Marriage For Convenience (completed)

Chapter 15

Chapter15

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

This is cool

This is so very cool

Perks of a married life!

My room is clean

My shoes are arranged

A glass of water is ready before I enter the house

The food is ready, may I add delicious too

 My dishes are picked,

My clothes are washed and ironed

Whoa wedding is doing well to me!

Remember I do not tell her to do this.

She voluntarily does all the stuff.

She says she is addicted and loves to do it.

Though sometimes I dread at the way she is been brought up

Like she is some kind of domestic help

But she does it with so much ease that I have stopped complaining

What did you expect?

I let her do all my chores..

No I am not the types.

Sometimes it is even very irritating because her doing all the odd jobs is a kind of payback.

You are not going to believe it.

“Pari please you do not have to wash my dirty shoes. Ma will manage and get it done.” I tried to grab them from her.

“Raj its okay. I am glad that I could be of help.” She was walking ahead when I stopped her.

“Why do you want to help?” I asked irritated “Its not like that you’d be staying here for ever” I threw my hands frustrated.

“True I wouldn’t be here for ever” she tilted her head upwards looking at the ceiling, the glassy eyes said she was holding her tears “You guys are doing so much for me and I am taking too much advantage, the food, college, commuting” she shrugged “too much.. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to payback all this.”

“s**t!” I barked angrily “Are these helps and odd jobs a kind of payback to payoff the price of food and clothing.” I said offended “do you think so low of us to pay us back with such?”

‘No what you are doing for me..” her voice trailed off as she was lost “the maternal love that I get form Ma” she coughed knowing she’d mistaken, her mask deployed “your mom, adoration of gran ma and sweet companionship of Sia, acceptance of me as a family by your dad and uncles. This is too much. It cannot be repaid ever” her voice choked by now.

And she rushed to the restroom avoiding my calls and closed the doors behind probably leaning on it because I did hear the sobs from out.

Yes I did follow after her.

I wonder what she’s been through to long for that little love and attention from others.

It was much later that I realized this was our first conversation in which we were not humiliating each other. 

Though we were still arguing.

‘Yes I am a douchebag’ you’d be proud of me that I agree with my inner douchebag self for the first time at my abuse

I had learnt she had scars that too deep.

I did overhear her talking to Sia earlier 

“Sia whenever you need any kind of help or assistance. Feel free to come and talk to me.” The honesty in words was very convincing.

“Thanks Pari. I am so glad that you are a part of the family. I feel so close to you. Its like I have a friend now.” Sia replied 

“Friend?” Pari almost trembled with the word as if it was a kind of curse but composed immediately smiling sweetly at her.

Wish she were that saccharine sweet to me too

But I guess we are destined to arguing and fighting so after trying hard to be in her list of so called friends I’d given up.

Stubborn ass that she is 

And yes we are less arguing I mean I try not to mock at her and she as usual gets on my nerves mocking at how filthy rich I am as if I am the reason behind the economic inequality of the country. 

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

“I told you I am not coming” I said firm and determined.

“Its okay” Pari seconded.

You can congratulate me the delirious b***h is supporting me for the first time.

“I am not ready to send her alone at the hour of night. You HAVE to accompany her” my granny argued.

“Gran ma. Is she a kid?” I counter attacked pissed, “Why does she need a chaperone?”

“No she does not but the cocktail evening followed by the guest lecture is important.” Sia gave her precious opinion

Well see the injustice women empowerment > 3 against 1, I did not include Pari because she stood speechless and stood by my side

For whatever blah blah reasons of not being a discomfort to me in my own house and for the first time I humbly appreciate

My inner bowing down at her.

“Its really fine with me I’ll skip the cocktail thingy. I’ll be back as soon as the lecture is over with.” Pari stated easily.

My mom and granny were still processing about Pari’s plan when I came to the biggest realization of my life.

My fate is meant to be doomed

No I am not overreacting either

Someone up above there is surely conspiring against me

My inner the rasc@l that he is looked above his hands cupped like in a prayer and sent a very sympathetic glance towards me.

I couldn’t waste time on him

I had bigger matters to solve

One of them is avoiding going to 18-storeybanquet hall where the so-called boring lecture on medicines and a party thereon will be held.

“Are you talking about Taj Palace one?” my dad asked imperiously peeking his face out from the most important thing in the world 

I mean the black and white newspaper.

“Yes da.. dad”  Pari answered stammering.  She still cannot acknowledge them as mom and dad comfortably but the enthusiasm in her voice was dripping like a melted vanilla cream in a waffle cone as she interrogated politely “How do you know about it?”

My dad waved his hands dismissively “Our trust has organized this event. The guest lecturer is Dr Macintosh from UK who is currently working for high end treatments for complicated illness.”

‘Wow” Pari’s mouth might have stuck open midair out of shock

“Raj I think you should join her especially for the cocktail because we can use both your pics as celebrity couples, one a son of the business tycoon and other daughter of the same; future doctor. I am sure this will attract lot of charities and then I will be able to fund the machines needed for treatment that come at supernormous prices in almost all corners of India” his face beaming with combination of pride and thrill of his new cause for good.

Do I have a say in this now?

My inner dressed in a dinner jacket and a trusseau doing a stupid dance at my ironical defeat

****hole

 How much to curse him?

`````````

“Raj are you okay?” the saccharine sweet yet irritating voice full of concern directed at me..

“You are sweating profusely.” She balanced on her toes trying to help me with my sweat, a sickly small tissue in her hand that she offered to wipe the sweat off my forehead.

“I am worried. Why are you looking as if you have swallowed a rat?” she asked.

Damn rat!

I guess this is inspiration of silver gray gown that she was wearing

But the gown was beautiful not ugly like a mouse…… 

Anyways who thinks about rats and swallowing in one thought?

Forgot this is Pari!

She offered the small bottle of mineral water from her small bag that she’d carried along feeding me like a mother and loosening my tie.

I tried to object but she pushed it in my mouth spilling it allover my Armani

My Armani’ my inner might have pouted but I was too far gone to care.

The familiar ping and the halt of the elevator made me realize we were there.

I sobered up immediately adjusting my tie and stood like last few minutes didn’t happen at all

F##king water stains on the collar of my jacket had different plans although.

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

It was only after the endless lecture of whatever doctor macbook corrections macin, mc donalds, pssst. Darn! Whatever his name be let it be.

Yes it was endless, horrible boring, bugging… list of adjectives might get endless.

Don’t give me that death glare.

I tried to focus, I honestly did

But after 15 minutes, 43 seconds and few medical vocabularies like osteoarthritis, vitrectomy, pirexotine …. later I gave up.

I tried to concentrate on the screen of my iphone but my darling wife found it rude to occupy myself in a gadget while the unsaid king of medical profession was giving his precious time to us.

So hours of torture later you wouldn’t blame me if my applauds are louder than usual and lasted longer than any other individual

Because none other than me in the hall was glad that hours of tediousness were over.

In fact the female besides me, precisely my convenient wife was grinning like a Cheshire cat “Raj thank you so much” her smile was widened from one ear all the way to another

‘Careful your jawline might crack’ I wanted to comment but the exhilaration in her eyes made me keep my mouth shut

My inner immediately stood to felicitate for my kind gesture for he too was bored to death 

Well deserved though

“It was so overwhelming listening to such great doctor of the decade and his contribution to the medical world is amazing, all because of you, thank you so much. Thank you” she said her dark eyes twinkling like her shimmery grey dress, the crinkling of bangles as she excitedly moved her hands up and down trying to explain how his innovation in curing of disease would help others.

 Her excitement was so contagious that I was also carried away by her glee that I too nodded even though I did not understand a word of what she was trying to convey.

“I am glad I could be of help” and she stood stunned at my polite and honest answer.

“Please Mr and Mrs. Malhotra join us for the cocktail at the dance floor and then we’ll have media coverage of the two.

Me and Pari followed the suit.

Pari smiled with a bow of her head folding her hands in Indian style Namaste’ greeting avoiding as much shake of hands as possible every time she was introduced to business associate of my dad and other Trustees

“Please beautiful and young couple like you should be at the dance floor” and one of the Trustees practically dragged us to the dance floor pushing Pari too from her waist 

I observed her stiffen with the touch but she did not react.

Once on the dance court, her eyes diluted in panic not wanting to get intimate or close while dancing.

“Please Pari for dad” I said as I gesticulated to one of the cameramen who were ready for a good shot.

She gave one puzzled look at the guy ready with the lens and then repeated “For dad’

She extended her arms for me to take. I immediately took her into my arms swaying with the music, the shivering of her hand and teary look of her face made me want to hug her and demolish her fears away “I promise I wont hurt you” I whispered in her ears and she nodded, her shivering dissipated but as soon as the media guy was gone she distanced myself from her as if I was a ball of burning fire.

I sympathized at her, my heart going out for her dreary 

‘Would she ever be able to open up about what made her scared of touch?

 I wonder after our convenient marriage is over would she go for another try and marry someone who’d truly loves her….  

No no no 

This cant be happening. This isn’t Stephanie Mayor book or Indian director Yash Chopra’s cliché`

Because what I see looks like a replica of a movie.

This couldn’t be happening.

There enters from the door a tall dark and handsome, dressed in the costliest and smartest of dress suit, Indian dark hair complimenting dark eyes.

Hola hola don’t run your horses

I am not gawking

Bloody hell! I am a STRAIGHT, not gay.

But the appreciative look in somebody else’s eyes, the broad smile on her face when he winked at her

Holy s**t! Winked…

Now don’t get me wrong 

Because the li’l touch me not Missy is shaking hands with him and laughing at the something he said probably a joke.

No second guesses

I admit I am intrigued.

My inner stood there smoking fumes from his ears 

For what?

Ignore him guys.

“I had nightmare in the afternoon yesterday and then I realized I was sitting in my medical class” orated the guy in suit and every one laughed.

“Then I thought maybe I overslept and then I saw the submission file in my hand, eye opener I didn’t sleep last night.” He continued and everybody laughed.

Somebody tell me what’s the joke in here?

“Why do you stall your work last minute?” Pari asked honestly.

“May I?” he asked

And Pari F******** let him hold her hands.

“How many days are there in a week he picked her fingers one by one till he reached seven.

How many meals you eat in a day?”

What?’ Pari asked confused oblivious of my presence behind her.

 I was watching the synonym hypocrite LIVE. ‘I hate people touching’

“Three’ he ignored her and counted 3 butts of her finger, her hand still on his. “So when you wait for a week at the end of the week how many meals have you had.” He paused dramatic and everybody around 12+ people including my, MY wife in capital

No need to remind the word ‘convenient’ 

He stood there giving undivided attention to each and every word of his like he was the last male on earth.

Damn I am right here*waves*

“3*7=21”

So seven days with 24 hours of thinking and great ideas with amazing brains that I have I have to wait last moment so that the aggregated ideas are used and mind it all the ideas are used.’ he finished proudly.

“You and your theories.” Pari snatched her hand away turning away and bumping into me.

“Sorry” her trademark stiffening was back with slightest of my touch.

“My apologies to my dear wife” I smirked at the stranger who gave an amused look to me.

“Hi” I stretched my hand towards him ”Raichand Malhotra”

“Sandy. Sandeep Grover” Pari interrupted “from Grover chain of hospitals and..”

“And your friend” I finished for her.

She freaked, her eyes dilated; every time she is scared her browns a shade darker “no not friend, classmate,” her voice a mix of fear and panic.

“Angie we can be friends” Sandy aka Sandeep smiled his wide toothed smile at her.

“Angie?” I asked. 

Who was he referring to?

Am I missing something here?

My inner too stood clueless, his hands in his pockets shrugging.

Sandy smiled his wide tooth smile “Pari aka angel, angel short form Angie” he winked at Pari.

My inner was milliseconds away from fisting at his set of 32 teeth.

And trust me he isn’t an i***t 

Not now at least.

“Everyone would love a friend who is witty intelligent and handsome. I am your friend Pari” Sandy said smirking, which made his dark eyes shine in the bright golden lights from the crystal chandelier above.

“And someone thinks I am a self boasting, self obsessed jerk” it came out loud.

“That was rude” Pari objected through gritted teeth glaring at me. 

 “Pari I am starving.” I said ignoring her and marched towards the table where food was served with her trailing behind me. 

If she was disappointed I did not acknowledge for I was burning with fury..

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“What is your problem?” she shouted once she was seated inside my sedan.

“You don’t know how to close the door.” I remarked ignoring her question.

She felt ashamed and embarrassed for banging the door of my Maybach harshly and licked her lips nervously.

If she was sorry, she didn’t mouth it

Arrogant b***

She is my wife now

How can I swear?

“Can you cut the speed? This is a car and your emblem is not going to dress up and shout at you for driving slowly, neither is he going to come and pay for the fine if your driving crosses the speed limit.”

“I know my speed limits Miss Einstein.” I said sharply.

“Shallow much” she remarked.

“And what are you?” I counter attacked “Two faceted hypocrite?”

“What?” she was shocked at my acquisition.

But I preferred to give her silent treatment.

After few long minutes of silence she asked again “Why did you call me two faced?’

But I chose to ignore trying to hum the tune of mysterious girl but mixing it with words, its only words.

‘You are a gone case’ mouthed my inner and I agreed finally.

“Are you on your periods?” Pari asked all of a sudden making me jump on the drivers seat “wait Do guys get periods or you are a rare species?”

“No I am not on periods and since I am normal guy I do not get one. I am $ex deprived and its been six months I haven’t got any action and that’s my problem got it.” I snapped anger bursting loud that made her flinch and squirm in her seat.

That quieted her and she sat composed in her seat wrapping her hands around her frail body shutting herself from outside world and the rest of the drive home was peaceful.

Just like I was craving for…

But why was there a nagging feel, a burning sensation in the left of my chest?

Is this guilt?