"If its indeed real"
She leaned on one of the various marble pillars in the mandir
"Dad I am going to go check on dinner. Is Manya home?" she asked
"I dont know... I havent seen her" Ranjan said preoccupied
"Have u spoken with Mahavir, what is he making?" she asked politely
"I want u to see what was given to u betaji" he said kindly
"Dad... I dont need presents"
"We all want presents, we dont NEED them" he corrected her
She lowered her head embarrassed
She looked up at her husband, he was not inside either, "Help panna poreya ille smirk panna poreya?" she asked though he may not have understood
But then Oh! he DID... he smirked
"This is interesting I am going to watch" his eyes told her
"Jao beta lekar ao aur dekho" he instructed, bringing her back to earth... her
She walked over and picked up the scroll tied with a beautiful red silk ribbon, she opened it looking at her husband, he held her gaze
She tucked the ribbon in her waist and gently pried the rolled up paper apart, it was a builder's letterhead,
it had her married name and reference to al allottment of the ultra posh Nungambakkam apartment
Manny's resentment, her fear and her FIL's joy...
"Thanks" "Umm" thanks" she said letting the sheet of paper roll up again... tying it with trembling fingers with the red silk
"I cant accept it Dad" she said firmly looking at the marble patterns below her feet
"Kyon?" he asked firmly, arms folded across his chest...
She turned and put it back on Lord Krishna's feet, and returned
Both men blocked her exit... or so it would seemed like to an onlooker
"I cant accept such expensive presents" she mumbled
Her face was flaming... the eternal battle... she fought with Rakshasan was now spilling over to his Dad
AYYYO!! U SHUD HAVE JUST TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM HERE
U LEFT HERE
ABHI BHUGAT II
"Kyon?" "Aap to is ghar ki beti ho" he asked reasonably without losing his temper
"Thanks" she looked at her husband
His eyes just scanned her face...
"I can be a beti without taking the gifts" she argued logically
"That is unacceptable" Ranjan said
She looked up at him alarmed
"Yes... thats what I said... its a package deal"
"Dad I... umm... I love it here... I have everything... I dont need anything"
"Why do u wnat to live like a guest" he asked
"I DONT Dad... umm.. I buy what I want when I want" she said
"If u will let him buy for u why wont u accept presents from me?" he asked
"Dad I took those sarees two weeks ago... I will take as much chocolates as u buy for me" she smiled weakly
"Nothing monetary?" he asked piercingly
ARE U HAPPY NOW?
HES SPEAKING YOUR WORDS
RAKSHASAN!!!
I CAN SEE THE DELIGHT
DONT SAY ANYTHING
"Dad umm.. I cant"
"Is this a business agreement?" he asked softly
II froze, her face paling in shock
"Umm.. no.. matlab?"
"Yeh shaadi ek arrangement hai kya?" he asked bluntly
"NOOO!!" "Nooo Dad... umm Nooo" she stumbled back... a few steps
"Why do I feel like it is" he looked at R&B
R&B's hands were in his pockets
"Is this the new way to approach marriage?" Ranjan pressed on
"No... Dad... I wanted to get married (TO YOUR RAKSHASAN!! SON...)
AYYYO!!! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
WHY IS DAD ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH HIS QUESTIONING
WHAT DOES HE WANT TO PROVE?
"Iska to to mujhe pata tha" Ranjan said sadly shaking his head
"Or u can say I dont know him" he muttered
"Dad... its is a regular marriage" she begged
Ranjan looked at his son
"Did u marry her to enable you to achieve something at work?" he asked
R&B shook his head slowly
II turned red...
"People seem to be getting married for all sorts of reasons these days" Ranjan informed her
"dad... i didnt" II convinced him
"Do u have a real marriage?" he asked his son
"We do" R&B said staring at his wife
"Dad I am going to go check on dinner" II mumbled
"I am a businessman betaji I like numbers, results, conclusions... I want to see consequences & development" he said calmly
Walking into the mandir hands in his pockets
"Dad there is nothing wrong... there is no reason to fear or suspect" II clarified
He nodded
"We fight all the time... haan... par" she stopped
Ranjan leaned on a pillar by her
She turned to her husband
"SAY SMETHING DA" she begged
"what?" he asked innocently
"dad... please dont be upset... I am happy and enjoying myself... yes, he drives me crazy... baat nahi karte par" she stopped
ranjan nodded agreeing "Yes yes.. I believe you"
"U shudnt be worrying about anything... its silly" II assured him "We both are busy with our careers. We love hanging out at home, going places... I mean I shopped for thousands in Paris, I mean in fact aaj bhi Dad he made sure I paid my teacher for May. He spends on me all the time" II lied glibly
PHEW!!!!
BARELY MISSED GETTING RUN OVER BY THE TRAIN
PHEW!!!
YOU ARE SO GOOD AT THE ART OF INFLUENCING AND NEGOTIATING. ITS THE CLASS U DID NOT SLEEP A WINK IN, AT IIM
"Good good betaji" he smiled joyously
"Since this is indeed a real marriage then it shouldn't be a big deal if I ask u for a grandchild" Ranjan spoke softly.
(If R&B muttered CLEVER bas***d! 👏under his breath suppressing a chuckle, ☺️the author did not hear it... But she did hear II's "Ayyoyyo" though...🤣)
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