“Just asking Riya! Eva was in the same class with Arjun in California. Arjun tells me she was really after him… but bhaiyya didn’t give her much lift. Poor girl!”
“What poor girl? Can’t she sit properly on a different sofa; there are so many seats vacant? Look at the way she’s clinging on to Arjun!”
Riya notices Puja giggling, obviously enjoying the moment.
“What? … Puja! Are you my friend or hers?!”
Suddenly Puja gets a call from Rakesh and walks out of the party to speak to him. Meanwhile, Riya notices another elegantly dressed Indian girl approach Arjun. She is wearing a long flowing black gown. Arjun gets up and greets her with a warm hug. When Puja returns, she walks over towards the new girl and hugs her too.
“Hello Sanju didi!” Puja greets her, “How are you? When did you come from California?”
“Today! And when I came to know that you guys are here, I thought I’d bash into the party to meet you guys!”
“Great! Good that you did!” Puja responds.
Sanju was Arjun’s classmate in Switzerland, and Arjun considered her a muh-boli or “word of mouth” sister. Puja had known her as a good friend too through Arjun for a long time.
Meanwhile, back at the bar, Riya got even more jealous watching things from a distance. Arjun, Sanju and Puja were laughing and gossiping merrily, having a good time… without her. At that very moment, a well-built classmate approaches Riya and asks her for a dance. Riya tries to avoid him gracefully.
“Sorry Vishal. Not today. I am not in the mood.”
“C’mon just a bit; one dance Riya?”
“Really sorry! I am not myself today. Please don’t mind. Some other day, please Vishal. Ok!?”
“Ok babe.” He nods gracefully and walks off.
Arjun has been watching Riya as well. He gently asks Puja in a hushed tone to tell Riya about Sanju; to specifically tell her that he looks upon Sanju as his sister.
“Ok I will!” Puja understands very well what Arjun meant. She gets up and walks towards Riya. A nice song starts at that moment and Sanju asks Arjun for a dance. He cannot refuse and they hit the dance floor together. Sanju is exceptionally graceful in her dance, and it doesn’t take long before everyone is cheering the couple. Sanju looks mesmerizingly beautiful in her smooth moves and Arjun matches her step for step.
Meanwhile Puja eventually returns to her friend at the bar.
“Where were you, Puja?” Riya demands anxiously.
“C’mon Riya!” Puja holds her hand. “Let me introduce you to someone special. Do you remember I used to tell you about Sanju?”
“No I don’t!” Riya responds sternly.
“Hmmm… OK… Can I ask you something Riya?” Puja continues with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, “why are you jealous watching other girls with Arjun?”
“No I am not! Will you please stop it?” Riya replies desperately. “Anyway, who is this girl Sanju now? As if one mini skirt wasn’t enough! You were meeting her so merrily as well… Just look at them dance!”
Arjun and Sanju are looking absolutely fabulous together and it is killing Riya to see them at the centre of the dance floor. Puja decides to tease her friend a bit further. “That’s Sanju. She was a research scholar with Arjun at CERN. They were really close friends. They spent a lot of time together. You know they won the college ballroom dance competition together as well. Sanju forced Arjun to enrol!” Puja is enjoying the uneasiness and jealousy that she can openly read on Riya’s face.
“You know Riya, I think Arjun is deliberately trying to tease you tonight,” Puja continues, “I think he wants to hear those three special words from you.”
“Please, Puja! It’s nothing like that!”
“Don’t lie Riya! Your eyes are saying everything tonight!” she smiles mischievously. Riya ignores what Puja is saying as she watches Arjun instead. She gulps her coke in one go, obviously now getting extremely agitated at the way Arjun has ignored her, when she had been waiting for over an hour to meet him. A tear takes shape at the edge of her eyes. Puja fails to notice that.
“Anyway, listen!” Puja continues, “I’ll have to run in a few minutes. I need to meet Rakesh.”
In the midst of the dance, Arjun pauses to look at Puja and Riya and gestures at both of them to come over. Riya doesn’t move. In a moment, Arjun and Sanju start walking to them instead.
“Hi Riya. This is Sanju… She is…”, Arjun tries to introduce them, but Puja interrupts at that very instance. “Yes bhaiyya. I’ve told Riya about Sanju already.”
“Hello Riya! So you are the little princess who has helped our Arjun on the case! I have heard so much about you. So nice to finally meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too,” Riya responds a bit coldly to Sanju’s friendly gesture.
“Bhaiyya, I need to run. Rakesh is waiting for me.” Puja finally decides to go.
“Oh OK! You carry on then Puja. I’ll see you later.” Puja takes leave of everyone and rushes out. Before leaving, she gently murmurs into Riya’s ear, “Tell me everything about the party later tonight, OK?” Riya simply nods at her friend.
“Riya! Would you… like to dance?” Arjun invites her.
“Maybe later!” Riya declines, still seething with jealousy as, at that very instant, she spots Sanju’s hand on Arjun’s shoulder. I guess she would not have felt offended at the slutty American girl Eva dancing with Arjun. But Sanju was an elegant, graceful princess, her designer evening gown reflected her class and style, and moreover she looked absolutely fabulous with Arjun.
“C’mon Riya, please join us,” Sanju tries to convince her as well, but Riya smiles and gracefully declines the invitation. Arjun and Sanju carry on to the dance floor. After a while, when Riya is speaking to her other friends, Vishal approaches her again.
“Hey Riya. You OK?” Riya nods yes. “Can I get you a drink?”
“No. I am good, thank you!”
“You want to dance? C’mon! Just one dance!” Vishal persists.
Riya decides to accept his invitation this time and she leads him to the opposite end of the dance floor, away from Arjun. After a while, Sanju leaves as well and after seeing her out to the door, Arjun returns to the bar looking for Riya. He spots her at the far end of the dance floor with Vishal, and decides to wait at the bar for the song to end. The song ends in a few minutes and Arjun gets up to walk to Riya. The next number starts almost immediately and Riya spots Arjun coming towards her, so instead of ending the dance, she deliberately decides to continue dancing with Vishal.
The next song is a slow number and a few couples have gone into a ballroom waltz dance routine clutching their respective partners romantically close. Riya gets uncomfortable when Vishal tries to do the same and places his hands around her waist. Riya retreats immediately, taking a step back away from him. Arjun, sitting at the bar, has been watching intently and notices a discussion between Vishal and Riya, as she excuses herself and starts to walk out of the party. Vishal follows her.
Arjun gets up from the bar as well and follows them out.
“Hey Riya. C’mon dear!” Vishal tries to convince her to return, “This is the song we should be dancing to. It’s a really great number!”
“Sorry Vishal. I am a bit tired… please.”
Vishal holds her hand and tries to lead her.
“Vishal! I am not comfortable with dancing to this song. Sorry!”
At that moment, Vishal squeezes her hand, offending Riya.
“Please let go off me Vishal! What are you doing?”
Vishal does not budge and whilst still holding her hand, in the tussle, he pulls off her scarf as Riya tries to get away. Arjun has been watching in the background and decides to intervene. “You heard her, buddy! She doesn’t want to dance with you.”
“Oh Arjun. Mr. Big Shot! Did anyone ask your opinion?”
“Well… No. But you know I love poking my nose everywhere. So… just chill out buddy!”
“Then you must know also th
at those who poke their noses in other’s businesses stand the risk of going back home with a broken nose.”
“Oh. Very interesting!” Arjun smiles, “That will be a nice change!”
“Yes, it will be, buddy. Just back off! I’ve been the Mumbai Inter-college boxing champion for three consecutive years now.”
Riya intervenes, getting really concerned at the tone of the conversation.
“Vishal please! Will the two of you just take it easy? I don’t want to dance anymore. That’s it!”
“You heard her, Vishal? Can I have Riya’s scarf please!”
“This scarf is in my hand. Finder’s keepers! If you can, try taking it away Arjun.”
“Vishal what bullshit is this!” Riya shouts, extremely agitated now.
“If you had asked I’d have given it to you sweetheart! But now… it’s in my hand! So if anyone has the guts to get it, let them try!”
“I don’t need it OK. You can keep it. C’mon Arjun!” Riya pulls Arjun’s arm and is about to start walking away.
“Hold on Riya… I want it…,” Arjun replies calmly. “I want that scarf Vishal.”
“Arjun! I said I don’t need it!”
“I want it!” Arjun repeats slowly.
“Yeah. That’s spoken like a man, Arjun! Riya doesn’t need it. So whoever wins gets to keep the scarf. Right?”
“Vishal stop it! Arjun, let’s go,” she tries pulling him but Arjun doesn’t budge.
“C’mon, Arjun. Let me place this scarf with due respect on this tree twig. Don’t worry Riya, it’s just a boxing game… after all we are all friends here, aren’t we!? Right Arjun?” Arjun nods slowly. “The last guy standing gets to keep the scarf. Simple?”
He turns to Riya, “This is not about you any more, Riya!”
Riya looks at Arjun helplessly, “Arjun, what madness is this?”
Arjun raises his hand, shushing her into silence. Vishal has already taken a boxing stance. Arjun gets ready as well and they start the fight. Vishal swings wildly at him but Arjun ducks easily. A few good punches continue with both the guys hitting each other in tandem. One jab from Vishal hits Arjun on his lips, but Arjun retaliates strongly and Vishal is eventually weakened by every punch from Arjun.
A final punch from Arjun throws Vishal on the grass. Arjun is about to jump for one last blow to end the fight when Vishal raises his hand from the ground gesturing to Arjun to stop. Arjun stops just in time, his fist a few inches over Vishal’s face. Vishal raises his hand for a handshake; Arjun grabs it and pulls him up to his feet.
“You are good buddy. You are good!” Vishal acknowledges gracefully and walks up to Riya, “No offence Riya! No hard feelings Arjun. It was just a game after all. Ciao!” He waves a farewell, and walks off, nursing the bruises on his face and arms.
Riya runs up to Arjun and hugs him tight. She notices his lips bleeding, tries to touch them but Arjun moves his face away. Arjun shrugs her hand off, picks the scarf from the tree and flings it to Riya. She catches it, while Arjun starts walking away briskly.
“Arjun!”
Arjun doesn’t respond.
“Arjun! Stop! I am talking to you.” she grabs his arm, “What is wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you, Riya? Do you know what kind of a guy Vishal is? Why did you have to dance with him? Couldn’t you have asked me?” Arjun is clearly offended at her choice of dance partner tonight.
“Really? If Mr. busy bee had spare time from his friends!... Huh!” Riya responds in a spiteful tone, obviously very offended and bitter now at the thought of his dance with Sanju. She has clearly felt neglected with Arjun’s indifferent behavior throughout the night.
“What?” Arjun replies with a confused look, “Do you know Vishal has three girlfriends at a time, and the kind of girls who just stick around for a big wallet and good looks. All that he thinks about is… s e x!”
“Why? Feeling jealous now, are you? If a guy does it, it’s fine, but if a girl does the same thing then… then…”, Riya doesn’t complete the sentence.
“What do you mean Riya? You know what Sanju is to me! Right?”
“Yes, Puja told me everything about Sanju.”
“Then? And you know I don’t care about girls like Eva. What are you saying Riya? I just don’t understand! Why did you have to dance with the rowdiest guy in the class? You couldn’t care to ask me? What’s your problem?”
“I don’t have any problem! Happy?” Riya responds, frustrated with the conversation.
“Yes! Happy!”
They stand there for a moment staring at each other in anger. Arjun is expecting an explanation, but Riya doesn’t provide any. Eventually she does speak up.
“Arjun, I want to go home,” Riya says in a soft perturbed tone. Arjun starts walking towards the car park without a word. Riya follows him as he walks to the car, opens the door ajar but doesn’t hold the door for her. Just as Arjun is about to start the car and puts his hand on the steering wheel, Riya notices severe bruises on his hand. And his lips are still bleeding. Riya tries to touch his hands, but Arjun takes them away. Riya pulls out the medical box from the side compartment and comes up to him in front of the steering wheel.
“Arjun! There’s still blood on your lips.”
“I don’t care!” he revs up the car engine.
“Arjun! You can be angry with me if you like, but I need to clean it now. Please!”
Arjun tries to push her away, but she comes almost on to him at the steering wheel.
“Arjun! Please!”, Riya shouts at him. Arjun reluctantly gives in. Riya cleans his lips coming really close to him as their eyes fix on each other for a moment. “Stay still, will you?” she asks Arjun in an angry tone. She wipes his hands clean with a piece of cotton and ointment.
Arjun finally starts the car and drives off at a high speed. Arjun and Riya drive for a few moments without speaking to each other. Riya has tears on her cheeks that Arun notices but he doesn’t try to pacify her. After a while, Riya suddenly speaks up.
“Arjun, I don’t want to go home.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone at home will ask me why we returned from the party so early,” she explains in a sulking tone, “And I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.”
“Then where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know.”
“You know you are a crazy girl Riya?” Arjun smiles; no longer angry with her.
“Oh yes! And what about you…” Riya mumbles to herself, “Stubborn… Stupid”
Arjun cannot help laugh out loud; adding to Riya’s annoyance as she is still seething with jealousy and wrath at everything that happened tonight.
Arjun decides to continue driving without stirring any further commotion. He drives across the beautiful countryside and along the curves of the beautiful Cumbala hills until he reaches the top with a lovely view of the city lights down under and the sea in the distance. The car comes to a halt.
“So Riya, you knew that Sanju is my sister right?”
Riya turns around to look at Arjun, her expression revealing her surprise at this statement. Arjun starts laughing loudly looking at Riya’s expression.
“You didn’t? Ha ha!... I had asked Puja to tell you about Sanju.”
Riya is still shocked; bites her lips and her nails.
“Ha ha! So your best friend lied to you Riya?”
“Arjun… Oh my God! … What did I do?… Ummm…” She holds her ears with an innocent sorry look when she realizes the faux pas that she had committed.
“So tell me Riya,” Arjun is amused, but continues in a teasing tone, “Hmm… what’s the reason that Puja lied to you?”
“I’m gonna kill that girl…Puja… You…” Riya mumbles to herself.
“Hey mind it! You are talking about my sister.”
“She may be your sister later…she’s my friend first!” Riya mumbles to herself again, obviously now understanding why Puja did what she did.
“Ha ha! Guess I know why Puja lied to you… I think she saw you getting jealous of Sanju…right? Or of Eva… coming close to me?”
“Not at all… why would I?” Riya nervously avoids Arjun’s mischievous glance. “I don’t care whom you dance with.”
“Aha! Really? Your eyes seem to be saying something else.” Arjun continues to tease her. “So you promise … pinky promise… that you were not jealous?”
Riya is very uneasy seeing Arjun enjoying her nervousness. She decides to dodge him; opens the door of the car and walks out. Arjun walks across towards her. They are at the top of a beautiful hill and just a step further ahead from the car park the whole of Mumbai is lit brightly beneath them, with the sea in the distant horizon.
“Wow! This is so beautiful! You never brought me here before, Arjun!?”
“Should we sit down here for a while?”
They sit on the grass at the top of the hill, admiring the view. The full moon and its shimmering reflection in the distant sea add to the ambience too. Arjun sees Riya brushing her arms as the temperature has dipped in the open environment. He gently wraps his arms around her and puts his jacket on top. Riya clasps on to his arms. They lie there together for a while in each other’s arms without saying a word.
“Arjun, do you mind if I put on some music?”
“As you wish your highness…” Arjun starts in a pompous tone but Riya interrupts him.
“Shhh…” She is in no mood for excessive talking.
Riya puts on FM radio on her phone. The soft music flows in the night air as if reaching the distant moon, the sea and beyond. Suddenly Arjun springs on his feet.
“A dance?” he offers his hand in a playful gesture. Riya accepts it and they enjoy a fast rock and roll, followed by a twist, and then the next song on FM radio is - “Lady in Red”. Arjun decides to take the lead in a ball dance pose, holds Riya by her waist and his right hand holding her palms. They dance in tandem under the moon on the beautiful hill. At the tune of the words “The way you look tonight”, Arjun smiles looking straight into Riya’s eyes.
“You know… you do look wonderful tonight.”
Riya smiles, is about to say something when the lyrics “cheek to cheek” of the song at that very instant distract her attention. Suddenly a gentle breeze makes her hair flutter on to Arjun’s face. As he removes them, Arjun brushes her cheek gently with his thumb. Riya freezes at the touch, staring blankly at him.
Cold Love Page 11
