The Rainbow - A Shruthi-Shirley Collab - Ch-15 on P-23 - Page 8

Really sorry for the delay friends.. I will try to update by tonight

Guys my update will come mostly next Tue or Wed. As I am going to vacation for rest of the week.

Originally posted by: shruthiravi

Guys my update will come mostly next Tue or Wed. As I am going to vacation for rest of the week.

Chapter 7: The middle way!

Radhika got up with a mild headache the next morning and groaned. A headache on a busy Wednesday was more than she could bear. She hoped it would go away on its own and if not, she would have to take solace in a painkiller. After freshening up she put tea to boil, and answered the door to Tara, her maid who helped her with cooking looked after the house and her children in her absence, while doing the usual cleaning and other menial chores. She remembered today was a project submission for Rohan, and went to wake him up so that he could give the finishing touches to his project. Rohan sat on the computer sleepily with his bournvita and Radhika decided to join him for 5 minutes while she finished her tea. She was confused to see him doing copy paste from various sections of his project.

When he smiled at her, she asked him, "what happened beta? Why are you copying boxes from one place and pasting at another? I thought every page should have different titles, right?"

"I believe in smart work Ma. See this box I formatted last night. Now I am simply copy pasting the box to all pages that require titles in a box. Then I can simply change the text and the formatting remains same without having to format each box separately."

Radhika was impressed at her kid's smartness and beamed proudly at him. "Wow that's a fabulous idea, my child!" Just then Tara came then, "madam, what vegetables should I cut for today's lunch?"

"Open the fridge, I am coming." She told her as she took the last sip of her tea and followed her to the kitchen.

As she saw the vegetable that were available trying to decide, she saw the can of coconut milk. She had got it last week to make Thai curry over the weekend that everyone loved so much. But then Abhi and the kids had wanted to go out on both the days. So the Thai curry wasn't cooked. She sighed in frustration; the coconut milk would get stale if not used within a day or two. For now, she had to decide what vegetables to cook today that Abhi would like and would happily eat, given his craze for non-veg. Although she had blurted it out in anger, she knew being Gujart, Abhi's office canteen did not serve non-veg. Not even eggs!

Suddenly an idea struck her! Couldn't she use Rohan's idea in kitchen? Why not make Thai curry base first and then put chicken in one part and vegetables in another. Of course, she would need to cook the vegetables and chicken separately first but it won't take that long. She hurried told tara to cut the vegetables while she herself cut up the already cleaned up chicken and put it in a cooker, before taking out the curry paste from the fridge.

She smiled as she left for work that day. Somehow she couldn't have been at peace with herself after upsetting Abhi and knowing he won't enjoy his lunch. She had managed today.

A few hours later, Gayatri Dave was sitting in Radhika's cabin, with her elder sister. She pleaded to Radhika again, "madam please I want to withdraw this case ASAP. Please!"

Radhika was irritated beyond measure now! After she had worked so hard and fought her conscience, the client was doing this! She could not help the anger showing clearly on her face.

"Madam please."

"what do you think I am? I don't dance to client's tunes. And besides, why do you want to withdraw now? What made you want to suddenly stay married?"

"No no Madam. I do want a divorce!"

Radhika looked at her incredulously. What the heck was she saying?

Gayatri's sister gestured to her to keep quiet and let her handle. She looked at Radhika, "Actually Ma'm, we have already spoken to Sumant and he has agreed to sign the divorce papers and why not? We told him that we are willing to forgo the alimony altogether. That was enough for the loser!"

It was all Radhika could do not to bang her hands angrily on her desk. She controlled herself though and asked calmly, "But until yesterday, you wanted the fattest alimony you could get claiming that you belonged to a very poor family and he had a good income so why not?"

She started her drama by trying to wipe non-existent tears from the corner of her eyes, saying, "ma'm look at her, this girl is completely broken down due to this case. No amount of money would be worth it. See madam, look at her. Our bubbly chirpy girl has forgotten how to smile."

Radhika looked at her client critically. Absolutely glowing face fully made up and not a hair out of place. Every jewelry and accessory perfectly matched. She was almost comical as she tried to appear sad and forlorn.

She sighed, "Okay, if that's what you want. Fine with me. See our accountant day after tomorrow and settle your accounts." She was no one to interfere with a client's wishes. As long as the clients paid up for the services rendered, the firm didn't mind anything except losing any case.

"Thank you madam", said Gayatri as she got up with a smile that to Radhika resembled the look a cat gives after she has swallowed a bowl full of cream. As she left the cabin, Gayatri had a spring to her step. Long after they left, Radhika stared after them in irritation and thoughtful contemplation

She was startled to hear a knock on her cabin door. "Come in."

Keshav said urgently, "not come in, you come out to the lobby balcony Radhika! All your confusions and doubts will get cleared."

"What?" she did not budge from her chair.

He literally held her hand and started dragging her.

Her eyes flashed angrily, "Leave my hand!"

He immediately left it, "sorry, but please come with me this very moment. Not a second to lose."

Though confused, she followed him out to the lobby balcony. As he pointed, she looked downstairs and was totally surprised. Gayatri went to a new looking Hyundai Creta and a young handsome guy with a goatee beard, wearing branded clothes got down and hugged her. She then bade bye to her sister and he helped her to the passenger seat like a true gentleman. He went back to the driver's seat and both drove off, while the sister caught an auto.

Totally surprised, Radhika looked up at Keshav who looked back at her with a twinkle in his eyes and a bemused expression.

She looked at him suspiciously, "what was that? And who's the guy?"

Keshav replied with mock innocence, "how do I know? From what we saw just now, he ostensibly looks like your dear Gayatri Devi's new prey!"

She continued in the same tone, "Ostensibly, yes. But who is he really?"

One look at her face told him, this was no time to play any further word games with her. He turned serious, "he is my cousin, who loves to play detective just for fun and is pretty good at his job. He met Gayatri and pretended to be totally smitten by her. He told her he was from Australia and that he had to go back soon. So if they married her before leaving, she could join him within a couple of months. Needless to say, she fell for his story hook, line and sinker!"

Radhika looked at him incredulously, "What? What the hell are you doing? If she were to find out or see him somewhere? What if she finds your connection in this matter?"

"Relax Radhika, nothing of the sort would happen. He is pretty smart in covering up his tracks! Everything from that car to his appearance, especially his complexion and that goatee beard - is all taken care of.. there is no way she can trace any of it to him. He will vanish into thin air as soon as the case gets withdrawn. Besides, he is actually leaving next week, to pursue his MS in the US."

But Radhika was fuming with anger.

Shirley, lovely update. And I was literally shocked to find Radhika worryuing so much about not been able to cook veg & non veg dishes (2 dishes at the most) despite having an helping hand at her kitchen. The moment I read about coconut milk, all I could think of was to use it for both Veg & Nin veg curry and you ended up giving us the same. Some times we unnecessarily get tensed up rather than think coolly. However even I am not happy with the way Keshav solved the problem of Gayathri though it was a nice trick by him to get the husband half hook.

Lets us see how things will move till divorce and also I can think of some revere in Abhi & Radhika's relationship.

Amazing part.. nice twist.. started bad but ending good.

chapter 3 shows the different nature of both ladies. RAdhika seems to be more reserved one. She cannot gel with anyone just like that. Malini is open. Radhika is managing everything in household single handedly. and malini is not so concerned about household but want a good time with her family.

Hi everyone... i m starting to reply here now.. first i will respond to the latest chapter reviews and then go back..

sry, double post..please see the next post

Originally posted by: deejagi

Shirley, lovely update. And I was literally shocked to find Radhika worryuing so much about not been able to cook veg & non veg dishes (2 dishes at the most) despite having an helping hand at her kitchen. The moment I read about coconut milk, all I could think of was to use it for both Veg & Nin veg curry and you ended up giving us the same. Some times we unnecessarily get tensed up rather than think coolly. However even I am not happy with the way Keshav solved the problem of Gayathri though it was a nice trick by him to get the husband half hook.

Lets us see how things will move till divorce and also I can think of some revere in Abhi & Radhika's relationship.