A war-like atmosphere had descended upon the marble island counter in the kitchen, which also served as Dining table in the Bharadwaj household.
"I want to come to Goa too.. I have never been there! Mummy! Mummy!! Tell Daddy I want to come too.. I don't want to go and stay with Miku Chacha!! I am not going to eat this breakfast anymore till you agree to take me along." Atharv crossed his arms and looked at his parents furiously, after making sure that he finished all but a few spoons of the huge second serve of his favorite Kheer!
"Hey Buddy!! Why are you saying you don't want to come and stay with me? I am hurt... deeply hurt! We are friends, remember!! Goa is seriously boring! All you do is sit in front of the beach and stare at waves! And trust me, there too your Mum and Dad would be telling you don't do this, don't do that.... But you and me, we are going
It was almost Seven pm and Dev had booked their dinner at Eight. Chandni opened the suitcase that Dev brought along with him, which was supposed to have all her clothes that she packed in Mumbai. But to her horror, it was practically empty except for some new underwear and casual clothes. As she made a thorough search to see if any of her clothes were in other suitcases, She recalled all the events of the afternoon After dumping their luggage at the hotel, they had a leisurely lunch, and strolled around the streets of shopping markets. Dev insisted on going back to the same shop where she bought the shorts she wore to the airport, and buy every combination of shorts and casual tops there, as he said "it made you look like a local and the 18-year-old I married." But Chandni suspected otherwise, the way his hungry
"Everything is about you is it? What you want to do, what you don't want to do? What If I am not in the mood to talk right now? What if I am finding my husband too..."? She didn't finish her sentence and Dev grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him. "Your command is my wish... my majesty." He smiled in relief. "This is what I want sweetheart!! That you tell me everything openly. I didn't tell you how you look in this dress because I was afraid I will get too carried away even without...forget it!! When I saw this dress in a catalogue, I knew you would look damn good in this, but when the time comes, I was hoping I could do this too...." His ran his fingers lazily in a feathery touch along her open back, making her shudder involuntarily and wrap her arms around him. She nuzzled his neck, kissing him slowly al
For the first time the confident smile on Dev's face faltered. "Hmm Yes I think so Mrs. Bharadwaj. But if there is anything he does that you don't like, and you are too shy to tell him directly, maybe I can help you?" He looked hopefully at her. The waiter hovered around them, hoping they would order. "It's your choice!!" Dev handed over the menu to her. Chandni didn't bother to open it. She looked sweetly at the waiter and asked, "What are your signature dishes for entrees and mains here?" The waiter went through a long list of delectable dishes, which as per his recommendation were most sought after. Chandni randomly picked a few and asked them to be served as quickly as p
Mumbai, India =========== Escobar Club 10 PM Mia’s eyes were glued to his high cheekbones and mischievous eyes as he danced with the two girls who were vying for his attention, their svelte and sweaty bodies almost blurring and blocking her view of his broad shoulders and the taut muscles underneath his not so casual shirt. Her favorite drink Apricot Mojito on the bar lay long forgotten and her ears were barely registering the peppy music everyone was grooving to. “Not a chance darling! That’s Aryan Kapoor. He rejected me twice already and I don't want to see you go through the same humiliation.” Her best friend Shay warned, as she slid onto the stool next to her. “That of course is never gonna happen!” Mia gulped down her drink and walked a
Synergy Inc A Week Later There was a sudden change of plans, and when Vikram announced that his wife Mrs Mathur would be visiting Sigma Inc. the very next day, there was initially a lot of panic along with surprise. Raj Singh was stuck in Dubai for a security conference and couldn't cancel his trip to fly back to Mumbai at such short notice. But his senior employee and HR Director Namrata Joshi, Sanjay Verma along with Aryan assured him that they will leave no stone unturned, to show off their firm in its best light, and Mrs Vikram Mathur would be received with full decorum. On the D Day, every effort was made by the Administrative and HR Team to spruce up the premises of Synergy Inc. and make sure that the welcome reception for Mrs Mathur was top notch. There was also a lot of curiosity as to w
"All of us here at Synergy are passionate about our work and the organisation. We drive each other crazy, and in that process, make others run away from us, but that generally happens after they spend at least a few days with us. But you seem to have picked up the vibe quite early. Hmm perhaps, as you said before, a delicate person like you shouldn't have left your busy life at your house to come here. It's a new city, new people, new responsibility. Just because you are Mr Mathur's wife, we shouldn't expect you to appreciate and understand the workings of a technical firm like ours. Am I right?" There was no trace of humour in Aryan's face now. "Aryan what the hell is wrong with you?" Namrata was furious. "It's fine Namrata, looks like Mr Kapoor is prone to jumping to conclusions and rubbing people the wrong way with his snide r
Why was Chandni in his car? But the distress he felt was no match to the utter shock he observed on her face as she just sat there, unable to move. But something about her close presence after the aftermath of their sudden and chaotic meeting made him snap! "Chandu!! Why did you come back into my life? Haven't you and your family punished me enough? Haven't I bled enough for you, that you still feel this sadistic pleasure in seeing me suffer!!" Aryan choked at her. Chandni's eyes welled, and their locked gaze finally got broken, just as they both heard someone knocking on the window. "Chandni Bitiya, this is not our car, our car is over there." Aryan heard a driver in his early fifties calling out to Chandni, his face partly visible from the car window. Aryan saw Chandni get up unsteadily from her seat and almost run back towards an exactly similar looking car, parked f
Sometime later in the night, once she had put Atharv to bed after reading his favourite story, Chandni finally managed to sit with Vikram and explain what happened at Synergy Inc. that morning. She tried very hard not to sound accusatory but she couldn't stop herself from asking. "Did you...Did you know that Aryan was part of this company before? " Her face was full of anguish. Vikram looked at her sharply. Chandni became flustered. “How stupid of me? I know you would have never sent me there if you knew.... It's just that..." Vikram cut her short. "Chandni, thanks for your confidence in me, But I am really sorry for all the hurt and anguish you had to go through today. Was he rude to you or misbehaved with you?" There was a hint of anger in Vikram's eyes. His keen gaze was locked on her face, as if he wanted to observe every subtle reaction on it. "He tried to be rude initially, but I gave it back to him fair and square." Chan
For the first time the confident smile on Dev's face faltered. "Hmm Yes I think so Mrs. Bharadwaj. But if there is anything he does that you don't like, and you are too shy to tell him directly, maybe I can help you?" He looked hopefully at her. The waiter hovered around them, hoping they would order. "It's your choice!!" Dev handed over the menu to her. Chandni didn't bother to open it. She looked sweetly at the waiter and asked, "What are your signature dishes for entrees and mains here?" The waiter went through a long list of delectable dishes, which as per his recommendation were most sought after. Chandni randomly picked a few and asked them to be served as quickly as p
"Everything is about you is it? What you want to do, what you don't want to do? What If I am not in the mood to talk right now? What if I am finding my husband too..."? She didn't finish her sentence and Dev grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him. "Your command is my wish... my majesty." He smiled in relief. "This is what I want sweetheart!! That you tell me everything openly. I didn't tell you how you look in this dress because I was afraid I will get too carried away even without...forget it!! When I saw this dress in a catalogue, I knew you would look damn good in this, but when the time comes, I was hoping I could do this too...." His ran his fingers lazily in a feathery touch along her open back, making her shudder involuntarily and wrap her arms around him. She nuzzled his neck, kissing him slowly al
It was almost Seven pm and Dev had booked their dinner at Eight. Chandni opened the suitcase that Dev brought along with him, which was supposed to have all her clothes that she packed in Mumbai. But to her horror, it was practically empty except for some new underwear and casual clothes. As she made a thorough search to see if any of her clothes were in other suitcases, She recalled all the events of the afternoon After dumping their luggage at the hotel, they had a leisurely lunch, and strolled around the streets of shopping markets. Dev insisted on going back to the same shop where she bought the shorts she wore to the airport, and buy every combination of shorts and casual tops there, as he said "it made you look like a local and the 18-year-old I married." But Chandni suspected otherwise, the way his hungry
A war-like atmosphere had descended upon the marble island counter in the kitchen, which also served as Dining table in the Bharadwaj household. "I want to come to Goa too.. I have never been there! Mummy! Mummy!! Tell Daddy I want to come too.. I don't want to go and stay with Miku Chacha!! I am not going to eat this breakfast anymore till you agree to take me along." Atharv crossed his arms and looked at his parents furiously, after making sure that he finished all but a few spoons of the huge second serve of his favorite Kheer! "Hey Buddy!! Why are you saying you don't want to come and stay with me? I am hurt... deeply hurt! We are friends, remember!! Goa is seriously boring! All you do is sit in front of the beach and stare at waves! And trust me, there too your Mum and Dad would be telling you don't do this, don't do that.... But you and me, we are going
A few months later. -------------------------- "Atharv... tell your mummy to hurry up otherwise we both are going to the function without her!" Aryan said in irritation, as he looked at his watch for the umpteenth time. "Daddy you can tell her whatever you want in person, because she is right behind you. Haha" Atharv pointed to his father with a jerk of his head, and went back to playing the video game on his phone. "Don't you start anything now!! As it is, I am in such a bad mood for spending so much time wearing this saree." Chandni didn't even let her husband open his mouth. Aryan groaned loudly. "Well, who asked you to wear this? And if you knew
A flushed and pained Vikram slowly made his way out of the washroom towards his bed and sat down exhausted. He should have gone to the living room and joined others at Breakfast but he felt totally drained. Maybe he could rest for a few more moments. He sat upright against the propped up soft pillows on the head board and took some deep breaths. Just then he heard soft footsteps followed by a knock and his face broke into a smile. "Come in!" Chandni and Aryan entered with breakfast tray. "Aaah!! Mr. and Mrs. Bharadwaj! And with breakfast for me! I should thank my lucky stars huh!!" He cheered them jovially. Chandni gave the juice to Vikram with a smile and sat next to him on the bed. Vikram scooted over and tapped on the other side of the bed, inviting Ar
Her heart rejoiced at the thought itself, even though she was still depressed thinking about her Didi and the drastic step she took. Committing suicide is such a stupid cowardly thing. It is not a solution to any problem. In fact, you leave so much trauma and grief for all the people you leave behind, who loved you all your life, and they get sometimes permanently scarred from it. Vikram ji had been through so much trauma after Didi died. If only she knew how much he loved her!! He went out of the way to help everyone from his wife's family and fulfilled the last wish of his wife. She and everyone in the family was sure that if only Didi had reached out to her Daddy, Vikram would have been so happy to meet them all in normal circumstances, and they would have been one big happy family! Now she understood the meaning behind each and every word Vikram ji said to her at the top of that hill cliff after he saved her..... Her thoughts wandered to that fate
"Chandni, after I saw your father at Renu's Anniversary, I went through her things and found this letter addressed to me. And everything that I did afterwards was because of this. Please read it, it is nothing personal. And I have read it so many times that I know the contents of that letter by heart now." Chandni took the letter with trembling hands and began to read. ============================ Hi Vikram, By the time you read this letter, I am probably gone from your life, and this world. I know what I am going to do is a cowardly act, and something I will just add to the list of regrets that I now have in my life. I wish I was as brave as my mother who loved my father wholeheartedly and fought a
"I know Sanjayji, what wonders women can do, to turn our family life into a bliss. But I also knew what kind of people my relatives were, Renu didn't!” Vikram rubbed his eyes and sighed. “ They would pass snide remarks about her to my father and other relatives or bring up the topic of her family just to unsettle her. Her nervousness only made things worse, as it made all of us suspect that she was hiding something from us. She began to have trouble sleeping and I took her to the doctors who ordered her to do some lifestyle changes, exercises and also prescribed some sleeping pills, but requested her to use them as a last resort. She became fidgety and moody as time went on. I asked her plainly one day, was there anything I needed to know? She flatly denied that she was hiding anything from me but was hurt that I am not trusting her word. She accused me that I was trying to spy on her, which made me