had been successful. By questioning their ability to help her, she had questioned their reputation... and it was of common knowledge how much hotel valued their reputation. She had now the upper hand as she was sure they were going to try to please her in any way... She had taken the saying "customer is king" to a whole new level !
"So !" exclaimed Sanyukta, adjusting her glasses. "I would like to..." she paused.
"Yes ma'am ?" asked the receptionist.
Sanyukta tapped her fan on the desk and frowned "Do not interrupt me when I am talking...children these days...I swear !"
"So-Sorry ma'am" the receptionist immediately apologized.
"So I was saying, before you rudely interrupted me..." said Sanyu giving her a look. "I would like your second best suite for today"
The receptionist hesitated a second before asking her "Hum excuse me ma'am but why the second best ? why not the first ?" she inquired hearing the old lady's weird request.
"Did I ask you what is the size of your underwear ?" retorted rudely the old lady. The young woman flushed in embarrassment at the old lady's question.
"N-no ma'am" the poor woman stuttered.
"Then mind your own business" snapped sanyukta.
"I just asked because...because our best suite was available and... you could have it if you wanted to..." finished the receptionist weakly.
Bingo thought Sanyukta, she had the info she wanted. The best suite of the hotel and the second best were both available at that moment...which meant Raghav was not here. If he had been here, he would have surely taken one of the best suite in the hotel, knowing his taste of luxury he would have never settled for less. Seeing as both were vacant, it was a proof he was not here. Her work here was done ! It was time to flee !
She lifted up her cane in her hand, snatched the shoppers from the waiters' hand, and dashed toward the exit...leaving a baffled waiter and receptionist behind her.
Sanyukta came back to the present. hearing vidushi voice. "So where's next?" She asked Sahil who happened to be looking at the laptop screen intently.
"Grand Hyatt, Santacruz" he spoke marking the way.
***
1 hour later, Grand Hyatt, Santacruz
They looked at her by the time she walked away. Randhir banged his fist over the steering calming his raging pulse. She was really testing his patience.
Sanyukta entered the hotel and repeated the same scene she pulled out on the previous hotels. She came to know that there was indeed someone staying on the best suite of the hotel. ...It could very well be Raghav ! It was now time to put plan B into action !
Sanyukta checked in the second best suite and made her way in. The room was a sight to see, beautifully furnished and stylishly decorated !...But what was the crucial detail, was the fact that this suite was supposed to be adjacent to the best one, which meant that Raghav was here... right next to her...
Time for some fun ! she told herself.
She took out the speakers, the hammer and the usb key and approached the wall that was supposed to be the one separating her suite from Raghav's. She plugged the usb into the speakers and turned the volume to maximum. She took the hammer in her hand and finally hit the play button the speakers !
Suddenly the room was filled with loud moaning and grunting. Sanyukta smiled at the sound.
"Hmmm...oooh...aaah...yes" was loudly playing on the speakers...giving any outsiders the idea that the couple inside was surely enjoying a very passionate love making session. She chuckled at her thought.
But after the initial 30 seconds, the girl's voice dimmed...Sanyukta frowned. ...It was not loud enough anymore ! Sanyukta huffed in annoyance. She had downloaded the first sample she had found on the net, she had not taken time to listen it entirely, just checking the first 15seconds. She needed the girl to be louder damn it ... she started cursing the bloody girl on the sample...could not even make proper love making sounds...
She had to do something...her plan depended on it...think sanyu think, she told herself. Finally, finding no other solution, she settled for doing the only thing she could...she started moaning herself...
She started moaning and hammering the wall in a specific rhythm... Who would have thought that one day she would be fake moaning in a luxurious hotel room, hammering on a wall to imitate the typical "love making bed movement"... dressed in an old lady's attire.
The whole picture was just too much !
If someone saw her right now...she would probably be sent into a mental asylum right away. She chuckled at her thought.
Suddenly a knock on the door made her stop. ...Finally ! she thought. Seems like her little drama had hit its target !
She went to open the door, putting on the mask of an innocent old lady, all traces of the irritating old lady gone. She opened the door.
A man dressed in formal suit came into her view. A bodyguard for sure !
The man's eyes grew wide at seeing the lady in front of him. Sanyukta resisted from bursting out laughing like a maniac... if she had been on his place she would have probably reacted the same way. Just imagine... you ear very loud and expressive moans from a room, giving away the nature of the activities taking place inside...and when you arrive on the door of the said room, you are met with an old lady in her seventies, looking at you innocently...well let's just say that being at a loss of word was a natural and totally understandable reaction.
"Yes my son...what can I do for you" she said in the sweetest voice.
"I...umm...I...could you...hummm" he fumbled over the words. Obviously you couldn't not just say "tuned it down will ya ?" to an old lady...
"Yes my son...?" repeated Sanyukta, trying to keep a straight face.
"We...hummm heard noises..." trailed off the man.
"What noises ?" asked politely Sanyukta.
"Humm noises...you know" he said. Poor him didn't know how to say it to an old lady.
"Ohhh those noises...yeah I heard them too !" she exclaimed.
"Children these days...I swear ! Sharam nam ki koi cheez hi nahi rahi...in our generation it was not like that you know..." she told him, nodding.
"Yeah" said the man looking a little bit uncomfortable.
"Do the noises disturb you ?" she inquired.
"Not me, it bothers Sir" he replied.
"And who's your Sir, if you don't mind me asking ?" asked Sanyukta.
"That's confidential information ma'am, all I can say is that it's a politician." he told her. This was exactly the kind of opportunity Sanyukta was looking for.
"I hope he is from the Liberators" she asked, name Raghav's political party. "These are such nice people" she added, making her allegiance known.
"Actually yes, he is" he told her, smiling at her.
Bingo, now she was sure Raghav was staying here.
"Sorry ma'am for disturbing you, I have to go now" he told her taking his leave.
"No worry son" she smiled at him " and if by any chance if find out who's this shameless couple who's causing trouble I will inform you right away !" she assured him." By the way how many days are you staying ?"
"A couple of days... and thank you ma'am" he said leaving.
Sanyukta closed the door and sighed ! Mission successful.
She put back her items in her bags and once again lifted up her can and dashed toward the exit, this time smiling at the success of her mission.
***
Her smile was not veiling up as she approached their car to give the amazing news to others.
"Room No. 810...Mr. Raghav ghosh's private suite... He will leave the premises in a couple of days." Sanyukta spoke like a detective narrowing her eyes dramatically.
"No..." came Sahil's victory scream, "Seriously?".
"Now you have to tell us how you did that" Sahil ordered.
Randhir looked at her incredulous, curious to finally hear this plan of hers. Sanyukta latched her seat belt on and turned toward the gangsters.
"Well..." she started and explained them her maravelous plan, marinating it with masala and chilly. By the end of the story Sahil was clutching his stomach from the hard laughing session Sanyukta had put him into... Sanyukta laughed with him recalling her interlocutors' sometimes shocked, sometimes baffled expressions...dj-ing over her success mantra.
Randhir looked at her for a second before really processing what she had done...she was DAMN crazy... it was totally like her to do something like that...and as insane as it sounded, her plan had actually worked... Sanyukta noticed the little smile that appeared on the corner of his lips as he drove away.
***
"Okay then I got to go...See you guys tomorrow..." Sahil took a chirpy exit as they stepped out of car, excusing himself. Only to be followed by Parth's silent exit. Sanyukta comes inside along with Vidhushi whose eyes follow Parth's path.
"Go..." Sanyukta told her crashing herself over the cozy couch in the living room
"Yeah I better be there" Vidhushi's eyes sparkled with love
Randhir was the last one to enter parking their car safely, he saw her looking towards Vidhushi who happened to be entering Parth's room. Sanyukta showed her a thumbs up only to be interrupted by Randhir
"So what?" Randhir came and settled next to her, she looked back at him
"Are they back together miss matchmaker?" He gestures at her
"Seems so..." she settled up better folding her legs, facing him, "Do you think it will work this time?" she asked pulling her stray tresses behind her ears
"They both know the situation has changed along with their relation...But still they're unsure..." his words of wisdom, really. He could see her eyes enlarging on listening to his words, surely she thought he sobered up to some baba who did pravachan on channels. But hey it was really Randhir doing the talking right now. Sanyukta almost imagined him in all white attire like a spiritual leader.
"It's up to them... To make it work or not..." His final words brought her back, she couldn't help but smile at his attempt. So not like him. Besides she could not help but notice how these words could actually describe their own relationship...
The situation had changed, and so did their relationship...even though there was still no name to it... It was up to them...to try to give it a name or not...Last night...was different...she had felt so safe in his arms...so good...like she was meant to be there...
She was about to question Randhir about their relationship status, when a creak on the door brought made her stop.
A woman clad in short skirt entered, she recognized her as Shaina, the s**t Randhir was with the day he claimed Sanyukta as his girlfriend.
"Hello darling..." her shrill voice almost pierced their ears, her attire on the other hand did torture to eyes... Who wears neon shades at night except glow boards on highway. God help people with dressing how many times will I help up, Sanyukta thought to herself.
Shaina who completely ignored Sanyukta's presence looked seductively at Randhir with her surely bee-bitten red-painted lips. IF she was python she would have sucked & swallowed her Randhir wholly. Such was her gaze.
"I wanna talk to you baby..." came her next unbearable sentence.
"What do you want Shaina?" Randhir asked uninterestedly standing up from the couch.
"I have some piece of information for you, Darling" She spoke back.
Sanyukta watched the exchange silently.
Shaina then moved further, caressing his forearm with her red nails. Damn his arm peeping through his folded black sleeve. She then rolled onto him like vine, offending Sanyukta. After an over sweet hug attempting koala, she now had to tolerate an evil constricting python...it seems like the whole zoo was after Randhir.
Sanyukta glared at her while Shaina just spared a smirk towards her.
"Stop beating around the bush...Tell me what it is" Randhir spoke looking at her, not caring about the arm that has snaked over his.
"Darling come...I'm going to tell you" she said her other hand resting itself on his chest.
"Come to the point Shaina" he said emotionless, making no attempt to remove the hand on his arm or the one on his chest. Sanyuka looked on at the scene in front of her... only one question playing on her mind. "Why was he not pushing her away ?!"
"Let's go somewhere more private..." she said lingering on her sentences as well as on Randhir... Who by now was just letting her be so he could get whatever pinch of information she could provide him.
"Shaina..." came his husky voice, as he put his hand on her waist leading her toward his room. ...Leaving an angered and shocked Sanyukta behind him...on verge of tears. Had she really witness that ?... how could he ?! He made no attempts to push her...he did nothing...and on the contrary he encouraged her and led her to him room.
Something inside her broke at this moment.
***
The first thing she did after entering and clashing the door loudly to the frame was ounching on her pillow and cushion pile. The woman was a s**t yeah... but why did he have to act with her ?! ...How could he do that when she was right there... next to him ! How could he neglect all that happened between then in the past... ?!!! She kept on hitting the pillows with the cushion, crying hugging the pillow against herself.
She came back to the den because she was worried for randhir...so much had happened between them, things were even getting better now...so why ?! she kept on asking herself the same question.
But then again they had never sorted their issues, she still did not know what she was to him ...and he had never apologized for what he did to her... she was so confused...so damn confused...and angry...at him at herself...and sad...and frustrated...and hurting.
***
15min later
Sanyukta was done crying, she had emptied her tears reserve 5 minutes ago. She was now busy insulting Randhir. In her fit of anger she didn't realize when the door behind opened.
Randhir stepped in the room. Sanyukta felt arms around her, the same arms that had been around the python's waist just moment ago, she saw red.
"Stay away Randhir!" she said pushing him away, she rarely called him by his name, something was wrong here.
"What happened to you ?" Randhir asked confused.
"What did you do ?!!!" she questioned turning around facing his confused self, "I am really in a bad mood right now...please go away..."
Randhir didn't take well being talked to in this disrespectful tone. In no mood to argue himself, he left without a word.
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I know am posting at a time when most of you are sleeping lol but i may not be able to post it before tomorrow night...so instead am doing it now ^^
Love Seerat and Zubi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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