by Shilpa Suraj
“I’m glad you thought I was cute though,” he murmured close to her ear before crossing her to enter the living room.
Dumping the bag in her mother’s hands, she said her goodbyes and walked out before she throttled her cousin’s potential brother in law.
---xxx---
“What do you mean you’re not coming?”
Sitting at the crowded lunch table with her entire group of friends, Alisha waited for the babble around the table to subside before answering.
“I have relatives who’ve come from out of town. I can’t just abandon my cousin to entertain herself and come. Plus, I don’t know what the plans are for the next few days. I have to spend it with them.”
“You’re doing this because I invited King Kong.” Slitting her eyes, Nisha pointed one finger at her. “I’m on to you.”
“You invited King Kong?” Natasha, a tiny dynamo of energy who worked in the legal department, leaned over from the other side of Alisha to join in the discussion. “Why would you do that?”
Stabbing her fork into her pasta, Nisha answered, “I did it because I think our group has gotten into a rut. All we do is hang out with each other and we never end up broadening our horizons.”
“You think King Kong is going to broaden our horizons?” Alisha smirked.
Turning her back on the guys who were busy discussing cricket at their end of the table, Natasha moved closer. “I think Nisha has a point though. We need some new interesting people in the group. In case anyone’s missing the point, by people I mean men.”
“Since your point was about as subtle as being hit by a sledgehammer I think we all got it.” Wryly, Supriya, another friend from finance, finished her food and pushed the plate to one side. Tall and angular, she had been in a committed relationship for the last year and was clearly not interested in Natasha’s pitch.
Shaking her head, Alisha said, “Interesting being the key point here. Trust me a guy who thinks his most notable characteristic is being the same height as Abhishek Bachchan is not the answer.”
“Who is the same height as Abhishek Bachchan?” The guys had suddenly decided to abandon cricket and pay attention to the conversation at the other end of the table.
Glaring at Alisha, Nisha turned to answer Sagar. “This guy who sits in the cubicle next to Alisha. He seems nice enough, but she just won’t give him a chance.”
All 6 ft 3 inches of him sprawled in the chair and taking up most of the elbow space at his end of the table, Sagar shrugged and said, “If we’re bringing new people along, I’d like to invite someone too.”
Doggedly chasing the last bit of potato on his plate with a spoon, Venkat said, “Me too.”
His round face completely focused on the last morsel of food on his plate, he missed the looks exchanged around the table.
“Let’s do that then. All of us can invite new people. It will be fun.” Her face shining with enthusiasm, Nisha nudged Alisha. “Who are you bringing?”
“I may not even be coming. If I am, I’ll bring my cousin. I’ve got to run now.” Picking up her plate, she replied to the chorused byes and headed out.
“Alisha, wait for me.” Breathless with the effort of running in high heels, Natasha hailed her near the elevator.
Alisha pressed the button for the elevator and waited. “What’s up?”
“Do you think he’s planning to bring her?” Grimacing, Natasha pressed a hand to her side to try and release the stitch she’d gotten from her exertions.
Knowing who she meant, Alisha said, “I’m sure he is. We can’t do anything about it, can we? I doubt any of us would like to be told we can’t bring the person we’re dating along to a group outing.”
“Has anyone told Venkat we hate his new girlfriend?” Natasha demanded.
“No, and I don’t think we should either. He’ll just feel bad.” Moving to one side to give way to the people disembarking from the elevator, Alisha waited patiently for what she knew was coming.
“You’re his closest friend. You should tell him.” Natasha had always been a champion wheedler. “We think that-“
“We?” Stepping into the now empty elevator, Alisha waited for her to come in.
“Well other than Sagar, who couldn’t care less, the rest of us think that he should know that he can do better.”
“I’m not telling him anything. It’s up to him to decide who he wants to date.” Reaching her floor, she stepped off and turned to face Natasha.
Keeping her finger on the button to keep the doors open, Natasha wailed, “But she’s such a bitch! As good friends, we should warn him.”
“No, as good friends we should be supportive.” Laughing a little, Alisha waved and moved away.
“She hates you the most out of all of us.” The elevator doors cut off the rest of whatever Natasha was yelling at her.
Knowing it was true, Alisha shook it off and walked away. Natasha and the rest were just going to have to accept that the bitch was here to stay. Being Venkat’s closest female friend, she knew how he felt about the new relationship and, also, that if it continued that their own friendship was short lived. They were just going to have to accept the train wreck that was waiting to happen. Once you accepted the inevitability of it, you didn’t feel so bad.
---***---
Chapter 6
Groaning, Alisha surveyed the parade of cars parked in front of her house. She was horribly late. Her folks were going to kill her. Taking a deep breath, she moved passed the cars and made her way to the front door. Opening it slowly, she braced herself and went into the drawing room.
“Finally, look who’s here!” Her mother extended a hand towards her urging her further into the room. “This is my daughter, Alisha.”
Resolutely not looking in Vivaan’s direction, Alisha smiled at his family. After saying her hellos to the Brigadier and his wife and their very pregnant daughter, she turned towards the man of the moment. Looking extremely uncomfortable, Arav was sandwiched between his mother and sister on the couch. He stood up to shake hands with her and she found herself warming instantly to his engaging smile. Average height, the same dark brown hair as his brother and of course that lovely open smile made for an attractive package.
Finishing with the introductions, she excused herself so she could change and freshen up. Congratulating herself on pulling it off, she curled her fingers around the doorknob and started to pull it towards her when she heard that hateful voice.
“Why are you limping?”
So close. Sighing, she leaned her forehead against the door for a moment before turning to face the room. Ignoring Vivaan’s question wasn’t an option. Her parents would flay her alive if she was rude or discourteous in any way.
“Limping?” Her mother got up and came towards her immediately. “What happened? I didn’t notice until Vivaan asked.”
“Nothing major, Mama. It was just a small accident. I’ll change and be back in a few minutes.”
“An accident?” Her mother’s frantic whisper had her wincing. “I’ll come with you and see what happened.”
“Is everything okay?” Her father’s deep voice cut across the rest of the room’s conversation.
“Yes, Papa. All good. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Flashing him a quick smile, she left the room.
Minutes later, in the privacy of her bedroom, she got out of her heels, hiked her skirt up till her knees and offered up her ankle to her mother for inspection.
“See, I told you it wasn’t a big deal. The auto I was in overturned and my ankle got a little squashed by my laptop bag.”
Gently palpating the area around the swollen ankle, her mother asked, “Why were you in an auto in the first place?”
“The cab broke down, Ma, and I didn’t want to wait for the replacement cab. I was already late so, I figured I should try and get here as soon as possible. Why don’t you go down? I’ll have a shower and come down in a few minutes.”
Before she could answer, they were interrupted by a
knock on the door. Looking up at the unwelcome sight of Vivaan framed in her bedroom doorway, Alisha flushed and straightened up while trying to tug her skirt back into place.
“I thought I would come up and see if I could help in some way.” Stepping into the room without waiting for an invitation, he came closer to the bed.
Completely charmed, her mother stood. “It’s so sweet of you to offer. It’s only her ankle that’s a little swollen.”
“Can I take a look?”
“No, you can’t,” Alisha said, irritably.
“Alisha!”
Ignoring her mother’s shocked exclamation, she continued mutinously, “I don’t see any reason why you need to look at it. My mother has looked at it and I’ve looked at it and it seems fine.”
“Maybe the reason why he should look at it is that he is a doctor.” Her mother’s tart reply had her cringing. “I’m going back downstairs to see if the snacks need to be refilled. I expect you to apologize for your rudeness and let Vivaan examine your ankle. That is, of course, if he still wants to.”
With that parting shot, her mother exited the room.
In the silence that ensued, Alisha found herself determinedly staring at her feet. When the pain in her ankle got too much to bear, she sat down on the bed and buried her face in her hands.
“I’m sorry,” she ground out finally. “I’m tired, I’m cranky and I’ve had a very long day. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. Now, will you please go away?”
Wisely smothering a grin, Vivaan came forward. “I don’t blame you. It must seem like I take every opportunity to ogle your legs. Let me look at your ankle and then I’ll go away. You were in an accident?”
Gently pulling her foot forward, he started to examine the swollen area.
Staring at the top of his bent head, Alisha ran through her explanation of the accident again.
“It’s definitely not broken. It’s just a little bruised and sore. The swelling should be gone by morning. I have some crepe bandages in my kit in the car. I’ll bring it in and bandage it up. You should be as good as new by morning.”
Taking her acquiescence for granted, he walked out the door. Sighing, she loosened her hair from its ponytail and flopped back on to the bed. She stared up at the ceiling for another moment before picking up the clothes her mother had laid out for her on the bedside table and limping into the bathroom to shower.
Coming out ten minutes later, she found him lounging on her bed like he belonged there. Pointedly letting her eyes travel over the shoes that had been toed off and the jacket that was discarded at the foot of the bed, Alisha walked over to the chair in the corner of the room and sat down.
“Where are you doing your internship?”
“My internship?” Surprise mixed with amusement lightened Vivaan’s eyes.
Grabbing his medical kit which was lying on the floor near the bed, he came to crouch in front of her chair.
“I finished my internship years ago,” he murmured. “I practice at City Hospital.” Placing her foot on his knee, he started to unwrap his roll of crepe bandages.
“You have absolutely no sense of personal boundaries, do you?” Alisha asked.
Pretending to consider the question, Vivaan continued to wrap her ankle methodically. “Not really, no.”
Finishing with her ankle, he gently set her foot down. “My turn now.”
“Your turn for what?” Gingerly putting weight on her ankle, Alisha stood. Having him towering over her made her very uncomfortable.
“To ask a question. Are you always this prickly?”
“Not really, no.” Smiling a little, she picked up her make up bag and started towards the bathroom to finish getting ready. Stopping near the door leading to the bathroom, she turned, “Vivaan?”
Looking up from where he was repacking his medical kit, he raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“Thank you.”
Smiling his acknowledgement at her thanks, he picked up his kit and stood.
His “Alisha?” had her looking at him expectantly.
“Those legs of yours? Tremendously ogle worthy. Try not to damage them anymore.”
Exasperated, she shut the bathroom door in his grinning face.
---xxx---
Coming down fifteen minutes later, she found the evening in full swing. Pooja and Arav had managed to find a somewhat private corner in the crowded room where they were deep in conversation. Side stepping the men grouped around the bar area in another corner of the room, she moved towards the ladies clustered on the couch.
“Alisha, I’m glad you’re here. We were just saying that Arav and Pooja might need time to get know each other away from the adults.” Her aunt gestured her closer.
Taking the glass of Pepsi, her mother held out to her, she sat down next to Arav’s sister. “That sounds like a great idea. Maybe they can go out for dinner or something.”
“We thought it might be better if the first outing was a group one.”
Groaning inwardly at what she knew was coming; Alisha tried hard to keep her smile plastered on her face.
“We were thinking that Vivaan and you could go along with them? That way they both have one person they’re comfortable with at all times.”
‘Sure. That sounds lovely.” Taking an extra-large swallow of her drink, she looked over to where Vivaan was watching her, enjoying her discomfort.
Making up her mind, she said, “Actually, I had plans to go out with a group of friends tomorrow night. If it’s okay by all of you, we could just go out with them. Or maybe we can have dinner first and then meet up with the group?”
Once they all nodded their assent, she left them to work out the logistics and went into the kitchen to check on the food. Looking up as Pooja followed her in minutes later, she asked, “And?”
“He seems nice.” Fiddling with the napkins laid out on the table, Pooja avoided her eyes. “Alishakka, don’t you think he’s a bit short?”
Raising her eyebrows, she asked, “Coming from someone of the lofty height of 5 feet?”
Giggling, Pooja swung around to face her. “Yes, but short women are delicate, short men on the other hand are just short.”
“Eloquently put but he isn’t short. I think he should be about 5’ 9” or so. That’s not short. That’s average height.”
“I can’t say no on the basis of his height, can I?”
“No, you can’t. What are you going to say? That you don’t like seeing eye to eye with him?”
By the time their giggles subsided, and they could enter the drawing room with some modicum of decorum it was time for dinner. Grateful the evening was drawing to a close, Alisha chose to sit between Arav and his sister Payal and make conversation for the rest of the evening.
---xxx---
Chapter 7
Walking into the continental restaurant they’d decided on the previous night, Alisha was secretly relieved to see Arav sitting alone at the table. Pooja was looking lovely in a sleeveless mint green dress that draped beautifully and ended at knee length. Watching Arav’s eyes widen at the sight of her was very gratifying.
He stood as they approached saying, “I’m sorry but Vivaan couldn’t make it. He’s been delayed at the hospital. He said he would try and make it to the lounge bar later tonight.”
Sitting down in the chair he held out for her, Pooja smiled up at him. Settling herself into the other chair, Alisha hid a grin at Pooja’s uncharacteristic ladylike act. Taking the menu card the waiter proffered, Alisha scanned it quickly before ordering a fresh lime soda.
Handing the menu over to Pooja, she looked over at Arav. “How was your day?”
“Good. It was relatively peaceful at work.” In jeans and a casual navy blue collared t-shirt, Arav looked much more relaxed than he had the previous evening.
Taking a sip of water, she waited for either Pooja or Arav to initiate conversation. After a few moments of pained silence where they both contemplated the table like it held the world’s secrets, she tr
ied again. “Arav, did you always want to work in banking? Was finance always a passion or did you ever want to do something else with your life?”
“Well, when I was 14, I wanted to be a basketball player. Unfortunately, I didn’t grow any taller than I already was at 14 so I had to rule that out.”
Startled by an exceptionally loud burst of laughter from Pooja, Alisha stared at her bemusedly. Still laughing a little too loudly, Pooja motioned to him to continue talking.
Smiling a little uncertainly, Arav said, “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time,” Pooja trilled, waggling her fingers at him.
“Did you have a couple of drinks secretly before we left home?” Alisha asked.
Shrugging defensively, Pooja picked up her glass of water. “I’m just letting him know I find his jokes funny.”
“By screeching like a demented hyena?”
“I wasn’t screeching. I was just enjoying the short joke.”
“Would you please get over this short obsession you’ve developed? He isn’t short.”
“He just called himself short!”
Giving up, Alisha saw Arav making his way back to the table and whispered, “Just be yourself. You don’t have to overdo it.”
The waiter reached their table the same time as Arav did. By the time their orders were placed and silence had fallen over the table again, Alisha was starting to wish she had never suggested dinner before the clubbing part of the evening.
Trying to break the ice, she said, “My grandmom used to say that whenever there was a lull in conversation amongst a group of people it means that angels are passing overhead.”
“There must be a regular parade of them right now.” Arav’s mutter had her grinning. Trying to make this easier on both of them, she pulled her phone out of her handbag and said, “I have an important phone call to make. I’ll be back soon. Please excuse me.”
Pretending not to see Pooja’s pleading look, she walked out of the restaurant and made her way to a corner of the front porch. Pulling out her phone, she wondered who she should call to waste some time. Scrolling through her recent calls, she dialed Nisha’s number.
