Posted:
Link to P 8 https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/suhani-si-ek-ladki/4520506/fiction-ssel-redone-p-8-sandis-birthday
Link to all parts https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/suhani-si-ek-ladki/4518239/ssel-redone-sandis-birthday-links-to-all-parts
Part 9
He answered the phone with a cool "Hello?" There was silence at the other end, and he spoke again. "Hello?"
"Yuvraj, it's me. I need to talk to you. Can we meet?"
"Uhhh, okay, but if it's about the papers, you can just send them. Or should I have them prepared? We aren't going to argue over terms, we don't need to meet."
There was silence again, but he didn't break it this time. She felt a bit flattened. He sounded detached and all practical. She'd expected him to be happy, even grateful to hear from her. So much for his love. Pride fought with self-preservation. She was half inclined to pretend she'd called about the papers, but then what to do about Ankit? File a complaint? But he'd not done anything she could show as proof that he was pursuing her against her will and giving off very scary vibes. And her mom was encouraging him. Better the devil you know--not that Yuvraj was a devil. . .
"I have to ask a favour. It's not about the divorce."
"Oh. Okay, is Saturday good? Around 11 am?"
Saturday? It was only Wednesday today. She felt a creeping sense of betrayal. She'd imagined he would rush to her at her slightest whim, not put her off to the weekend. But, whatever. She told him Saturday would have to do, and they arranged to meet in a cafe they both liked.
Maybe it was his off-handedness, but Suhani felt a great desire to see Yuvraj again and once more have him look at her as he used to, feel herself his greatest prize, bask in his desire. When she had his attention and his heart, she hadn't much cared, though affection or maybe stronger feelings for him had grown in her over time. Perhaps he was just playing it cool, saving face.
They met as arranged, the punctual Yuvraj arriving first and expecting she'd keep him waiting as usual, surprised when she rushed in just five minutes late. They greeted each other awkwardly, each one's gaze sliding away. They ordered coffee and sandwiches, then he looked inquiringly at her. She looked lovely, her honey-coloured skin flushed, her hair gleaming and bouncy, cut in layers that seemed to move with a life of their own, her smile tentative right now, but with promise of lighting everyone around. He told himself not to be an idiot, this was all surface. He mustn't let it pull him back to thralldom.
"Ummm, see, I. . .God, this is so awkward," she started. "My mother's been trying to push all these guys at me, and now she wants to set me up with an ex-boyfriend. I don't want that, but he's very persistent. I don't know how to throw him off, so I wondered if you could, y'know. . ."
"Is he harassing you?" Yuvraj asked sharply. "Why don't you report him? Surely your dad has enough pull?"
"But his family's got as much pull!" she wailed. "Why d'you think my mother wants to stick me with him? They have pots of moolah too. And I have no proof--he hangs around our place, welcomed by mom, he calls from different numbers, he seems to be wherever I go. I'm freaked out."
The waiter brought their order and he absent-mindedly started on the sandwiches. She took one and put it on her plate, sipping at the coffee.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I thought. . ." Suddenly it seemed like an imposition to expect him to help her.
He looked at her. "You want to pretend we're still together."
She looked down. It sounded so bald, like she was using him--and wasn't she? "Not pretend, exactly. I don't know what I was thinking." She grabbed her sandwich and started eating nervously. "Didn't know who else to ask."
He was touched, annoyed, and felt protective, all at the same time. She'd asked HIM for help. NOW she thought of him? But how DARE this person do this to his wi. . .to her.
"What EXACTLY is your idea, Suhani?"
"I thought we could give it another try, you know, being married. Really this time."
This was not what he'd expected--or even what he wanted. He had talked himself to a place where he could begin to let go, and he didn't want to go back. He knew the charm she exerted on him was still very much there. If she came back, fooled around with him while she feared this other guy, and then got tired and dumped him again, wouldn't it be harder?
"It doesn't seem very smart--you ran away once, you're running back to escape. Once that threat passes--if your friend does back off--what then? Won't you feel trapped? Or will you then want to escape again? It's not just you and me, my family is involved too."
"I didn't run away, you know--you asked me to go. I did it because it was up to you. I decided to ask you if we could try again because I do care about you, and all these guys my mother kept bringing on just don't interest me. I miss you. . . all. It seemed worthwhile to try again. But it's okay, you don't owe me anything. I expected too much." She started gathering her things, smiled at him, and said, "You're a great guy, really. I hope you'll be happy."
He had been happy with her. He had been deluded, yes, but he had been happy.
He did not consciously think it, but he also felt vindicated, flattered that she had turned to him for help, that she liked him better than her mother's choices and her ex boyfriend. And it was true that she hadn't left him until he made that choice. Considering they were still married and with his belief that it was a bond not to be broken lightly, he felt he couldn't refuse her suggestion. But this time there would be no illusions.
In spite of lingering doubts, he found himself saying, "If you're sure, then okay."
*******
Link to P 10 https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/suhani-si-ek-ladki/4522086/fiction-ssel-redone-p-10-sandis-birthday
Link to all parts https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/suhani-si-ek-ladki/4518239/ssel-redone-sandis-birthday-links-to-all-parts
Part 9
He answered the phone with a cool "Hello?" There was silence at the other end, and he spoke again. "Hello?"
"Yuvraj, it's me. I need to talk to you. Can we meet?"
"Uhhh, okay, but if it's about the papers, you can just send them. Or should I have them prepared? We aren't going to argue over terms, we don't need to meet."
There was silence again, but he didn't break it this time. She felt a bit flattened. He sounded detached and all practical. She'd expected him to be happy, even grateful to hear from her. So much for his love. Pride fought with self-preservation. She was half inclined to pretend she'd called about the papers, but then what to do about Ankit? File a complaint? But he'd not done anything she could show as proof that he was pursuing her against her will and giving off very scary vibes. And her mom was encouraging him. Better the devil you know--not that Yuvraj was a devil. . .
"I have to ask a favour. It's not about the divorce."
"Oh. Okay, is Saturday good? Around 11 am?"
Saturday? It was only Wednesday today. She felt a creeping sense of betrayal. She'd imagined he would rush to her at her slightest whim, not put her off to the weekend. But, whatever. She told him Saturday would have to do, and they arranged to meet in a cafe they both liked.
Maybe it was his off-handedness, but Suhani felt a great desire to see Yuvraj again and once more have him look at her as he used to, feel herself his greatest prize, bask in his desire. When she had his attention and his heart, she hadn't much cared, though affection or maybe stronger feelings for him had grown in her over time. Perhaps he was just playing it cool, saving face.
They met as arranged, the punctual Yuvraj arriving first and expecting she'd keep him waiting as usual, surprised when she rushed in just five minutes late. They greeted each other awkwardly, each one's gaze sliding away. They ordered coffee and sandwiches, then he looked inquiringly at her. She looked lovely, her honey-coloured skin flushed, her hair gleaming and bouncy, cut in layers that seemed to move with a life of their own, her smile tentative right now, but with promise of lighting everyone around. He told himself not to be an idiot, this was all surface. He mustn't let it pull him back to thralldom.
"Ummm, see, I. . .God, this is so awkward," she started. "My mother's been trying to push all these guys at me, and now she wants to set me up with an ex-boyfriend. I don't want that, but he's very persistent. I don't know how to throw him off, so I wondered if you could, y'know. . ."
"Is he harassing you?" Yuvraj asked sharply. "Why don't you report him? Surely your dad has enough pull?"
"But his family's got as much pull!" she wailed. "Why d'you think my mother wants to stick me with him? They have pots of moolah too. And I have no proof--he hangs around our place, welcomed by mom, he calls from different numbers, he seems to be wherever I go. I'm freaked out."
The waiter brought their order and he absent-mindedly started on the sandwiches. She took one and put it on her plate, sipping at the coffee.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I thought. . ." Suddenly it seemed like an imposition to expect him to help her.
He looked at her. "You want to pretend we're still together."
She looked down. It sounded so bald, like she was using him--and wasn't she? "Not pretend, exactly. I don't know what I was thinking." She grabbed her sandwich and started eating nervously. "Didn't know who else to ask."
He was touched, annoyed, and felt protective, all at the same time. She'd asked HIM for help. NOW she thought of him? But how DARE this person do this to his wi. . .to her.
"What EXACTLY is your idea, Suhani?"
"I thought we could give it another try, you know, being married. Really this time."
This was not what he'd expected--or even what he wanted. He had talked himself to a place where he could begin to let go, and he didn't want to go back. He knew the charm she exerted on him was still very much there. If she came back, fooled around with him while she feared this other guy, and then got tired and dumped him again, wouldn't it be harder?
"It doesn't seem very smart--you ran away once, you're running back to escape. Once that threat passes--if your friend does back off--what then? Won't you feel trapped? Or will you then want to escape again? It's not just you and me, my family is involved too."
"I didn't run away, you know--you asked me to go. I did it because it was up to you. I decided to ask you if we could try again because I do care about you, and all these guys my mother kept bringing on just don't interest me. I miss you. . . all. It seemed worthwhile to try again. But it's okay, you don't owe me anything. I expected too much." She started gathering her things, smiled at him, and said, "You're a great guy, really. I hope you'll be happy."
He had been happy with her. He had been deluded, yes, but he had been happy.
He did not consciously think it, but he also felt vindicated, flattered that she had turned to him for help, that she liked him better than her mother's choices and her ex boyfriend. And it was true that she hadn't left him until he made that choice. Considering they were still married and with his belief that it was a bond not to be broken lightly, he felt he couldn't refuse her suggestion. But this time there would be no illusions.
In spite of lingering doubts, he found himself saying, "If you're sure, then okay."
*******
Link to P 10 https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/suhani-si-ek-ladki/4522086/fiction-ssel-redone-p-10-sandis-birthday
Anupamaa
