16A: Jaunt
He looks cool, Geet thought as she stole a peek at her husband. Maan had chosen to don a polo shirt in heather green and tan casual pants over which he had pulled on a teak cord blazer. She was seeing him wear a jacket, or for that matter anything that even came close to being called formal attire, for the very first time and he looked...good!
Good enough to rev the pulse rate up a few notches and make me giddy. He's also watching me, conveniently taking cover behind those shades, and it's driving me nuts! She raised a hand to her forehead.
"Are you all right?" he asked, steadying her arm.
"Yes I am." If you'd only remove those glasses.
"Better?" He smiled, removing them as if having read her mind. Though in reality it was because they had just stepped into the very dark and cool interiors of the restaurant. She almost ran into his back, blinded for a few seconds.
"Are you really all right, Geet?" This time both his hands were on her shoulders and his husky voice drizzled with a pleasing anxiety.
"Yes, I am!" As soon as you take your bloody hands of me, you handsome brute! She glared at him.
Surprisingly the result was immediate, but not due to the force of her thoughts. Maan too was having a rough time maintaining a bland disposition.
Is she growing outrageously provocative by the day, or am I falling for her feminine wiles?
"Ahem... Welcome to the Olive." The hostess had to raise her voice slightly to get the couple's attention. They were engaged in a task quite different than what usually brought people to the restaurant. "Table for two?"
Maan affirmed with a brisk nod and led the way. He was trying his best to appear indifferent, not bothering to note this affronted Geet quite a bit.
"I hope this would do. Unfortunately, we are booked solid." The hostess said as she led them to an enclosed booth.
"Yes, this'll do fine, thank you," Maan replied with a slight smile. It'll do very well indeed.
"Ladies first." He directed Geet ahead with a gracious tilt of his head.
What a weird guy he is, at times rude and at others charming, Geet thought.
The hostess rattled off the beverage selection after they had taken their seats in the cozy booth, that appeared to be way too intimate for Geet's liking. Her discomposure did not escape Maan who watched quietly as she slid to the farthest end.
Damn I need a drink! "I'll have a glass of your best Kalyra and sparkling water for the lady please," Maan said.
"You are drinking! Isn't there a law against drinking and driving in this country?"
"Yes. But that's if I don't go above the legal limit or cause an accident," he explained softly while making her writhe in her seat with his minute scrutiny.
"I still think it's a bad idea, though," she retorted fiercely but his gaze wouldn't budge.
Darn! Doesn't she realize the havoc she's stirring in me right now in that virgin white summer dress?
Geet blushed as she attempted to rearrange the neckline of her blouse which exposed her delicately boned shoulders. Never before had she felt the need to do so, but his eyes... She grabbed the menu to hide her confusion. "What am I supposed to order when I can't understand a single word?"
"Let me help," he said, removing it from her hand. "Since you have trained your palate to rebel against most cuisines, I decided as my very last-ditch attempt to bring you to one of my favorite places and if you happen to dislike this too...you are on your own."
She couldn't help breaking into a smile.
"Hello! Good afternoon, folks! Welcome to the best taste in town! And a rose for the lovely lady!"
They were startled out of their reverie by a flamboyant voice, which belonged to a slim and long body now bent at the waist offering the aforementioned bloom to Geet.
Maan smarted at how the ABCD could provoke an immediate smile of pleasure on his girl's (My girl?) face. Bloody slick bas***d!
Have I seen him before? Geet racked her brains as she stared at the neat figure all in black with slick gelled hair smoothed back into a tiny ponytail at the nape of his neck ala Amitabh Bacchan in Cheeni Kum. Then it hit her when he looked directly at her with a cheerful smile. "Ahh! A desi beauty unlike any other, how lucky you are, sir."
He addressed Maan without taking his eyes of Geet who flushed crimson. He was the five-cent guy!
He didn't appear to recognize her though and was now sporting a quizzical look.
"Ahem!" Maan brusquely cleared his throat, thoroughly irritated at the daring of this young upstart who seemed to have Geet eating out of his hand. Perhaps they were better off at home. "Do you serve anything to eat out here?"
"Oh, please accept my apologies, got a little sidestepped. But of course, can I start you off with an appetizer? I recommend some Artichauts or our best seller Tomate con Meile?" he said as Geet scanned the menu for details.
"No, I don't favor any of that. May I?" Maan asked her briefly and, without waiting for her reply, quickly ordered for both including the entres.
"Excellent choice, sir, I couldn't have done any better." Mr Sleek hair disappeared with a brief nod of his head after shooting another puzzled glance at Geet.
"That was very rude of you, Grey!"
"I don't think so. Anyway, since you haven't been here before I thought I may as well go ahead and do the honors. Did I do it wrong?" Maan said while thinking--- The hell I care if she thinks I did! The hell I care if she thinks anything! Blast! She's my wife for God's sake, and here I am tolerating some nitwit boldly flirting with her!
Geet looked on with consternation as Maan squeezed the stem of his wine glass. "Watch out you may break it."
"Huh?" He stared at her.
She shivered.
"Are you cold? These Americans consider even seventy degrees hot," he said, offering his jacket.
"No thanks, I'm fine." Her hands shook as she tried to sip on her sparkling water. She suddenly wished they weren't here but in the apartment watching comedy reruns on TV, making small talk, playing pretend.
"Hey, I know where I've seen you before!" Mr. Sleek hair reappeared with their food. "You were on the bus that day looking all hot and bothered, and I came to your rescue with the nickel. Cool! Isn't it?"
She inclined her head. "Yes...those five cents."
"What five cents!"
"Maan? This nice..." She hesitated.
"My name is Pratik, by the way. Pratee to my friends."
"He pitched in with the change I was missing for the bus ride, and I still owe him. Can I borrow it from you?"
Her husband delved into his pocket and produced the coin.
"Ah...uh, I guess that takes care of it." Pratik sounded a little disappointed. He stood there looking curiously at the couple.
Geet smiled. "I think we should introduce ourselves."
Like hell we should! Maan fumed.
"I am Geet and this is my...friend."
"Hi! I'm Maan and we live together," he volunteered with a broad grin stretching out one hand while placing the other familiarly around her shoulder.
"But..." She stared at him, a slow flush creeping over her cheeks.
"Isn't that correct, my dear?" he said, looking at her for affirmation. His eyes bored into her, indicating a certain level of intimacy that didn't exist.
"Nice to meet you, Maan." Pratik shook his hand, the flashiness had been substituted by incredulity.
***
"Damn you, Grey!"
"You asked for it, Bee."
"Why did you say that?"
"Say what?" He leaned close, trapping her against the hood of his car.
"That...that we live together?" she gasped out with a nervous frown. Out of the corner of her eyes, she thought she spied Pratik watching them not so discreetly from the entrance of the restaurant.
"I was speaking the truth, and I believe you like honesty no matter what." Maan's air was defiant.
"But...the implications. What will he think?"
"Think? Who cares what he does think? My dear, this is America where cohabitation is commonplace, and it was you who started it all. You wished to hide our true relationship," he said, grinning smugly.
He has me trapped in a web of my own design, and I thought I was clever. Yet I don't feel mortified, rather I feel agitated and aroused. She smiled and took his breath away.
***
"You are driving at 80mph, way above the speed limit. What if you get a ticket?" Geet said.
"I'm willing to chance it. Too tired of playing by the rules.
"Hold on!" His eyes sparkled as he stroked the accelerator and edged into the leftmost lane"the fast lane. She held on to the dashboard but couldn't deny a sensual rush when they breezed past the rest of the traffic.
"Where are we going?"
"Wait and see," Maan said mysteriously. Then the very next moment, "Hell! Must have got off the wrong side of the bed!"
The piercingly loud wail of a police siren could be heard approaching fast behind soon followed by flashing lights of blue and red.
There goes a couple of hundred bucks and all the affected bravado down the drain! What a fool she must think me to be! Maan frowned as he slowed to pull the car on to the shoulder.
But the cop sped past, and Maan heaved a sigh of relief.
"Seems like some poor punk has stolen the limelight. I can't tell you how disappointed I am, but my day will surely come." He winked at Geet mischievously.
He isn't too bad when he applies himself to the task, she thought, starting to get the drift.
He was humming again.
"I hate silly love songs." Geet said.
"No don't!" He leaned over to stop her from toggling with the dial, scraping her fingers in the process. She jerked her hand away. "I love them, just like I love old romantic movies."
Her pulse quickened as his brown eyes sneaked sideways, and he mouthed the words of an old Eagles melody as if they were meant for her and her alone.
I am not afraid to say anymore that I want you to stay with me and be my wife for real. Get it quick, lady, for I can't wait.
How I wish you had told me so before, Maan. Geet mused and looked away.
That rogue, Pratik! Must have a rose garden for the sole purpose of impressing females! I'll kill him if he tries to mess with my girl again!
Don't gnash your teeth, you look like a pig!
"Did you say something?" Maan asked.
She shook her head, and giggled.
Vixen!
"Oh, this is beautiful!" she exclaimed. They were driving down Sepulveda Boulevard, having left behind the concrete monotony of the freeway.
He grinned, pleased. "Wait till you see what's next. It'll leave you breathless."
You already do.
For the next half an hour or so, Geet was, as he had promised, agog with enchantment as though she'd been magically shipped to another world.
Maan chose to remain mysterious, but she could sense his fervor when after parking the car; he grabbed her by the arm and hurried her to a spot from where they were shuttled on a computer-operated tram to the top of a hill, which he explained was part of the Santa Monica mountains. She gasped, literally sucking in her breath when they came upon a huge complex, that appeared to have sprouted from the hill side.
"This is the Getty Museum, one of the richest in the world when you take in the value of its art collections. It was built by an oil billionaire who was known to be a miser yet who left most of his estate to this place. To me that makes him one of the most generous men on earth! I love it here!"
A spontaneous smile creased Geet's lips. She had never witnessed him so enthused before and found it very infectious and attractive. "So is art your second love after fancy flying objects?"
He paused for a moment at the entrance while holding the door propped open for her. "No, it's my third."
She flushed under his gaze but didn't ask him to elaborate. She was afraid of what he might say.
"So what do you think of this one?" he queried later with interest. They were standing in front of a particularly arresting portrait of an old Roman peasant woman. "I think she's happy even though she's dirt poor since she still has the love of her husband and children."
"No, I think you're wrong. I feel she is miserable because he left her for a younger and more beautiful woman."
Geet was subject to a piercingly sharp survey but was able to maintain her cool. "She is finished crying, now all she wants to do is take him to the guillotine!" she continued defiantly.
He chuckled. "There were no guillotines in Rome at the time this picture was painted."
"Whatever, I don't care! She only has vengeance on her mind!"
"Hold that pose. You look like a girl who swallowed a vile-tasting insect!" He laughed, pulling out the Nikon.
"Maan! You""
"Do you folks want a picture together? You make a handsome couple," a man in a French beret offered amiably, and Maan immediately handed him the camera.
"What are you doing?" she asked irritably when he hugged her from behind, placing both arms around her waist.
"Playing pretend as you like to do so often. Now smile!" he said, leaning his head close to hers while Mr. Beret snapped away.
I hate you. I really do! she screamed inside as her eyes welled up with unshed tears.
"C'mon, cheer up, Bee. Wipe that sour look off your face. We are good friends and housemates remember? Now tell me if you recognize this one!"
She blinked hastily, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. Let me enjoy myself while I can.
"Oh my god! It's Irises by Van Gogh!" She stared agape at the very familiar painting. "Don't tell me it's the original!"
"Are you out of your mind? It is the original! It was painted when the artist was in an asylum the year before he died. It's evidence genius doesn't require a sane mind. Poor chap, he received only three hundred Francs for it," Maan muttered as he dolefully regarded the canvas.
"How much is it worth now? A million, two?"
Maan Googled on his cell. "For crying out loud! It was last valued at over one hundred million! It is one of the most expensive pieces of art in the world. Poor Van Gogh."
Later at the museum cafe while Maan frowned at his lackluster cappuccino.
"Perhaps you should steal it," Geet interjected casually, taking a bite of her cold tomato mozzarella sandwich.
"Steal what. Irises? Are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm serious. I could help," she said eagerly.
Throwing his head back, he guffawed. "Good god! No wonder I love you. You are one of a kind!"
She flushed beet red. What was he trying to say?
"What are you doing?" She drew back when she saw him approaching too close for comfort.
"There is ketchup on your chin. There... Now it's gone, my beautiful friend."
I hate you, Maan.
I love you, Geet!
***
"So what is next on the itinerary, Mr. Grey? Care to enlighten this curious bee?" Geet asked as they proceeded along a narrow winding road, that appeared to climb steadily into the hills. She had been tolerating her husband's curiously aloof behavior for at least the past half hour and it was driving her berserk.
"We are bound for some education and entertainment."
"Education and entertainment!" she exclaimed. "How is that possible?"
"Anything is possible here in LA...you shall see." He was back at his enigmatic best.
"Oh this is marvelous. I should compliment you on your choice of sights, Grey!"
They had just stepped inside the Griffiths Observatory, one of the most popular landmarks and destinations in Los Angeles located on the south side of Mount Hollywood, that houses one of the largest telescopes in the world.
"I should tell you that this place was my most favorite haunt while in school and during the first couple of years at work. I used to come here on clear nights to gawk at the planets and stars and dream that perhaps one day I could journey to them as well."
He burst into a laugh when he saw her eye him incredulously. "I don't mean in person but via one of the spacecrafts I helped design." He sighed, gazing into the distance.
That'd mean you were preoccupied with Des for the rest of the time. That sick witch! Geet thought.
"Anyway, this is the Foucault's Pendulum."
"What in crazy hell is that?"
"Oh calm down, Geet, or Bee, or whoever you are right now," Maan blurted out his poorly disguised exasperation. Why could she just spill the beans instead of throwing casual barbs now and then? "It demonstrates the rotation of the earth. The free-swinging pendulum, suspended by a forty-meter long steel wire knocks down each of the pegs, which the earth's rotation brings into its path about every seven minutes."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
Then as if to prove his point, in precisely the space of seven minutes a peg toppled down from its upright position. Geet who had been watching with baited breath, let out a whoop of delight and clapped her hands loudly, that brought forth a few titters from the late-afternoon crowd.
"Get a grip, Geet, you are creating a scene!" Maan growled, dragging her outside.
"But I want to see more pegs being knocked down, Maan. That pendulum is way cool!" She struggled to free herself.
"I'll show you something even cooler. It's high time for some entertainment," he said, roughly shoving her into the passenger seat.
"Look at what you've done!" she griped, blowing over a sizeable bruise taking shape on her arm.
"Sorry, but we are running late, and you were behaving like a regular clown!"
"No I wasn't! How can you...Why are we stopping here?" she demanded, suddenly antsy as the car drew to an abrupt halt along a lonely stretch of road. He didn't answer instead sprung out, ran over to her side, and held her door open while pointing up the verdant hillside.
"What's that? Yikes!"
"Presenting the famed Hollywood sign up close and personal. The iconic symbol of wealth, success, and entertainment!" He grinned, watching her as she stared openmouthed.
"Oh, thank you!"
"Now what was that for?" he asked, momentarily taken aback after she treated him to a quick hug and a minuscule peck on the cheek.
"For rough handling me so you could show me this. You are simply too cute sometimes. Oops!" She colored, clamping a hand on her mouth.
God, do I love you my poisonous insect! "Shall we make a move?" he asked with an inscrutable smile, that made her nerves reverberate under her skin.
It'll be a pity to waste such gorgeousness, but it must be done, she thought regretfully as she strapped herself in.
Please read 16B below in the post after Khushibloom's comment!
Udne Ki Aasha
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