"Why aren't you wearing red? I thought I made that clear. Don't get in the limo. Wait"
We were summoned by papa Kundra to meet him in his den.
"Oh, I am wearing red alright. You just can't see it".
"Would you stop playing dirty? You on my last nerve here. Someday, I will have my way with you".
"Have your way all you want", his jaw dropped to the floor. "In another lifetime". I might have flattened his tires. "Rajeev, drive away". The driver bit his lip to suppress the laughter and Rishabh put on a sore loser face.
"This isn't over you two", he kicked Rajeev's seat.
"Rajeev pull the flap down". I unbuttoned my shirt and I could see his lust.
"Changed your mind?"
"Yes"
"I like where this is going", he was closing in.
"I love you". I spit out something to halt his actions.
"I knew that".
"You are the only person I trust. Honey, don't ever leave me".
"Are you stoned again?"
"We are here, young master". Rajeev opened the partition.
"We will continue this later". I buttoned up my shirt and my husband let out a sigh. "That was out of character. What's going on?" He interrogated me on the elevator flight up to Kundra Inc.
"They are on to us. I don't know who or why but, Rajeev was recording our conversation".
"You can't be serious. What reason does anyone have to follow me around?"
"You are heir to the throne. You don't think that is reason enough?"
"You have been watching too much CSI".
"Don't believe me, ask for Rajeev's pen. A fancy catch for a driver. See for yourself".
"Hey Rajeev, buddy. Come upstairs for me", he rung up our driver and looked at me. "I don't like your conspiracy theories. Go say hello to mum".
"Right, I am the test dummy every time".
"Come out alive general", Rishabh cheered on his unsung warrior as she prepared for battle.
______________________________________________________________________________
Mother in law dearest was sipping on a glass of 40's Pinot noir as entered the Kundra conference room.
"You are not wearing Valentino like I asked".
"I do not believe in animal sacrifices in the name of fashion".
"I did not say you or your morals had a choice".
"I assumed ma. Ma, may I call you that?"
"Yes you may as long as you hire a stylist".
"As you wish. Shall we see sasurji now?"
"He will be here when he gets here. What's taking your plus one so long?"
"He will be here when he gets here", I served her cold taunt back to her.
"Wine?"
"No, thank you. I prefer...Rishabh. We were just talking about you".
"You were right. He threw it in the gutter as soon as I asked", he spun my chair around ignoring the other figure in the room.
"Who threw what in the where?" Mama Kundra was irked by our nearness.
"Ghetto talk, ma. I will tell him to be more formal since we are no longer in high school".
"Ma, I like it", he patted my head. "Here comes the papa bear".
"Ladies, Rishabh, you are in company of the Mohan Kundra. Can the usuals leave so our bahu and I can have some chit chat in harmony?" His wife and son followed the orders.
"How did you know about the marriage deal?"
"I didn't".
"I am supposed to believe that your wedding date coinciding with Rishabh's roka is all destiny's plan?"
"Rishabh had a roka?"
"Don't try to fool me. Malik sent you here. The school surveillance footage has you with Secretary Kim". My father in law was the spy? What was going on?
"Sir, I have no idea what you are referring to. Rishabh and I got married the night he proposed. Nothing was planned".
"Why'd you try to sabotage his relationship with Deepali?"
"I didn't. They had a fallout long before I was ever in the picture".
"I have my eye on you". Believe me, I know.
"I assure you my feelings for Rishabh are genuine. I want no part of your fortune, I can give that to you in writing".
"I will have a nuptial agreement as soon as you two hooligans can LEGALLY marry". He turned a table upside down. "I am not done with you. If I find one loophole in your story, and I goddamn know I will, you". He spit on the million dollar carpet. "Evaporated. Rishabh can't save you".
"Pleased to meet you as well".
Rishabh was visibly upset reading his father's body language. He barged in.
"You will not insult her under my watch". My husband roared at his father.
"Rishabh, I only want what's best for you. She must learn the ways of the elite. I have accepted her, for now".
"Oh yeah, well, I have accepted her for life. Sleep on that. Madhu, pack up. We're out of here".
A good wife knows when to shut up and follow her husband. But, when have I ever been the good wife?
"RK, I can handle a little tough love. Let's go ahead with the evening as planned".
"I am starting to like her. Dinner is this way". Papa Kundra curled his moustache. I like a man with a moustache. Too bad he is an ass.
RK pulled me to a corner. "You don't need to show him a spec of respect. If he messes with you, shred him like its your job".
"You are nothing like your father". I straightened his bow tie.
"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me". He caressed my cheek causing a faint blush to appear on my sun deprived face. The last thing I wanted Rishabh to notice was a flushing bride.
"Don't push it RK", I jerked him away as he closed in.
We walked into a dining hall full of three piece suits, hour glass models and booze. The Kundras were hosting an engagement party for Rishabh and I's prospect legal union scheduled on his twenty first birthday.
"Easy on the alcohol please", I pulled on my husband's blazer as drooled at the sight of Macallan Scotch.
"Are you worried?"
"Yes".
"I won't leave you a widow if you'.."
"I am worried about dealing with a hungover bum".
"And..", he was taking complete advantage of the public space to get as close to me as possible.
"And, the fact that someone might learn about our arrangement".
"Rishabh Kundra only follows through a full proof plan. There is no trail, no contract, no accomplices. A simple word of mouth between you, me and my parents. The pundit is long gone. You have nothing to fear. I must say, you are very talented when comes to change the subject".
"I neither accept nor deny your claim".
"Charming, I know you care", he smirked. Why was I smiling back? Possibly the effect of close proximity. I excused myself to use the ladies' room. He followed.
"What? You think only girls pee?" He entered the men's washroom before I could respond.
I noticed a long lineup outside the washroom so, I detoured to the family room. I hung my clutch on the door knob and turned around, I bumped into a hard rib cage. I opened my mouth to scream and he stopped me with his hands.
"Pehchaan kaun?"
"Rishabh, what the? Family room is for families".
"We are a family now aren't we?"
"I swear I am going to..."
"Smart girls check the washroom door lock, smarter girls knock first".
"My apologies. Do your business", I respectfully took my leave.
He pressed my palm to hold me back, "I had no other business, only to irritate you".
I gulped down my rage and abruptly closed the door.
"Slam all the doors in the world, you are mine to keep".
What do you take me for? I have a sense of self. I do not begin or end with another person. I belong to no one.
The night was still young and a sober Rishabh was assigned the task to tackle his drunk mother. Moham Kundra's eccentric brain decided upon dealing with the new girl before he took on partying in full force.
"No press, no scandals, no nude pictures, no other boyfriends, no business butt-in's, no children. If you follow through these conditions then, I will consider marrying RK off to you".
"I have no problem complying, under one condition".
He raised an eyebrow at my unexpected response.
"No bugs in my husband or my surroundings".
"How did you?"
"Enjoy the party".
I walked away as sasurji picked his jaw up from the floor.
"It was dad, wasn't it?"
"Yes".
We seemed to have communicated telepathically. Rishabh insisted we leave the party immediately. He wrapped me in his tight embrace protecting me from the steaming heat of the crowd. All eyes and quiet a few tech flashes were pointed at us. Oh gosh, he looked like a movie star. I may have been swayed by him this one time. Won't happen again.
The Rajeev scene is inspired from How I met your mother. Not all of it just the limo part where the driver eavesdrops on their conversation. The rest is my intellectual property.
Edited by iiDona - 12 years ago
Fan Fictions
Shiv Shakti
CID
