Marriage For Convenience (completed)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

``````````````````RAJ````````````````````

“Oh s**t! Oh s**t! Oh s**t!” she screamed and the soap bar slipped from my hand skippering through the floor.

Damn!

“What are you doing here?” I yelled angrily as I tried to wipe off the white foam from my face, my eyes burning in anticipation.

F##k!

I stepped into the cold shower trying to get rid of the foam of the soap visualize c*m analyze c*m solve the situation, my other hand clutching the shower curtain to hide my ummm..

Not that I am ashamed of my ummm…..

Its nice and BIII…

Okay PG13!

But why should I give her the pleasure?

When I was able to see clearly she’d turned around her back facing me.

“What do you want?” I asked

Instead of answering she shrieked and ran away.

Why was she waiting then?

‘To ogle at you’ my inner mocked but I showed him my closed fist and he too ran away.

```````````

She was working with the already made up bed and cushion clearly trying to avoid eye contact with me when I entered the room.

“The door lock was working perfectly in the morning” she stated her tone laced with accusation.

“Why did you enter the washroom?” I asked as I slipped on my black Armani shirt.

“Last time I remember I was supposed to share the room with you and that includes the washroom too” she now looked square at me in the eyes her dark browns challenging my grays.

But as her eyes slipped down my open button shirt and lingered there staring at my toned abs for a while till she shrugged her head, probably shrugging her thoughts away.

Now don’t give me judgmental looks. I was working on the button of my handcuffs.

But I enjoyed the attention*winks*

My inner gave me a sly pose with his hands folded, shoulders broad smiling wickedly and waved a small bye as he walked away.

She picked a towel, folded it and walked towards me which I dodged away easily.

I raised an eyebrow questioningly.

She pressed her lips in a tight line and gritted her teeth inside her closed mouth “trying to wipe that stupid arrogant smile off your face.”

“Whoa you can touch me?” I asked irritating her further as I enjoyed it. “but I cannot touch you”

Huffing she threw the towel at my face before stomping towards the washroom, banging the door and clicking the lock behind her.

Yeah I neither got abused nor dodged by the li’l towel instead I caught it just in time folding into a ball and started tossing it up in the air smiling inertly.

1 for me and 0 for her

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

 “HONEYMOON” I might have been a little loud but Pari the double xx chromosome that she is; she jumped in the air in panic

Why?

Because my so ooooh soooo romantic at heart, chill pill at actions granny suggested nay commanded “Pack your bags, you are leaving for your honeymoon”

It will be underrated if I miss the part where she raised her left eyebrow multiple times and then winked at me.

Yes she is a trained classical dancer of her times, she can do it easily.

“And guess where you going?” my mother interfered “Switzerland” her eyes beaming with excitement “Take something warm to wear with you, oh” she patted on her head as she blabbered “you will not need to…..” her mouth formed an ‘o’ as she realized what she was saying aloud and stopped immediately.

I simply nodded my head wherein Pari was looking on the floor probably expecting it to open and swallow her up.

What a relief it would be! I chuckled at the thought but inner gave a killer glare and I backed up.

Just a thought!!!!

“Are you excited?” mom asked Pari and her cheeks flushed darker than the seeds of pomegranate.

Yeah me and my metaphors

“I don’t want to go” Pari declined “I wantto stay with you guys for a while, get adjusted with the family, enjoy being with a granny that I never had’ she almost bent her head on my granny’s lap when I coughed from besides.

And she immediately straightened up.

Well our last argument at least went somewhere.

Last argument ..

The heated argument…

“They should be glad that you are gone.” I told her and her face crumpled.

“Two years.” She mumbled and repeated “Two years and you expect them to hate me every time they look at me. Have you gone nuts?”

“Why is it so difficult Miss Goody two shoes?” I asked challengingly, my eyes spitting fire.

“I always thought acknowledged you as a jerk and somewhere deep in my heart I wanted myself to be wrong but actually truth be said I so so very much underrated you” now she started yelling full on “you are the biggest jerk that I had ever seen or will see,” her voice quivering by the end.

Well I did feel like jerk right now.

Don’t worry my inner was right there to laugh at my melancholy but I ignored him and so should you.

“If me being jerk hurts my family less and hate you more I am in for it,” I stated my face callous

“I cannot let people hate me, I simply cant “ then she added defeated “especially when they are so nice to me.”

“But then do you have any idea what happens when you walk away by the end of the contract?” it was a heated argument by now.

“You and your F##king contract.” She sighed irritated.

“How ungrateful you could be” I spat “I did everything I could for your safety and security and all you could do is call that contract F#beep. If you think it otherwise let me make it clear to you that all the clauses were wows that I took while circumducting the holy fire and I did mean every word of it.

As if losing the battle she looked down “Raj” she said defeated, “I too took some wows and one of them was to take care of the health and wellbeing of your family. Do you want me to back up from that?”

Whoa seven wows, thumbs up to her. I must say I am astounded by her confession.

‘So cool down’ my inner said as he place a brick of ice over my head.

Can I kill him?

Only once.. I promise

“You can try at least not bond with them, so it hurts them less if you cannot make them hate you. But I prefer if they hate you.” I almost begged.

“I have too much hatred in my life.” She gasped as she realized she’d been loud with her thoughts and quickly masked away saying “I’ll try”

I wanted to ask her who hated her so much but there were too many unanswered questions in our relationship, the one about her secret meet up during our ceremony being part of it. But I do not deserve the answers to them, I do not expect her to trust me enough, its too early and again I think she needs some space of her own, so I let it slip.

Till she is happy in the duration she stays with me, I am fine.

I’ll make sure that she is at minimum discomfort over here.

My inner just made a bed of roses for me to walk for my goodness.

Okay plan for his murder postponed!

“Raj it is your duty to take care of her happiness,” my mom said lovingly.

Where were we?

H.o.ne.y.m.o.o.n. my inner spelled for me.

“Sorry mom that has to wait” I said calmly and I did not miss the line of relief crossing Pari’s face too “Pari needs to resume her classes. She has already missed a session or two because of wedding. Honeymoon can wait.”

Oh I get another score from Pari who looked at me appreciatively smiling at my smartness.

“Right doctor studies important” my mother rolled her eyes understandingly.

“My englissss smart girl,” my granny patted on my mom’s head softly correcting “its medical studies.”  Mom eyed at Pari and granny in confusion.

Pari smiled and relaxed visibly for the first time since the start of honeymoon talk “Its not doctor study it is the study of medicines that will help me become a doctor.” She explained.

“All doctor, medicine not one and same?” my mom asked confused.

Did I mention it ever that I love her innocence?

“Just like cooking and food are two different things. We cook so that we can serve food; we study medicals so that we become a doctor.

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

“Oh s**t not again” Pari shrieked as she entered the washroom AGAIN. 

Darn!  

“God what happened now?” I asked frustrated.

“Why don’t you lock the door before using..” she paused.

I took my own time zipping up my trousers and turned towards her, my demeanor relaxed.

The look on her face hilarious

Combination of shock, horror and annoyance.

“Sorry not used to sharing.” I said and walk past her getting ready.

“Well then try and get used to it.” She commanded.

“How about you try and knock before entering?” I raised my eyebrows challengingly.

“RAJ” she almost pulled her hair “Why are you so impossible and.. and shameless?” she finished taking her own time to think of the word.

“Shameless.. me?” I questioned. “Its you who repeated the mistake twice.

You should have knocked considering I entered the room before you and since I wasn’t in the room, there isn’t any other place to be until and unless I try out on an adventure and jump from my own window.”

“Oh how I wish that could happen and you break your bones one or two,” she mumbled.

“What?” I asked although I heard it fine enough.

“Nothing” she simply shrugged irritated or dropped off the matter.

My inner bloated glad that she was scared enough not to repeat it for me.

She picked my mobile from the charging plug and started some music and handed it to me “Since you are so dumbstruck of not locking the door why not start the music of your phone so that I know you are in there.”

“Whoa why are you making a big deal out of this?” I said huffing “Its not like you saw anything. I had my back towards you.”

She gritted her teeth pressing her bottom lip with it obviously annoyed “So you are waiting for the moment till I get to see you and then you’d start locking the door.”

“Whoa Miss Virgin perfect is upset that she couldn’t see” I wriggled my eyebrows irritating her further “if you want you can simply ask, I’ll happily oblige.” I winked at her smiling 

“Cocky b@st@rd” she mumbled before she walked away.

“Hey ref seven vows” I shouted behind her “Wasn’t there any not to curse or swear your husband?”

The reply was the door being banged shut a bit loudly than usual.

I chuckled..

“This is so entertaining!!” I rubbed my palms enthusiastically

My inner simply shrugged at my gaiety before sending a duh face at me.

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

“I can do this on my own. You don’t have to bother,” she said as she pulled the seatbelt of my Audi to tie around her tiny waist “I have done it earlier in Mathura.

She is still angry with me

“This is Delhi and you are new to the city so I am helping” I said as I adjusted the rear view mirror while I take the car out form my garage.

“I am not a small girl.” She folded her hands.

“Neither am I free to wander around the city with a small girl. I too am a busy business man remember” I quoted my fingers in the air irritated of her babbling “and if you were so keen on going alone you should have argued with gran ma not me. Miss Goody good Again I had vowed to make sure that you get your admissions in the medical college and I am trying to fill in through.” I said trying to ease her restlessness.

I could feel her nervousness as she was fidgeting with her fingers, her toes in and out of the beaded footwear she was wearing with her red dress, and the veil around her neck was being adjusted by her in every couple of minutes.

“Between what were your vows, you never mentioned them?” I tried to distract her.

My inner was ready with a death glare

Apologies!

Right.. honestly speaking I was desperate and intrigued to learn what those seven corrections now six remaining vows were because one of the seven were voluntarily confessed by her.

 “M.. M.. vows” she stammered.

If I wanted to distract her then I was successful but the nervousness was three fold now.

“Yes” I stated humbly now “Your vows, the wedding vows you mentioned you took.” I smiled for her face was like child caught stealing the cookies.

“Oh they are nothing” she waved her hand dismissing me “they are normal vows” her volume slower than usual “that are in the holy books only with addition of only two years.”

“Are you sure?” I side glanced at her, my eyebrows raised.

“Y.. yes why?” she stammered again.

“Because you are speaking too low and you do it when you do not agree to what you are saying.” 

Now it was her turn to glance at me and raise her eyebrows.

“It’s been only couple of days we are married, you are behaving as if we are married since ages. Cut the slack mister,” she snapped.

“Correct me if I am wrong. I am a good observant. In fact every businessman is. We need to read faces before entering into a contract. And a smart business man needs to be good at that.” I shrugged looking at her who was staring back at me awestruck, her browns darkening as she looked non-blinking at me.

“EYES on the road.” She shouted all of a sudden “God you drive such expensive cars yet you are not scared that your lord of the rings might get hurt.

“I will narrate a story for you” I told Pari making her look at me although my eyes WERE on the road “it is a true story about a contract meeting I had last week and when I was not comfortable with the clauses about the construction material used for the site.

“Mr B.K” I asked “Why is it that the material suppliers name is not mentioned here?” I asked him.

“Is it? I will see to it.” He stated calmly “Did you see the lay out of and the animated design, I think it can be improvised.”

“Very well. I’ll check the contract again before I come to a decision” I said and called off the meeting.

I knew there was a slag and he was trying to distract me just like you.

“I.. I am not” she paused quiet; needle drop quiet.

Well the car horns and the busy traffic of Delhi was alive out but you get it right?

“Which area or street is the college?” she asked.

Ah change of topic again

‘Space give her space’ my inner advised and trust me I did agree to him.

And the i***t that he is he raised his collars and smirked! F##king smirked at me.

“Its University College of medical science and research center in Dilshad garden” I said not stretching it further.

“So I have to tell the rickshaw driver to take me to University College or Dilshan gardens?” she asked.

“Huh what?” I was confused.

“If rickshaws don’t travel I’ll take a bus but you’ll have to guide me with the bus stops” her voice vulnerable.

“Why would you need a rickshaw or bus?” I shouted even more confused “You can take a car. You can drive?” I asked.

“No I cant.” She quickly answered.

“No problem. We can use the chauffer.” I solved the traveling hassle.

“NO” her shriek was unusually loud, I really should use some filters for my ears or she’ll make me deaf one day. 

“I cannot” she almost panicked.

“Because it would be too expensive for me and again calculating the chauffer salary, the depreciation of car and the fuel, no no. I prefer an auto or I’ll somehow manage bus facilities.” She was calculating in her mind “I have heard about efficient bus services here in city.”

“And the award for biggest nerd goes to Parijaat” I picked my hands from the steering and started clapping only to see her priceless scared panic face.

“I have been driving for years and I am a pro. I know how to handle a car.” I snapped at her irritated.

“Aww ooouchh” Pari shouted and then I realized some another jerk driver had changed lanes from wrong direction.

I quickly swerved the steering to the right pedaling the breaks just in time.

“That was close” I took a deep sigh of relief.

Pari as usual like a huge drama manifest kept her hands on her heart breathing deeply.

I couldn’t help laughing.

“Priceless. You are so scared that it’s funny.” I mocked at her “see I told you I am a great driver.”

“Have you taken some course or you are a natural.” She took a dramatic pause and added, “ARROGANT?” 

“Huh”

“That is your answer huh?” my inner teased making faces at me.

Wish I could really bang this car at him.

But my lord of the rings

I cant!!

`````

“That turned out to be smooth” Pari blessed me with one of her rare honest smiles.

“Yeah. It did. You were simply stressing.” I added.

“I was” she took a deep breath taking in the lush green campus of the university, gray cemented buildings probably the classrooms and laboratories scattered in between few yards, girls and boys few Pari’s age and few younger to her roaming around with bulky books in their hands discussing and gossiping about their usual chronicles as they were seated in groups.

My thoughts wandered to the lovely group I had back in U.S.

It’s always easier and enchanting when you have friends surrounding you.

“Pari would you introduce me to your friends?” I asked out of blue “I miss my friends from college a lot. We used to have loads of fun” I looked at her expecting some snide remark or an answer wrapped in sarcasm or humiliation at the cost of my ego.

But like a fish she opened and closed her mouth “Friends?”

I chuckled “friend aka buddy, pal, mate, companion, classmate? What happened is it an alien word in your dictionary Miss would-be Doctor?”

“I am allowed to make friends?” she asked like it was the most prohibited thing in the world.

“Of course you can. Why do you ask?” her expressions bizarre with the use of word as if it was a sinful activity to make friends “you are independent. You have a say in your life, to choose your friends.

She wiped her forehead shrugging her shoulders as if trying to wipe her pained memories away.

I was curious to learn the reason behind her abhorrence with the concept of friendship but I let her be.

“Can you guide us with the book store?” I asked one of the students who looked more like a bookworm for his huge eyes behind the plastic spectacles shouting that he does not care about his looks.

“Huh first left and then right followed by the cafeteria” he replied immediately returning back to the book as if I had wasted his prestigious time that needs to be covered.

His lack of acknowledgment of my thank you was the right proof of the same.

I was following the directions given by the nerd guy “You too are going to look like a brinjal roasted from the oven just as the guy in the spectacle” I pointed my thumb at the guy who gave us directions as I continued “If you study so much”

“And you are currently looking like an i***t baked in charcoaled barbeque” she huffed “Why aren’t you paying any attention. I don’t need any books. I have been shouting since long.”

“Whoa you had to be loud if it was a shout.” I mocked with my hand on my pocket as I asked “Why don’t you need them, the admission test is a mere formality as stated by the principal.”

I knew it my dad had picked up the biggest influence for her admissions

But she need not know that

My inner too proclaimed it to be a smart move by me

Something rare

“I have all the books” she bit her lower lips, her tongue rolling inside her mouth visibly, her hand cupped over head blocking her eyes from the bright shining sun, “I borrowed a set of old books that were almost thrown in rags.” She bowed her head as if it was a very disgraceful thing to be done.

Don’t worry I was C>O>O>L.

I had my Dior sunshades on

But I was awed at her thoughtfulness.

“Pari its okay. You can use those books. There is no need to be humiliated about it. And don’t use them because you want to save money, use them only if you believe it’s a right thing to do.” I said.

She looked at me like I had grown a new head. Definitely she is thinking of buying me a halo now.

Well not to my surprise my inner was swaying around dressed in a sparkling white full gown wearing a white floral tiara over his head

Idiot!

“And” I added thinking that the ball was on my court and I had an upper hand on her “You are taking a chauffer to the university and this is not negotiable.”

Speechless and dumbstruck she nodded in agreement.

Whoa I win, I win

My inner wearing a multicolor dress and carrying red and yellow balloons danced around happily.

“Thanks” she said as she adjusted the suntop of the passenger seat blocking the sun again.

She needs a pair of sunglasses

“You have been a great support and I mean it,” she said humbly.

I ACTUALLY jumped out of my car and started doing Bhangra[north Indian folk dance] on the road.

“Raj Raj Raj” Pari too stood out of the car following me “Why are you dancing?’ she asked.

“Me dancing I am celebrating,” I said as I continued singing “tara tarrara” my hands on the air and feet jumping.”

Missing my inner self?

Don’t worry; he is right besides in a traditional white kurta and multi colored veil around his waist and a drum around his neck dancing like a maniac. 

She sighed nodding her head “What are you celebrating?”

“We had a conversation” I said excited “You and me had a conversation. You talked a full sentence to me which did not include any snide remark, mocking statement or a curse word” I raised my hands in the air “That’s an achievement.” I said happily.

“Obnoxious, debacle, jerk, irritating…” her colorful vocabulary went on and on as she sat herself on the seat again buckling herself and folded her hand around her waist.

Oh s**t! not again….