Let the Games Begin
Later in the afternoon, Riya and Puja catch up, as planned, for a game of tennis. The other members of the family have gone to Rakesh’s home for a traditional puja ceremony. The girls are spending most of their time on the bench or across the nets, gossiping and talking about Rakesh. In the midst of all this, when they were actually playing tennis, Arjun walks in. Puja rushes over to greet him, excited to see him back early from his Delhi trip.
“Bhaiyya! How did you come a day earlier? Has the sun risen in the west today?”
“Very funny Puja! I had to come early due to an important matter arising in court.”
Arjun had his de-briefing meeting last night with Lieutenant General Khanna. The evidence, after yesterday’s operation was overwhelming, and the PMO used it immediately to launch a massive diplomatic offensive against their Pakistani counterpart. The prosecutor also lodged further allegations against the ISI lieutenant general. However, everything was underpinned by Riya’s evidence and her statement in court. Without that, the ISI lieutenant general would have been immune from any proceedings on Indian soil owing to his diplomatic status. In court Arjun was asked to testify in support of Riya’s evidence. With the latest incident in Jammu and Kashmir, it seems the scales are tilting swiftly in the case towards a landmark verdict.
“Court? Is everything all right bhaiyya?” Puja enquires.
“Yes, nothing special; just the usual procedures! I need to testify further in support of Riya’s evidence. That’s because this is not a regular civil court but a special military tribunal; we need a serviceperson to ratify a civilian witness. I need to speak to you about it, Riya.”
“Oh! Do you want to discuss it now, Arjun?” Riya asks him eagerly.
“Not now bhaiyya please! After the game, OK?” Puja moans and intervenes immediately, conscious that she will lose her friend for a good hour or so if Arjun gets on with his boring case. “You need to first listen to what I have to say!”
“OK; what is it Puja?”Arjun concedes.
Puja shows off her ring. “Ta-da! Rakesh proposed to me last night!”
“Oh wow! Congratulations! This is great news!” He lifts his little sister in a big hug.
“Papa, mummy, uncle and aunty have gone to Rakesh’s place for the puja ceremony. Rakesh’s parents want the engagement to take place quickly. … So get used to it bhaiyya, your little sister is going to become a stranger soon!” She poses dramatically with her hand on her head.
“That’s even better news, isn’t it? I’ll finally be able to get rid of this crazy girl!” Puja throws a tennis ball at him in resentment. Arjun catches it. “Anyway, you girls carry on. Since I’m a bit early, I will watch your boring tennis!” Arjun is prepared to sit and wait for his discussion with Riya. For now, his sister’s happiness comes first.
Riya suddenly feels conscious that, if Arjun is going to be watching the game, her sports skirt is perhaps too short. She speaks to Puja in a hushed tone, “Puja, my skirt is so short! I’ll go change and come back in a minute!”
“C’mon Riya. It’s just Arjun!”
Riya reluctantly agrees to continue. The girls start playing and after a few games, during the break, Arjun approaches the girls.
“You know several Bollywood movies are now stealing the Matrix style stunt these days?” The girls could sense the sarcastic banter in his tone. “Everyone is shooting in slow motion … it’s so common now that you see it everywhere!”
“You had better get your eyes checked bhaiyya!” Puja answers back immediately taking offense at his mockery of their slow game.
Arjun continues with his mischievous sarcasm. “No, seriously! Keanu Reeves is working on the next Matrix movie where he plays tennis in slow motion with two people at the same time… and… sips a coke from the other hand! … You know you two should try the screen test as well!”
“Oh really? Very funny Arjun! Since you have recently become a coach for every sport in the world, why don’t you show us then?”
“Really? Should I play with just my left hand to give you girls a chance? Seriously girls, why are you not killing the shot when you have an opportunity?”
“Why don’t you show us your game then Arjun?” Riya throws a challenge. Both Puja and Riya nod together, waiting for Arjun’s response.
Arjun gets up from his seat, always up for a challenge “OK then! Let’s see. Let alone a full game, if the two of you get up to 40 points, I’ll concede that you have won!”
“Done! But … but… you won’t hit any smashes bhaiyya!” Puja is quite scared of Arjun’s fast smash shots.
“OK, I won’t hit any smashes. I’ll only place the balls across the court in the ‘Matrix slow motion speed’” he chuckles, as Riya sticks her tongue out to mock him.
“OK. Should we play then?” Puja and Riya start walking towards their end.
Arjun nods and smiles at the crazy girls, as they start playing tennis. Arjun is toying with the girls; he’s winning easily by simply placing the ball around the court. He races to five games to nil. A shot from Arjun, even though not a smash, hits Riya on her thigh and she falls clumsily on the court. Arjun comes running across. Puja is still at the back end of the court as Arjun reaches Riya first.
“Are you OK?” he asks, concerned.
“Ah!” Riya cries in pain. “I think I’ve developed a cramp!”
“Puja, do you have the pain spray in the bag?”Arjun asks his sister.
“I am not sure!” Puja looks at Riya, who points at the sports bag.
Arjun goes to get the spray from the bag. There’s an ointment instead, but it should work as well. He returns and immediately starts to apply it onto Riya’s leg. Riya gets extremely conscious, as she had expected Arjun to hand it over to her or Puja to apply it. While Arjun applies the balm, Riya cringes shyly, gently pulling her skirt, feeling very awkward with Arjun touching her leg. Puja notices, as the girls exchange glances with each other. Oblivious to it all, Arjun is still keenly applying the ointment to her thigh and hamstrings.
‘Oh! My silly brother!’ Puja says to herself, seeing her best friend so uncharacteristically nervous and shy.
Arjun looks up at Riya. “Any better?”
“Yes,” Riya nods meekly and pulls her skirt lower. “It’s all right now.”
Riya slowly gets back on her feet and they start the game once again. After a few shots, Riya twists her ankle a bit but recovers. Arjun loses his concentration looking at her and misses an easy point. Puja walks over to Riya and she can see that her friend is ok. She couldn’t help tease Riya, “Looks like your cramp is now cramping someone’s game my dear!”
“Shut up Puja!”, Riya is embarrassed at the mischievous comment from her best friend. The girls continue chit chatting in the middle of the game for a few minutes, much to Arjun’s annoyance and impatience.
“Girls, if your kitty party is over, can we play please? I know you like slow motion games, but others have got work to do!”
The girls ignore his banter. The match gets underway soon. Suddenly Arjun notices that a button is off Riya’s t-shirt; he gets distracted and loses a point. However, he recovers on the next point, so it is 30-30.
Suddenly Puja’s phone starts ringing and she rushes to pick it up. She speaks inaudibly on the phone and after putting it down, calls out to Arjun, “I need to go bhaiyya; Rakesh is calling me. He wants to meet me now!”
“But what about our game?” Riya moans. Puja runs over to her friend.
“My dear Riya! Now you’ve got to win for my sake!” Puja exclaims in a melodramatic joking tone, “You have to fight against this cruel world all alone! But I know you will definitely succeed! All the best my sweetheart! I’m off!!”
Puja leaves immediately; Arjun and Riya have little time to respond and they rightly decide not to intervene whilst the two love birds plan to meet up together.
“Should we continue the game?” Arjun asks Riya. He has plenty of time now with Riya.
“Bu
t … me… alone?” Riya responds coyly.
“All right, let’s see. I will only hit in one half of the court.”
They start the game again, Arjun is 2 points from the set; Riya is one point from securing 40 points which will win her the match. She serves; Arjun returns and notices that Riya’s t-shirt has another button off now and is showing her bra seductively peeking out. Arjun still returns the ball placing it deep in the court. Riya in turn manages to return it, though very poorly and Arjun is about to kill the point, as he simply needs to play a simple drop shot. At that very instant, Riya twists her ankle and falls awkwardly down on the court. Arjun is distracted, misses the shot, and runs across the net to Riya immediately.
“Hey! Are you OK?” Riya must have noticed her t-shirt buttons by now as they are closed. She tries to get up, but has a cramp again. Arjun offers his hand to help her. She holds on to Arjun’s hand and gets up. Arjun supports her as they walk towards Riya’s room, limping together. By the time they return to the house, Riya’s cramp has eased off and she is walking better now. She walks to the wardrobe to grab her clothes to change. Arjun stays back and waits for her.
He picks a booklet on Riya’s desk. “Oh! Is this the new case study for the strategy class?”
“Yes it is! You would know if you attended the class, mister!” Riya mocks him, obviously knowing well the reason for his lack of attendance, “The notes are more relevant though. Wait, let me show you.” She opens her laptop and also her note book.
“Do you mind if I read through?”
“Yes I mind! Do you need to ask? You take your time, I’ll take a quick shower in the meantime and we can then talk about the case you wanted to speak about.”
“Sure!” Arjun is happy to wait and reads the booklet for a while as Riya goes for the shower. Meanwhile, Arjun gets a phone call from Lt Gen Khanna, who has called him to discuss the court case.
“Yes Sir; I realize that as a serviceman I need to testify. …Yes, I was nearest to the event among the agents. I saw agent Vinod fall down on the ground as Riya shrieked and about a fraction of a second later I also saw the ISI lieutenant general with his gun at the car window. So technically speaking, I only missed the fraction of a second that the bullet was in its flight path hitting agent Vinod! …Yes I will go through the incidents again with her. I understand Sir. Yes Sir, I realize the significance of this case. … OK Sir, bye!”
In a few moments Riya is out of the shower dressed in a lovely floral summer skirt. She hands Arjun a track suit and t-shirt from another wardrobe.
“Coffee?” Arjun nods yes. They continue together to the kitchen and while Riya is preparing coffee, Arjun kick-starts his discussion.
“Riya, can I ask you something?”
“Yes? Go on, you wanted to discuss the case, right?”
“Do you mind narrating to me what you saw when the ISI lieutenant general shot the agent?”
“Sure! I clearly saw him with my own eyes point the gun out of the car window and shoot the agent.”
Riya narrates all the precise details to Arjun yet again.
“Riya, you see, as it’s a military court hearing, I need to testify as a serviceman over and above your testimony. Mr. Banerjee has already got so many loopholes in play, complicating this case. But don’t worry; everything is in control. Routine procedure I’d say. Anyway, I had better be going,” he smiles gently after finishing his coffee and stands up.
Riya stands up as well but just as Arjun is about to turn to leave, she boldly asks him with a disarming look on her face, “Arjun! Do you trust me?”
“Absolutely. Please do not get me wrong… I mean…”, Riya interrupts him.
“Arjun can I say something? You know before having met you, I used to think that I was involved in so many philanthropic activities, helping disabled kids, education, charity and so on. But after meeting you… I mean… what you have done for this case… for our country… you never once thought about yourself!” she looks straight into his eyes.
“Hey, c’mon now stop flattering me!”
“Arjun, you are fighting this battle alone to bring these criminals to justice. But today, you came to see me to make sure before the court hearing, right?”
“No, it’s not that Riya.”
Riya ignores his interjection and continues, “Arjun, we think so many times about right and wrong. But do these barbarians ever take a moment to think when killing innocent people… children, women…. Tell me Arjun who will end this war against our country?”
“Hey, I know everything; it’s OK, Riya!”
“No, it’s not OK, Arjun!” Riya shouts emphatically, “So many people die every day in India in terrorist attacks. But does anyone care? I mean look at Kasab,” she shakes her head in disgust. “The whole world saw him live on television! But he was really a puppet, isn’t it? The real criminals behind that attack are still walking free on this earth. Our Government has still not been able to do anything against them.”
She continues, in a mocking tone, “Huh! Instead our Government keeps telling Pakistan- ‘We won’t sit on bi-lateral talks until you tackle terrorist organizations targeting India from Pakistani soil!’ I mean, are we kids Arjun? We won’t talk? C’mon, what kind of a strategy is that?”
“I know. I know, Riya; relax, I know everything.”
“Arjun… I know you are already doing so much for this case… but please, end this all, Arjun. I want to see you win …”, she holds Arjun’s face in her palms, “I want to see my country win this war against terrorism. Isn’t there some way to end this cold war once and forever?”
“Riya! C’mon, don’t get emotional!” Arjun feels uneasy when her hands touch his face and her tone and manner become increasingly intense.
Riya smiles back and composes herself immediately, “No, I’m not emotional, Arjun. But I’ll say this. I am so very proud of you! I really am! I am so glad to say that you are my friend!”
Arjun nods smiling as if to say thanks. “Don’t worry, Riya, I won’t let these murderers off so easily.” He gets up and walks out of the house when Riya shouts from the balcony.
“Arjun!... will you be at the MBA party in the evening?”
“Oh! I had completely forgotten about it; thanks for reminding me. I will try.”
“I will wait for you!”
Arjun walks off and finally gets into his car.
Later in the day while driving to the court, Arjun couldn’t help but think about Riya… his best childhood friend… his constant source of support. Is he slowly falling in love with her … does she love him as well? He had never looked upon Riya as a lover… not until now.
The last few months have changed everything. She was no doubt his best friend since childhood, a partner in all his childhood exploits. He may have been guilty of having taken her friendship for granted, assuming that she will always be there for him. But times evolve and as adults, we no longer have the same simple thinking that we used to as kids. She is so beautiful now, Arjun tells himself as he visualizes the slip earlier in the game and their eyes locking in together in a romantic glance.
But he shakes his head vigorously as if telling himself to wake up. He cannot afford to think about anything other than work. This case means everything to him. Riya is right; they have an opportunity here to end this war of cross border terrorism once and for all. And getting the verdict in India’s favor is the critical milestone for that vision.
Arjun reassures himself that his work and his commitment to his country goes above everything else. Unfortunately, love is not a convenience he can afford at this point in his life.
Party… Love and War
At the MBA school, the senior students have thrown a party for this batch of students, as it happens every year. Riya looks at her watch. It’s almost ten. Arjun had responded to her message saying he would be there by about 9pm. Fashionably late as usual, she tells herself. After a few minutes, Arjun does eventually walk in. A few friends speak to him at the door. Riya spot
s him, excuses herself from her friends and starts to walk towards him. She is wearing a beautiful off-shoulder gown with a scarf around her neck. Arjun sports a crisp black suit.
“Hi Arjun. How are you?”
“I am good. You look lovely in this dress.”
“Thanks. You too,” she waves her hand, “look OK!”
Arjun smiles. “All right; tell me first Arjun, what happened at the court? Was everything ok?”
“Come, let’s sit down; I’ll tell you!” They walk up to a sofa settee and sit down. “I think we may have got him! I gave my statement backing yours. We will know the outcome in a week but from internal sources, it’s looking good.”
“Wow! Congrats!” Riya hugs him.
A few friends approach them; Arjun meets and greets his pals. Puja has come to the party too. Riya and Arjun soon split up and into their respective groups of friends. A Caucasian girl in a fashionable mini skirt comes around and greets Arjun.
“Hey handsome! How have you been?”
“Hi Eva! Good!”
Eva hugs Arjun and, much to everyone’s surprise, kisses him on the cheek. Riya immediately notices and is clearly perturbed. Arjun introduces Eva to everyone as his classmate from California. After a while, Eva invites Arjun for a dance but he tries to avoid it. Eva tries to drag, him pulling his arm.
“C’mon be a sport Arjun. No excuses!”
“No seriously, Eva. And… sorry, I have a sprain in my leg.”
Eva lets go and comes back to sit on the sofa edge next to Arjun, as if almost on his lap. Arjun tries to shuffle a bit. Riya can’t take it anymore and gets up. Arjun notices her leave, so does Puja who follows her friend to the bar.
“Hey, what happened! Why did you get up?”
“Nothing!” Riya responds casually, “Just wanted a refill”. She requests another coke from the barman. Gradually after an awkward and long silence, Riya blurts out, “Who’s that girl anyway?” mumbling to herself, “Stupid!”
“Do I sense some jealousy?” Puja deliberately teases her friend.
“Why should I be jealous?”
Cold Love Page 10
