FF:The Missing Word:Chapter 14,15 & 16 added! - Page 5

Chapter 12:

Pratigya loved the way the house looked just before a party. Calm and serene and beautifully decked in flowers and lights. The guests somehow made her house seem garish and cheap with their presence. The lawn was decorated with twinkling lights and all the fountains were spouting water. Their over enthusiastic dog was locked away in the pool house and was whining pitifully from the pool house window. Pratigya opened the door and went in to calm him down.

"Don't worry Bud. In a few hours you'll wish you were locked up. I know I do", she said scratching the drooling dog behind the ears.

"Pratigya?"

On hearing her mother call for her, she closed the door to the pool house and bounded in the direction of her mother's voice.

"Yes Ma?"

Sumitra Singh was 5 feet 3 inches of pure terror. Her hair was always pulled back in a tight bun which disappeared under her sari pallu. Her saris were just like her nature. Stiff, loud and unyielding. The rich, thick zari border framed all sides of the sari and gave Pratigya the impression the sari could stand on its own even without her mother's support. She wore a big, bright red bindi in the middle of her forehead as mark of respect for her husband. Sumitra was proud of her lineage and family and often scolded Pratigya for not having enough pride in her family's name and status. She was very strict and respected her husband for providing them with everything that money could buy. Her own parents had married her off when she was 20 years old, barely out of her teens. She thought that Angad was ideal for her daughter and had played a pivotal role in forcing Pratigya to accept his marriage proposal.

"I need you to get ready and keep an eye on the catering men. They've promised 30 dishes each of 4 different cuisines but I don't think that everything is ready yet. Go, get ready, fast."

"Yes Amma." The ever bold and spunky Pratigya was transformed into a blubbering mess in front of her mother. She couldn't even dream of ever disobeying her Amma. As she started running up the stairs to get ready, she heard the phone ring and Amma answering it. "Not yet. We'll tell her about the engagement at the party today..."

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Krishna looked at himself in the mirror. Nervously tugging at the lapels of his suit he looked apprehensively at the tie around the hanger in front of him. He heard a knock on the door and opened it to reveal a smiling Naina.

"You clean up well."

"Thanks. Adarsh helped me to select the suit."

"Clothes do not make a man Krishna. Always remember this. Although a tie is said to complete a man's look. Where is your tie?"

"It's still on the hanger. The knots completely elude me."

"Here. I'll help you. Turn towards me."

Naina tied the tie expertly around his collar. She made him face the mirror and admired her handiwork.

"You really clean up well. Perhaps we shouldn't risk taking you along. You know, save some teenage hearts from breaking."

"Speaking of broken hearts Naina aunty, have you seen Adarsh? He's not opening his bedroom door."

"I saw him an hour back. He's locked himself in since an hour? You have to go check on him. He's known to make frequent bids at freedom when left to his own devices for that long. We'll wait outside in the car. Hurry up."

"Don't worry. I'll go and look."

Naina looked heavenward and prayed for both Adarsh and Krishna to have a good time at the Singh party.

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"Dude open the door."

"What do you want?"

"I'm all suited up. Your parents are leaving and they want both of our butts out the house. Now."

"Hold on."

Adarsh opened the door and Krishna was taken aback at how grown up he looked. The suit had completely changed his look. Gone was the dorky, gangling boy. In his place stood a man of the world. His hair was gelled back and he even held himself up a little straighter.

"Ugh. What is that smell dude?"

"It's aftershave."

"You shaved?"

"It's not like I never shave, Krishna. Plus Komal likes the clean shaved look."

"Ah! Looking to impress the ladies huh?"

"Like you aren't. What's with the schoolboy tie?"

"Your mom made me wear this. Why? Does it look bad?" Krishna asked as he nervously adjusting the tie knot for the 20^th time.

"It looks ok. Don't play with it." Adarsh said, batting away Krishna's hands from his tie.

The sudden loud honk of the horn made them dash out of the bedroom and outside the house.

"Whoa! Where are my kids and what have you done with them."

"Shut up and drive Papa."

"Don't tease the kids. You think you look like James Bond in your suit but you really don't."

"Aw, Nainaji you break my heart when you say such things.." Putting on a mock puppy-dog hurt expression on his face, Shyam laughed with the kids as he drove out of the garage towards the Singh's house.

Author's Note: I know I had written that Pratigya lived right across the street from the Saxenas, so they wouldn't have to drive to go across the street. But for the purposes of this scene it was essential that I show them going in a car. So let's just pretend that they don't live across the street for sometime like we pretend that the magical KriYa bathroom exists in the KriYa bedroom. 😆

Chapter 13:

Krishna had never seen such a blatant display of wealth in his life. The humongous house was as decked up as a new bride. Shimmering, multicolored lights hung from the roof of the house and were draped lovingly over every pillar and post. There was a band at the gate which was serenading guests as they walked in. A turbaned valet was parking expensive Mercs and Chevrolets at the end of the street. As Shyam handed over the keys of their car to him, Krishna suddenly started feeling terribly out of place.

Sensing his discomfort, Shyam hung back and asked him, "What's wrong son?"

"I don't think I'll fit in. Ever. These people are too different, too alien."

"I felt the same way, when I first moved in here with Naina. All the people just seemed so vain and arrogant. I literally didn't put a step outside the house for the first few months. But then these people just grow on you. They're not that bad, son. You'll see."

"I just hope they don't grow on me like old green mould."

Shyam laughed and put his arm around Krishna's shoulder.

"Getting cold feet already?" Adarsh asked, slapping Krishna's back heartily.

"Atleast it didn't take me an hour, to just put on a suit." Krishna retorted by punching him equally hard on the arm.

"Ow! That hurt you monkey."

"I'll show you pain you donk.."

"..break it up boys. Behave yourselves." Naina chided and separated them from each other.

"Nice to see your family so happy together Shyamji."

Krishna looked up at the sound of an oily, gruff voice greeting Shyam in a sarcastic tone. His first impression of the man standing in front of them was that he had a lot of hair. A full gray flowing beard covered all the regions south of the man's nose. His bushy gray eyebrows framed his gold colored eyes. He had a full head of salt and pepper hair which was slicked back to give the man a Mafioso appearance. His plain attire of a satiny, sequined, red colored kurta and cream colored pajama bottoms gave him a deceptively simple appearance and clashed violently with the black-tie theme. He wore many thick gold chains around his neck and there was a thick ivory bracelet hanging from his wrist. The most distinctive part of his appearance was the dime-sized, bright red tikka in the centre of his forehead. Overall the man gave off a very sleazy, argumentative vibe to Krishna.

"Good Evening Mr. Singh. Thank you for inviting us. The house looks lovely."

"It should. 25 servants have worked for more than 12 hours to make the

house beautiful. Come inside."

Rolling his eyes at Sajjan Singh's boastful tone of voice, Adarsh signaled Krishna to break away from the group. Being careful to remain as inconspicuous as possible, Adarsh and Krishna carefully slunk back and went in through the side gates. A huge crowd greeted their sight. Everywhere Krishna looked jewels flashed in earlobes, necks and lapels. The women were looking resplendent in dazzling saris and jewelry while the men were clad in tasteful tuxedos and suits. The whole crowd practically oozed money and Krishna was getting increasingly fazed out on seeing them.

"Dude, check that out!" , Adarsh pointed to the ice sculpture of the most delicate swan Krishna had ever seen in his life.

"Wow! That is the most realistic duck I've ever seen in my life!"

"Duck! It's a bloody swan."

"Komal?"

Komal made a big show of ignoring Adarsh and smiled at Krishna.

"So? You enjoying the party?"

"We just came. Didn't really have a chance to enjoy."

"You're looking good Krishna. You should wear white more often. Brings out your eyes." Komal continued as if Adarsh hadn't spoken. "Anyway, I'll catch you later."

"She didn't even notice that I shaved." Adarsh ruefully told Krishna as they watched Komal take off bouncing..

"Give it time dude. It'll be better with time."

"Easy for you to say. You have half the girls here drooling over you. Look." Adarsh pointed the decorated ballroom and Krishna could see that practically all female eyes were fixed on him.

Blushing, Krishna loosened his tie a bit and said to Adarsh, "Or maybe they're just wondering who the hell I am. Speaking of hell, where the hell is Pratigya?

"She always makes a late entrance. Like in cheesy chick flick party scenes. She hates these galas. Most likely she's sulking in her room. Let's try and see if we can go up the stairs unnoticed."

Krishna remembered the lovely sight she made in her pretty purple gown back at the shop and sincerely hoped that they were able to sneak up the stairs into her room. Lost in his own thoughts he nodded his head vaguely at Adarsh's babbling and walked smack into the swan/duck ice sculpture. The swan fell to the floor with a loud crash and shattered into a million little ice pieces. Krishna and Adarsh were showered with ice shards along with a few other people who had gathered to admire the sculpture. Every eye was on Krishna as he dusted himself off and looked sheepishly around the room.

"Oops!"

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She was looking at her purple dress hanging from the closet in front of her. The pretty dress which seemed like such a good choice at the shop now just seemed like another bad decision to her. Wiping tears from her eyes for what felt like the millionth time, she stood up from where she was sitting since the past 2 hours. Her cramped muscles cried out in pain and head throbbed from crying continuously. She walked to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her beautiful, expressive eyes were red and swollen and the end of her pretty button nose was as red as Rudolph's. Her hair was a tangled mess and her cheeks stinged from rubbing away tears. She ignored her mother's hundredth knock on the door telling her to get ready quickly and come downstairs. All she remembered was the telephone conversation she heard which talked of her engagement.

She knew from the beginning that her father had set her up to date that loser Angad to increase his own social standing. A powerful politician if added to the Singh's already powerful business equation could earn her father the national killer reputation that he lusted for. The sacrifice of his daughter's entire life was a minor detail compared to the wealth to be amassed when she got married. Pratigya knew that her and Angad's marriage was pre decided but it always felt like a transitory part of her hectic life. Nothing was set in stone. Nothing was permanent. So she always felt like she had a say, a chance to refuse the marriage if she could. But hearing her mother talk about the engagement today, she felt very helpless. Her destiny was being manipulated by the grubby hands of her parents and she couldn't do anything about it.

She couldn't willingly walk into the party knowing that her engagement was going to be announced. She had to find a way to stall everything. She knew it was childish of her to refuse to come out of her sanctuary but that was the only thing she could think of. All she needed now, was a patient ear and sturdy shoulders and she knew just the person who offered both. Grinning to herself she prepared for the long jump out of her window and to the place where said person was locked.

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Krishna was sitting in the corner of the humongous, colorful garden trying to be invisible. The stone fountain provided him with much-needed protection against the prying, questioning eyes of people. Shivering partly from the cold and partly from the ice which was beginning to melt under his clothes, he pulled his suit jacket closer and tried to think of a plausible excuse to make to Shyam to request him to drop him home. Rubbing his freezing hands together, he wondered where the hell Adarsh had disappeared to.

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"And then I heard her say, very clearly, that they would tell me about the engagement at the party. Engagement! Can you believe it? They're really planning on marrying me off to that pan chewing, illiterate bas***d!"

Pratigya vented her anger at her parents and Angad and continued stroking the soft brown hair on the shoulder where she was resting her head.

"What would you do? I know I should protest or atleast throw a big tantrum but they're my parents. Shouldn't they know better than marrying me off like this?"

The big brown eyes she was staring into blinked back at her, love reflected in their luminous depths. Buddy cocked his head and let out a whine on seeing his mistress so miserable. He licked the lone tear that was making its way down Pratigya's cheek and pushed his big blocky head under her arm.

Pratigya smiled through her tears at the dog's affectionate gesture and continues to scratch his ears. "See Buddy? When I meet someone I love as much as I love you, I'll readily marry him. I won't marry that loser Angad, Buddy, no matter what anyone says. Even if Amma and Baba force me, I won't marry. Never."

Taking a deep breath and stifling a sob, Pratigya laid her head on Buddy's furry shoulder again and closed her eyes. "What have I got myself into Bud?"

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"What have I got myself into?"

Krishna thought as he escaped yet another tipsy girl trying to make indecent advances towards him. His hiding place turned out to be the make-out spot and pretty soon drunk couples were swarming all over the garden. To his horror the drunk, single girls started to notice him in the corner and were pretty much all over him since then. He was running out of places to hide when he noticed the cozy pool house tucked into the corner of the Singh house. Brushing off the tipsy girl as rudely as he could, he made a beeline for the pool house.

As he pulled the knob of the pool house and ducked inside the dark interior, a tiny but powerful fist made painful contact with his nose.

"OWWW!!"

"KRISHNA?"

"PRATIGYA?"

Lights were hurriedly switched on which was followed by a confused medley of intense barking, woofing and licking of all parts of Krishna's body not under the protective cover of clothes. As the dog tried to put his tongue inside Krishna's open mouth, Krishna pushed it back and tried to stand up amidst the haze of pain from his rapidly swelling nose. When he blinked back tears from his eyes from the sudden punch, he saw Pratigya hovering near him trying to calm a frantic dog, clearly on the edge of laughter.

"I'm glad you're enjoying my pain so much!" Krishna said as he gingerly made his way around the room to the small bed he found in the corner of the circular room.

Pratigya calmed Buddy down and tied him to the door knob with his leash. Buddy strained at the leash but then accepting his fate, plopped down on the floor and cocked his ears with interest at the likable, nice-smelling stranger sitting on the bed holding his nose.

"I am so sorry. We were alone here and I thought it was some drunk guy again and decided to teach him a lesson and hence with the punching. I've turned away 7 drunk guys and there was this insistent guy who kept returning and I thought you were him and I punc.."

Krishna tuned out her rambling and was surprised to see that Pratigya wasn't dressed for the party. She appeared to be wearing what was once a black Sex Pistols t shirt which was now faded grayish in color and a pair of denim cut off shorts. Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail and her face was completely make up free. He was pretty sure that she was crying as her eyes and nose were red. There were tear streaks on her cheeks. He continued touching his nose to check if it was broken and looked at her questioningly.

"What?"

"Why aren't you dressed? Isn't it supposed to be your party?"

Pratigya sat on a chair opposite the bed and shrugged her delicate shoulders.

"I was bored. I attend such parties atleast twice a week."

"Stop lying. You were clearly crying. And judging from the force of that punch, you are obviously pretty upset about something."

"I'm not crying." Pratigya said sniffling and then burst into laughter at Krishna's 'yeah-right' look.

"Ok fine. I was crying. My parents suck and make every decision about my life without even telling me. They fixed my wedding and are probably announcing my engagement as we speak."

Krishna looked at her in shock and offered her his hanky as she began to cry again.

"Hey. It's alright. Don't cry. If anything, your would-be fiance should be the one crying. I mean I've personally seen and felt the way you punch when you're upset.."

He ducked laughing as she mock slapped his shoulder.

"You've never seen the Yadavs. That's why you can joke about it." Pratigya said as she wiped her tears. "They're the rudest, most illiterate lot I've ever seen. They make my father look civilized. Marrying Angad is like marrying a monkey. But even monkeys have the sense to not chew paan and drink and not do drugs all the time."

"Then tell your parents that. Tell them that you don't want to marry him."

"It's not that simple Krishna." Pratigya stood up and went to stroke Buddy. "Baba has soaring political aspirations which only my marriage into the Yadav household will solidify. Baba hopes to make his business nationwide and only Yadav can help him do that. Yadav needs some guarantee in return. Hence with the whole lets-marry-our-only-educated-daughter-into-the-house-of-maniacs scheme, that Baba's trying to pull."

Krishna joined her in scratching Buddy's belly as the dog wriggled on the floor clearly enjoying the attention.

"Seems to me that you're in an awful fix. Do you really don't have any other options."

Pratigya looked at Krishna exasperatedly and said, "If I had other options would I be locked up with my dog, bawling my eyes out, punching total strangers?"

"Good point. But what about this Angad guy? Can't you convince him not to marry you? Here is an idea. Why don't you punch him the way you punched me and then we can see if he still wants to marry you."

Pratigya smiled thickly through her tears and said "I've tried everything I could to convince him to not marry me. He's a puppet in his father's hands too. I think that the Yadavs are forcing him to marry me as much as my parents are forcing me to marry him."

"His parents are forcing him too?"

"Yeah. I have this feeling that Angad is secretly gay!"

Krishna stopped rubbing Buddy's belly and looked at Pratigya with wide eyes. "What!? You're kidding!!"

Pratigya sat cross-legged on the floor and Buddy immediately laid his head on her lap. Stroking the dog's head Pratigya continued "No. I am completely serious. I've had these little clues ever since we began dating. But it doesn't matter. He would never tell his Babuji. He would rather marry me and ruin both our lives then tell his precious Babuji."

"Wow! Angad Yadav gay? Now I have to see this guy. Adarsh keeps talking about him all the time but now I have to see him."

"He's not easy to miss. Look for a greasy-haired dude with a stained red mouth and a funny looking pink gamcha around his neck. That would be the great Angad Yadav."

Krishna smiled at Pratigya and suddenly remembered Adarsh. "Speaking of funny looking, I think I lost Adarsh at the party."

"Don't worry. He knows his way around here. By the way, who's idea was the tie?"

Krishna looked down at his crumpled suit with the tie hanging around his neck and the jacket lying distended on the bed. "Naina aunty. She made me wear it."

"Hmmn" Pratigya gave him a smile and said "Good choice Naina aunty. The tie really suits you." She stood up and untied Buddy's leash. "Want to ditch the party and come with me to the beach Krishna Thakur?"

Author's Note: Romantic KriYa beach scene coming up. Reviews are known to make me update faster. Also how many of you noticed that the red-flower-in-hair Adarsh scene was actually shown in the 14^th Oct Pratigya scene! I am so psyched! He looked so cute!! 😳