Marriage For Convenience (completed)

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

`````````````Pari```````````````

“One day you will also sit in the huge airplane and fly across the seas like a bird” Pari’s mother cooes as she showed her airplane flying in the air with her pointer, her other hand feeding her with porridge that she didn’t want to have.

But that was only thing prescribed by the doctors since she was unwell with seasonal flu.

“Ma I’ll fly” she scrunched her baby chubby face at the stale taste of porridge and then joined both her hand crisscrossing her thumbs wriggling all her fingers and said, “like a bird”

“Yes my baby” her mom pushed another spoonful of porridge forcefully in her mouth “Like a bird”

“Wow! I would see you from the window and wave you goodbye.” Pari said excitedly.

‘I’ll also wave you back.” Her mom said easily.

“No no you and the little baby” she pointed her bloated stomach “will also come with me. I am scared to go alone.”

“My Pari is a brave girl. You can do anything you want, even fly alone, and never be scared. You are MY strong girl.” Her mom explained.

“But mom alone? Who will hold my hands? Hug me to sleep? Kiss me goodnight?” Pari asked, a tiny tear twinkling in her eye.

Her mom laughed at her innocence “I’ll always be there with you, in your heart, in your memories. You’d never be alone” and kissed her on her cheeks letting the tear fade away with her tender words of love.

That day her mom bought her a toy airplane telling her that she’d fly in a real one; one day”

Today I feel my hands clammy, voice hoarse and stomach twisting as I pass through the security check for my flight.

A sign that there is no looking back.

I am finally flying overseas

A dream that was inculcated in me by my mother…

But one thing I always fail to understand 

Why do they have to touch all over our bodies for the security check if they have machines?

Again since the ladies who move their hands around the body especially boobs which they press extra hard to check if the traveller hasn’t hidden something.

Whoa which era are we living?

 Then, below, more privately below..

Don’t they turn into lesbians by the end of the day?

The thought seems funny 

But honestly do they have urges?

Probably they do and that’s why they are rude

They hide their desires in their temper..

Like Raj hides his fears and insecurities in his temper

But seriously don’t they get horny doing their work, I mean umm.. touching everywhere 

Urrggghhh… what am I thinking?

Blame it on my f##king hormones.

The stud of a guy who is also my husband and even worst room partner is a jerk… sorry JERK in capital.

I know how he sometimes purposely walks out of the washroom with only his towel so low that I run away and he has the room to himself.

Somebody tell him its only his hot body, not a piece of art or a painting or a sculpture that should be kept on display, neither is our room a museum to keep rare species.

Neither is he rare we have much better one like Hrithik, John Abraham, not to forget Channing Tatum or David Beckham.

Well I am not denying his view is a treat to sore eyes.

But what’s the point when I cannot drool. He is a forbidden fruit

Forbidden fruit bright, juicy, tempting, delectable always in front of your eyes begging for you..

And and and….

I can never have him

Neither do I want to..

Rather even if he reads my thoughts his ego will be inflated twice the size of his big head.

Whoa ho ho ho! 

If women got their security check in the small curtain pulled room, men were worst, they were supposed to stand on a podium with hands outstretched on both the sides and another man touching and feeling…

Ummm.. not that you pervs…

Feeling if the person is carrying any restricted things.

Clarified?

But imagine if a person just before a security check feels a little desirous or horny and has his big thingy active and erect.

How difficult would it be for the checking guy to hold his urge and tap it?

I am sure the security guy would do it on purpose checking if the thingy shuffling straight from underpants is not a gun..

But what a piece of embarrassment!

Nasty nasty nasty ‘ I shouted at my thoughts.

But that moment I had the strongest urge to send some sensational pictures to Raj and see how he reacts and how two guys Raj and his li’l buddy stand on the podium..

Too bad! I do not have a smart phone.

I wish I had a laptop of my own.

‘To send dirty pictures?’ my nasty thoughts backfired

And when it was Raj’s turn for the check, I couldn’t help but stare how confidently and easily he stood on the podium in his black button down shirt and jade trousers, his suit on the tray for screening, smiling as he had the rod travel his entire body, not even budging when it reached closer to his umm… not so li’l; I guess buddy.

I know because the rod beeped when it came in contact with the buckle of his belt.

And that’s when he saw me staring.

Oh s**t!

And he bloody winked, HE WINKED knowing exactly where I was looking

Shit!

Way to embarrass yourself Pari.

“You could have taken a picture you know,” he said when we were stood side-by-side offering our boarding passes for final check in.

“What are you implying?” I tried to sound as nonchalant as verbally possible failing miserably.

“The pic” he raised an eyebrow smiling precariously “Would stay longer and you could ogle me whenever you want just looking at the pic. Not that I mind, you can gawk at me whenever you like. I know I am HOT” he smirked.

“It will be the fact if you add self obsessed, irritating, annoying to your characteristics. You are  …” 

 Well for a change I wasn’t stopped by the devil but the substantiality of the moment ticked in that we were alighting the stairs of the flight.

We would be flying in this huge metal box soon.

Then the insecurities kicked in…

“Have they checked the driver’s license?” And I kept on rambling verbalizing all the second thoughts that I had about flying.

To add to humiliation I even went on cursing and shouting at the stewardess.

I was scared okay…

But the best thing was Raj’s face, the humiliation and the corny looks by co passengers and the embarrassment he went through 

Priceless!

And his infamous silent treatment was back!!

The jerk has a nerve to act to ignore me while we were traveling miles away from our country.

But I too was Pari. I made sure that I was softly holding the loop of the waist of his pants that he wouldn’t notice.

The silent treatment!

Don’t worry folks

A monkey can never ever stop jumping..

And Raj the jerk can never ever stop his self boasting and displaying his arrogance so eventually he’d speak.

Not that the silence isn’t deafening.

I might sigh melodramatically at that.

`````````

“Pari you go with the bellhop, I’ll follow later.” He commanded, he actually passed an order even when he’d convinced me to make this as a holiday trip.

Still trying not to make more scene than I had already done about myself I followed the suit.

After settling in the wall-to-wall carpeted, most beautiful room with huge glass windows displaying the lion city with huge skyscraper, display boards and the vast stretched roads that I had ever seen probably in movies.

I went to the washroom next making sure that the washroom was clean and elegant with marble top, sauna, shower panel and every basic necessity from tooth brush to paste, soap, shampoo and conditioner; freebies yay!  and lot more filled in. I moved out only to be bumped into the bellhop who’d been waiting probably for a tip.

But looking at my scared expression he sprinted away locking the door behind him.

Then the knocks one after another, my past was back haunting 

“Pari open the door, you cannot escape for ever,” he shouted 

“No” I muttered shivering head to toe.

“You think this door can save you” he barked “then you have other thing coming.

“Pari open the door or I’ll break it and tell your dad you’d done it.” He threatened “and this time your punishment is going to be worst”

“No please, please don’t hurt me” I begged.

“No I’ll give you a new definition of hurt if you do not open the door RIGHT NOW” he growled angrily and I pissed in my dress.

“I did not take the book, I didn’t I swear”

And the door broke open.

He is here, he is here

“Skirt up”

“No please”

“I said up”

“NO” I was sobbing.

‘Do it willingly or..” he smirked showing the hot rod used for heating water connected to the plug now.

“Yes, better be obedient or” the smirk on his face now evil as I lifted the skirt s**t consensually

I agreed;(

His eyes widened

“Now the punishment has to be severe,” he scratched his chin thoughtfully looking like a demon.

“So have you ever touched the rod with plug on?” he asked softly

I nodded

“It hurts?”

I nodded 

“Answer me Does it hurt?”

“Y…eesss….ss” I finally muttered tears flowing mercilessly 

“So you’d prefer any other punishment than this?” he asked softly this time.

I nodded; I voluntarily agreed to my fate, It was with my consent as he forced me to believe.

I always hated myself for that, always would…

Little did I know that what was coming next was more painful, plethoric, never ceasing and recurring pain that would bruise my mind, taint my soul and wreck my life and the recurrence the every existence of me….

I rather stop breathing and end it once and for all

It f##king hurts.

“Pari, its me Raj. I promise I am not going to hurt you but I am going to touch you. Its okay?” he soothed softly in her ears.

He repeated ““Pari, its me Raj. I promise I am not going to hurt you but I am going to touch you. Its okay?” 

And I felt I could breathe

I felt safe

In his arms

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Is he for real?

I know I have been claiming him as a jerk and still would but…

How lucky this Sam could be?

To have all of him for herself

And I am more fortunate to have him in my life…

Not because he’d been really kind and nice to me last night and the other night and panicked but the way he starts afresh, the new day and the new light like last night didn’t happen at all

That I wasn’t the Pari who’s broken 

He didn’t run down the hills.

He’s still there

And he could still make me laugh

He thought I’d yell at him for sleeping in the bed with me

Little did he know that I woke up in the middle of the night and held the corner of his t-shirt tightly making sure he didn’t leave.

He is fun to be with, always positive, patient, amazing sense of humor and the way he takes my mocking sportingly, its actually admirable

Although I am not going to admit it to him.

But he can make me laugh, smile, eat and live.

Yes he makes me feel alive

After years

When I was the one to be scared or embarrassed that he’d seen my mess and would leave instead he stood scared and was explaining why he slept on the same bed with.

God bless his soul he was even ready to go and spend the night in the mall.

I wonder what kind of an entrepreneur he is if he couldn’t think of an idea of taking another hotel

I too am not going to give him the same

You can gladly judge me as selfish 

Because I need him, I feel safe with me.

The worst thing is I know that this is not going to last forever.

But I am having my share.

Suck it up Sam or Samantha whatever…

All I could depict from hearing her talk on the phone is…

Oops you caught me..

But when have I ever agreed that I am a good girl. You forgot I was always a spy kid and overhearing is my specialty 

Especially when it is Sam I am curious

Don’t kill me for that

I am his wife and Sam…

‘His love…..’

A voice inside me shouted making me squirm

So I need to keep a check

Well their relationship seems more platonic, after very few exchange of pleasantries till they go talking about missing their $ex life.

Really is that all you miss in a relationship? 

$EX

Come on give me a break

 Rather only thing she demands is space

Most of the time she disconnects the phone when Raj is calling, starting with a fight later in her next call that he disturbed her meeting with a very important client

I wonder why the ego bigger than an elephant Raj doesn’t mind?

Rather I know the answer, he feels guilty to have married while he was committed to her and making up to her taking in all her tantrums.

I sigh

Why is she so damn fortunate? 

~~~~~

“You know you can talk,” he said and I felt air squeezed out of my lungs.

If he didn’t run after last night, once he knows my truth my past he surely would, he’d hate me, loathe me….

No I cannot….

“I am hungry” I changed the topic.

And the magic began 

Because we had snakes and cooookissss.

How jealous I feel at the moment with Raj

He had the best mom who could bring a smile to your face any time anywhere and her englisss antics

I just love them.

“Pari what are those you wear, makes you look thin?” she asked

“Look thin is it possible?” I asked warily.

“Yes it is there, my friends wear it. What they call it?” she was thinking “Tom be my f#cker”

“Sshhh mom” I whisper yelled, “What are you saying?”

“Yes they all wear and tummy look flat, not bloated” she moved her hands around her own stomach “Tom is my f#cker is the name” she insisted.

Gosh I had to bite my inner of the cheeks hard, very hard to avoid laughing “Its tummy tucker ma” I hugged her 

I couldn’t resist

“Tum…my… tuck no f#ck? “ she was loud.

“Sshhh don’t use that word Ma.” I stopped her immediately.

“Why? Most of my friends use the word when they are not able to win the bingo.” She asked curiously.

“It’s a curse.” I said hoping she would let it slide. But its ma; she’s always excited to learn English.

“So “ she smiled wriggling her eyebrows playfully “what does” she looked around trying to be discreet and said softly “F#ck mean”

“Oh no no no mom. You do not want to learn that word.” I denied trying to walk away.

“I want to” she pouted her cute pout that would make you do ant thing of the worst things possible even if it is about stealing Michelle Obama’s new Prada bag.

Yes she is obsessed with expensive branded bags and keenly follows what celebrities’ use. 

One day she was after daddy to buy her the same clutch that one of the stars were carrying in the award show and did not talk to him till he managed to buy it online.

Do I need to clarify it did cost him a huge fortune?

“Say Pari, why are you shying, you are like my daughter” she insisted.

‘No daughter in law that too convenient’ the rational me reminded before I could get carried away.

“Its what a guy and girl do in the closed room.” I said 

“Argue, you mean F#ck means to argue” she appeared disappointed why is it so forbidden then 

“No not argue, it is something else, something intimate.’ I tried to explain in the best possible way 

“Oh ho Kiss” she patted her forehead “Why use it as curse? Silly”

“Not a kiss ma” I was desperate to explain now “at night, behind doors using ummmm…. Con” I hissed, “I mean using co.”

“O” he mouth left gaping open with the realization “Oh s**t it means that”

Her face enlightened like a mega watt light for she’d learnt a new word “Now I know the meaning of…” she said murmuring cupping her mouth so that her voice is muffled “F#ck”

God I love her so much..

 ````````````

Raj definitely has some of his mother in him; it was evident when he managed to slip in the last coookisss in his pocket to surprise me later.

I had the strongest of urges to coo him by pulling his cheeks and kiss the tip of his nose.

“Beware” my conscience warned, “You are falling”

Shit! This cannot happen

I am too strong to fall for the XY chromosome

 I turned into a b***h again and was back with nasty and snide comments.

Raj on the other hand was kind, patient and supportive.

He managed to get the softer side out in me one way of the other especially his vulnerable eyes when he was scared in the bat house.

I couldn’t stay mad at him forever even though he was a jerk for not accompanying me to the shuttle.

But I am glad he did what he did.

It was a reality, a slap on my face that we are only couple for convenience

Somewhere being in the bubble of a tour, I had forgotten.

But when he bought me a MacBook, I lost it.

All I could see was the note bills scribbled on the pages of my dairy, which had my credits to be returned to the Malhotra family in white with red background.

If he runs this way I am never going to catch up with the repayment

And I do not want to be serving the tenure for money.

I do not want myself to be sold; I do not want to be paid for serving as his wife.

I had better self-respect than that.

So when he bought that MacBook for me, I lost it…

 I was so lost in it that I lost my track of speech, I spoke a bit too much, took him to the edge and he broke…

Shit! He admitted the biggest and darkest truth of his life; he was adopted…

He might have ran away from me unaware that I wasn’t in the room either lost in the debility of the situation.

I got his anger, his short temper, how he never ever spoke in front of his parents, never argued with them and his dad, their words, wishes or commands to him, were like verdicts of his personal holy book, every thing became crystal clear.

Why he opted for this convenient marriage?

He loved and respected them too much to cut their words or choices.

But what if the reality strikes them like lightening.

It would sway and burn everyone away.

No I wont let it happen

A small promise other than the seven vows I take, a pledge that I would make sure that his parents never come to know about this contract of marriage.

Even if they do, I’ll take the entire blame.

I’ll make sure he has his parents though adoptive are on his side always and forever.

``````````````````

I tried, honestly tried and fought with my conscience and tried to be like a b***h, hurt him but he was so sweet and caring that I gave up.

‘Live for the moment ‘ I thought. Till I was in Singapore I decided there was no harm in being friends.

So rest of the tour was spent playing tourists, being friends and enjoying, not to forget I never missed a chance to pick on him, neither did he try to take the title of jerk away.

“What are you listening?” he asked.

“Obama has turned into a RJ and I am listening to his commentary,” I answered, my face straight.

“WHAT?” he was shocked.

“When you ask such silly questions, you get such replies” I pulled my earplug back seeing him pout I answered “Old classics, wanna join in?”

He smiled immediately and shared one the plug, I sticking to the other one, not at all minding that he was extremely close to me, his Musk cologne hitting my nostrils, his citrus shampooed hair tickling my forehead and his strong arms brushing my shoulders.

I waited for discomfort which didn’t come rather I felt good, still I stepped as far away from him which was practically possible with same pair of earphones being used, not because I was scared of his touch but still I was scared, a good kind of fear..

“Ek din mit jaayega maati ke mol[old hindi song] and then followed “sooraj ki garmi se tapte hue tan ko mil jaaye taruvar ki chaaya” and on and on. He listened till the end of the playlist and hummed along.

“I never knew Bollywood songs were that interesting.” He said smiling ear to ear; he seemed to really enjoy.

“You have never heard Hindi songs before?” I asked shocked, he missed the best thing of India, old Hindi classics

“Only a few latest hits or albums” he shrugged “I like English songs. Wanna try few?” he asked expectantly and although I wanted to deny, I never had listened to much English songs and wandered if I’d enjoy still I went with the flow.

“Please forgive me’ was the first number that he played and I was agape, it was amazing and then came ‘Perfect’ by One Direction followed by Jealous, I swear, Touch me like you do and the list was endless”

I wondered if the playlist would ever end and it didn’t.

I surprisingly woke up couple of hours later remembering that I was never a deep sleeper yet I slept even when the music was still playing in my ears, Raj was already sleeping, his earphone long gone.

He lay on his stomach, legs half on the floor, his grey nike t-shirt swayed upwards showing the little of his sculpted body and the black tracks that he already wore dangerously low, still sliding down showing his red underwear, his mouth ajar letting the drool out and his pink lips kissing the pillow every now and then as he snored.

Yes he was snoring‘That’s the thrill baby’my conscious shouted making me squirm as I closed shut my eyes waiting for next dawn;)

Probably I might grow new red horns a real one by then