His Pretended Fiancee`(spin off of Marriage For Convenience)

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Have you ever seen monkey dance?

It was an old time thing.

A monkey dressed in a very glittery and glimmer dress of bright colors is tamed by his master, tiny bells are tied around his neck and a dark pair of sunshades at times rests on his eyes.

With the drum clicketing in the hands of his master the monkey was trained to perform.

Fortunately there weren't any animal welfare organizations then.

The monkey would dance, salute and even bow to impress the audience and make them laugh.

Why am I actually sharing this with you guys?

Actually I am giving the metaphor of the same monkey to my self with Sia being my master.

Yes! You might have a condolence prayer for me later if I am beheaded or castrated by Raj.

For my master aka Sia is taking me to officially meet her family, my dress suit is checked and ticked, the printed satin scarf and tie are checked and approved by her, my Christian Dior goggles rest on my eyes, 'We are having the meet at the garden area under the gazebo, this will create an impression" she said as she securely rested the frame on my eyes, not that I couldn't do it 

But damn her lemon and mint fragrance was intoxicating.

I let her adjust my tie, fix in the satin fabric and the worst she circled around me like a buyer encircling the goat he'd be buying for sacrifice on the big Eid day.

Wow! I am getting better at self humiliation!!

Probably the fear of death was rubbing off me.

Nay R.M oops sorry apologies Raj corrections The Raj and Angie are too good a soul to hurt a tiny insect' I try to console my self but I know very well that Sia is family and Malhotras would cross every border to protect their family.

Another positive thought that Mama malhotra is my big fan contradicted by negativity that gran ma wont hesitate to pull my ears and even assault someone if she deems the person at fault.

Yup she can get scary at times although she is an adorable darling.

Papa Malhotra???, Sia's dad, the business tycoon, the ruthless no nonsense business man who is probably among top ten richest Indians and I had tried my best to maintain myself in one of the pages of his good books but I guess it will only take a flicker of second to tear off that page..

Why am I trying to scare myself?

I knew from day 1 that this beautiful girl, though looks like Angel from heaven has the power to send me running down the hills still I voluntarily played with fire.

Probably I am the moth here

Too much attracted to her to deny anything.

Or worst I fear that if I deny her, she might pick any random guy to pose as her fiance'

Not only does it kick a pang in my chest but I strongly fear her safety.

Although strong and built with muscles with hours of practice and training, expertise in karate, boxing and taekwondo, she's lethal as clarified by herself I know she can fight for her safety but when it comes to emotional struggle she is a softy.

How many times had I seen Angie's eyes brimming and red because of something Sia had shared with her.

Although I know nothing about it.

Angie would always want to keep her family's secret and I would surely give her required space.

So out of goodness and good heart I volunteered to be the bait goat aka her fiancé for the evening where Malhotras have invited their would be son in law for a high tea.

I don't know how high they are going to reach with their pressure and temper once they learn that I am the one chosen by their beloved daughter as her fiancé.

May my soul rest in peace.

"Gosh! Whose wearing pants in the relationship?" Sia animatedly yelled as she wiped off the sweat from my forehead "not that I would not dominate in the pretended relationship"

Looking at my skeptical face she said "of course I would but you don't have to worry, couple of years and we both are free then you can go on hunting your ideal housewife" then she thought for a while and gave her input shrugging uninterestedly "or if you still like that b***h: the witch types like Genelia, you may gladly go ahead and get them I have no say whatever in that."

"But for now" she raised her pointer at me "Just behave okay."

I might have involuntarily nodded.

Remember I am the monkey with an invisible leash around Sia's wrists.

FYI and that too an important one I AM wearing pants, Only thing being I am too jittery at the moment for a comeback of Sia's continuous rambling.

"For behave I meant" she said as she snuggled closer to me holding my hand and wrapping it around hers "Be cuddly, lovey-dovey whatsoever they call it so that we look natural and they actually believe that we had been dating and are finally planning to marry"

She was close, very close, I could feel her soft skin and could inhale her sweet scent, her hair tickling around my neck and if you'd had any doubt about me wearing my pants, the sizzling alertness behind the zipper of my trousers would erase all your scruple.

Sia" I fake coughed and excused myself creating some distance between us.

Meeting her family as a fiancée with a boner I guess wouldn't be an ideal thing to do.

So I readjusted my tie trying to feel calm that I wasn't and composed myself.

"Oho! Haven't you had a girlfriend before?' she asked annoyed, 'No wonder she broke up with you"

I gave her an irritated eye look 

And halehuljah! It worked.

She apologized immediately.

For the first time in the day I felt inflated.

Not that she didn't attempt to boost my ego 

Her pep words "don't worry you are a charmer, always been, just use your charm" she winked.

"Oh Raj acts like a jerk with you but secretly he does admire you.'

'Uhh huhh" I coughed loudly "does that mean to offend me?" I asked squinting my eyes at her.

Realizing her folly she turned serious so I continued "if you have any doubts let me get it straight I am a straight guy and my umm you know junior Sanndy what knows how to get straight only with the living being with b**bs and not a barren land on the area.

"Touche'" she said dramatically then laughing loudly she adjusted my tie on the center.

Kill me but I was sniffing her vanilla scented hair.

Then she pulled my cheeks complimenting me wholeheartedly "Who wouldn't like a guy like you"

"More than that you are hawt" 

did my heart stop beating?

No!

There were audiences around, the staff, chauffer and of course Pari; Sia was only pretending to be sweet.

So there were indeed perks of being a pretended fiancé.

While we were about to reach her place she pulled me back and planted a quick kiss on the side of a my jaw "For today this will do the trick" she laughed and I looked at her awestruck wondering why such sudden show of affection.

I looked around and was greeted with none other than Papa Malhotra and R.M. who were discussing something business related.

I knew because they were cursing government's new policies as usual.

"Oh Sandeep" Raj smiled with utmost difficulty trying to keep a façade of liking me in front of his dad "good to see you but we are expecting a family guest so I am so sorry you'll have to leave."

"Don't be rude Raj" papa Malhotra interrupted "I don't think Sia would mind Sandy meeting her fiancée"

I coughed a louder and natural cough this time.

"Sandy are you okay" Sia rushed to my side, a glass of water rested in her hands for me.

Soon Mama Malhotra, gran ma and Angie too joined in.

"Sandy relax, breathe in and out" she stretched glass of warm water for me to have "Get a cup of chamolina tree for him' she ordered one of her uniformed butlers around.

"He'll be fine Pari" Sia cooed wiping off the spilled water from my jacket.

"In the mean time may I have the honor" none other than Raj interrupted Sia

"Sia we were expecting your friend here. Where is he? 'Raj asked.

"Yes Sia" Pari too joined in "is he always late? You know we Malhotras value punctuality," she laughed teasingly at Raj.

"Pari I was late yesterday because my meeting extended for an hour, not because I am not punctual. It happens sometimes." Raj spoke guiltily.

"Why does it have to happen on our anniversary?" Pari argued with her hands folded around her waist.

Raj unfolded her hands with his own and said "we'll talk about this later when we are alone."

Mama Malhotra in her glorious pink giggled, "Once you two are alone there hardly would be any talking"

"Mom" Angie yelled, her face-flushing beet red.

"Gran ma" Sia pulled her from her arms and brought her to me "I think you are the only sensible one in the family" she eyed Papa Malhotra digging into choco-chip cookies who stood still embarrassed at his atrocious eating mannerisms

"Papa why don't you have these raagi biscuits I have baked specially for you and gran ma" she extended the tray of biscuits to them.

"Pari I will take cookiss only." Mama Malhotra said as she immediately bit into the cookiss that she had given a personalized name to her favorite cookie scared that Angie might devoid her of the same.

"This is a crazy family" Sia almost yelled throwing her hands in the air "I cannot believe I agreed to et my fiancé to meet you."

"But your 'fix and see' has not yet come." Mama Malhotra said guiltily holding the tiny remains of her coo-kiss tightly in her hands.

"Fix and see?" I couldn't help but ask.

"One you see when the wedding is fixed." Making an innocent face she looked at Angie for confirmation

'No mom we were supposed to meet her fi...aaan..cee, it's a term used to describe the relationship of would be husband, mangetar* in hindi" she explained sweetly.

No one spoke for the moment rather everyone took the opportunity of digging into unhealthy snacks that were served for the expected fiancé aka me whom everyone was choosing to ignore.

'Dad, Raj" Angie yelled, "you guys are worst than hunger striven monkeys." Pari cursed getting a guilty look by papa Malhotra and requesting look by Raj.

'Why aren't you digging?" Pari asked me angrily "Aren't you a guy too?"

seriously?

Well I wasn't allowed to explain because Raj spoke "he doesn't need to eat, neither does he need to wait," he then addressed me "you may leave now. We are expecting.."

"Raj" papa malhotra gave a playful smack on his head but anyway it was bit harsh and hurt him.

I was about to smile inertly when gran ma chipped in "Raj you are always mean to him."

"I agree" the beauty in pink, Sia's mom added "I find him sooo cute, look he is wearing PINK" she shrieked pointing my tie and satin kercjief.

Immediately Sia winked at me implying why she forced me to wear this tie that I have never ever worn.

"Yes" Pari gave a thoughtful look at my attire now "why are you wearing pink accessories, this is not your style." She commented.

"What do you know about his style" Raj dominated over Pari "he is weird like this, let him be."

"He is not weird"

"Stop bullying him"

"Weirdo, ofcourse who wears a pink tie?"

"Raj is always picking on Sandy"

I don't even know who was talking what and who was supporting me and who was against me.

There was a chaos of continuous chatter, each and every Malhotra continuously blabbering wherein I tried to zone out.

Which I tell you is completely impossible.

Next I see Sia was lifting herself on the plastic table on which snacks were served, not bothering if few dishes were already piled on the floor and once she stood on the table in her flowy printed dress, she balanced herself in the center of the table and shouted on top of her lungs "KEEP QUITE"

There was stun silence like we observe before a thunderous lightening and quickly Sia took he opportunity to announce, "just for a minute listen to me carefully." She eyed each and every member of Malhotra family.

Easily ignoring me.

I wanted to shout I am also involved but was muted as she announced in one breath "You wanted to meet my fiancée. He" she gestured both her hands at me "Sandy, Sandeep Khurana is my fiancée" she announced.

Instead of reacting to her announcement papa Malhotra pouted "what was the need to throw such real food on the floor." He eyed the baskets of cookies, breads and kababs disappointedly "we would have listened to you."

"Wait what?" this was Raj yelling from behind Pari who stood with her eyes stoned at Sia and her mouth gaping.

Gran ma and mom were still trying to apprehend Sia's words.

Raj was stepping in my direction; his eyes furious like a wild prey approaching his predator when he slipped because of one of the baskets of cookies that were now rested on the floor.

I eyed between tripped Raj, shocked Pari, stunned mothers and a smiling Sia with her hands comfortably folded around her waists, her poise relaxed with no care of the world while mine was turning upside down.

With just one thought rendering in my head as I was trapped amongst the Malhotra family 'What have I gotten myself into?'