Rejuvenating Love

3) Pricking past

At Rakesh's home..

"Na-nana-nana-nana-na-nana

Aaye rut mastani na-nana-nana." Singing a song from heart Rakesh climbed the stairs to his room.

'So. What did she say?' Sitting in the drawing room and reading the newspaper attentively Mayank Malhotra, asked his son.

"She needs time to understand and get adapted to every situation now." Rakesh blurted out without a careful consideration.

"Wait! What? Whom are you talking about, dad? I don't know what you're asking of." On the being caught Rakesh tried to manipulate the situation.

'I am talking about the girl you have been recently playing in your mind. Someone who has taken over your heart. Someone for whom you are humming a song now. And that particular someone whom you proposed at Rathore constructions.' With a glint in his eyes Mayank Malhotra kept the newspaper down on table and looked at his son who smiled keeping his eyes to the floor.

"Dad, how do you come to know everything about me?" Rakesh rubbed his neck out of curiousity but still with a smile curved on his face.

'Son, its been two years now. And I have seen you falling for her. Being your father I understand the rules to your heart. Altough your mother passed away at your tender years of age I have always tried to take the responsibilities of a mother. So son, now you think of dusting my eyes about your love, do you?' Mr. Malhotra explaines his son.

"Dad, you are always more than a mother to me. I swear." Rakesh blinked his eyes of assurance.

'So if that's the case then I'm going to talk about you and Kuhu with her parent at Rathore residence this saturday. What say? I can't wait to see my son ride the mare especially when the reason is a very charming girl like Kuhu who is the key to your heart now.' Mr. Malhotra informed his son.

"As you wish dad."

'My wish? Aren't you prepared for this son? Okay let's postpone it then.'

"No! No! I meant to say you're visting them this saturday and I'll call off all your meetings at office. Rakesh's restless voice made Mr. Malhotra laugh aloud mocking and teasing Rakesh.

'I know you my son.' Mr. Malhotra winked.

"Whatever! I am going to my room dad." Excusing himself Rakesh climbed the stairs with a glistening shine in his eyes and a cute pleasing smile indicating his task is soon going to be executed.

Kuhu's point of view

'I can't do this. This is difficult. How can I present myself so nervous before them?'

My hastening footsteps around my bed really helped me to control the unrhythemic violent beats of my heart and I was just trying to win a war with my inquisitive mind--

'Calm down Kuhu! You are smart and confident. Oh no! I am still getting nervous.' One moment I would be so confident but the other moment I would fuss out all of my self-assurances.

'Come on girl! You're an independent w**********l of 21st century. You handle many global speeches, powerpoint presentations so boldly before the foreign investors. You're a MAN, girl!'

"Let's go." On entering my room Rashi chuckled watching my movements.

'I can't walk. I feel nauseated and like fainting any moment.' I pouted and Rashi giggled enjoying the fun on my face.

'Your time will come soon. And I will make sure it's more frightening than that of mine.' I warned her with my still vibrating fingers.

"But before that you need to come alive out of your battlefield, Sweetie." She taunted me, defended my cautioning fingers aside with that of hers and fetched me out of the room.

'Urghh!! It's the bitter truth; I have to face my war today that too even without a 24 hour pre-announcement.' My life had become so irksome from some hours frustrating me to the moon and back.

"Its your fault. You stay so absent-minded these days." Rashi gave me a hopeless look and ushered me towards the battlefield ..

By the time I reached the drawing hall everything was going well. May be only his parent had come. Where is he? Now will I have to marry him even without seeing him? Even my parent met thrice before their marriage. What more does fate have to show me? With these thoughts I entered the drawing area. The environment was conducive. I greeted uncle and aunty 'namaste'. 

'No need to be traditional beta. Be yourself.' Speaking this aunty cooled down the air around me. She made it easy for me.

Aunty seemed genuine and realistic by her words. And of course she is so beautiful despite her age. Age had surrendered before her beauty and glow. I was nothing, just nothing before her. She wore a biege colour saree but the designs and patterns seemed quite luxurious and exiquisitive. I must appreciate her elegant look. But her nature spoke the opposite. It said keep the style aside, announce it as just simple!

"So where is your company interested in its upcoming fields of contracts?" My gaze then shifted towards a man in mid 50's in formals. He must be Uncle. He was tall with toned skin, and oh I must say health conscious by looking at his well maintained physique. Beard well groomed. Young at looks but far more matured by brain.

"We are planning to work only for the government tenders and further we want to get involved in some industries that would provide employment to the reserved sections like tribals of our state." I said confidently.

"That's really good. You think about the people, the greater mass of our country." Uncle got convinced and may be even overwhelmed with my field of vision. I could say that by feeling the sudden shift in his position like standing up to cheer me up with applauses which he didn't do in actual but his emotions revealed it.

"Oh no no! Uncle its just what my papa and mumma always advice, that work for the people. Do something for your country. Create job opportunities. Be responsible for your fellow men. I just listen to them sincerely that's what I'm getting my results of." I am so frank with uncle and aunty; I thought to myself .

"Its rare to find businessperson like you these days. The prosperous Rathore empires must be fortunate to have you as one of its most eligible heirs." He was delighted to have spend his time conversing the topic with me. I saved a moment to capture the emotions on my parent's face on an occasion as such where someone had really appreciated my efforts neglecting the gender basis stereotypes.

"Mostly people are money-minded with a cheating mentality. The chit-fund scams you see these days, they just swipe away people's money and vanish." Uncle seemed annoyed with todays news. His heart reflected a soft corner for the affected and innocent people.

"Actually, Uncle we can't completely put the blame on the fraudulents. People who blindly trust these chit-funds are also to be blamed. You know, you people are educated how can you believe in doubling your money all overnight." I presented my views.

"Moreover the film stars and celebrities should also be tried for promoting these chit-funds. Afterall being the official ambassador to the fraud company they also must have greased their palms." He discussed with me. We shared compatible views.

My mumma was busy serving them. Papa and uncle got busy discussing their businesses. Aunty was so friendly to ask me what I liked, what else I keep interests in apart from work, if I would like to accompany her with her new NGO work after marriage. Has aunty already decided everything? I think she is too optimistic about this marriage. 

I felt like I have good compatibility with both of them and that's enough for now.

Rashi wishpered in my ears," seems your mother-in-law is impressed". I chuckled and smiled to myself inwardly. Situation was under control till then. But you know luck wasn't favouring me since yesterday. Now something happened that turned the game completely. It loosened the earth under my foot.

A white car honked at the gate and a 6ft tall, fair- complexioned guy in light blue shirt and black trousers entered our gate through garden. This was what I saw from the distance. He seemed a little known to me. A little familiar figure. But as and when he proceeded further, more and more to our drawing hall through the large door opening straight to our garden; the picture became clearer. A gym-trained body, fluffing hair in the air, pinkish-white blushy glow, level-headed walk, dressed with a strong personality was ......

"Oh my goodness! I may faint!" Whispering to myself I clutched Rashi's fingers tightly. The arrival of the uninvited guest turned the game completely. He was proceeding like every step he took he dug my heart deeper and deeper. For once he looked straight into my eyes while coming in, which felt like I should run away somewhere. I couldn't face this. He was ............................and my eyes blurred. Throat dried!

He came striding towards aunty and greeted,"Hi mom!" "Hi dad!" Pointing at him eventually aunty declared before everyone - "Meet my son Raghav Rajput".

And my heart beat a violent thud at the declaration! I finally breathed out the air that I had kept forced inside me. On getting a twirling head kind of symptom, I wondered if my blood pressure kept well then. For a moment I felt like digging the earth and hibernating into it. A tremendous volcanic heat erupted out of my body through my ears and up, out of my head like I was caught hold of after commiting a crime.

History indeed was unwinding the pages of past. 

But why? 

Will it solve and sort things? 

Or break her down again that too forever?