PART 38
Celini
The Grand Hyatt
April 15th 8 PM Onwards
There was something carnal about that demand. As if being married to him was not good enough, she would have to be tied to his name. It would be a constant reminder of him and the way he had pursued her. How he had shattered all her preconceived notions about him and had agreed to marriage ina heartbeat.
It was an indication of how different he was from Sooraj. Shaan was a "taker" he would give but he would take what was his with out any misgivings.
Khanak: Thats going to take a lot of time. Sab mein mera naam change karna padega.
Shaan: Don't worry we can take care of it.
She repeated the name in her mind "Khanak Gujral" "Khanak Gujral" her mouth went dry.
Shaan: Kya soch rahi ho?
Khanak: Oh! Nothing''.. not a thing! (back inside her shell)
Shaan: Can you take atleast 3 weeks off?
Khanak realized he will just not let it go until he got an answer "I am not sure''.. really not" (avoiding)
Shaan: Do you plan to talk about it Monday?
Khanak: Umm''' I guess (finishing the last of her pizza)
Shaan: What would you like for dessert?
Khanak: Triple chocolate cake. (flat)
Shaan smiles, "Oh! How about tiramisu?"
Khanak: I don't like the center. (makes a face)
She watches him elegantly chop his spaghetti down, and roll it on the fork completely, and watches it go up to his mouth.
Shaan: Do you want to try some (smiles)
Khanak: No! I am good''..
He signals the waiter, orders her a choc cake and another martini for himself.
Khanak: Ek aur?
Shaan: Ofcourse! (smug)
Khanak: I am thinking of going home soon.
Shaan: Let your dessert get here?
Khanak: Main Ahmedabad jaane ki baat kar rahi hoon.
Shaan: Go after the engagement?
Her heart expands five times its size and threatens to suck all her resources..
She looks at him like "who said anything abt an engagement?"
Shaan: Did you think, we would get married directly?
Khanak: I did not think anything.
He smiles
Shaan: I am hoping Dadi and Mom will reach an agreement this weekend and will find a date. Is there a good day for you? (polite)
Khanak "Any day far far away from YOU" she thinks but says "Oh! It does not matter!"(glib)
Shaan: Lets get engaged tomorrow then?
Her eyes fly to his in shock "So tomorrow obviously wont work then?" (smiles)
Her cake arrives its 5 lbs heavy she thinks, its drizzled with strawberry sauce.
Her face breaks into a smile, he watches her carefully, she tastes the sauce with her fork, it's a lil tangy, makes a face, chops off the corner and slides a piece into her mouth. Shuts her eyes and savors the taste.
Khanak: This is heavenly! Mmm (savors)
Shaan: I am glad you like it.
The waiter refills her juice.
Khanak: I cant eat it all (complains)
The next piece she slices off the giant wedge, he grabs her wrist and makes her feed him. The first intimate interaction for the evening, for that matter in two weeks.
His hand is cool, strong, his grip firm'. Her wrist tiny, childlike in his grip, his eyes not leaving hers.
Shaan: This is too sweet (mocks)
Khanak: You shouldn't have eaten it then. (tugs her wrist, he fork moves to her right hand, as her left does not get freed)
She digs in again, feeds herself with her right, tugs her left every few seconds, the grip is as firm as before.
Khanak: I want to bring my stuff.
Shaan: (caressing her pulse with his thumb) What stuff?
Khanak: My things. (hoarse)
Shaan: Sure!
Khanak: My books, my desk, my pictures, my chair.
Shaan: Do you want to bring your bed? (she tries to withdraw her hand, but he doesn't let go, continues caressing her pulse) (teasing)
She mashes a piece of cake in the sauce, lets go of her fork, and dabs some on her index finger and tastes it "I might! (husky) looking down at the mushy choclaty paste''' wipes her hand off in the white towel
Goes back to dab her finger again, he reaches for her right and tastes the mushy mixture. With both hands in his control, she waits.
Shaan: Do you want to pay for your food every month? (soft)
Khanak: No! You can pay for it!
Shaan: I can charge you for room and board also.
Khanak: You could'.. (challenge)
Shaan (playing a tune on her bangles with his thumb, finally releases her right hand) Might get too expensive''' I want to be considerate.
They both know its no longer about living expenses.
Khanak: Oh I hate to be in debt, I would pay you'''(her face flaming, she looks at her cake)
Shaan: some how? (supplies the word)
Khanak: with money (looks up at him finally, cutting of his dirty trail of thought)
Speaking of'''"
Shaan: Hmmm?
Khanak (tugs her left hand again) Don't expect me to jump into bed the moment we tie the knot (brazen)
Shaan: Really?
Khanak: I am serious (husky and fierce all at the same time)
Shaan: Oh! I am listening''..
Khanak: Don't expect'''. I cant''' I wont'''. I mean''. I want time.
Shaan: Oh! (checking her out from between his lashes)
Khanak: Shaadi aapki marzi se hogi, but I need time.
Shaan: Define "wait"
Khanak: Could be one week, could be two, could be a month'. I haven't thought about it (ofcourse not!)
Shaan(serious): I am willing to wait a reasonable time Khanak, I understand, its not easy, adjusting to a new place to a new family, but I will not feed some Victorian fantasy you have in your mind.
Khanak: I don't have any Victorian fantasy in my mind. I will have you know that, I made the first move with Sooraj.
She stuns him and shocks herself at being so honest and revealing such an intimate detail about her past.
Her hand is suddenly free, she feels his touch long after, his face is impassive, but she can see a muscle clench in his jaw.
"Sooraj will always make his way between them" Shaan curses in his mind. She will never be as spontaneous and forthcoming with him. He was extremely jealous of Sooraj at this moment.
Khanak: I know why you agreed to marry me so, don't
Shaan: That's enough Khanak, you've already said way too much on the topic.
Things remain very tense until they are ready to leave.
She doesn't say a word after that.
Shaan: I hadn't had Italian in months and now I had it twice in a month.
Khanak: Did you eat a lot of it? (curious)
Shaan: Yep at grad school.
Khanak: How long were you out?
Shaan: Almost 3 years. But not quite'''
Khanak: Did you like it?
Shaan: College or the town or the country?
Khanak(smiles) all of the above
He stops and stares at the smile, causing her to be embarrassed.
Shaan: I loved it! (looking deeply at her lips where the smile once appeared)
Khanak: Hmm'. What did you study?
Shaan: Reinforced concrete design, Transportation Engg and Design was the minor.
Khanak: (impressed but not showing it) Oh! I had no idea'. (kind of humbled)
Shaan:You never asked!
Khanak: Umm''' I don't ask too many questions of people.
Shaan: You don't talk. Period! (mocks)
Khanak (blushing): I talk''.. a lot'' sometimes''. (shy) what school did you go to?(shifting the attention away from her)
Shaan (smiling) U Mass at Dartmouth. University of Massachusetts
Khanak: Great! (polite)
Shaan: Thanks. (he senses she does not care)
Khanak: How did you end up in india? People that go there seldom return. (sad)
Shaan: Contrary to what you think, "Daddy did not find me a job". I worked with Rahejas for 3 years before heading here. I applied online through Monster India. (soft, taunting)
Khanak is mighty embarrassed "Did I ever imply that?
Shaan: Those EYES!
Khanak: You have a vivid imagination (not brave enough to say it to his eyes, stares at the mint bowl in front)
Shaan: Yep!
The waiter brings their check, Shaan pays, the get ready to leave, he turns his phone on to her shock.
Shaan: I wanted a nice quiet meal Khanak.
Khanak: Iska matlab jab main aapko call karoongi to aap mera bhi phone answer nahi karenge? (mock hurt)
Shaan: U have to find out for yourself (inviting)
She shakes her head in a negative continues to count the mints scooping it all in her hands.
Shaan: Don't you think you should start saying "tum"(tucking the card into his wallet)
Khanak: Nahi mujhe "aap" achha lagta hai.😳😳
Time stands still, as the mints slide from her fingers into the bowl.
Slowly but surely small steps were being taken to bridge the distance. Some things were being said inadvertently that was beginning to draw them closer.
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Coming up... the ring, the engagement, the banter, the lure, the desirability.
Edited by aditee - 14 years ago
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