Part – 5"Hi Palak" Vikram called, as he came around the corner. Ansh and Palak were at the school gate, ready to leave for home. Ansh and Vikram nodded to each other.
"Hi Vikram" Palak replied, giving him a weak smile, clearly uncomfortable. Today was the D-day – the day Vikram came home to the infamous Scindia Inquisition.
"What time are we meeting at your place? Five?" Vikram queried.
Palak nodded and Ansh added curtly "Don't be late".
Vikram was surprised at that. Why should Ansh care whether he was late?"Uh…yeah...sure" said Vikram. "By the way, Tina mentioned something about having to meet your parents?"
"Uh….yes" trailed off Palak, when Ansh came to her rescue. "Yes, our parents like to know our friends and have met everyone of them."
"Oh" smiled Vikram, clearly relieved "it would be an honor to meet them. And thank you".
"For what?" Palak was surprised.
"For considering me your friend" smiled Vikram.
Ansh rolled his eyes. What a dork!Just then their car drove up and Palak said "Well, we will see you at five. And it will be fine. Bye."
As the car drove off, Ansh turned to his sister "It will be fine?? Palak!! You are not supposed to warn him or tell him anything."
Palak grew irritated. Crossing her arms across, she looked Ansh straight in the eye "I did not tell him anything."
"That was a warning" Ansh pushed back.
"Warning? I told him everything will be fine. How is that a warning?" Palak was equally insistent.
"Because it implies that things can go wrong! You know that as well as I do, so stop acting the innocent here" Ansh snapped.
Stung at her brother's words, Palak reached out to touch his arm "Ansh, what's got into you? You never liked the inquisitions either. Now it feels like you are one of them" Palak added forlornly.
"Nothing's gotten into me" Ansh snapped again. Immediately he felt remorseful and held her hand instead. "Silly girl. I am on your side – I always will be."
Palak smiled at that – they were always on each other's side. "Even where Vikram is concerned?" she teased quietly.
"I said I will be on your side – I never said anything about Vikram" Ansh mumbled.
Chuckling Palak poked him in the stomach, "So tell me, what do you
really think of him?"
"Of whom?" Ansh parried for time.
No way was he prepared to have this conversation with his sister.Palak grinned, fully aware how uncomfortable both her father and brother were with the idea of a "boy-friend". "Vikram, silly!"
"
You called him silly – not me" Ansh was relieved, and quickly changed the topic.
---------------------------------
"Before snacks, or after?" Arti asked Yash.
"Before."
"You are mean" she replied with a smile. She had known Yash would give no quarter to Vikram.
Yash lifted an eyebrow as he looked over at his wife "Mean!?! I am letting the boy come here – isn't that gracious enough of me? Let him prove himself before he eats anything. It's not as if he will be starving" Yash replied, slightly uncomfortable.
After all it did go against their innate sense of hospitality. And then he reminded himself – this was about a boy who had dared to date Palak – and the anger started simmering again. Reading the shifting emotions flitting across her husband's face Arti came over and hugged him. Placing her head on his shoulder she said, "Get a grip on yourself Yash. We don't want to embarrass Palak; we are supposed to be evaluating the boy, not beating him up." And she kissed him gently on the side of his neck where the nerve was pulsing.
Yash put his arms around her. As he held her, he felt the tension leave him – she always had a soothing effect on him. He closed his eyes and sent a silent thanks for this lovely woman who had entered his life and brought sunshine and laughter back with her.
Holding her tight, he kissed her gently. Then touching his forehead to hers, he said "I love you".
"I love you too" Arti whispered as she pulled his head down for another kiss.
-----------------------------
The kids started arriving just before five. Vikram came on the dot. As he joined the other children going through the gates, a hand pulled him aside.
Vikram turned to find a middle-aged servant, probably the watchman holding his arm. "Who are you?" the man asked.
Ram Dulare was enjoying himself immensely. He had been instructed by Pratik to hold this boy at the gate till all the other children had gone in and then take him directly to the office. Yash had shown him the picture, but he would have known anyway – he recognized all the other children except this one. "Vikram….ummm….I am Palak…..uh I mean, I am Ansh's friend" Vikram stumbled.
"You have never come here before" Ram Dulare said, an accusing tone in his voice.
"Uh…no. This is my first time".
What was this? An inquisition? Vikram was getting nervous.
"Have you been invited?" Ram Dulare demanded, getting into the role now.
"Yes!"
"What's your name?"
"I told you, Vikram". He was getting exasperated now.
"What kind of name is that? Vikram what?" Ram Dulare demanded.
"Vikram Mathur! Can I go in now?"
"No!" Ram Dulare pulled out a piece of paper and pretended to consult it. Then he looked the boy over, checking him out from head to toe and nodded. "Your name is on the list."
That was a relief! But – a list? What was this, a military compound? "So, I can go in now, right?" Vikram asked moving towards the gate.
Again the hand grabbed his arm. "Come with me" and Ram Dulare took him inside but away from where the other children had gone. "Vikram Mathur!" announced Ram Dulare as he opened a door and practically pushed the boy in.
Vikram stumbled over his feet. As he straightened up he looked around the room.
It was dark, with one single over-head light glowing in the center of the room. There was a long desk with six people sitting behind it – Palak's parents obviously – who else? Her uncles and Aunts? Must be. So this was going to be an inquisition after all. Vikram straightened his shoulders. Arti saw the boy stumble in, straighten himself, look at them and pull himself together.
The first impression was favourable.
At least he did not turn tail and run, thought Yash. "Sit down".
Vikram took the single chair which had been placed directly under the overhead light.
Just like in the movies, he thought wryly to himself. And the questions started, or was it a firing squad? "Who are you?...Where are you from?...What do your parents do?..." and on and on for five straight minutes. He barely had time to answer one question before he was thrown another from a different direction.
And then came the doozy "Why are you interested in Palak?"
Crap! He hadn't thought anyone would ask such a direct question. What was he supposed to answer – and to her family at that!! "Uh…she….she is a very nice person" he said, hoping that was enough.
"Of course she is. And so are others. Why are you interested in her?" Yash persisted.
"Uhhh…." Vikram wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Would you like some water?" asked Arti. Before he could answer, she signaled Paridhi.
With a wicked grin, Pari took out a whistle and blew.
The sudden, piercing sound startled Vikram and he exclaimed "S—t!" And then he froze, eyes drawn to the glistening eyes of the central figure at the table – Palak's dad.
Yash was grinning to himself. The first time Pari had pulled that trick it had shocked them too, so he understood only too well the befuddled confusion of the boy.
"I am sorry. Please excuse my language" The boy said looking him in the eye. Then turning to Arti, he added "Excuse me Ma'am. I apologize."
Yash and Arti exchanged glances –
that was well done.
Ram Dulare got a glass of cold water and gave it to Vikram. He took a sip and returned the glass. "Thank you", he said quietly.
After Ram Dulare left the room, Vikram turned towards Yash. Without any hesitation now, he said "Sir! Palak is a smart, intelligent girl. She is a warm, friendly person, always helpful, always considerate. She is very special and I am lucky she considers me her friend."
Arti was impressed.
An interruption like that generally disturbed others enough that they called off the inquisition. Instead, this boy had used it to gather himself. She liked him. Yes, if Palak had to have a boy-friend, he would do. Yash had liked it better when the boy was nervous. He continued "What do you want to become when you grow up?"
Without missing a beat Vikram replied "I want to be a soldier Sir, I want to serve my country. I have applied in the Indian Military Academy and will be taking the exam at the end of this year."
Despite himself, Yash was forced to like the boy.
Palak could do worse he admitted to himself grudgingly. He signaled Pratik who left the table and flicked on the lights.
Yash got up and walked to Vikram. "Nice to meet you my boy, I am Palak's father."
Vikram smiled and then surprised Yash further by touching his feet "Namaste Uncle."
Arti smiled at that – a boy who knew when he had won! And was humble in his victory. She went up to them and holding Yash's arm said "Welcome to our house Vikram, I am Palak's mother." Palak had dragged Ansh to the office area as soon as she had heard that Vikram had come and had been whisked off. She had been pacing nervously outside – Ansh had run off to make sure their friends were engaged and had come back to find Ram Dulare leaving the room.
Vikram came out a few minutes later with their parents and uncle-aunts immediately behind. One look and Ansh knew the result. He smiled at Yash. At his father's nod, he went to Vikram and said "Come on."
Palak turned to her mother. Her mother smiled and nodded and Yash ruffled her hair. Giving a quick hug to her parents, Palak whispered "Thank you!" And then she ran off to join her friends.
Yash instinctively pulled Arti closer. For a moment he had felt a part of him rush away with Palak. Pankaj came and placed his arm around Yash shoulder, while Vidhi hugged Arti. "They will be fine."
And the relieved parents smiled as they held each other.
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