Amortizing the matrimony
And the very first phone call after "yes" happened on early July 11th morning.
She shut the door to her bedroom and stood by the open sectional window
Her phone rang within seconds
"Trisha?" he was tentaive
"Tr... yes" she said nervously
"Hi" he greeted her
"Hello"she said
"Is that rain outside?"
"Umm.. yeah its monsoons. Very strong"
"ive heard... and seen" he said
"You have come?" she asked shocked
"Umm.. I was there last month?"
She nodded nervously
"Was it for marriage?" (the question he proposed)
"Yes" he said after a pause
"Uh"
"Marriage in Ullal?" she asked as her tummy churned like cream in a blender
"We could do it at a registered office in Bangalore" he offered
She had no idea how people did that
She was shocked
"My fam... my father is here"
"Hmm"
"When is it?" she asked
"Next week?"
she began to say she had not told her father and then she stopped
there was a long awkward silence
she was stoo stunned by the "next week" to even say "well.. shudnt we get to know each other first?"
"the restaurant needs financial help" she was able to say that clearly since she had said that line many times before to many lenders
"i can transfer money to your acount the day we get married"
she had a bank account for her TA expenses in Mangalore
The manager was almost close to her retirement and a distant relative to the Shanbags
She was sure she was going to flip out
"Can I stay in Ullal?" she asked her mouth dry
"Umm... no... you will be in Bangalore"
She had to sit down for that to sink in
She had no idea what she was going to do in his house in Bangalore all day... all week all year
She did not know him from Adam
She didnt know if this whole idea was even legal, if he was a criminal that tricked women into marrying like this.
She had read cases in Sunaparant newspaper.
She was suddenly fearful for her own safety
"I can stay in ullal" she insisted
"You dont have to worry. You will be safe in Bangalore. I dont intend to have sex" he said right out
She turned a dark red when he used the word
"Can I ask why you have agreed?" she asked shaking
She had shifted the phone from hand to hand multiple times already
"If we meet I can tell you. Its for completely legitimate reasons. I dont plan to hurt you" he said
She let out a soft moan, of gratitude
"I need a wife. You need money. So I thought we should enter into a partnership"
I will stay in separate house?" she asked curiously
I mean why would such a good looking man, sophisticated man even want me in his house sharing his things.
"No you will live with me. But you can have which ever room you like." he said as if he had thought this through really clearly
"Should I return the money?" "After some time?" she asked tactfully
If this was being staged for a dying family member then the money should be returned too shouldnt it?
"No its yours" he said quietly. His voice was the best she had ever heard on the phone.
Deep and clear. Very sophisticated. He didnt search for English words like she did
His grammar was good. Her HOD will like him she thought.
Nobody spoke for a good 5-10 minutes
"We can meet once before the wedding?" he offered
"In the office?" she asked, confused
If this was going to be an "arrangement" then thats where they should meet
"No... in Ullal?" he said
"No Bangalore" she insisted
She wasnt ready for her father to find out just yet
She wanted him to be dazzled by the financial rescue
She didnt want him to know what she traded for it
"Thats fine"
"Do you have a lawyer?" he asked
"No" she said shocked
"I have some" he said
He never asked her does her father know. Why is he approving or not approving of such a diabolical scheme.
"I have not been married before. I dont know" she said hesitantly
"Likewise Trisha. But I am sure we can figure it out" he said clearly
Everytime he said her name she felt the urge to dissolve in a puddle
He was talking business but the way he said her name made it sound like he was whispering sweet nothings.
Speaking of sweet nothings she was reminded of Jayadev
She had not said anything to him
He hadnt shown up last nite to help despite her makinga request
Now she was entering into a deal with a stranger to help her father out.
She didnt know where she could begin to explain to him
If she told him he would tell Mr Shanbag the very next second
He would never let his daughter do such a crazy, rabid, psychopathic thing.
She wasnt worldly wise everyone that knew her knew that
But this would be a stretch even for her
She decided to conceal the idea from Jayadev that moment
"Trisha?" "Are you still there?" he was asking
"I am sorry... I was thinking" he said softly
"You can always change your mind" he assured
"Do you have any questions?" he asked
"Do you want me to bring the restaurant papers?" she asked
She didnt know where they were, she suspected they were in the cast iron safe by the mandap in the central living room
She didnt even know how to open that, she had never done it.
Or if they were in debt and if the papers were mortgaged already then they were not even home
She asked her father two weeks ago if they can sell
He didnt sound like they were leveraged
"Why?" he asked confused
"If you are giving me money, then you want the papers deposited?" she asked logically with her limited knowledge of debt financing
"thats why we are getting married" he said coolly
She was also able to tell when he smiled as he spoke. That fact somehow suggested to her that she knew him "intimately" that sent her insides swirling.
"Makes sense" she nodded. His answers do but not the whole plan, Sanchet did imbecile hare brained things, not her
She wouldnt even go to college alone/by herself during under grad, Mr Shanbag would drop her and pick her up from Mangalore University.
"When I pay you the money you will let me go?" she asked
He was for the first time... lost for words... he had no idea what he would do then...
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