Casa 50B on 146 Most links on Page 1) - Page 65

PART 32 A

The story just cannot be stretched after the ILUs then it becomes a disaster much like Desi TVs, unless you girls love saas bahu melodrama. So I thought I would plan a Kektaish twist and get them married before the ILUs. What say!

That way I will be able to keep the promise of Karwa Chauth made to Sys, and have much of the underlying romantic tension alive while moving towards Souma's wish of seeing Gujral babies.

Hit like if you like the idea! Otherwise, I can have them patch up and do a shubh vivah over the weekend and do a shubh raatri as well.

Monday April 4^th

Nivs: That's the most beautiful mehandi color Ive ever seen. Why are you hiding it? (pushing her orange khadi kurta sleeve back to see how long the design extends)

Khanak:Ughh! Its too long! I felt thrilled to have it on until last nite! Forgot I had to come in to work Monday (grimace)

Nivs: Don't be silly. It looks wonderful!

Khanak: Thanks. (sad)

Paula: Jaan tum worried hai? (spray cleaning her desk with some kind of a perfumed toxin)

Khanak: Oh! No! I am just really tired (lies)

Paula: Really? Busy weekend?

Khanak: Yep, went to a mehandi and a sangeet of a girl that is not known to me or related nor a friend. How many of you have done that?

Nivs: Really?

Khanak: Yep! (smug)

Paula: Not only you crashed but dressed up like a bride? Its sad our weddings don't have mehandi rituals.

Khanak: Yep! (laughs) You should start one Paul''' A (corrects herself, blushing, but Paula is too smart for her, she registers that inflection subtly)

Paula: That's like my hottie Shaan! I LOVE Paul!

Khanak: Its not your name (stiff)

Paula senses serious trouble in paradise

But she has to get started and both girls don't look like they want to talk much, they start walking away after waving

Khanak is wearing a parrot green paisley printed cotton salwar with orange jootis to match with her kurta. Hair is braided in rebellion. NO lip gloss!

Nivs has to go to her cube first as she has been in already so she must pick up her PC. Khanak enters the conference room, sets up her PC. There are over 100 messages. Something was majorly wrong from a construction standpoint at the Site so there have been back and forth messaging on Sunday nite.

"When I was moping''''''. Things were falling apart at work"

She had actually looked at Shantanu straight in the face and had told him "No! I cannot have an affair with you"

He had been shocked at first, when he had proceeded to approach her to make out again, she had stopped him with a firm "Sorry! An affair is just not part of the deal" She had been able to let herself out of the room and walk out calmly, she was broken into a million pieces on the inside

WHAT had she hoped for?

Just what?"

A Wedding?

Live life, together forever?

Till death do us apart?"

"what if something bad were to happen to him, just as it did to Sooraj? She could very well be jinxed, he had already survived an accident, it was a close call. It was a "Land Rover" he said, "Big and powerful""

"Why did she assume it would be anything more than an affair?"

"She had told Aada only two weeks ago that she could not marry until Casa was completed and handed over to buyers, now she is desperate to maary Shantanu?

"Being attracted was never a yardstick for ending up in holy matrimony."

"The relationships that HE knew of circled around instant gratification, she cant blame him for suggesting what he did, that's all he knew. He realized she was either attracted as much or close enough to have made that call"

She lay awake all of Sunday during the day crying, moping, wondering, worrying, fearing, if it was more than attraction for HER. He had called half a dozen times, she hadn't answered once. A florist had delivered two dozen red roses, a box of Debauve & Gallais chocolates and an ornate box containing some 100 odd pictures of her. The only hand writing on the note said To:"Khanak" From: "Shantanu".

No cheesy messages, no ILUs, no poetry, no songs, no scrolls of sweet nothings, no gushy romanticism. It was not necessary.

It did not matter, it still sent her heart racing, the moment she saw how he had written his name. "Shantanu", not Shaan or Gujral or SG as he usually signed on email. This was the (private) privilege she had. She rarely said his name, only before or after a kiss!

Ritu hadn't returned until this morning.

Khanak's eyes were puffly and a lil swollen. She felt a sudden surge of bright light, Aman was standing by the windows pulling the blinds to the sides. He seemed really excited and happy, he smiled the moment she looked up from herPC.

Aman: Guess what?

Khanak:Kya hua?

Aman: Tumhari tabiyat ko kya hua?

Khanak: Kuch bhi to nahi (shocked)

Aman: Tum bemaar lag rahi ho

Khanak: Monday ko apni office ki single ladki se tum aise baat shuru karte ho? (tries to humor him)

Aman: Ab mujhe tumse baat karne ki zaroorat nahi (winks)

Khanak: How MEAN!

Aman: main Friday ko Bela Sulakhe, Marathi singer ke concert mein gaya apni Didi ke saath. I hated to go at first, but met my soul mate there.

Khanak: OMG! Really?

Aman: Haan, Ek dum''.. ekdum''.. kya kahoon (walks up to her side)

Khanak:Are you in love? Or shaadi kar lee? (sarcy)

Aman: Dono! (winks)

Khanak: Naam hai ya, who poochne ka time nahi mila?

Aman: Saaaz, Saaz-e-dil! (sing song)

Khanak: Arrey wah! Kya naam socha hai

Aman: SOCHA WOCHA Nahi, sach mein HAI

Khanak: Really? (disbelief)

She is up from her chair, he is standing in front, he gently places his hands on her shoulders and says "Mere saath janam ka pyaar, mere jeene ka maqsad"

That exact moment the door opens and in walks Shaan in blue jeans and orange Lacoste tee, tired, with a stubble, sees the sight in front

Shaan: Did I accidentally crash into a B grade Bollywood movie set? (acidic, harsh)

Their eyes meet!

...and while they stare..