Pride and Prejudice
Part 16
Khanak frowned as she looked into his pale face and asked as he slowly at first place the phone back in its charger... "What is it Doc? What happened?" As she neared him, he turned and grabbing her shoulders murmured.. "We.. we have to leave now... Daadi... she slipped and fell from the stairs..." Her face paled too instantly as she gasped in shock and simply let him lead her out as she grabbed her bag and he collected his laptop and moved out from there.. She did not even realise that in the worry she had rushed into the elevator with him and they had zoomed down in no time... As he sat inside the car, she strapped her seat belt, he spoke.. "Here, call home will you, I don't have my blue tooth today... Speed dial 2..." She quickly pressed the number as it rang and she put the call on the speaker phone as Alby answered... "Khandelwal House" Shantanu maneuvered the car out into the traffic which was already thick and barked.. "Alby, did anyone call the doctor?" They heard Alby's "Baba, yes Dr. Mohite is on his way.. she is fine but feels groggy and her BP is low too... " Shantanu grabbed the steering wheel harder as he swore softly at a motorist who cut him in a wrong move and he had to swerve to avoid contact... but he spoke in a hard voice.. "Alby quick give her some sugar.. you know those sugar and salt replenishes that we have in the medicine chest... I am on my way... Is she hurt anywhere?" Alby replied "Yes, her chest is sore and swollen at the collar bone" Shaan frowned not liking that and spoke.. "Am almost there... " He swore again as he met a red light and she took a deep breath and gently placed her hand on his unmoving hard shoulder... "Doc... she will be fine right?" He turned to look at her soft quizzical gaze and swallowed wishing within and showing a strong front outward... "Yes.. I hope so.. can't say until we examine her..." He moved as soon as the light turned green and drove like a madman only to brake inside the drive way of Khandelwal House...
Daadi was safe as per Dr. Mohite's examination, except for a slight hairline crack in her collar bone... Shantanu conferred quickly with the senior family doctor and in consultation with him, had already had Daadi's ECG and other tests done. After what seemed 2 hours, finally he sat by daadi's side.. Khanak was outside with Mom, Dad and Ma, Papa... who had also reached 15 minutes within their arrival... Dad had been worried, but had been assured by Dr. Mohite that all was well.. nothing serious. Low blood pressure had resulted in her feeling faint and she thus had lost her balance... the fall resulted in the hairline crack, nothing that rest would not heal... she was a strong woman of an iron will... Sunil Khandelwal knew that and had breathed in relief...
Sighing he sat down next to her and murmured huskily... "Beautiful.. this is the last time.. I am warning you... no more scares like these okay?" He swallowed the lump as he slipped his arm around daadi's head and tried hard to blink away the moisture there holding her hand in his two huge palms... Daadi smiled and murmured... "Darr gayaa.. mera baccha.. chal ab tu itna chota bhi nahin hain, aur kya maine tumhe yeh hi seekh di hain.. sher hain tu.. chal ab.. meri bahu ko bula de.." So Shantanu murmured quizzically "Mom ko, why.. kya kaam hain mujhe bataao?" Daadi swatted his hand and spoke meri poti-bahu ko.. call Khanak, mujhe kuch kaam hain... she arrested his gaze and attention now and he nodded carefully hiding all his feelings... But before he could rise, the person in question walked in wheeling a trolley which had daadi's lunch.. some soup and boiled vegetables... She smiled as she walked in and daadi said.. "Dekha, this is telepathy.. aajaa... teri hi raah dekh rahi thi..."
Daadi made Shantanu get up and let Khanak sit in the place vacated by him, but made him sit facing Khanak on the same side as her... Khanak gently assisted daadi into a sitting position, taking great care that daadi did not strain her collar bone in any way... Plumping a few pillows she pushed them behind daadi and placed a napkin on her chest and then brought the tray close to daadi and started to gently spoon soup into daadi's mouth... Shantanu grimly watched this as many a times when Khanak moved her knee brushed with his making them both intensely aware of q the other... Daadi spoke in between mouthfuls "Kyun ri... aaj tera friend kahaan hain.. Mera Maniya?" She felt Shantanu stiffen there but did not speak anything and felt a strange pleasure as she murmured her reply smiling at daadi clueless of unreasonable blaze that seemed to burn through her layers of clothing... "Woh daadi, he has returned to Delhi.. kuch urgent kaam aa gayaa tha, aur phir mera wahaan business hain na... I have given him my power of Attorney.. par main zaroor kahoongi ke aap pooch rahin thi. Yeh lijiye soup pee lijiye.." And she fed him.. Daadi smiled and drank some soup as he was about to rise and daadi stopped him saying.. "Ab tum kahaan jaa rahe ho Shaan.. mujhe kaam hain..."
Sunil and the others too came inside and Madhavi smiled at Khanak who fed daadi as daadi murmured to Madhavi... "Aap sab pareshaan kyun ho rahe ho, I am fine.. kuch nahin hoga mujhe.." sunil smiled nodding "Maa.. haan haan pataah hain.. aap to super woman ho hain..." She smiled shaking her head and said.. "Kya bachhon ko bataya?" Khanak frowned at that and Shantanu looking at his Dad asked... "Kya hua Dad? What is it that we were supposed to be told?" Madhavi suddenly felt tense as she looked at Radha in askance.. she knew that Shaan always preferred to listen to her.. Radha smiled and stepped forward speaking in a soft light tone... "Daadi... bataa denge.. itni bhi jaldi nahin hain..." So daadi spoke formly "Nahin Radha, it is important.." And Radha taking a deep breath spoke... "Meri purohitji se baat hui thi aaj hi subah.. aur.. shaadi.. errmm.. 15 din mein karni hogi.. uske baad aur koi mahurat nahin hain... "
The soup spoon from her fingers slipped with a clang into the bowl ensuing a pin drop silence as she could feel the smouldering gaze at her side and her breathing turned ragged too... She did not know how to react.. shock had her rooted to the spot... she wanted to scream..'NOOO...' but suddenly his fingers slipped the bowl away from her and he grabbed her hands in a warning signal.. a sweet endearing smile encompassed her face, his eyes shooting warning signals at her... and she heard him speak... "That is wonderful news for us... is it not sweetheart? Of course the earlier the better... right Jingles?" Daadi hid a soft smile as pleasure made her face glow with some colour and Shantanu noted this fact as she managed to splutter... "O..Of.. of.. cc. . course.. haan.. jj..jo.. aap.. sab theek samjhe..." Her heart raced at his close proximity but her brains wanted to fume at him... as he turned to look at daadi... and spoke... "Whooaaa... but wait.. our agreeing to your suggestion does not mean there will be a wedding!!" Her eyes snap open wide to stare at him, her heart sank as her brains rejoiced at his statement, her second track proded... 'Awww doc.. I could kiss you for that!' as she tries to figure what he means. The others stare at him in askance hoping to clarify as they are shocked only by hearing his does not mean there will be a wedding statement...
He spoke firmly in a cool professional voice... "Daadi, you have a long thought.. coming if you think, I am going to let you put yourself through all the strains of a wedding celebration!!! Ha.. wedding indeed. Oh yes we will be married within 15 days but no big time celebrations till you are fit and fine and on your two feet!!! Mind you, you have a hairline crack on your collar bone which is no joke and needs full rest to repair.. So.. wedding yes, but a quiet one and that's final..." His statement followed by a series of protests, and everybody spoke at the same time. Even Radha chirped in to add to huge protests from his Mom and daadi... while Khanak sat there her regalement short lived as what he said sunk in.. 'No wedding indeed!!' She looked down her earlier ire rekindled and sizzling, her fingers itched to slap the mocking challenge in his eyes and she wanted to rave and rant at him... but then on second thoughts she was beginning to think that what he suggested made some sense too... at least from their point of view... after all only the two of them knew that theirs was not going to be a normal marriage...
"No.. a full fledged wedding with all the rights and rituals observed Shaan... I am not having anything less!!" This came form Mom and Radha managed in a soft pleading voice... "Shaan beta.. it is the only wedding in our house.. our only daughter..." He closed his eyes feeling Ma's pain... and he sighed as he raised his hand and softly murmured... "Yes.. a full wedding, but only us.. family.. who will witness... yes with full rights.. but here... in our house.. where it is easy for daadi and then after she gets better, we can host a party.. It is only that.. I.. I will not have it any other way... we could just as esily go into the court for a registered marriage.. Now which one will it be?" His no nonsense voice more than suggested his rigidity and they sighed and Madhavi spoke.. "At least a few close relatives who can come..." Shantanu nodded and spoke.. "Yes Mom, I understand, but we will wait only for bhaiya bhabhi to get here.. none others matter to me so much... and of course if any from Ma's and Papa's side.. of who I know are close by here in Mumbai and Delhi so they can make it within a day or two... But no one else..." Finally it was decided and it was daadi who spoke softly stopping all from arguing any further by prodding them to move to put things into action as there remained very little time...
Their elders filed out in a rush as if deciding already with things... and as Khanak rose to move away the empty dishes daadi stopped her saying.. "Alby will clear this... I need you here... wait..." she complied as Shantanu rose but daadi stopped him as well saying.. "Shaan, here.. open the safe in my cupboard there and get me the thing that I tell you to..." Khanak swallowed as she tried to figure how she will move on as he rose and opened the safe and daadi instructed him to get a 4x 4 inch box covered in red velvet... He brought it to her and handed it to daadi... She did not take it and simply smiled and spoke... "Ab kholo..." He looked in askance at daadi who merely raised her brow asking him to comply.. so much like her he was at times... but he sighed and nevertheless did as he was told and gently drew out a small silver dibbi... Khanak looked in awe at the beautiful dibbi, yet clueless as to what it contained... and waited her heart again racing feeling that this was for her... as daadi spoke softly... "Yeh tumhaare daadaji ne mujhe diya tha.. ab yeh.. Khanak ka ho jaayega... mera yeh Khanak ko nek hain... shaadi ki khush khabri pe.. chalo Shaan use kholo.."
The three deep furrows appear onto his forehead as for jsut a moment he pauses and Khanak suddenly feeling uncomfortable, bit her lower lip as he opened it and a gasp escaped through her lips... as she saw the red sindoor there... he stared at it with an unfathomable expression as daadi spoke with a nostalgic expression in her eyes, a slight wobble as she remembered daadaji.. "Shaan, meri maang humesha tumhaare daadaji bharte the.. roj subah... main chahti hoon ki, tumhaare daadaji ki tarah hi roz... tum Khanak ki maang sajaaoge.. vaada karo Shaan.. karoge na? Mainne ek baar tumhaare daadaji se yeh poocha tha, aisa kyun karna chahte hain woh, to unhone bataaya, do kaaran hain, ek, ki main bahut sunder lagti hoon jab woh meri maang bharte hain aur doosra... ki aisa kar ke woh Bhagwaanji ko ghoons de rahe hain, unki umar lambi bani rahe... aur humaara pyaar badhta rahe..." A soft smile appeared on her lips as she reminiscenced this and then the smile faded to be replaced by a sad forlorn look... he was away on a trip the day he.. passed away.. he..." Shaan moved to daadi and gently held her hand squeezing it, chiding daadi gently... as Khanak's eyes smarted with a soft sheen, she blinked the moisture away and bit her lip even more harder as daadi smiled again and held his hand.. "Chalo ab tum kasam khao.. apne daadaji ki tarah hi tum Khanak ki maang bahroge.. humesha... chalo..." He stared at daadi, a duel commencing within him... This was a promise.. which he would have to make.. and they both knew that it will be an empty one... as there was no love... A voice inside him taunted at him.. 'Oh no? No love did you say?'
Khanak looked at him, sensing his discomfitture and spoke gently, cajoling... "Par daadi iski.. abhi kya zarorrat hain, Shantanu aapse vaada karte hain ki woh bhar denge.. shaadi to ho jaane dijiye na.." But daadi was firm and as if like a sullen, stubborn child looked with chide at Khanak spoke.. "Nahin, zaroorat hain.. ab tak I listened to you Shaan, now this once listen to me, fulfio my wish.. After all later or now, what difference does that make.. you two love each other and that is all that matters... so for my happiness do it now..." Shantanu closed his eyes as if he were just blinking them and looked into hers which pleaded at him and he grimly spoke.. "Agar daadi ki itni hi iccha hain to... " And saying that he surprised her by lifting his right hand and taking a pinch of sindoor he filled her maang... She sat there still as a little bit dusted onto her nose and she closed her eyes a myriad of emotions thrilling through her... she felt complete suddenly as if whole... a feeling of being parineeta crept into her... but a hollowness also crept in, making her feel she will cry any moment with the emptiness of the whole situation... here she was, where she helplessly loved him and he was still in love with someone who was no more... daadi exclaimed softly as he did it and he looked at her face.. which appeared transformed totally by the sindoor... a strange pulling at his heart forced himself to look away and daadi murmured in awe... "Kitni sunder lag rahin hain Khanak... hain na Shaan?" At that he nodded and Khanak not able to take any more, rushed out of the room blinded by tears... as she heard daadi's soft laugh.. "Sharmaa gayi lagtaa hain.."
She did not realise that she had rushed into his room.. she blindly swiped her tears away biting her lip from crying out... As she slammed the door shut and backing against a wall... sliding down holding her head in her hands... sobbing as silently as possible... She felt a deep gnawing ache in her heart... knowing that this sham would soon end, but till then she will have to summon all her strength to go through it all... She so much wanted to speak to Manu now...wallow in his strength and support... but she knew that was not a resort Manu would have encouraged. She remained his best friend only because of the quality which she possessed... as a strong and wilful girl.. so different from the others... and that was the reason why Manu respected her. Her sobs lightened to mere hiccups and she looked up and found to her dismay that she had rushed into his room... She closed her eyes at her stupidity and rose just as the door swung open and he entered as if searching for someone... Stunned at her dishevelled appearance due to her deluge he grimly looked a slow storm appearing in his face and her heart raced in its usual speed in his presence...
Seeing her tear streaked face, the tall length of his legs brought him close to her in two strides... the three furrows deepening as his hands enveloped around her shoulders in a strong grip... "Dammit Jingles, you know that I can't see you.. cry!!!" And that more than did it for her as a fresh deluge gathered in those black pools and spilled out further to his consternation and to her dismay... she bit her lip as she tried to look away but his hands refused to allow her to comply... his hands cupped her face harshly chiding her with his eyes but the pads of his thumbs erasing the rivulets which refused to heed his command... and then as if something snapped inside him... he gripped her face harder and sternly looked into her eyes.. his face a mere inch away from hers... his lips had parted and she could feel his warm breath fanning against hers... her hands which had bunched against his chest into fists.. slowly uncurled to flatten and feel the warmth beneath that white shirt... and as if it were the most natural thing to do for him, he leaned down ever so slowly and with his lips kissed her tears away one by one... till finally the tears felt threatened by his very lips and ceased slowly... as a soft sigh escaped her lips... Her fragrance incensed him goading him and least realising that his lips lingered dangerously near the corner of her lips... and in their slow exploration they had in no time captured the softness which readily parted with their own will... Her hands travelled slowly to his neck to find their way into the silk that she clawed, pressing his head towards hers as he deepened their kiss... the rough rasp of his jaws making her even more aware of his rugged masculinity... She was lost as she felt the tumult of the myriad of emotions that thrilled through her... she was in her blissful heaven... never wanting to leave paradise...
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She lay in her bed as the day's events rolled past her eyes... she delved even more into her blanket as she remembered their shared intimacy... When she thought of that again and again, her face coloured a deep red!! How crass could she have been.. Had it not been for Manu's phone that interrupted what would that have led to? Fortunate or not she did not know that, but at least Manu's call had been a timely interruption!! A persistent ringing had been like an irritating buzz and she had felt like her life had deserted her when he had torn himself away from her in a shocked dazed disbelief and as the cool air had hit her like a slap on her face, he had heaved a couple of breaths as in shock he glanced down at her.. she closed her eyes suddenly as she felt his gaze stripping her to her very soul... and he had thankfully left the room... as she with trembling hands managed to fish out her cell phone from the pocket of her kurti... The ringing had stopped as she hung on to the cell phone as it were her lifeline as she tried to calm herself and hit the dial button to call Manu back... Manu had calmly heard her out sensing that something was amiss, but patiently heard her out and then softly had informed her that he would soon be to be with her...
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He sat in his study raking his hair in the dark... this was much later after they had left... He refused to even think of their heated exchange from earlier on in the afternoon... He had avoided to face ehr after that, busy with arranging for a nurse to assist daadi... taking care of little formalities, arranging for an oxygen cylinder for emergencies... She had been there constantly at daadi's side and helping Mom too.. he had known but had kept out of her way... Presently he thought allowing himself to dwell on his stupidity of giving in to his urges... what had made him do that!!! Why had he kissed her? He blamed it on her vulnerability but he knew better.. he had finally admitted to the presence of this strange yet strong attraction that he felt for her... which was no excuse as he knew that she did not love him... she was in love with that.. that buffoon... The voice inside him seemed to tauntingly ask him 'So why then does that bother you so much SK?' He grimly shut his eyes as if that would shut out every coherent legible thought from his brain... but that was his undoing as it only made him more intensely aware, as he remembered the soft complying feel of her lips, her fragrance of sweet roses... her arms had felt like silk bonds... her very essence had found its way into his heart as softly he thought... 'I am attracted to her.. dammit.. I.. I.. feel for her... she looked so beautiful with her maang filled...' His heart raced at that lovely memory which had etched into his heart and soul... which he would never be able to erase ever... 'Yes SK... she is beautiful... so so beautiful and you are in love...' He sat up even more straighter as the thought traversed his mind... in shocked disbelief... new dilemma soon making its presence felt as those words echoed in his soul... 'You love her SK... ' as he grimly rose and flinging on his jacket he strode out of his study, straight out to his car and drove off like a mad man possessed...
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The next couple of days kept Khanak very busy as she had to arrange for things for her business too... Power of Attorney, decisions to be made, instructions to be given. She felt the irritation in spite of Mahi's constant assurance that it will all be taken care of as things could just as easily be handled either way... the situation was in control... She could just as easily operate from Mumbai making Mumbai her base... but they all did not know that soon she would need to escape to the bliss of Delhi after when their contract would end... and that worry too gnawed away inside.. as he had not put a terminating date.. she needed to clear that out with him and was frustrated to no ends as whenever she visited Khandelwal house he was absent... since their kiss... he had not contacted her nor tried to speak to her.. Of course she knew that his surgeries kept him busy but a phone call was the least he could do.. But she also felt thankful as this way, the situation gave her plenty of time to adjust and erase that kiss... but her heart did not want to as it clung to the very memory... stowing it among many which seemed to be happening one time too many lately.. for later... when she would have separated form him... She had left out that incidence from Manu... as it was too private... She sighed as Radha rushed to her for checking on something and then on was thankfully distracted...
Anupamaa
