Chapter Sixteen
Mohan couldn't believe his ears. He felt his heart beat fast and loud and couldn't wait to see what happened next. He opened his mouth to say something but no words there. He wet his lips trying to heal the dryness. He swallowed hard to clear his throat. He let out a loud sigh to breathe air and he realized that he wasn't breathing till then.
Finally the words came out "Cookie..." For fear of being wronged he asked "Is that you?"
"Yes, Mr. Nanny. It is your Cookie here" Megha sounded relax but she was far from relaxed in actual.
When she decided to call Mohan, after long careful thoughts, she expected her to be nervous but the reality was far more than what she had imagined. Her heart racing was no less than a speeding jet. She kissed her little daughter for making things little easy for her. Nanhi smiled triumphantly having done her job perfectly.
Megha's voice passed a torrent of emotions rushing inside Mohan. He froze in his position, his chest hammering, and his ears too afraid to believe. When he again went breathless, he eased himself not wanting to sound stupid. Easy, boy! At least she has come to you. Take it slow! He told himself.
"Hello, stranger" He said finally trying to stay calm
She smiled at his cool gesture. If only, I could learn that from you!
"Is someone very angry?" She asked jokingly
"Angry? That's not even close to what I feel now" He hinted but was sure that the inside message was not received at the other end
Megha was thinking what to respond to him when Mohan asked "What was Cookie saying?"
"That's her new vocabulary in d' series" She laughed and asked "Want to listen more?" She lent the receiver to Nanhi who continued her enthusiastic talks "Dooo-daaa... Uuuooo..."
When Megha took the receiver again Mohan said "Cookie talks. She must be a big girl now!" She felt his ache and wished she was near him to heal it.
After a moment of silence she asked hesitantly "Is it good time to talk?"
She appeared to disconnect at the slightest note of discomfort in him. And he wanted to grab the opportunity instantly and jump out with excitement. Instead he went around his bed and rested himself in a relaxed position. "Just perfect" He said. With a sigh of relief she relaxed on the other side too.
"I have bought a mobile phone" She said
"Congrats!" It was only then he checked her new number on his phone
It was only for a moment they seemed to be in loss of words but soon they were lost in different talks. They talked about everything - Megha's career in Alibag, Mohan's business in Mumbai, the place Alibag, friends at Alibag. Mohan never stopped asking everything about Nanhi - her activities, growth, etc. They conversed as if they had never been away from each other.
They joked, laughed, fought about anything and repeated the same on different topics not going short of words. But for the whole time they talked nothing personally; none about their feelings for each other. Whenever their conversation took direction to share something intimate, they just went silent for some time. But that silence didn't bother them from picking up another thing, just casually, to prolong the talk further. It just went on and on, only to continue till the next morning.
It was only when they felt the sun rays hit their rooms they realized what they were doing. Mohan remembered Megha's fresh face opening the door, when he reported for his Nanny duty. She recollected Mohan's young face brightly lit from his exercise, when he knocked at her door. They smiled at their own sweet memory down the lane.
"Good morning, Ma'm" He said stretching himself on the bed
"Good morning, Mr. Nanny" She responded with a smile
"Mohan, actually I called you to say something" She said in a low voice embarrassed that she hadn't arrived at the main part of the phone call yet
"Tell me, Megha" He took hard efforts to suppress his anxiety
Her anxiety increased hearing his sweet call of her name. "Thank you!" Her voice reflected the gratitude she expected to express
Mohan didn't miss to catch it. "You are most welcome. But what is it for?" Though it wasn't what he expected to hear, he was happy to connect with her personally
"I knew that you paid the first payment for the house. Thank you. " With great efforts she maintained her emotions steadily
When she first got to know about Mohan's payment, it was not anger or humiliation she felt. She felt a mixed of strong emotions which she couldn't define exactly. She was surprised to see her own feel of security, for the first time after many months. She couldn't stop herself from calling Mohan the moment she learnt the truth.
Though she had been in Mumbai for the past few weeks, she didn't know how to meet or call Mohan. She was tired of trying to find a reason good enough to connect back with him. She didn't want to jump into the conclusion immediately just because she had feelings for him. She had to know for herself whether he had the reflection in him as well. And she just needed a starting point to find that out all on her own.
Mohan was shocked at first and when he sensed that she was not upset, his lips curved in a pretty smile. Though he didn't understand her reaction to the situation completely, he was satisfied that it gave a reason for her to call him. "If you remember correctly, I owed you that" He said
"But you paid back in full, with your services, Mr. Nanny" She teased
"You were too good not to charge me for the house rent" He chuckled
"Oh yeah! I didn't consider that. I will make a note of it when I repay it. Now I think you owe me back my Thanks'!" She surprised him with her quick check on her expenses
I am indefinitely indebted to you! He thought but said "Any time. Thank you" And added after a pause "for calling"
When Megha disconnected the phone finally, she found her own blush spreading across her cheeks. She didn't realize she was capable of doing something like that. She felt happy about her own change. She knew that she hadn't progressed much in expressing her feelings but she thought that as a good start. I will be there soon! And she also realized that she hadn't informed him about her staying in Mumbai.
After the phone call, Mohan was excited and his enthusiasm was so evident to Jijibua. When he found her sitting on the couch reading the morning paper, he lied down on the couch laying his head on her lap.
"Isn't it a beautiful morning, darling?" He asked his aunt
She didn't ask what was happening to him. She knew she would get to know it eventually. So she casually replied "It is as usual a dry morning. I don't see any beauty in it, dear" She affectionately stroked on his hair.
He ignored her mockery and started talking as he relaxed in her pamper. Nothing made sense to Jijibua but she found them all to be sweet nothings. Amidst his blabbering her blurt out Megha's name. This was the first time after he came back from Alibag did he mention her name to his aunt. She didn't miss to make the connection with her nephew's enthusiasm.
"So, this is all Megha effect, on my little Monu!" She teased much to Mohan's blush
The week started with much excitement to both Mohan and Megha. They cherished their sweet moments as passionately as they got involved in their job. Mohan got busy in his office dealing some troubles with the deliverables while Megha was occupied in evaluating her works made for her clients.
Late in the afternoon, Mohan's secretary walked in to his office.
"Sir, some new vendor wants to meet you"
"Anita, have them meet the Manager" He said
"But they insist on meeting you"
"They have to wait then" He was still occupied in his work
"Ok Sir. I will inform them" She ushered a folder on his table and left
Mohan took a glance at the folder as she left. Curiously he started studying it. He stopped at the colorful page displaying a painting of a temple under the sunrise. It was Megha's portfolio.
Edited by Senpoo - 12 years ago
Anupamaa
