Last Man She'd Love

by Summerita Rhayne

  Mrs. Reddy gave them a puzzled look. Guy explained with a straight face, ‘Looks like they just ate too much. Lyna, eat slowly and chew your food properly.’

  More giggles from the kids. Lyna nearly choked, covering it under a cough. ‘You should take deep breaths, Auntie,’ said Gautum, following his uncle’s lead.

  ‘Wat-ehhh-er?’ Little Sheena offered, dissolving into giggles. Near her, Gautum did an exact imitation of the lady’s slack mouth and nodding head as she dozed and Sheena slid from her chair, holding her stomach, bent double.

  ‘Mrs. Reddy, would you like some more crab?’ Guy said, sending Savika grabbing the napkin to press against her mouth.

  Lyna became red in face and mumbled her excuses. One by one, they got up, Guy staying manfully to explain something must have disagreed with them.

  Outside, they all ran into the garden, doubled up and clutching each other. The kids went into whoops, Gautum and Sheena clapping and making high fives with Guy.

  ‘Guy, I’ll kill you,’ Savika said, wiping tears, ‘“Lyna, eat slowly,”’ she quoted and shook her head helplessly.

  Lyna was resting her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. ‘Let’s not let him off so easy. We should plan the murder.’

  ‘Yeah, hang him by his toes! Mrs. Reddy, would like some more crab?’

  ‘Slow poisoning,’ Lyna added with relish.

  Guy grinned. ‘Seriously, your imagination doesn’t get anything better than that?’

  Vinay had driven up and witnessed their chortling group. He came up to them. ‘Hey, whatever he did, I’ll stand by him.’

  ‘Yeah, you’ll stand by him, so he’d lend you his car,’ Savika scoffed.

  He looked hurt. ‘You know, that’s not it, don’t you, bro?’

  ‘I know Savika is right, mooncalf, you’re out for your own ends.’

  ‘Well, if the cat is out of the bag, you might as well do the deed, you’re deploring me for.’

  Guy did an eye roll. ‘Beats all. But I like your daring. Take them from the morning room desk.’

  ‘Thanks, bro,’ Vinay looked ecstatic.

  ‘Be prepared to have it crashed in a heap,’ Savika said darkly.

  But Vinay wasn’t deterred. As he went out of sight, Guy said, ‘He just wants to exert his independence.’

  ‘Well, he should earn it,’ Savika said. ‘All the time lounging in his room with videos and high pitched music on. Is that anyway to achieve anything? If he was working hard at anything, I don’t think Mummy would he so hard on him.’

  ‘You don’t think that. Do you?’ Guy said quietly.

  She fell silent, her attention drawn by Sheena who pointed at Gautum again doing that uncanny mimicry of Mrs. Reddy falling asleep. He did it so convincingly, sliding to the side till he was very nearly off balance that Sheena went into whoops again, setting them all off in turn.

  ‘The devil!’ Guy and Lyna held onto each other in helpless mirth. She felt his strong arms holding her, the enjoyment in the dark eyes mesmerizing her as she laughed up at him. ‘This is how you should laugh.’ He drew her close and planted a kiss on her mouth. Tremulous with the kiss, yet still shaking with mirth, she let him hold her, relaxed against his chest, yet aware of the warmth exuding from his body.

  Savika called their attention to Mrs. Reddy’s exit. She patted Lyna’s head, pausing as Guy came near. Her eyes were on him, but she addressed Hina, ‘Well, you didn’t read him correct that time, did you? Better you have let him choose his bride himself. But I’ll say this, Hina, if you had taken care, a lot of hassle would have been saved and you wouldn’t have your son gone from home for so many years.’

  Hina stiffened. ‘You have no need to rake the past.’

  ‘Oh, I know that. My daughter is happy now and settled in her job, but she did suffer, I won’t deny, Hina. Sorry, Lyna, I shouldn’t be bringing it all up in front of you. But it is for your good, I say to your future mother in law. Always take care what your children want. There you were, assuring us Guy wanted nothing more than to marry Sara, while Guy…’ She rumbled out a laugh. ‘He was destined to meet Lyna. Matches are not made by our hand…they are written in the stars. Don’t forget that, Hina.’ With that warning, she beckoned to her waiting chauffeur to open the car door. Guy stood, staring at his mother with a penetrating look, but if she felt it, she gave no indication of it.

  Guy turned away to help Mrs. Reddy into the car and they stood watching her go, all except Hina who had turned away almost before the car started.

  She began to enter the house then paused. ‘Savika, about that shopping trip of yours. Don’t go without telling me. In fact, you and Lyna had better come upstairs with me. I have remembered I have just the thing for Lyna to wear.’

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Lyna was quiet as she accompanied Savika in response to what she could only term Hina’s summons.

  It was obvious something was amiss from what Mrs. Reddy had let drop.

  Savika took her hand as they neared the top of the stairs and stopped. ‘It’s too soon for you, but I think you’ve already gathered there are some problems here. My mother, she’s not always what a mother should be. I don’t know why it is. Maybe she thinks on a different plane. She never tells us but from other relatives I heard she was the youngest of a herd of children, living in the poorest of households. I can only imagine. Younger children are not really paid much attention, are they, by the older ones? She met Jashith’s father in a party by chance where her friend took her. Despite the difference in their circumstances, he married her. But I don’t think the people here would have accepted her that easily…’ She paused and laughed. ‘I don’t know why am I telling you all this. It’s just that she’s not like most mothers, not gentle or loving, and sometimes I wonder if that lack goes back to her background…’

  Lyna squeezed her hand in comfort. She smiled back and continued up.

  Hina was already traversing the upper floor corridor. She led the way to a room on the third floor, opening the door to the distinctly musty atmosphere of rarely opened place. Trunks were stacked, old portraits placed near one wall, various pieces of furniture occupying the other end. Hina gestured to a large trunk. ‘I had it shifted down.’ Savika offered to open it but she shook her head. ‘I can do it.’ She proceeded to lift the heavy lid and take out a bundle of clothes to set on the bench nearby which had been cleaned and spread with a cloth.

  After two more rounds, the bench was covered in all sorts of fabrics. There were silk saris, heavy gold laced dupattas, traditional salwar kameez in rich, embroideries.

  ‘You wore this at Vinay’s fifth birthday, didn’t you?’ Savika held up a chiffon sari with bright silver foil work.

  ‘Yes,’ Hina’s reply was absent-minded. She rummaged through the pile and finally drew out a thick folded sheet. ‘This is the one.’

  When unfolded, the sheet revealed a red silk, which rippled and shone as though new. Gold patchwork embellished it, and the end was a deep green with nearly fully gold pallu,

  There was the tap-tap of stick outside and the sound of a cough. ‘What are you three doing among the dust bunnies?’ Dadu wheezed from the doorway.

  ‘Nothing,’ Hina disclaimed, but by now he was right inside the room.

  ‘Mummy said she had found something for Lyna to wear at the engagement,’ Savika explained.

  Dadu stared around and pointed at the sari spread out in its glory. ‘That one, do you mean, Hina?’

  Hina didn’t answer. Dadu tapped his stick impatiently on the floor. ‘What? Have the new daughter in law wear old clothes? Whoever heard of such a thing?’

  ‘I wore my mother in law’s sari during my introduction,’ Hina said with something of her commanding way.

  ‘So you did, because that was the fashion then and nobody minded. Today times have changed. Who would like to see ‘87 style saris on the bride, I ask you? Do you want her to run away from the engagement?’

  Hina turned scarlet and a battle of wills se
emed to issue until Lyna said quietly, ‘The sari is beautiful, but Dadu is right. I won’t be able to wear it.’ Hina turned a fierce look at her but said, ‘All right. I was getting carried away by memories, I guess.’

  The matter thus came to an end.

  The next two days passed in a flutter. Savika agonized over the guest list, Hina proceeded to order the menu with unshakable calm, Dadu criticized everything and reminisced about the old (and better) times.

  The way he had dismissed Hina’s idea about the sari puzzled Lyna. With his love of the old, shouldn’t he have been pleased? The way he had put his foot down made her warm towards him even more and almost every morning they could be found discussing the flourishing gardens and the mango plantation nearby. He told her he would take her to visit it and said that after the party seemed like a good time since they’d be busy till then.

  So they were. A week of countryside calm, she sighed to Guy, as phone after phone rang. Every noon they sat together for work and had online conference with the creative director and the assistants. Mostly, Lyna handled the meetings and Guy gave input as necessary.

  After Mrs. Reddy’s visit, he had become a little withdrawn. She was surprised to find she missed that mocking, flirting Guy whom she had criticized at every turn. She asked him to take her bike riding. Since the lessons were an excuse rather than something she was fond of, she didn’t learn much, but it did restore Guy’s mood. That induced a warm feeling inside her that she found both pleasant and alarming.

  He took her on a ride to another part of the estate.

  Emerging at the end of green stretch, the flower beds here were minimal, just bordering the gardens.

  Right in the center of the green, contrasting with it, was a marble and sandstone palace. Beauty rather than ostentatiousness characterized it. Lyna gazed in awe reflected in her silent perusal. Gold capped marble pillars. Trefoil arches, small domes and curving cornices gave a poetic aura to the small but graceful residence.

  ‘It’s the summer palace. The actual king who resided here, long before my great great grandfather’s time, used to favor this place as it has a path leading down to the lake.’

  Lyna could see a corner of the sparkling water from here, as Guy pointed to the path. The buzz of bees, the scent of flowers and the colorful birds pecking at the fruit trees at the edge – everything delighted the eye and she said so.

  Guy smiled at her obvious pleasure, recounting the history as he took her inside.

  His forefathers had struck a deal during the colonial period and taken the charge of the palace. Slowly, the surrounding estate had been added to their possession. As the government took over properties after the declaration of independence, the sale papers found all in order, ensured that the land and the palaces were retained by them.

  ‘My father used to bring me here when I would get tired from playing. I don’t remember much, but Dadu tells me he had a boat on which he’d take me out and lulled by the rocking motion, I would fall asleep.’

  He led her down the gilded gallery, portraits of his family on either side. At the end, they came to one of Guy. He was young, wearing a rather fierce expression and wearing the traditional attire.

  ‘Are you sure one of your ancestors wasn’t a descendent of the king? You all look very royal. And you…’

  She paused.

  ‘Me?’ he prompted.

  She waved a hand all around. ‘I can’t get over it. You never gave me any hint. You…this palace…’

  He directed her an amused look and winked. ‘I’m quite the fairytale prince,’ he said. His voice became velvety. ‘If only you’d allow your fantasies to take over.’

  She bit her lip, her gaze tangling with his as a mocking eyebrow rose in challenge.

  Dare she?

  The next moment she gave herself a mental shake. He had a mesmerizing way with him. She ought to beware of him, he who spelt danger in letters so tall, the minarets standing guard at the entrance might be put to blush.

  ‘You don’t fit the chivalrous prince image at all!’ she baited him.

  ‘No, I’m the wicked prince,’ he said, ‘I lure the innocent maids to their ruin.’

  ‘Then any girl should do better to stay clear of you.’ Her eyes danced in mischief.

  ‘Don’t you know, girls always find the bad guys irresistible?’

  ‘But if that’s your strong suit, you’ll soon be unmasked.’

  ‘Maybe I’ll be redeemed by the one who unmasks me.’

  The laughter in his voice was unmistakable but instead of encountering him, her gaze fell. The game play was too personal. Her vivid imagination was trying to find how much he meant what he said…which was ridiculous…because she didn’t mix with the bad boys…had given them up long since.

  He spoke, his voice a little different now. ‘Then again, redemption isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, is it?’ His voice was still light, but somehow the warmth was lost.

  They rode back in time to receive Guy’s other half-sister. Kalyani’s arrival created a mild uproar. Two SUVs with large bags strapped on the roof halted in the driveway. The chauffeurs sprang out in the manner of escorting a minister. Kalyani Kalyan, expertly made up, with water straight hair, designer sari, her plump figure doing justice to the traditional wear, stepped out with aplomb and promptly said, ‘Boys, don’t forget your manners and run off in any which direction, until you are not told to.’

  Two thin boys, who couldn’t, in all fairness, be expected to understand this convoluted order, got out and soon were racing inside and climbing over the balustrade of second floor stairs before anyone had the time to say namaskaar.

  Kalyani, in between hugging her mother and sister, wreathed in smiles, paused to frown and snap at her husband, ‘Can’t you control them, Mahesh?’

  Mahesh Kalyan, balding, spectacled, and as over-present as Kalyani, ponderously climbed out of the SUV and replied mildly but firmly, ‘You said I wasn’t to say anything to them this morning when they broke my razor, remember?’

  ‘Ok, blame me for everything,’ Kalyani muttered. Her frown dispersed and she again donned her beaming smile to greet Guy and Lyna.

  ‘Oh Guy, how wonderful to see you! I swear I’d got used to seeing you on media book only.’ Her voice was husky and slightly deep.

  ‘You actually look at other people’s posts?’ Guy drawled in his customary manner. ‘I thought all you did was post selfies.’

  Her beaming smile disappearing, Kalyani gave him dagger looks. ‘Of course I do! Didn’t I wish you – what was it – yes, Happy Easter, a while back? You never replied even.’

  ‘Now that I remember. I thought how edifying it was, to find a pious Easter message beside your selfie.’

  Kalyani gave him a miffed glance and became busy in directing the deposit of her luggage.

  After refreshments, she called to Savika to come and sit near her. ‘Now most importantly, tell me, what are you wearing for the occasion?’

  The query had the effect of breaking a dam and an animated discussion of lehangas versus sari versus gowns followed. Savika brought her tablet, so they could view the fashions online and then time ceased to have meaning. The interruptions of Meena, Savika’s maid that the kids had got themselves grubby playing with their newly arrived cousins only made Savika say, ‘Oh dear! Well, why don’t you give them a wash and fill the plastic pool? They love to play in water. And keep a watch on them.’

  So, it was settled and as the shadows lengthened, Kalyani suddenly looked up and announced in the tone of dawning realization, ‘Oh, it’s time for tea. I was wondering why my stomach is rumbling!’

  This made them chuckle and marvel how they had seen probably every party apparel and still not reached a conclusion.

  ‘I think the peacock one will do for you, Savika – the gown shows a bit of waist and shoulders through netting – quite chic. You can easily wear that peacock design set you wore at Gautum’s first birthday.’

  ‘I don’t have it here,’ Savika groane
d. ‘I’m making do with mother’s jewelry or if you can lend me something...’

  ‘The cream one then. My rubies will go with the pink hem,’ Kalyani said with the decided air of an expert. And Lyna must wear a traditional lehanga. I think, with that full figure and trim waist, a low tied, maybe double one, a body hugging layer with an embroidered net overdress. Like the rose one we were looking at just now. And a collar neck piece would do her slim throat justice.’

  ‘What do you say, Lyna?’ Savika asked, wisely consulting her before agreeing or disagreeing.

  ‘I think I’m in the company of fashion designers. Where were you ladies till now? I could have used all that dressing talent for my serial!’

  Chuckles greeted this reaction and they decided, as cakes, samosas and vadas were wheeled into the room along with steaming tea, that a trip to Mumbai was necessary since online fitting couldn’t be risked for such a special event.

  So the next day, the men took advantage of the ladies’ absence to catch up with the premier league matches, and after a timely breakfast – on the dot at ten o’clock – the trio set out to ravage the designer boutiques and showrooms in Mumbai arriving there shortly after eleven.

  After the shopping trip, which included another set of formal wear for all of them (and the kids), because Kalyani had the bright idea that they should also have an informal dance do, just among themselves and a ‘few friends’, Lyna felt breathless and swept away with the tide. She’d never been a fashionista, but she wasn’t averse to the glitter and fit of the best hands of Mumbai. Busy at the office, wearing the similar tailored suits day in and day out, the pleasure of getting fitted for the best kind of fabrics was irresistible indeed, and she gave in to the impulse to choose – at her enthusiastic companions’ egging – three more outfits for semiformal wear. The sheer and shapely dresses were still new to her, so feeling a little reckless and more than a little self-indulgent, she swiped her card, ignoring Savika’s plea that she should let her handle the purchases from the money allotted to her by the Pratap Singh household.