Marriage For Convenience (completed)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

````````Raj````````

I followed her as she jumped from the wall of her house tripping and falling on her knee, even though in loose corduroys I am sure she’d gotten bruise for sure, pulling the cap of her hoodie further she looked left and right, a little more right and she would have spotted me but she was too scared or in too much hurry not to see what she didn’t want to.

She tightened the strap of the bulky backpack hanging loosely on her back and jumped another wall this time landing perfectly.

What am I doing here?

Parking my car

Because the house doesn’t have front door parking and this conversation between two elders would take time so I volunteered to join my dad and uncle after I park my car on the back road safe especially after someone whom I also nicknamed as nasty b***h had mentioned her intentions of scratching my car

Who knew I might have another thriller to watch over here.

In the neighborhood I witnessed squabble between two ladies, actually not squabble but argument.

Arguing of two ladies and by argument I mean shrieking and yelling of two ladies who were about to pull each others hair but we all know they wont do it.

Pari however froze stood at the exact spot hiding herself between two huge earthen pots painted in white and brown waiting for the argument to die down.

I too joined her and hid myself with her.

I waited for a long time imitating her and trying to be discreet.

But how long could I wait as an audience and this sometimes feisty, sometimes shy, sometimes b***h sometimes vulnerable girl Pari is the best mode of entertainment in my life for the moment..

“Hey sshh” I called in a hushed voice as I hit her playfully with my elbows demanding attention.

“Ssshh..” she hushed me back.

“Now what?” I asked.

“Now I’ll wait till the two disappear and then run?” she simply answered.

“Whyareyourunning?” I asked, my voice still a whisper.

“What?” She was so much focused on the task of eloping that she failed to reciprocate my presence besides her.

“What’s …the… run.. f or?” my voice still clipped to maintain the discreet.

“What?” she shouted irritated and looked at me.

Before I could reply she jumped “AAAAOOOOOWWWW” she shrieked out of her lungs scared to have a despondent to her act

“What are you doing here?” she asked both shocked and angry together.

“Finding out what you are up to.” I answered simply my voice still hushed as a reflex.

“None of your business, now leave.” She stood to leave but stopped “And you dare inform my parents of my run, you’ll have to bare the consequences.” She threatened extending her pointer on my face.

“What would you do once you are gone?” I asked amused at her adventurous elope. “Wait.. Are you running with a guy?”

“s**t” she pressed her lips into a thin line “That’s all you can come up with. The answer is No and if you would lift your sorry ass I want to leave.”

It was then I realized that I was blocking her way ”Oops sorry” I shifted “but you know running is not an option. They’ll chase you and it will be worst. And where will you go.”

With a defeated sigh she sat besides me relaxing all of a sudden as she did not only sit but sat Indian style crossing both her legs and slumping on the dusty pathway “I know but I cannot marry that retarded guy.”  She shivered at the thought and then rubbed her eyes. The situation was definitely stressing her. She probably haven’t had put more thoughts before acting.

Wait she cant, she is a brainless b***h. Okay cut the judgmental accuses. I think I should help her.

“Retarded?” I repeated it and it was more of a query.

The way she shivered and the fear I saw in her eyes at the thought of marrying the guy I thought he might be evil, sinister or sadistic but retarded? Her words didn’t fit in well.

“Coffee?” I offered.

I really don’t know why I was being all social service agent while my inner came all dressed in white kurta and pyjama offering me flowers for my good deed.

I hushed him away immediately.

What? I was seriously trying to help her here.

She took exactly 1 minute and 10 seconds on her mental debate before agreeing for that coffee

“Why are you back?” was the first thing that she asked after she settled sipping the first sip of her cold coffee.

“I am here to fix date of my marriage.”  I said casually 

And she blurted out the drink that she was having spitting it everywhere on the table

ON my face TOO and it was gross.

She apologized immediately but the damage was done, my white Armaani tee was ruined and that feeling of being dirty and unhygienic an add on

But I was on mission good work.

My inner appeared all of a sudden trying to wipe the stain helping and supporting me for my new transformation as a saint.

Why?

Because I did not react and stayed calm determined to help her at the cost of my MY ARMANI tee.

Huh!

“Its okay. I will live” I consoled her for she was constantly muttering apologies. “Carry on with the coffee.’

She slurred a sip ladylike sucking the pipe with her pink lips pouting and the jiggles it gave to my little buddy.

I am a guy what do you expect?

 “So who’s the new girl in this town who has accepted your marriage for convenience? I might know her. I probably know almost all the girls my age.” She said casually.

And it was my time to spit the drink

But don’t worry I managed it with a fit of coughs.

She was right on my back tapping on my shoulders calming my marathon of coughs. “Calm down breathe in, breathe out 1.2. 3.

Once I was settled she sat across me “Now tell me who’s the lucky unlucky?’ she asked.

“Lucky? Unlucky?” I retorted with profanities against the insult but kept it as a mumble.

No more ego bruises, this girl is a nasty b***h sometimes no no cut that always

“Its you.” I answered, there was no need of lying. Eventually she’d know.

“Yeah” she pouted “I am the most luckiest unlucky but I am talking about your would-be wife.”

“Listen” I said as I snatched the plastic cup of cold coffee from her and she widened her big shiny brown eyes fanned by thick curls of dark lashes that I easily ignored.

Well I tried *shrugs*

Then I picked a glass of water and handed over to her and said “calm down and breathe count 1.2. 3.”

“This isn’t funny,” she said laughing.

“Trust me” I replied, “This isn’t funny at all. Rather its ironical, bewildering, bizarre, sardonic.. ummm…

“Wait wait..” she stopped me but sipped the water from the glass “what is with the adjectives?”

“Actually time to break the ice,” I mumbled more to myself “its you who I am getting married to” and I backed off.

Why

Because she had a glass of water in her hand..

Didn’t get it?

I was waiting for a splash

But it did not come.

Instead she calmly stood from her chair and walked up to me and poured the glass of water over me

The stickiness on my head and my face wet with hair allover my face, deed was done 

MY ARMAANI shirt

My inner now in shorts and tee with a lollypop in hand was now crying bitterly moving his hands and legs frantically.

It was my favorite.

“Who are you? A politician? Changing minds.” She huffed obviously irritated.

“Whoa.. cool down woman.” I stopped her. She was making a scene.

When doesn’t she?

Fortunately there were only a few couples in the café and they were busy doing their PDA’s in private so I was only stared once while they continued whatever they were doing.

Licking each other’s faces and exchanging saliva what else? 

Happy perverts

“How can I cool down when my life is a mess? I am running away, my fiancé wants a marriage of convenience, my school fees are pending, and the guy my parents want me to marry is son of a bast###” she stopped in her speech, first I thought it was because of cursing but the color change of her face said more.

“You think running away is the answer to your problems” I asked. I did not press on the matter of her wouldbe groom that her parents had selected for her and for the record I am not being selfish here.

I figured the marriage is equally convenient for her than it is for me. She only has to acknowledge the fact.

“I thought I’ll run away to Agra, Delhi wherever destiny takes me and enroll myself to a college and work there.” She was telling it more to herself than me.

“And where were you going to stay?” I asked. She needs some senses to be poured into her senseless yet intelligent enough to be a doctor brains.

GOD! Please have mercy on her future patients.

‘Stay” she thought ”I don’t know, I didn’t think, a lodge or perhaps a hostel; girls hostel” her eyes twinkled at the bright idea.

“And how’d you pay the rent of the hostel, college fees, food, light bill etcetera etcetera?” I asked looking straight into her eyes.

By the time her brain register what I was saying, her eyes were glassy. “I don’t know. I simply wanted to be away from my house. I did not think hard. It was just a spur of a moment escapade” she folded her hands on the table and threw her head on them in despair.

I felt pity for her at the moment and then irritated 

“What were you thinking?” I asked annoyed at her raft decision.

Moving her hands on her hair and playing with the few cut short ones landing at the crook of her face she was thinking hard.

“Why don’t you consider my proposition? I promise I will take care of you, get you enrolled in one of the best college and I promise that even if my project is over I would wait till you are done with your studies.”

I offered.

“Why?” she asked.

“Why what?” I couldn’t phantom her intention.

“Why would you help?” she asked “I am not the kind of girl who’d sleep around with guys. You’d get nothing form me.”

“Do you think so low of me?’ I asked obviously hurt “So for you to know I have no such intentions. I vowed to be a one-woman man. So you are safe. And I am not a monster who’d take advantage of the girl who has helped me in distress.” I was more than pissed.

“Sorry I didn’t intend to hurt you or annoy you.” She said and then increased the pitch of her voice all of a sudden “Why don’t you understand I am a girl and a firm believer of Indian culture and traditions and it is difficult for me.” She gave her piece of explanation.

“Think Pari. Is it that difficult to fight your moral vales than to live completely isolated at a place where there are all strangers and who knows whom you come across with.” I paused when I found her contemplating my words.

“I don’t know what to do? I cannot select between right and wrong” she face palmed herself throwing her head on the table again.

“Don’t think too much. Go with the flow. If your brain is confused, one should follow their hearts.” I suggested.

“And the award for the best pshyco counselor goes to Raj” my inner stood at the podium with a trophy in his hand and I butt kicked him out away form my thoughts.

What? I was doing some serious talking here.

“oh.. ohkaaaaa” she was almost ready to agree when “Oh no Sam, Samanthaa right you said she was not agreeing to the settlement. Then?”

 She asked really concerned or probably she was looking for reasons being trapped in her conscience not ready to rebel with her biggest beliefs.

It’s a different story altogether” I sighed.

“Since I was on a run, I have all the time in the world. Go ahead” she said as she sat with her spine erect and attentive full ears to listen to my story.

So I started from six hours ago….

“We’ll get a skirt top and a veil for the engagement for the beeride” my mom suggested

Please ignore her English.

“NO” my granny declined outright “she will not wear so many clothes, it looks old fashion now. She will wear what girls wear these days goon.” My granny smiled proudly at the idea.

“Goon? What is goon?” my mom asked not having slightest of the idea.

“Goon? You don’t know goon? Which generation you are. Don’t watch television. You know nothing. I told you to get an sss account or at least be on i********: but all you can do is play candy crush or chat on w*****p on your new mobile.” She completed her rant not before adding “Old fashioned.”

“I tried but couldn’t.” My mom pouted, “I always forget the password. Now tell me what is a goon?”

“Goon is a dress that girls wear , long ones flowing down till their ankles, embroidery on top and body hugging till waist” she pressed both her palms on her own waist line showing how the dress would fit.”

“Goon?” my mom was confused.

Since I was sitting besides trying to ignore their babbling and concentrate on my work.

I am sure you’d ask why not in my room?

Then apparently my granny believes power is a resource which shouldn’t be wasted therefore I was forced to share the air-conditioning of the room with two queens of gossip, my mom and granny.

“Its gown gran ma.” I piped in; biggest mistake“Its called GOOOWWWWNNN.” I tried to pronounce it for her.

‘Yes yes evening gown, they look so pretty.” My granny was acting dreamily now “just like angel matches her name too Pari” she smiled at the thought.

“No” my mom declined “I never got to chose my bridal dress, I’ll choose my daughter laws. Its skirt.”

“I said gown,” my granny argued.

I knew this would go on for hours till my mom concedes.

It always happens, they argue till my mom goofs up some English word and my granny laughs at her humiliating her.

My mom gets annoyed and keeps her mouth shut for a while.

Again my granny doesn’t like without her so she’ll start patching up by demanding tea and appreciating it even though it might taste horrible.

Trust me I am not lying she complimented her tea even when my mom had added coffee powder instead of tea powder making it taste yucky.

Amazing relationship the two shared.

Would Samantha be able to share the same relationship with the duo?

‘Evening wedding?” my mom said firmly.

“No morning, I’ll get tired by evening and I like to sleep early so morning wedding it is.” My granny argued.

“s**t when did the topic change to this? These women are worst than politicians, getting distracted so often.”

“MomWhat do I do? My plan had failed and the way they were planning about the wedding. I did not want either of them to be hurt.

“No Chaand baby. These are petty arguement. Don’t stress. Your marriage on the soon.” My mom said politely caressing my forearm lovingly.

“Told you to grow up and show some maturity, fighting like a kids in front of a young son.” My granny scolded my mom and she pouted.

Ignoring how disturbing my pet name came from mother I sat besides my granny hugging her lovingly “No granny really I do not want to get married.”

“Why you do not like the girl? Did she behave weird the other day when you went there with goodies? Was her family rude with you?” My gran ma panicked

My god! Indians and their worst assumptions!

 “No granny nothing like that, I just don’t want to get married.”

“You don’t like Pari. Do you have a girlfriend in US? Don’t hesitate I’ll arrange it for you. Is she a Gori?[fair American]” my granny asked coolly “I don’t mind that either. I’ll convince your mom and dad” and she hushed in my ears “And she can also improve your mom’s pathetic English” she made a disgusted face at my mom’s English.

“Gran ma you are really something.” I laughed at her but hope bubbled inside me.

I excused to another room more excited than ever like I had finally seen the most wanted Santa clause a night before Christmas.

Don’t assume, I know my mom used to fill in socks yes even though non Christians’ I used to love the ritual and follow sincerely till I actually saw my mom filling the sock the other day when I woke up early excited to see what Santa had to offer me as Christmas present.

Irony was it was one of the handkerchiefs she had hoarded for later use and I hated the cartoon Barbie prints because my friends would tease me for it.

What? I was in age of growing puberty

“Sam I love you, I love you, I love you.” I yelled on the phone.

“Raj I am in the middle of the Seminar. Is it really important?” she asked in a hushed voice. 

“Yes and you are coming to India.” I said excited.

“Oh I would have loved to but…” she paused her voice clipped.

“No ifs and buts, you take next flight to India and come to my home, no sorry sorry I will come to pick you at the airport. We are getting married.” I stated as if I was offering her cake. 

Again my inner applauded as if I had achieved a world record of foolishness.

Yes I forgot marriages and commitment freaks her out.

“WHAT” she shouted “Hold on to the line.”

“So you quit the idea of your convenient marriage. Good. Keep it up my boy.” She appreciated me proudly. I could feel her smile broaden from the other end.

“And I enjoyed the humor too.” She said laughing easily.

“Humor?’ I asked confused 

“About flying to India and marrying you?” she said easily “

“I wasn’t joking Sam” I said seriously.

“Seriously Raj are we having the same conversation again?” she said sadly

“ You know since my parents split I have an aversion towards weddings. I need time my counselor too said so. So what’s the rush?’ she stated obviously bewildered.

“Sam things are complicated. I am trying what is best for us.” I explained.

“Raj I just got an offer from the biggest firm in US and it is one hell of an opportunity and today was the orientation going on when you called. I cannot leave the company for another eleven months, let alone come to India. You know this is important. I have always dreamt of working in a multinational.”

“I do “ I sighed “But Sam this is the only way, my granny was all supportive. You have to consider this.”

“Raj..” she paused “I want to. You know I care for you, I value our relationship but marriage.. Career is a lot important for me, just eleven months than I promise I would come running to you. I promise I would marry you to but this is an opportunity of lifetime, I can’t miss. I might even have to travel different countries; my childhood dream.

“Raj you are the best boyfriend in the world and if I didn’t have aversion to the L word I would have admitted my strongest feelings for you.” She said lovingly.

“Cut the crap Sam” I was bugged “Come to the point”

“Raj do anything but please please wait for me. I promise my commitment once I am through with this two-year job opportunity. I do.”

“Wow are you indirectly accepting the marriage?” I asked expectantly.

She took a deep sigh “I know I have to eventually…” she went offline, a bit distracted.

“Do anything, try and convince your parents whatever you can do but give me two years, only two..”

“Baby then u guess this convenient marriage is the only..”

“Raj Raj Raj..” I was cut mid conversation “I have to go. You do what seems right. I trust you and remember I am here for you” and she hooked up before shouting “coming in a bit…”

But it wasn’t for me…..