Pyaar in the Pink City
Part 12 Ice, Fire and an Olive branch
"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." ~ Flora Whittemore
"Hello Shyamji. Mein bol rahin hoon. Haan, mein iss waqt Shantivan mein hoon. Gabrayi ye mat, aas paas koi nahin hain"
"Haan Kamlaji! Tho jaldi kahiye-----" Shyam could barely contain himself. Finally, he would get some real time data. "Kya? Raani Sahiba nahin hain? Kahaan hai?"
"Woh tho hame pata nahin. Lagta hai apne naani ke saat, shehar se baahar gayi hui hai. Ghar ki auraton ke baton se lagta hain ki donon abhi kuch hafton tak wapas nahin aane wale hain." replied the woman who had accompanied the dai into Shantivan and had slipped away into a quiet corner to make her call while the women were absorbed in giving Aanya her bath.
Shyam's lips twitched in amusement and he raised his eyes to the skies half-mocking the Gods who seemed to present him with every possible opportunity to rise and shine. "Yeh accha mauka hain, iska hume poora poora faida uthana hoga. Aaj sham ko hume caf pe miliye, hum batate hain aage ka plan" He switched off his mobile and slipping on his glasses sauntered off to drive over to the office of Delhi Times to fulfill his cover job as a journalist.
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"These Sitars are lovely. Yeh tho badi acchi baat hai ki aapne sambaal ke rakha hai Rathodji" said Akash impressed with the various Sitars that were showcased behind glass in the Music hall. They had belonged to Ajay's ancestors through the generations and were priceless antiques. "Please drop the formality Akash. Aur yeh bilkul top condition mein hain, chaho to aap aasma sakte ho" replied Ajay. "Shukriya, par iss baar nahin. Agle baar mein khud aapse poochunga Ajayji." Smiled Akash giving Ajay a searching look as he continued, his eyes intensifying under a cover of geniality "Waise aap bahut hi zimmedaar insaan hai aur rishton ki bahut khadarkarne wale lagte hai. Who kya hai na, humari Anjali di hamare dil ka thukda hai, aur unko ab aage kissi bhi tarah ka tes pahunche, yeh muje hargiz manzoor nahin hai." He paused, smiled and finished"But now that she is under your roof, I have nothing to worry, you will never let your guest be hurt in any way. Ab mein chalta hoon. Bhai aur Di Vrindavan jaaneke liye mera intezaar kar rahen honge" and Akash left at an unhurried pace, satisfied that he had hit his mark.
Ajay stuck his hands in his pockets and pursed his lips as he continued to watch Akash's retreating back. He had to hand it to him. Akash was one cool customer. He had delivered his message, 'stay away from my di' with perfect clarity and yet with a smoothness that belied the steel in his voice. Interesting! If this was the Ice then he looked forward to the fire.
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Arnav surveyed every inch of the twenty-five acre spread that was Vrindavan. Every minute and every step got him pumped up with the project at hand. Nitin and Anjali outlined several ideas based on their discussion the previous day. Akash and Arnav made their suggestions and with some omissions and commissions by the end of the day they had a firm set of requirements and an end-state vision of what they wanted the resort to look like and offer as services to guests.
"Aaaj ki raat rukh kyon nahin jaate bte?" enquired Virenji. "Nahin chachaji hume wapas jaana hai. Khushi se kahke aaya hoon ki aaj sham tak ghar lautunga, aur agar nahin gaya tho who gabrayegi." Said Arnav. "Waise aap ke nyota tho jab daadiji ne sweekar kar hi liya hai to hum sab ko tho, do hafton mein Teej ke liye aana padega na?" smoothed out Akash smiling at Virenji. They were all settled in the gardens by the tennis court at Malhar, exchanging small talk while watching Nitin and Ajay play. Ramu kaka rolled in the tea-cart and Anjali poured out tea for everyone. She handed chotte his cup of black coffee, picked up the other one attempting to stand as she noticed the game end and Nitin jogging over to where they were.
"Doosra coffee kiske liye hai Di?" asked Arnav. "Woh Ajay baba coffee lete hain hukum" answered Ramu kaka, before she could. Arnav smiled cocking an eyebrow, and gently taking the coffee mug from Anjali's hand he stood up "Allow me di." he said and strolled over to join Ajay who was putting away his racket at the far end of the court.
Ajay turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and automatically extended his hand to accept the coffee. Here comes the fire he thought as he took in the purposeful set of Arnav's jaw and the steely look in his eyes. "Thanks, Arnav. I was on my way to join you". "How about we take a stroll?" suggested Arnav and walked around the court taking the farthest route back, expecting Ajay to fall in step. "Ajay, you are a wonderful man. Famous, accomplished, rich with an illustrious bloodline, and my di is a huge fan of your paintings. I have a great deal of respect for you and your family." He paused, stopped and looking straight into Ajay's eyes continued in a low and deliberate tone that emphasized the finality of the message "Par jab baat mere di ki ho, tho yeh sab kuch mayine nahin rakte. I will not care for anything or anyone when it comes to shielding her from any further pain. Di, mere zindagi ki sab se important persons me se hain. I have seen the way you look at her, and if I were to give you one word of advice, it would be ' back off."
So, the stories I had heard about the formidable ASR and his intimidation-tactics-101, were indeed true. But if he thinks Ajay Singh Rathod would keel over just because he said so, then he has another thing coming. Returning his unblinking gaze, Ajay replied, his face carefully impassive, "Anjali is lucky to have a brother like you. But, don't you think you should give her credit for making the right choices? After all, woh aapki Di hai and she is a big girl. She may not appreciate this little chat of ours. Besides, the homework you have done on me should have revealed that once I set my mind on something, there is no backing out. In return for your forthrightness, I'll give it to you straight where Anjali is concerned. As of now I have not yet decided where I stand, one way or the other. The day I do, the only 'no' I would take will be your sister's. Knowing you, I am sure you would expect no less from a man who proposes to be your Di's suitor."
Arnav opened his mouth, but his rejoinder was prematurely cut-off when he heard his Di calling out, "Chotte----kya kar rahen hain aap dono? Jaldi aayiye". The men turned around in the direction of the porch and Arnav lifted his coffee cup in acknowledgement. "Now, Shall we join the rest?" said Ajay, courteously gesturing with his hand for Arnav to precede him on the path back to the porch where the family had gathered.
Both men were lost in thought on their walk back. Arnav deciding to keep a close watch on Rathod even as he admired the man's confidence and conviction, while Ajay wondered with a secret smile, whether the brothers realized just how much of an advantage they had given him by warning him off their Di. Clearly they had sensed something about Anjali's reaction around him that tripped the alarm in their head. And who would know her better than the two of them. The thought cheered him up immensely and he sipped his coffee looking on, while the family bade a fond farewell to the Raizada brothers who were flying back to Delhi in Arnav's jet. What the hell had happened with Anjali in the past? Why were they so protective of a woman who was in her mid-thirties and had seen the world? Why was she so sad and lost at times? Answers, he needed answers; but from her and none other.
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"Papa" said Tashi turning to look at her dad, who put away the book, he had been reading to her and tucked her in bed. Tashi was a voracious reader who consumed books by the dozen, and yet this bedtime reading was the one ritual they had kept up since her childhood. He cherished this time with her, for he knew in his heart that this would soon come to an end. But while they lasted, these were the special daddy-Tashi moments, when Tashi shared her heart's secrets with her dad.
"mmhmmm Tashi. Kya baat hai?" he asked crouching by her bedside. "Brothers are so cool na papa? Anjie aunty is so lucky, she has so many. And ------ Arnav uncle, ------- he is sooo handsome." She gushed, her eyes sparkling. "Yes she is and yes he is. Now, goodnight Tashi." He kissed her forehead switching off the bedlight. Ajay smiled at the irony of the situation as he recalled Arnav warning him off his sister earlier that evening, while here was his daughter hero-worshipping him. This was the first time that Tashi had called another man besides himself as handsome. God! How quickly she had grown up. Soon she will be a teenager and he would be the one beating up the boys. But if Tashi was going to set her bar at Arnav to measure them by, then he could be damn sure that only the best of the best would get her attention.He made his way to his studio to put finishing touches on his painting, chuckling at the thought.
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"Good night naani" called out Anjali as she shut the door and stepped out of naani's room. "Arrey Ramu kaka aap abhi tak apne kamre mein gaye nahin?" "Nahin maalkin. Woh abhi Ajay baba ka bhojan khatam nahin hua hai aaj" replied Ramu kaka. "Kaka, maalkin nahin hume aap bitiya hi bulayiye. Aur Rathodji abhi tak dinner nahin ki? Kyon?" she asked, puzzled. "Jab kabhi bhi Ajay baba apne chitra banana me vyast ho jate hain, tho sab kuch bhool jaate hain." "Accha", Anjali pondered and then decided she would never get a better opportunity to thank him in private for his help with her rakhis. "Ramu Kaka, aap jake sojayiye. Mein abhi thode der jagne vali hoon. Jab woh aajayenge mein unse kahdoongi ki aap unke liye dinner hot plate pe rakhdi hain. Theek hain?" suggested Anjali sweetly, sending an unsuspecting Ramsingh to his room.
Anjali stepped into Ajay's studio carrying a covered tray laden with food, careful not to disturb him while he worked. He stood off center in the room, his face in profile slashing away at the canvas with his brush. Setting the tray down on the low stool, she settled herself on the divan to watch him. Ajay's face was a picture of concentration as he focused his entire being on his work. He had a brush held between his teeth and one stuck behind his right ear, while he continued to deftly work in what seemed like details, pausing ever so often to smudge the colors with his thumb and fingers. An unruly lock of his hair fell on his forehead barely skimming his left browbone, while his lips pursed or pouted in response to what he saw emerge on canvas. She could not see the painting itself, but was content to study him, now that she was sure his attention was trained elsewhere.
He had known the exact second she had entered his studio, her lilac perfume announcing her arrival long before he spotted her in his peripheral vision. He decided to feign ignorance as much to finish his work as for the fact that he needed the time to compose his thoughts. This was indeed an unexpected visit. What brings her here at this hour? If I have to hear another Raizada tell me what I should or should not do, I swear, I'll blow my top. He thought; his movements deliberate and measured. He paused and studied his handi-work with a critical eye for a few minutes, before putting away his brush and easel and turning to her.
"Why hello Sugar Queen, Aap yahan? Iss waqt? Kya baat hain? Jagadne ka irada hain kya?" he asked his tone light and his eyes teasing. Anjali erased a quick pout, deciding to ignore the darned term he used to address her and the sudden spike in her heart rate at the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. She decided not to rise to his bait; instead smiling at him she said simply, "Nahin aapke liye dinner layi hoon. Aap wash-up kar leejiye, tab tak mein parosthi hoon." Ajay was taken aback for the second time in the space of thirty minutes. He nodded and walked away to wash his hands. He realized how famished he was as with his eyes closed, he savored his first bite of the missi roti that Sharada bai excelled in making. Anjali watched in silence while he ate and suddenly reached out causing him to look up at her warily and move his head back. She pointed to the side of his head and extending her hand plucked the brush behind his ear, "A-a-aapka brush" she blurted, waving it in front of him. They both burst into laughter, easing the tension and ending the awkwardness between them.
"Darasal hum apko thanks kahne ke liye yahan ayethe." She handed him the glass of water and continued, "Agar kal aap hamari madad nahin karte tho hum paheli baar chotte ko apne haat se banayi hui rakhi nahin baandpate. Shukriya Ajayji" she said glancing at him from under the cover of her lashes. They strolled out to the terrace and stood by the carved railing looking out at the gardens bathed in moon-light. "You are welcome Anjali" he said leaning his back against the railing and crossing his arms. "And Muje bhi maaf kardijiye, kyon ki I judged you too soon. How about we start afresh?" he asked looking into her eyes earnestly. Anjali nodded, too dazed at the unexpected apology to speak. "Par ek baat tho hain. Mein aapko Sugar Queen bulana band nahin karoonga. Mere liya iss shabd ka matlab badal gaya hain aur ab yeh naya meaning aapko suit karta hain because, you are indeed a sweet person." He finished sincerely with a smile before she could protest.
Anjali laughed at this, her heart did a crazy jig at the sight of the dimple dancing on his cheek and she ruthlessly shut down her inner voice that was about to issue its dire warnings. Just for today, she wanted everything to be perfect. It was the first time since she had met him, that she sensed a comfortable rapport between them. This was the dream tete-e-tete that she had waited a lifetime to have with her celebrity idol, and nothing, not even her inner-self was going to ruin this moment.
The surroundings took on a gilded appearance to Anjali's eyes, as they chatted and laughed well into the night; their swing gently swaying while the cool night-breeze carried with it the scent of the nearby raat-ki-raani (cestrum nocturnum ' night jasmine) perfuming them and the night that enveloped them.
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