Chapter 7
"No." He refused firmly, settling his arms over his chest.
"Yes." She rebutted, hands on her hips and letting out a frustrated sigh. He chose not to respond, and busied himself with his phone, trying to ignore her and her demands.
"Aniket..."
The young man didn't bother looking up at the mention of his name, distracting himself with his game. Survi sent a frustrated look over to Tai, who chuckled and shrugged.
"Ani, listen to Simmi. Stop acting like a child," she chided her son, settling next to him on the bed, grabbing his phone.
"Hey! Mom, give it back!" he whined, making a reach for his phone.
"Aniket," Survi said patiently, grabbing his hand. "I have to take out your stiches and change your bandages. Do you want to get an infection?"
Tai watched her son go quiet, staring up at the young nurse when she had grabbed his hand. He nodded slowly when she asked him if she could proceed with her task, not making a peep. The older woman was beginning to get an inkling of what was happening to her son, but she wasn't too sure yet.
The fear on his face was present, and Survi motioned to Tai to distract her son as she began preparing to take out his stiches. "So Simmi," Tai began, letting Aniket hold onto her hand as the nurse began to unwind the bandages. "Tell me something about yourself."
Survi smiled slightly, watching as Aniket kept his face turned away from her task, only to peep back occasionally. "There's nothing much to say," she mused, carefully wiping down the arm she held. "I'm not too interesting of a person to be honest."
"I don't believe that," Aniket piped in. "There has to be something about you. Do you have any hobbies?"
"Let me think..." Survi thoughtfully said. "Actually, during my studies I took dance classes as an extracurricular. Along with that there was some singing classes. Nothing serious, just for fun and as a buffer for my applications."
"Dance?" Aniket asked interestedly. "I wouldn't have thought that of you!"
Survi blushed, and ducked her head. "It was a fun activity, and it helped when we did a school play..." she mused. Aniket enjoyed bantering with his nurse as they recounted their favourite school memories and activities. Tai quietly made her way out, smiling as she left the duo immersed in their own conversation. Her Aniket was happy, and that made her happy.
"And what about your family?" Aniket asked, happy to be spending some time getting his new friend. Survi smiled wistfully. "My family is really small," she remarked. "Just me and baba."
"And what about your mom?" Aniket blurted, frowning when a sad smile came over her face.
"Shit, I'm sorry I didn't-"
Survi shook her head. "I didn't have a mom growing up," she explained softly, moving down to the bandage across his hand after finishing with his arm. She was surprised when he gripped her hand in his and looked up.
"I'm sorry," he said simply. "I lost my dad when I was young, actually as a result that's why I'm a useless cripple."
He tried to laugh off the situation and looked away. This time he was surprised when his hand was gripped back softly, and he turned to see Simmi with an unreadable expression.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "Why?" he questioned, trapped in her gaze. "It's not like it's your fault."
"Still..." Survi tapered off. "And if you ever say you're a cripple, you'll see the worst of me. Then I'll really make you a cripple."
"So scary," Aniket teased, pretending to be afraid. Survi shook her head and went back to work on his hand. A quiet silence rose between them, and Aniket was aware of the beating of his own heart. Try as he might, he couldn't look away from her as she was immersed in her work. A wisp of hair had fallen out of her bun, and since she wasn't wearing her headband it constantly made its way across her face, despite her puffing it away. In his mind's eye he could see himself raising his hand and tucking the errant strand away, but he stayed still.
The calm between them was broken with the loud shrill of a phone. Survi looked up, recognizing the ringtone as it came from her purse. Her hands had medical ointment over them, so she ignored the call. It quieted, only to start up again. She frowned, staring at her hands, then at her purse which was on the ground beside Aniket's bed.
"Do you want me to grab it for you?" Aniket offered. She nodded hesitantly, and watched as he bent over, pulling out the phone. He offered to her and she grabbed it between her wrists, laying it down beside her. Using the back of her knuckle she answered the call, switching it to speaker phone.
"Hello Madam," Karan's voice teased on the line. Aniket sat up straighter hearing the male voice, and seeing the smile on Simmi's face unsettled him. "Are you so busy now that you can't even answer my call?"
"Sorry Karan," she apologised. "I'm just in the middle of work. Actually my hands had ointment so I couldn't answer, you're on speaker phone so behave."
Be careful of what you say she thought.
"I'm always behaved," he demurred on the phone. "It hurts that you would think I was any less of a gentleman."
Aniket felt pinpricks across his skin seeing Simmi laugh so easily. Who was this guy? He shifted irritably, stiff as a board as she continued to bandage his hand.
"I'm sure that's not the reason you called," Survi said. "What do you need?"
"A date." He said simply.
Aniket flinched back his hand, and muttered an apology when Simmi looked up at him. He gave his hand back, and listened to the conversation, a heavy feeling sinking into him.
"What, your 13 other options weren't available," Survi teased back. "Haha, very funny." Karan deadpanned. "I need a partner for the ball tonight or else Ms. Shastri will be on my case about not having a partner and will probably try and set me up with someone."
Survi faked a gasp. "What, you're trying to say that you wouldn't like to be paired up with someone?" she giggled hearing his exasperation. "Ok, sorry. I'll go with you, ok?"
"Thank you," Karan deadpanned. "Your mercy and blessings are innumerable, how will I ever repay you?"
Survi snorted, rolling her eyes as she began wiping her hands clean of the ointment. "Accha, but seriously thank you. I have everything ready for you for when you get home, I'll be getting ready at the office so I'll come and pick you up ok?" he instructed before hanging up.
Survi shook her head, then looked over at Aniket who was quiet. She snapped her fingers in front of him, breaking him from his stupor. "What's wrong?" she questioned, seeing his resigned look. "Nothing," he muttered, pulling up the covers. "Actually, I'm a bit tired, I think I'll take a nap."
He settled into bed, ignoring her confusion at his abrupt change in behaviour. As she left the room, Aniket tried to understand the heavy feeling in his heart.
xXx
"You clean up pretty well," Karan teased, taking in his date for the evening. Survi rolled her eyes and sat next to him in the taxi, busying herself with talking to Simran who had called from her acting camp to check in on things at home. Her simple black mask was in hand, similar to Karan's own blue one.
The dress was simple but beautiful. It was a black long sleeved, empire waist gown. The beading beneath her bust was gold, similar to the ones on the cuff of her sheer sleeves. The modest neckline also had the same gold beading, and Survi opted for a pair of large gold earrings as her jewelry. It was floor length so she borrowed a pair of Simran's heels so it grazed the ground as she walked. Her makeup was simple, and she had pinned her loose curls back on her right side.
"I just told you that you looked beautiful and I don't even get a thankyou?" Karan griped, pretending to be upset. "Please, as if you mean it," Survi teased. He pretended to be upset, and looked away. The rest of their journey was in a quiet but amicable silence and it gave time for the two to think things over.
Karan glanced over at his companion for the night, and smiled sadly. He could only hope that she would be able to forgive him if his truth got out. Tonight was going to be no less than an explosion, and he was going to be the demolition expert.
They finally arrived at their destination, and Karan led her out to the front entrance. Stopping at the threshold, he smiled at her confused gaze. "You forgot to wear your mask," he pointed out. He took the item and gently tied it across her face. "Won't you wear yours?" she asked.
"The tie snapped," he lied smoothly, showing off the mask with the problem he created. "I'm sure the organizers have extra masks, and if not no worries; I'm sure there will be at least a few people who aren't wearing masks."
Survi shook her head and allowed herself to be led into the lavish black and white ballroom. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, thick curtains of black and white silk billowing out from them towards the columns of the ballroom. Clusters of white orchids and black lilies graced the tables, with fragrant garlands cascading down from the ceiling. Moguls, models and businessmen alike milled around, most with masks on a few without.
On the other end of the ballroom Karthik impatiently eyed the door, waiting for Karan, and inevitably Survi to arrive. As much as he wanted to lie to himself, he couldn't deny that his nerves were frayed. After eight long years he was going to be face to face with her again, and the thought sent him into an anger induced tizzy. Belatedly he realized that the businessmen around him were chattering about something, but he was distracted.
"And what do you think Mr. Barve?"
The question distracted him for a moment, and he turned to answer when a familiar face caught his eye. He excused himself and threaded through the crowd. For a moment he was lost and glanced around hurriedly, gaze finally falling on Karan.
The young psychologist was talking happily with a woman dressed in a black gown, and Karthik cursed internally seeing her back towards him. He slowly made his way to the duo by the bar, heart knocking against his ribs when a crowd of individuals came forward to greet him. As quickly as he could he exchanged greetings, but by the time he made his way to the bar they were nowhere in sight.
"Damn!" he cursed aloud, slamming his hand on the bar and startling the bartender.
From across the room Karan smiled, loving the cat and mouse game he had begun. He pulled himself and Survi in sight, and this time allowed for Karthik to meet up. "Mr. Barve," Karan called joyfully. Survi tensed beside him but he gave her a reassuring squeeze. She was the only one out of the three of them who had a mask on and her identity was safe for the moment.
"Karan," Karthik tipped his head forward, willing to calm his erratic heart. Only a small black mask lay between him and Survi, and he ached to rip it off and see the face of the one who had caused him so much pain in these last eight years. "Pleasure to see you here, and who is your lovely date?"
Karan smiled vaguely and gestured to Survi. "A very special friend of mine," he answered. Karthik's irritation was evident on his face, and his grip on his drink tightened at the roundabout way the psychologist was teasing him, unknowingly.
"Does this special friend have a name?" he questioned through gritted teeth.
Survi's heart was in her throat at this unexpected interaction and she felt clammy. She felt like a spectator to the interaction and it was only Karan's reassuring grip on the small of her back that kept her from bolting.
"Ah yes this is- Wow! This is my favourite song. One second Mr. Barve. Come!"
Karan left the conversation hanging, pulling Survi onto the dancefloor for an elegant waltz around the room. Karthik wasn't one to give up easily, pulling a delighted young lady onto the dance floor and whirling her around. In a few beats the partners changed, but he still wasn't able to get close enough to Survi.
Round and round the duos went, and Survi desperately wished to leave the dance floor. However, fate seemed to have other things in mind as on the next round she found herself face to face with Karthik.
"We meet again," he murmured. She hesitated, but Karthik forcefully pulled her into the dance. Her arm automatically went up to lay on his shoulder, and his hand respectfully pressed firmly between her shoulder blades. He firmly gripped her hand, and their proximity had her heart knocking against their ribs.
At that moment time seemed to slow down for the both of them. Karthik gazed into the deep dark pools of ebony and he tried to construct the face that was behind the mask. Survi was so close to him, hand in hand and he couldn't even see her face. Her soft body fit well against his, and for a moment he considered that time did her justice, from what he could see. The brush of her soft locks against the back of his hand sent goosebumps across his body, and her supple form against his had his mouth dry. Anger tried to fight against longing; anger at himself for feeling this way for the traitor in his life.
The smattering of applause broke them away from each other, realizing the dance had ended. Survi stepped away, and was thankful for Karan coming to her rescue again. Karthik bided his time, an eye on her movements across the ballroom. When she went towards the bathroom he found the opportunity he was looking for.
xXx
Inside the bathroom Survi had taken off her mask, pressing a cool paper towel across her flushed cheeks. She messaged Karan, stating that she wanted to leave right away but received no response.
The encounter with Karthik left her trembling, and she couldn't get the proximity of the two of them out of her mind. Grabbing her mask she slowly made her way outside. She walked past a set of open balcony doors when a hand grabbed her arm.
Survi shrieked as she was pulled onto the balcony, the cold night air slamming into her body. She fearfully looked up, only relaxing when she saw Karan's smiling face. Whacking him across the shoulder she berated him.
"Is this any way to act?" she hissed, voice trembling. "I thought you were someone else!"
Karan held up his hands in an apology, chuckling. His own nerves were just as fried as hers, as he had barely made it before Karthik. When he had seen the other man determinedly making his way to the bathroom he realized he had nearly lost control of the game. However, a well timed push to a poor waiter bought him the time he needed to set the stage for his next scene.
"Sorry," he murmured, slightly out of breath from his run across the ballroom. Survi noticed his strained expression, and worriedly checked him over. "Are you ok?" she asked in concern.
Karan nodded, willing his breathing to calm down. A sharp pain persistently stung behind his eyes and he willed himself to stay on track. From the corner of his eye he noticed a shift from behind the curtains, and he realized Karthik had finally arrived. It was time to set the explosion alight. He was glad that Survi's back was facing the entrance
"Accha Survi, I'm finding this party too boring. Let's get going?" Karan offered.
"I was going to say the same thing," she replied, turning the leave. Karan's hand stopped her from going and she turned towards him.
"At least put your mask back on," he offered.
Karthik wanted to curse aloud, praying that she disagreed so he could finally see her face. When she nodded he felt all hope was lost. "Here turn around, let me help you," Karan instructed, grabbing the mask. "Close your eyes, or else I might dislodge an eye."
Karthik waited with baited breath as she finally turned around. When he finally saw her face he was thunderstruck, and felt he ground give away from his feet. She had closed her eyes before she could have seen him, and Karan was distractedly talking to her so he wasn't noticed. He stumbled away from them, finally letting himself sag against a lounge chair.
Shock. Anguish. Betrayal.
New wounds were ripped over his olds ones as he finally learnt who Survi was. Simmi and Survi, one and the same. The conniving woman had come back into his life and he hadn't even realized it. And like a blind fool he welcomed her back in. Tears stung in his eyes, and his throat closed making it hard to breathe.
"Survi," he gasped, fighting against his tears. "Your game is up. I will make you pay for this betrayal and every single other one before this one. This is my promise to you."
Shiv Shakti
