Her Warrior Poet (Pune Diaries Book 1)
Page 4
Rahat grabbed Shweta’s hand and her eyes twinkled as she said it was time to sneak out and surprise the groom. Teena was putting enough ubtan on all three of them so that in the end it was difficult to tell which one of them was the bride to be.
Shweta was really glad that she had worn a simple salwar kameez. The others in their ghagras were not going to find it easy to manage the gooey, cold uptan slipping along their limbs. The elders in the room were distracted by Ashima and Ananya as they got zealous with the paste and started applying it to the faces of Rahat’s mother and aunts. As the merriment and volume of protests increased Rahat began to move towards the door and took Shweta with her.
“What are you doing?” Shweta tried to whisper over the general cacophony.
Teena gave Rahat a wink and then turned on the music nice and loud as she began to dance and others started clapping and joining her in the traditional gidda.
“Come on.” Rahat shot out of the hall dragging Shweta along with her, “We don’t have much time.”
“Where are we going?” Shweta tried to keep up as best as she could in her heels.
“I’m going to meet Gagan.” She punched the up button on the elevator.
“But you just completed the Haldi ceremony.” Shweta protested, “You’re not supposed to see him alone now.”
“I know, but I can’t wait for six days. He promised to meet me today so that I can do without meeting him for the next two days.”
“Where is he going to meet you?”
“Oh his cousin booked a room on the first floor of the hotel.” Rahat dragged her into the elevator as the door opened.
“Seriously?” Shweta was aghast, “You are going to meet him alone in a hotel room? With all your relatives around?”
“I’m not alone. That’s why you are coming along. His cousin will be there too.” Rahat pleaded, “I promise it will only be for ten minutes. Teena said she couldn’t distract them longer than that.”
So Teena and her posse were part of the plan. Now Shweta had no choice, how could she not go along with Rahat. She sighed as the elevator dinged and the doors opened.
“Have you any idea how much trouble you could get into?” Arun glared at Gagan as he unlocked the hotel room. His cousin was smiling ear to ear.
“She’s worth it, man” Gagan looked at the door. “Plus you will be here and she’s going to bring her best friend. So the parents can hardly get upset about us being alone.” He went into the en-suit bathroom and wiped off the excess uptan from his face and arms.
“I love you like a real brother Gagan,” Arun began. “But if your mother finds out I was involved in this she is going to skin me alive. And if she tells her sister, my mother, I’m never going to hear the end of it.”
Gagan walked out of the bathroom and headed towards the main door of the room. “Nothing like that will happen. The family just thinks I’m taking a shower to get rid of this gunk on me. It will take me some time to get rid of it and change.”
Gagan opened the door of the room and peeked out, “No one is around, and no one will even know that the two of us met if you just keep your mouth shut.”
“Gagan!” Rahat burst into the room finally letting go of Shweta’s hand. She flew right into the waiting arms of her fiancé.
Shweta was still recovering her breath from their mad chase and wondered if she should enter the room or give them some privacy. She turned her back on the door as it began to shut, then decided she should actually be inside the room to maintain propriety.
She turned to the door to try and catch it before it shut completely. She tripped on her heels and braced herself by putting her palms out towards the door. The door was pulled open from inside and Shweta lost her balance as her weight shifted forward when the door opened. She fell straight with her hands stretched out into the chest of a man.
His arms came up to steady her for which she was grateful. She was mortified to find her arms trapped between them with her cheek pressed to his chest. She realised she was spreading the ubtan on his nice, clean shirt. She wriggled to gain her balance and then made a motion to move away. That’s when he put his hands on her shoulder and distanced himself.
“Are you okay?” The deep voice resonated in his chest under her palms. Shweta realized that she was still resting her hands on him.
“Yes, thank you.” She nodded into the familiar face of Captain Arun Rastogi. He was Gagan’s cousin? He looked as strained as she felt. Of all the people she could have expected his was the last face she expected to see.
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7
Bolt from the Blue
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If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
Emily Dickinson
As Shweta dressed for work the next day, she fumed over the fact that Arun had not recognized her. Again. To be fair she had been covered in yellow gunk from the Haldi ceremony and looked nothing like her usual self, but still she was mad at him. He had helped her gain her balance, and then walked away from the room without looking back.
She was left floundering at having seen him again and her stomach was churning. She did not want to puke out in the hotel. She blamed him for making her feel so unsettled. Within ten minutes Rahat and she had rejoined the festivities at the Cornucopia hall and no one had missed them. Her stomach began to settle down. Teena and her gang of merry makers had everyone dancing and singing.
Once the churning in her stomach came back to normal Shweta loosened up enough to dance a couple of rounds of gidda with them. It had been fun to let go, to clap and sing. She smiled at the memory. There would be more of it at the Ladies Sangeet. They were already busy choreographing different dance numbers for the day.
Shweta would leave them to it. She really did not have time for all this song and dance along with her work. Driving to the hospital she wondered if she really needed to attend the Mehendi ceremony and Ladies Sangeet that evening. She disliked the smell of the pungent green herb as it was crushed and applied to the hands and feet of all present. Some women loved the intricate patterns that could be drawn using the Mehendi, but personally she was not a fan.
Nor was she a huge fan of dancing in public and making a spectacle of herself. She knew she was the weak link in the choreography Teena was working so hard on. Rahat had decided that she wanted to present a dance at the Sangeet with her friends and cousins. Shweta was still wondering how she ended up in that number. She was almost tempted to make an excuse and not attend as she parked her car in the hospital parking.
As she entered the main door she heard someone call out her name. She turned and saw Gagan rushing up to her. She was surprised to see him and stopped short.
“Good Morning Shweta,” He puffed out a breath, “I’m glad I caught you before you went in.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m good” he waved her concern off. “I need your help though.”
“Oh” a frown marked her forehead as she surveyed him head to toe, trying to figure out what was wrong with him.
“Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with me.” He smiled and let his dimples take over his cheeks. “I just need your help giving Rahat a surprise.”
Shweta relaxed. Of course, with the looming spectre of no contact for two days Gagan would want to give Rahat something to remember him by.
“You want me to give her a gift?” She eyed his empty hands.
“Sort of.” He winked, “Can we talk somewhere a bit more private” Gagan asked as people tried to get through the hospital door behind them.
“Sure.” Shweta headed into the hospital with Gagan trailing behind her. She decided to take him to the Cafeteria. At this time in the morning they would have enough privacy to discuss whatever he needed to.
�
��You will be attending the Ladies Sangeet this evening?” Gagan asked as they both sat down across each other.
“I guess so.” Shweta sighed as she put her bag on the table between them.
“Not exactly your scene, is it?” Gagan smiled sympathetically. Rahat had told him about her two left feet.
“Not really.” Shweta smiled ruefully. “So tell me what do you need?”
“I want to surprise Rahat by meeting her this evening in her room. That’s the last place she would expect me to be.” His eyes were gleaming.
Shweta gasped. “You do realize that if her father catches you, it’s not going to be pretty.”
“Of course I do,” Gagan rolled his eyes upwards. “That’s why I have a fool proof plan. I don’t intend to get caught by anybody. Of course it will only work if you help.”
Shweta got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that she was going to regret this. Then he widened his eyes and went pretty please on her. She relented. How bad could it be?
Obviously very bad! Shweta was sweating in her party finery as she waited down the driveway at Rahat’s house. Gagan was supposed to show up with a couple of guys pretending to be delivering flowers in baskets for the function. She was supposed to lead them in and then the others were supposed to get out while she took Gagan and hid him in Rahat’s room. Then she was to convince Rahat that she needed to visit her room right away.
~~~
Why did she agree to this hare-brained scheme? Her heart was pounding in her chest. The sweat made her long hair stick to her back and nape. She was about ready to call it quits and head right back into the air conditioned home when her mobile phone buzzed.
“Hello.” She whispered turning her back to the house.
“Hi Shweta,” Gagan sounded a little low. “I’m sorry it took me some time to get everything together.”
“Okay, are you on your way now?”
“Yes just entering the colony. It’s a white SUV. See you in a bit.”
“I can see it. Just park outside the gate. I’m heading out.”
Thankfully with all the people coming and going the guard was not exactly alarmed when she told him that the flowers were being delivered. In the light of the setting sun she saw three guys exit the vehicle and collect baskets of flowers from the rear. They walked in through the gate and she led them down the driveway to the house. It was difficult to navigate them out of the crowd and towards the staircase leading to the first floor.
Shweta’s breath would catch each time she was asked about the flowers, but her explanation that they were for the Roka ceremony the next day was accepted by everyone. She opened the door to Rahat’s room and motioned them all in. Once they had set the baskets down she realized that Gagan was accompanied by his cousin Arun and another man she didn’t know. She took a step back and banged into the door that she had just pulled close behind her.
“Thanks guys.” Gagan was shaking the hand of the man she didn’t know as Arun turned and caught her eye.
“No problem Gagan. It’s rare that Arun actually asks me to do something that could get us into trouble. It’s usually the other way round.” The stranger nudged Arun and laughed.
“That’s enough Vishal.” Arun scowled at his friend. “Let’s get out of here.”
He turned towards the door and started walking. He looked over his shoulder to Gagan and said, “Let me know when you are ready to leave. I’ll keep the car running.” And that’s when he tripped over the golden high heeled sandal on the floor which was exactly where Rahat had flung it. He put his hands out in front of him reflexively as he fell. Right at Shweta’s feet.
“We really need to stop meeting like this Captain Arun Rastogi.” Shweta couldn’t help but laugh. His discomfort was obvious and his skin flushed. He got to his feet and looked into her eyes. They were dancing with merriment.
“I didn’t think you noticed, Dr. Shweta Karkare.” He lifted himself off the floor with an easy grace. He gave a little smirk when her eyes went wide at his remark. He walked past her and out the door with his friend Vishal following him. He turned when he was level to her and added, “By the way, it’s Major Arun Rastogi now.”
Vishal gave her a top to bottom look before he headed out of the door.
“You know Arun?” Gagan asked her.
“Sort of.” Shweta recovered her wits. There was a burgeoning sense of happiness in her chest. He knew who she was. He remembered her. Arun had not forgotten her. She wanted to sing, she wanted to dance, she wanted to run around trees. The smile was pasted on her face permanently.
“Okay, so now go get Rahat” Gagan’s words brought her crashing back to reality.
“Fine, go hide in the bathroom till I get her.”
Shweta managed to get Rahat to her room and fifteen minutes later she broke up the couple’s loving rendezvous. She took her duties as chaperone very seriously indeed. However for the rest of the evening she was happy. She even managed to put some oomph into the dance that they presented at the Ladies Sangeet.
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8
Friendly Reunion
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Ernest was an elephant, a great big fellow,
Leonard was a lion with a six foot tail,
George was a goat, and his beard was yellow,
And James was a very small snail.
Alan Alexander Milne
It had been a while since Arun had got together with his friends. Vishal Nadkarni had managed to convince Ashish Mehta to join them at Marz-o-rin. The three school friends were settling into the hard plastic seats. The place had changed so much since he had last been here. Arun sucked the sweet Rose Milk up his straw. At least the milkshakes were still yummy. He wished he had not waited so long to visit the café and began unwrapping his chicken sandwich.
“Here’s to your new company!” Vishal raised his glass to Ashish.
“Thanks guys. This web designing firm is really taking all I have and more to manage.” Ashish shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s all worth the hassle. Maybe I should just quit and go back to Wipro.”
“Follow your dream, man. Look at how Raman just took a leap into the unknown. Here’s to the ever missing and hopefully very successful Raman” Vishal lifted his cold coffee in a mock toast.
The last time they had all managed to meet up was just before Raman Nair left for his higher education in the United States. Life had never been the same since for all four of them.
“Any news from him?” Arun was usually unable to access the internet regularly and Vishal spent a considerable time of his work day as a marketing executive online analyzing trends.
“He’s doing well. Managed to do a double degree in four years.” Vishal smiled, “He always did like to impress the teachers.”
“I think he’s working for a nature conservation company now. Save the dolphins or something like that.” Ashish chipped in just as his phone beeped. He stared at the text and started typing out a reply.
“Oh good.” Arun bit into the chicken sandwich and the flavours burst on his tongue. “This is still the most amazing sandwich ever.”
“So, tell me.” Vishal snagged the second piece from Arun’s plate and bit into it. “How did you meet that sexy best friend of your cousin’s wife to be?”
“What’s this? Arun you have an interest in someone? An actual real girl?” Ashish looked up from his phone to Vishal, his eyebrows raised.
“Arun seems to have a girlfriend.” Vishal sing-songed.
“No I don’t.” a blush ran up Arun’s neck, “She’s just a doctor who treated me once.”
“She’s in the army?” Ashish asked.
“No, she’s not.”
“Then how did she treat you?”
“Yes,” piped in Vishal, “How does your girlfriend treat you Arun?” He winked.
“She doesn’t treat me...oh grow up!” Arun squirmed in his seat, chicken sandwich forgotten in his hand, “I met her some years ago when I was posted to Sikkim.”
“Yes, that time.” Arun thought back to how she had handed him the painkillers just before they drove away. His lips shifted into a half smile.
“Oh! He’s a goner.” Vishal clapped his hands together once and rubbed them together in anticipation.
“No I’m not.” Arun snapped out of his memories, back to the present. “I barely know the girl.”
“So she means nothing to you?” Vishal smirked, “Then you don’t mind if I get to know her better at the Rokka ceremony tomorrow evening.”
Oh, no. That wasn’t happening. Arun didn’t want Vishal anywhere near Shweta if he had anything to say in the matter. He’d try to appeal to his decency.
“Just because Gagan was grateful enough for your help in his hare-brained scheme to meet Rahat yesterday, doesn’t mean that you take advantage of his generous invitation to the Rokka ceremony to hit on his fiancé’s best friend.”
“Methinks the man doth protest a bit too much” Ashish stared at Arun while he angled his face towards Vishal. “I think he just staked claim. Don’t you go sniffing around his girlfriend.”
“She’s. Not. My. Girlfriend.” Arun bit off the each of the words painfully.
“I know, isn’t this fun. She’s not your girlfriend yet, but she will be. I wish you were attending the Rokka tomorrow Ashish.” Vishal could barely keep that pesky grin off his face.
“You can fill me in on what happens later on.” Ashish grinned at Vishal wiggling his eyebrows. Really what were they, still in high school?
“Nothing is going to happen at the Rokka tomorrow.” Arun’s voice was firm while the frustration was evident in each word.
“How would you know? Arun you’ve always been too shy to talk to girls. Vishal can make things happen for you tomorrow. Let him help. Take pictures Vishal, I want to see what this girl looks like.”
“No, he will not.” Came through Arun’s gritted teeth as he tried to stay polite in light of Ashish’s low opinion of his skills regarding the opposite gender. “There will be no pictures.” He glared at Vishal.