Epistle 64: Rulers of the WorldA/N: Hey there everyone! :D :D Here is the next update! :D :D
Note: This chapter is dedicated to Elvish because this was one of her requests and well, I hope you like the surprise! <3 <3 It's been rather hard to keep mum about this! :P :P
Happy Reading! :D :D
23rd January, 2007:
Ishaani and I are both busted, big time.
Damn it, I should have known that Baa would have been on a lookout to catch hold of me for something or the other ever since that competition. But stupid me, I was waltzing in my own little bubble of fantasies. Got my reality check and not pretty. I've learnt to stop taking Baa's words on face value because if I did, I'd be an established dog by now.
Ishaani says that I could be a cute Shi Tzu with a red bow.
Ahem, where was I? Oh yes, about how my day got bombed so spectacularly today from all ends. Sorry, I tend to ramble stupidly at three in the morning. But anyways. My entire research of the thesis paper has gone for a waste because my professor just let me know today that the topic was already taken. Months of research and now I'll have to start all over again! And I just have two months in hand because submissions need to be done by March end.
If that wasn't less then these weird headaches that I keep getting from the past five days are even more annoying. And then there's the nosebleeds too. Ishaani's been sitting on my head to go show a doctor, but well... I don't have the time. Besides, I'm fed up of doctors and hospitals. I'm not going to any now for a long, long time. My New Year's Resolution for this year. It'll get alright... It must be the stress from all these days. If only if they'd stop popping up at random hours!
But leaving my miseries aside. We had an investor's party at the mansion today because of a deal that Mota Babuji cracked a few days before. It was a portfolio of a very important party whose name I cannot disclose but handling such a huge portfolio is definitely a big plus for the company. All the other clients are extremely happy with the profits that are being yielded and the fourth quarter's results in terms of turnover has been above satisfactory in terms of return. So a celebration was bound to be in tow.
So the party began and like the countless ones we've had at the mansion, I've grown adept to having everything set up in as short a time span as a day. Mota Babuji had sent out a last-minute impromptu invitation to about 200 of the most prized investors of the Parekh Empire. Well, it was a Harshad Parekh party - an impromptu sent 30 minutes before also would have a 180 attendees.
Unfortunately, Mota Babuji had asked me to put on my best clothes tonight since he wanted to start getting me introduced to some of the major clients of the company. I was going to give my finals in a couple of months and by August I was going to have my first degree (hopefully!). Mota Babuji wanted me well acknowledged.
He even lent me one of his better attires in spite of my protests, but after eleven years, you just know when to keep your mouth shut and accept what's being given. Love matters above integrity at times, and so does loyalty. And with Mota Babuji, protesting always has the same result - blackmail. I can easily write this on a blank paper that Ishaani has inherited this from Mota Babuji only.
And so by six in the evening, the party began. To be honest, I wasn't feeling well the entire day but that was not an option, not when it was concerned with Mota Babuji. I had to put on my best show because it was the least that I could do for him. And things would have been better, but I'd been so busy with the preparations of the party and working upon my final thesis paper that well... I, um, forgot to eat. You can't say forgot, but I just didn't have the time! I'd just had a class of water the whole day, so well... one extra reason for Ishaani to be mad at me.
Ahem, so back to the point. By the time the party began, I was hardly in my senses because I was starved and well, servants eat after everybody at the party have had their share in spite of a buffet for the staff being put behind the house. Usually, we all manage to go have our food in between when nobody notices, but we need someone on parole. And it always has to be me, because let's say I've become a sort of expert on this. Besides, I was the youngest. What other option do you think I have?
But today, that was not even possible since Mota Babuji had caught my hand and was taking me all over the party, introducing me to his clients. It was... flustering. It was all merry when Mota Babuji told them about my qualifications and skills and when they questioned me, I could see that they were satisfied with their response.
But then there was always the time when they would ask who I was.
The answer didn't yield pretty expressions. Only expressions of disdain, mockery and disapproval disguised under sympathy. Just a prick in my heart a little more as I forced myself to smile even though there was nothing more to smile about anymore. I'm not ashamed to be servant because no work is inferior or superior like my father and my mentor always tell me and I'm proud of who I am. But that doesn't mean that the perception of the world doesn't hurt, no matter how much I try to block it out.
It's easy to brave a smile and say that nothing affects you, but only I know the way I pacify my heart. And as we walked over towards the last few clients that Mota Babuji had to introduce me to, I felt the grip of his hand grow stronger over mine. It was a relief because I had begun to feel light-headed with the exhaustion, but I knew that I had to be awake long enough for the party to get over.
Baa wouldn't have it any other way now, would she? Not when she spent the entire evening making a joke out of me with the wives of several investors. So typical, really. But atleast the last set of clients were here... Just a little time more and I'd finally managed to eat something. Servants were not allowed to touch anything from the eateries to the drinks that went around the party. The rule was for all, especially me. According to Baa, I forgot it more often than not.
Never mind, so finally after an hour and a half of brilliantly disguised humiliation, even Mota Babuji understood what was going around the place. He simply patted my shoulder just as I was about to make my way towards the valet parking section and looked at me with his usual piercing gaze.
"These were the same people who laughed at me years ago. Times change, Ranveer. The hands of time have to stop from where it begins. That's life and karma. Remember that."
I nodded my head at Mota Babuji and he patted me cheek lovingly. How did he read me so well?
"Go and eat something first. You don't look good."
I smiled at Mota Babuji drowsily but I didn't say anything. I could feel my eyes grow heavy and my fingers get numb but it was okay. I was used to being hungry for this long before. It's never ended with good results, but yes. It has been above 18 hours that I'd last had something to eat and I could feel its repercussions already.
Ishaani always gets so mad at me whenever I skip meals, but she wasn't there at home the entire day to spy upon me. She had gone for some college trip with her classmates for the day. So with guilty pleasure of knowing that I was to be spared of her wrath, I went towards the parking area to see four of the valets looking at my direction impatiently. Ofcourse, I still had to keep duty for them like always since I was the youngest. Baba wasn't here today since he had taken Falguni Maa for a kitty party to Juhu. They walked up to me and looked concerned.
"Will you be okay if we go and have our food?"
I don't remember what I replied because there was a momentary blank stretch after which the next thing I remember is all the four of them staring at me worriedly.
"Beta go have something. You don't look well to me," said one of them (I don't remember who).
"No... No, I'm fine, Kaka. Give me the keys, I'll park the cars," I replied but no one budged. I gave them a small smile as I pressed further. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Have your food peacefully, I'll be here."
They looked at me in concern when I flashed them a reassuring smile. It didn't convince them too much but they obliged nonetheless. Oh come on! They were all Baba's age and they were hungry too! Obviously it was going to be them before me. One of them (I don't remember who) handed me over the keys of three cars that required to be parked and I gave him all a strong look of reassurance. God, I felt terribly ill and I wish I could have said no, but...
Manufacturing defect, like Ishaani says.
But what happened next is still slightly of a blur to me. I remember seeing two more cars arrive and one of the guests were rather rude. I think she laughed at my attire and said something about it. I was too busy trying not to let darkness overpower my senses to pay any heed to her but I do distinctly remember her saying not to get any scratches upon the car or else she'd complain straight to Baa or have my salary cut. Yeah, several of the households know about the legendary stories of Hansaben Parekh and her whips. And her episodes with me are particularly gossip worthy for that catty friend circle of hers.
I somehow managed to park away the five cars, feeling better all of a sudden. And I think it was about Ishaani that I was thinking when parking them... it was already half past nine in the night. I always grew worried about her if I wasn't with her at odd hours like these. I got down from the car and kept back all the keys with the respective markings when I realized that I'd left one of the keys in the car that I'd last parked. And then darkness suddenly ambushed me and the last thing I know was feeling my head hit something before everything faded away.
The next thing I saw was Ishaani's face hovering above my own, speaking something to someone that I couldn't understand. I felt her pull me up against something and rub my palms furiously. I couldn't help but groan as my body felt sore, as though somebody had been constantly punching at it. I still didn't have it in me to open my eyes... I just wanted to sleep away peacefully. Fainting fancies suck.
But before I could fall asleep, I felt her slap my face again and again. Oh, I so wanted to shoo her away and just fall asleep but she wouldn't just let me. Or maybe my hands felt too heavy to lift for shooing her. So did my eyes. And out of nowhere I felt her push something upon my lips and the next moment, I could feel cool water pass through it, instantly soothing my throat and snapping me out from the spell. My eyes flew open in a jiffy, everything suddenly too bright to take in.
Blinking them lousily for a few times, I pushed them open to see Ishaani looking at me in fright. I guess she'd just arrived from her field trip.
"Are you okay?"
I didn't have it in me to speak so I just nodded my head. And the next moment, there was an explosion. An angry Ishaani Parekh who was yelling away for the drivers for not being careful about me. She spoke a whole lot of things I couldn't grasp because my mind was sluggish, but apparently I was unconscious beside the car in question for about 20 minutes and not a single person had come to check up on me. Oh, she was livid. None of the others said anything except apologize profusely for their mistake.
Well, Ishaani didn't give them a chance to say anything now, did she?
I was still too disoriented to make much sense but I think Ishaani pulled my arm around her neck and pulled me up to my feet. I asked her for some more water. She handed over a bottle to me and I drained it off in one go, but I wasn't even that knocked off to not know that it was orange juice. Oddly enough, that managed to spike me back into my senses as I felt the tingling sensation of numbness fade away.
I took my hands off from around Ishaani's shoulders, my feet still unsteady and swaying. She cupped my cheeks in worry as she tiptoed slightly to reach my height, looking panic-stricken.
"Are you alright? Should I call you a doctor?" she asked, the tension evident in her voice.
"No... No, I'm fine... Ju- just leave me here, I need to park the-" I began disorientedly but she brought my speech to a halt.
"You're going into your room right now and sleeping, okay? Have you even eaten anything?" she questioned, suddenly suspicious.
"I, uh..." was all I managed to stutter before I knew it was a lost cause.
And the look I received... I'd have rather died in shame than get that from her. She pursed her lips as she pulled my arm around her shoulder firmly just as my knees buckled. She was pissed, I could see that, but she preferred saying nothing in light of my state. She took me to the entrance of the mansion and was about to make a detour for the servant's quarter when Baa's voice came booming out.
"Ah, look at the two rotten peas of the degraded pod."
Two hundred disapproving pairs of eyes fell upon us instantly, the hissing of the vicious pythons striking all at once. Baa walked right up to us and pulled us both towards the center of the room, looking malevolent. I noticed that Mota Babuji was not in the room. Probably gone to receive a call, I guess.
"Let's propose a toast... toast, is it? Yes, toast. To the servant who thinks he can conquer the world under the skirt of a great man, and to the delusional girl who thinks that she can hide her impure existence under the flag of the Parekh clan. To the most precious diamonds in the making! To the rulers of the world!"
And so came the chorus of all the two hundred people in the most ruthless jeers and sneers. God, I could barely stand, feeling like I would throw up any moment and here Ishaani and I stood, openly being insulted and humiliated in public. I could feel Ishaani shaking with rage beside me, and before I could stop her, she swung around and cleared her throat.
"Hi! That's a very enlightening toast that Baa has given both of us so if you don't mind, I'd like to say something more."
Baa turned around and hissed at us bad-naturedly while several gasps went around the place. I tried to steer Ishaani away and talk sense to her but she'd had enough. She'd been reduced to tears six times this month in public humiliation and I'd been having an extremely gifted spell of lashes and abuses from the past three months. Clearly Ishaani had had enough today. I was too tired to argue with Baa or reply to any of her jibes, but I knew that if I wouldn't stop Ishaani, she was inviting trouble for herself.
"Okay, so first of all, I want to introduce you to two people tonight. I'm Ishaani Parekh, to-be-nineteen in a few days. I'm doing my BBA right now. An artist and pianist by hobbies. Also love to read. I aspire to make a mark for myself in this world one day. But tonight is not about me."
Every single person's attention was captivated by the bold beginning. Ishaani pointed towards me and continued.
"This is Ranveer Vaghela. He might be a driver for most of you standing here, but I want to tell you something you don't know about him. He's the strength of the Parekh Empire. The knowledge that he has about the stock markets are something that half of you are illiterate about and the reason why you're all here with such profitable yields is because of him here. He's twenty, and is doing his final year BA in Economics. Both years the topper of his class with a distinction. An all-rounder by hobbies."
All the eyes of the room fell upon me in scrutiny while I wished the ground was eat me up. My legs began to wobble slightly and I could feel the embarrassment become more than I could bear. Ishaani, however, had not had enough. She spoke with even more gusto.
"But that's not what makes him so extraordinary. It's his loyalty and his will to learn and succeed in life that makes him an equal to all of you who only have money to compensate for. Like our beloved Baa often says in public, he's a gold digger wanting to steal my father, oops, my step-father of his money. It's partly true. He does want to steal something from my father, but that's his experience."
Light whispers ran around the room, tongues beginning to wag. I tried to take Ishaani away but she threw off my hand in indignation. She continued with the same passion.
"All these years, he's been showing his class not with money or status, but with the upbringing and manners that he's learnt from his Mota Babuji. He was hungry and ill today but never did he once shy away from his duties. That's his dedication. He remained unconscious in the parking lot for nearly half an hour but the first thing he told me when he woke up was that he had to get back to his job. That's his hardwork and sincerity. Many of your must have tried tipping him tonight for his services, but he must have not accepted any because that's against his ethics. That's his honesty."
The crowd fell silent once again, their gazes now a mixture of amusement and pity. Ishaani pressed on, her tone now haughty.
"It's people like him whose destiny are written to achieve great things. So yes, here today I make a promise to all of you to be the most precious diamonds in the making. A toast to this, and to us being the next rulers or the world!"
Nobody raised their glass in toast this time. For any normal person, Ishaani was making a fool of herself as well as me in front of people who were stone-hearted and uncaring. But in that moment, I think I fell in love with her all over again. But doesn't that happen to me every time I see her? She turned to look at Baa and the air grew cold. Baa cocked an eyebrow at her and remained silent. Ishaani caught hold of my hand and dragged me out from the hall after mumbling a cold 'enjoy your party' in the air.
The last thing I heard was Mota Babuji's voice asking 'What just happened over here?'
Ishaani brought me into the room and made me sit upon the bed, but I think I kind of tumbled upon the pillows. I did not care about anything except sleep. Ishaani returned back a couple of minutes later with a plate of food in her hand and some ice. I gave her a confused look but the only thing I got in return was a cold one.
She quickly pulled a couple of cubes and put it in her handkerchief before dabbing it on my nose. I flinched at the sudden pain and she sighed irritably. She pulled the hanky apart and I understood. My nose had begun to bleed again.
"You need to go to a doctor," she advised sternly. Like always, I shook my head in denial. No means no. She gave me a vexed look before she smacked my arm in a painful punch. I yelled reproachfully in pain.
"You moron!" she yelled at me while I gasped, thinking about why she was taking away my line.
"I thought you'd stopped cussing!" I retorted sardonically, but fell silent instantly under the murderous look upon her face.
"I cannot help it if you do things like this. I swear, you need another slap! How many times have I told you not to remain hungry for so long!? You fainted because of that only now, didn't you? Didn't you?" she reprimanded, now looking truly intimidating. She was an angel who could turn into a demon any minute.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry!" I begged, giving her my classic puppy eye look. It didn't work.
"I'm honestly fed up of you! What now, must I write it upon the walls in gold for you to understand?!" she complained in exasperation. I clicked my tongue sympathetically as I put my hands upon her shoulders in comfort.
"Sunny, don't be angry-" I began but she stopped me halfway through.
"Don't call me that!" she whined and I gave her a gleeful look. Wrong move. The next moment, she was brutally assaulting me (yes, the term is appropriate!) with a pillow.
"Ouch! Ow! Ow! Ow!" I shrieked in pain, and that was enough to bring her madness to an end. She sat upon the bed beside me, heaving, but still looking angry. And I knew it was instantly. She wasn't just mad at me... she was mad at a lot of things. I was just her punching bag for all of it.
"You should be worried about yourself more than me. That was stupid what you did out there," I remarked, suddenly serious. She looked at me keenly.
"Well, I've had enough," she replied, her tone now blank as she picked up the hanky with the ice-cubes and began dabbing it upon my nose again. I hissed.
"She's going to make you pay hell for that. Not just you, us," I managed to choke out as the ice stung through the cloth.
"Yeah, like she's been giving us cherries for all these years," fired back Ishaani, now looking livid. Wow, she was really pissed. She silently kept dabbing at my nose for a few minutes before speaking slowly.
"Just so you know, I meant every single word of what I spoke out there. And I don't know about myself, but I know that you will become a big man one day."
I smiles at her lovingly. It was all that I could do, really.
"And I know that you will too. Easy with my nose... that's not a hand pump, you know," I joked, hoping that it would bring a smile upon her face. It did.
"I really hate this new pet name you've given me... And you better stop with it or else I'll-" she threatened with her favourite line and I completed it for her.
"Break your nose?" she laughed at the irony of the statement. We both did.
"Rather than waste time on expert comments, start eating," she said, now eyeing me like a disapproving mother. She didn't make me miss Maa at all at times.
"But the food... It's from the party! Baa..." I muttered as I realize where the food was from.
Servants were only supposed to have the stale food from the previous day. Party food wasn't allowed. But the moment I began to protest, Ishaani rolled her eyes at me in disdain for the old woman.
I knew that she wouldn't hear of anything else until I wouldn't eat so I decided to quietly listen to her. And boy was I hungry! By the end of fifteen minutes, during which Ishaani and I both filled each other on the happenings of the day, my entire plate was wiped clean, as though there had been no food upon it in the first place. And now that I was on a full stomach, I definitely felt much, much better. Ishaani looked at me with satisfaction before she took away the plate and I went to wash my hands.
I returned back to see Ishaani with two bowls of butterscotch ice-cream sitting on the bed in wait for me. I smiled as I took back my position and smiled at the bowls happily.
"What's the occasion today?" I asked her curiously, and she simply shrugged her shoulder.
"Well, we've had such a terrible month, so a treat is in order," she replied, looking at me coyly.
How did she do that? One moment, her boldness made me admire her strong-headedness so much, and the next moment, her coyness made me admire her humility even more so.
"As much as I loved your monologue, we're going to get into big, big trouble for it," I remarked.
I know how Baa is, and I don't want Ishaani to be on the receiving end of Baa's idiocy. Not worth it.
"I don't care," she assured me in a carefree tone and before I could say anything, she pressed her finger upon my lips. I looked at her silently as she smiled, raising her bowl of ice-cream in a toast.
"The promise is certain - to the next rulers of the world."
Oh yes, it's a promise we made to ourselves and to each other today. And it's a promise I made her in the moment when I returned her toast, both of us taking a spoon of ice-cream and sealing the promise.
"To the rulers of the world!"
Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :D :D
Next chapter:
Epistle 65
Edited by LadyMeringue - 8 years ago
Parineeti
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
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