The quatuor felt happy seeing their children smiling face when they came out of the room.
"As decided, we will meet here next week for engagement." KN announced.
They all had dinner together with each one enjoying the moment for the reason known to their own heart.
The week went like a TGV (High speed train) with shopping for elder women, business and career for the men in general and brainstorming session for Chakor with her friend Trishna.
Forgot to tell, Chakor and Trishna got reconnected two days after their last conversation.
Chakor came to know that Trishna's cell fell into swimming pool when they were talking due to sudden push.
So they are back to sketching and rescaling their new plans.
As fixed engagement was held privately in Suraj's apartment.
Engagement was a simple event with just the presence of their families.
So all together they were only 6 including Suraj and Chakor.
Rings were exchanged with smiles plastered on their face.
Parents were on heaven feeling their family to be complete in 6 months.
Chakor was discussing with KN and Tejaswini when Suraj approached them.
"Can I have my Lady for few minutes?" asked Suraj extending his hand for Chakor.
"Why for few minutes? Take her for your lifetime." smiled KN when Tejaswini put a small pressure on Chakor's shoulder to make her go.
- My Lady! WOW!
What an acting Mr. Gorilla?Were was I all these years? -
Chakor hesitantly put her hand over his and went with him.
Before entering the room, she turned to find their parents laughing whole heartedly.
Once entered, Chakor took her hand from his and went to take a place on the couch calmly.
Suraj locked the door and got a bundle of papers from a file which laid on his bed few seconds before.
Passing the bundle and a pen, he said:
"Sign It!"
Taking the pen and bundle of papers he offered, she made herself comfortable.
"I need time to read these papers."
"Trust me Sweeto! I didn't add a word more than what we concluded that day."
"First, stop calling me like that.
Second, I will never trust you Rajuju!"
"Ahaaan! No trust? And what about you calling me with respect?"
"Mr. Rajvanshi, I need time. Keep quiet!"
"Manners Miss. Would-Be Rajvanshi!"
"Don't talk!"
"OK!" saying this he switched on the music system with a metallic music.
- Can't he leave me peacefully for 2 seconds?
Why me? And why he?
Here I'm stuck and outside I'm sure they are cheering for their success after declaring my entrance to paradise!
Hitler! I pray to god that in next birth you should be my son and I will teach you how to behave with a sweet girl like me.
What am I praying?
As if all my prayers are granted.
Concentrate on the task in hand, Sweety! And scream! -
"Turn it off!" she screamed.
"Never order me!"
"Do you want me to sign this or not Mr. Rajvanshi?
If you do, switch it off!"
"I have no problem Honey if you don't sign it!" and winked at her.
- What does he think of himself?
God! Creature of this world!
My foot!
I have no choice with this.
It's my life.
I have to read and sign this to have a peaceful life as I wish. -
After 20 minutes, Chakor takes the pen from the coffee table and signed the document.
Seeing her action Suraj switched off the music system.
"This copy is for you and this one is mine." passing one bundle to him and putting another one in his back before continuing:
"If you forget to do it, I will file for divorce."
******* ONE WEEK BEFORE *******
After their casual talks of pulling each other's legs for few minutes with their old golden memories. They concentrated on the main subject.
"Let's talk like adults!" announced Suraj.
- No we are children.
We will talk only like that. -
"Look who is saying that!" mocked Chakor.
"Miss. Lal! It's matter of your life too!"
"Listening!"
- What else can I say.
My life is at stack. -
"We don't have any other choice than getting married."
"But I don't want my first marriage with you." he laughed a little.
- What does he think?
He will decide everything and I will listen to him like before.
Never! -
"How many marriages are you planning to have?" Suraj asked with a small laugh.
"I didn't mean that by first."
"Yeah! I can see that!"
- What to do?
My fate was and is always written with: 'The Suraj Rajvanshi to be the first person in everything in The Chakor Bhuvan Lal's life!'
I'm just trying to change it. -
"Stop your idiotic talks and come to the point." said Chakor a bit frustrated.
"As I said we have to get married on the date they fixed. If you have any idea, I'm all ears to hear you."
"Why can't you say no to your parents?" she asked.
"The same question applies to you too."
"I tried!"
"Do you think I didn't try?"
"The way you speak it feels like that."
"Your Big Boss own 51% of my law firm. And he is blackmailing me."
"Don't talk ill about BB."
- He is always sweet to me.
I don't like if someone talk bad about people I like.
If he wants he can blame Hitler as much as he wants but not BB.
I will not take it. -
"You see why he wants you as his daughter." Suraj said sarcastically seeing her supporting his father.
"Same applies to your future Dad! Blackmailing his own daughter to get married to you, Mr. Egoistic." saying the last word in a whisper.
Luckily for her he didn't hear the last word, else WW3 would have started by now.
"So Miss. Future Lawyer, do you think blackmailing other's daughters is legal?"
"We are here discussing about our life, not about any case."
- Yeah our life.
Not just mine. -
"What say about divorcing?" asked Suraj.
"So Mr. Famous Lawyer, did you forget that it will take 1 year to get divorced?"
"Innocent Sweetoo, we will sign the divorce paper before our marriage."
"I don't trust you Rajuju! What if you get pleasure in torturing me and you don't file divorce intentionally like now you forgetting your promise to not call me by that name?"
"I never promised!"
"When you asked to speak like adults, everything is included."
"I think I should find the meaning of 'Talking like Adults' and the clauses applied in the law for that." he said thoughtfully.
- For me talking like Adults included a lot more clauses than he can think. -
"We will have 2 copies. One for you and one for me." Suraj said after few seconds of reflection.
"In that case I want a contract for this marriage with few clauses like:
* You will respect me.
* You will not use the names I don't want you to use.
* You will not get close to me.
* You will not touch me, even your breath should not fall on me."
Hearing the last condition, he smiled vaguely, Chakor continued her list without knowing what's happening around her:
" * You have to keep distance with me.
* I will not cook for you.
* You can't order me.
* Most importantly, you will not interfere in my life."
- Our past is like that.
I can't leave his take the pleasure to make me dance on his tunes. -
"Have you finished or is there something else to add in your list?"
"Finished!" she tied her hand over her chest.
"Few thinks can't be written in contract but I can promise you. You know that I hold to my word." she smile mockingly.
He continued "I will not call you 'Sweeto' and you too should do the same.
Coming to respect and space, you will be free in your private space. Don't pounce on me saying that you didn't ask my permission. I'm just telling that I will not interfere in your private space.
There will have a cook here, if you want you can cook else no problem.
And finally, sometimes we need to hold hands and look smilingly to each other in our parents' presence. Else No. But if you come near me it's not my fault."
- Oh how I want to hold him in my hands. Hide him inside me.
Idiot! I don't want him to come near me and he is saying if I get near him.
Comedy of the year! -
"Never forget that we will be Wife & Husband for name sake only. And I want a separate room for me here. I saw the next room is also spacious, I will take that after marriage." she said.
"We have to share this room."
"No way!"
"Your BB want to shift here to focus on his business for an unlimited time. So!"
- BB you are also becoming like Hitler! -
"I want all papers ready on our engagement day. That means next week." she announced.
"Ask me and don't order me!"
"It's my wish!"
They continued their talk before coming out smiling at each other which made their parents to feel relieved.
******* NOW *******
Taking the bundle of papers from her hand, Suraj said:
"Do you think I will forget to get my freedom?"
"So you are scared of me?"
It was more like a statement than a question.
- I wish to see him scared for once.
But my wishes are never heard. -
He smirked and told her:
"Scared and Me? In your dreams!"
"Repeating my line ahaan?"
"There is no copyright over it Miss. Would-Be Rajvanshi."
"As if I don't know Mr. Rajvanshi."
- That means the game starts now.
Miss. Would-Be Rajvanshi VS Mr. Rajvanshi
I will win it! -
"I'm going out!
If you want to come with me, you are welcomed else they will make stories Honey!" he smirked saying it.
Taking her bag with her, she came near Suraj who was unlocking the door.
"Get ready for the teasing!" he added.
Suraj and Chakor came out and found elders of both families around the dining table. So they took the vacant places between both the elder ladies.
"Were you discussing about honeymoon destination?" asked Tejaswini to no one in particular but in a way that it was heard only by the new couple and her friend, Kasturi.
Both businessmen were in the world of business to hear or notice anything else at that moment.
Chakor choked the food she was chewing hearing Tejaswini and Suraj fired his mother with his murderous glare.
- Why everyone is interested in hearing our honeymoon plan.
We are planning for divorce and they are planning for Mr. or Miss. Junior Rajvanshi. -
"Don't tease them Teju!" said Kasturi.
"Wanted to enjoy a little. But these two are...Huf!" Tejaswini sadly with a pout.
"Raj! Sweety! We have decided that we will meet once a month for week-end days for the coming six months."
"As if we have a choice." muttered Chakor under her breath but Suraj heard her.
"But" started Suraj interruption Kasturi.
"Let us finish first!" intervened Tejaswini "As we are shifting here next month, there is no need to travel Delhi-Bombay. It will be alternatively, like one month here and the next at your Bhuvan uncle's house."
"Two rooms ?" asked Suraj.
"We have king size beds in both room. Ladies in one room and you all in other." replied Tejaswini calmly.
6 months started to pass with each one busy in their works and marriage preparations.
Chakor joined her college and started to be the best in everything. Trishna and Chakor talk daily about the day's events.
Suraj started to work on new cases which brings money more than criminals under the law.
Bhuvan and Kamal started a joint venture in Hotel business and they making it work out well.
Mrs. Rajvanshi and Mrs. Lal are preparing for their only children wedding with full heart.
In theses 6 months' time, whenever possible Chakor and elders of Rajvanshi clan talked through phone calls. And same did Suraj with Lal clan.
In these 5 get together, Suraj couldn't attend one as he had to go to Mumbai for a case.
Once it was Chakor's turn to be out of it due to research project with her team.
Each time when the elders left the young lovely couple to have their own private time, they bark at each other or stay in their corner, doing their work as Chakor or Suraj bring the needed equipment. And sometimes they practice for their future battle.
After 3 months of their engagement, Chakor turned 23 and they celebrated it between two families in Lal's mansion on the week-end.
******* TWO AND HALF MONTHS BEFORE *******
Rajvanshi family was welcomed warmly by Lal family. Youngers took blessing of the elders and the celebration started with simple cake cutting and chatting about past beautiful memories for elders and past happening memories for the youngers.
"You remember your 12th birthday gift?" Suraj asked Chakor with a smirk playing over his lips when they were alone inside Chakor's room.
"I have work." saying this Chakor started to move from there.
"Are you scared?" asked Suraj getting up from the couch.
"Hmmm...NO!"
"I see!" he came near her.
"I think... you forgot the conditions."
"I remember everything."
"Then why are you co...coming near me." she stepped back.
"All conditions are applied after marriage. Not before!"
"But...But" her back hit the wall.
Chakor turned to go when Suraj blocked her way posing both his hands on either sides of Chakor.
"What are you doing? I own black belt in karate!"
"Oh I'm scared!" he made a scared face before laughing and bending a little to Chakor's level.
His breath is fanning Chakor's face.
"Do you remember your last birthday we celebrated together?" he reformulated his question.
"Hmmm" she nodded and bent down her head.
"What do you think about that?"
Chakor's eyes were searching something precious to capture her attention but nothing happens.
- Why I feel like when I was 12.
In this range, my heart will blast.
Where to concentrate? What can I concentrate on?
Do I have to kick him?
No physical pain!
Then?
Push him!
But he is strong! And you know that! -
Lifting one hand from the corner wall, he made Chakor face him.
But Chakor's eyes are still down casted and lips were a bit trembling.
- What is he going to do?
I don't want to experience the same thing.
Brain! Wake-up! Find an idea to escape the situation. -
"Suraj! Chakor! Dinner is ready! Come down!" said Kasturi who passed by Chakor's room to go to study room to call KN and BL.
- Love you Mumma even if you are joining hands with Hitler.-
With this distraction, Chakor saw Suraj's loosen grip on the wall and his head turned to the door's side.
Deciding her next action, she pushed him with a little force she gained and ran from there leaving a smirking Suraj who passes his hand through his hair.
"You will pay for pushing me!" Suraj said when Chakor was exiting the room.
******* NOW *******
Days passed and thier parents relation got more stronger than before.
One week to go for the D-day but Chakor and Suraj will cross each other's path in these days thanks to the seminar organised by Chakor's college.
- God! You see even when you didn't fulfil my wishes, I started to fulfil my promises.
I behave goodly to everyone.
I mean including that Rajuju. Sorry Suraj.
You saw that I respect him.
I even started to respect Hitler. I call him sweetly Papa!
I'm making my parents happy.
My professors are also happy.
He is also happy whenever he can pull my legs when we meet.
All I ask you this time is I want to be happy until the D-day. I mean Death-day.
So when He come to college for Seminar make him behave like a stranger.
It's my only wish for this week.
Please! Please! Listen to me this time! -
As Chakor was the secretary of her college union, she was close to the stage of the seminar with her organisation team.
The SR's entry, the presentation, discussion on different topics went well until the last part.
Question & Answer part.
As Chakor was the one to welcome him and other's do rest of the action, Suraj kept a trace of her actions.
So he knew what she was doing and where she was at that moment by glancing at Chakor while conversing with others.
"How do you feel to be a guest in the college you were once a student?" asked a student.
"Great! I'm not the first one and I'm sure I will not be the last one."
"A lot of changes happened here. Would you like to take a tour?" asked another student.
"Not today! May be next year when I will come with my wife to collect her diploma."
Suraj observed Chakor mouth open wide but she composed herself immediately launching angry missiles through her eyes seeing him smirk.
"Sir, wife?"
"In our college?"
"A student?"
Mangal Lakshmi
