Mine, To Hold And Behold

Chapter 9

Thirty six hours ago, the guest house which my friend Salim arranged just for me, is now crowded. Dad, Mr.Sharma, Noel, Pari, Mrs.Smith, that bodygaurd guy, what was his name? Richie? yeah! Richard and also, Salim , how can I forget, everybody were in my room. My bedroom. Each one had a different expression on thier faces, which were saying something to me, like:

My dad - A frown etched on his face, which was screaming, "Are you out of your bloody mind? Oh let me guess, You don't have a brain at all. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

Mr.Sharma - A blank expression, but I know him better, "You don't know when to give up, do you? I don't know whether to be amused or upset with you"

Noel - He was barely controlling his scowl, "You were here with her? If you weren't the son of my boss, I would have so much pleasure. breaking your neck" (Imagine him cracking his knuckles)

Pari - She was standing in between his dad and Noel but her face had that concerned edge and her shoulders were in that 'about-to-shrug' position, like she was saying something like, "Sorry, I could not stop them from coming"

Salim - His head was bent low and he wasn't making eye contact with anyone, but I know what he must have been thinking "~who let the dogs out ho ho ho... who let the dogs out ho ho hoho~"

"Mr Watson? Would you like to have some water?" Mrs.Smith asked, breaking the thick tension in the room. I heartily appreciate her effort but SERIOUSLY! Did she have to mention the fake name in front of everyone? kill me God! Please take me away, before these terrosists in my room do it for you. Salim pressed his lips tightly containing the chuckle was trying to escape.

"Who are you talking to Miss?" my dad asked.

"Oh! Mr.Watson ofcourse" she said, pointing to me, in a 'duh' tone.

"Who is this Mr.Watson again?" he asked looking me in the eye, in a slow and menacing voice, like those psycho serial killers in soap operas, daring me to open my mouth.

'Me" I almost swallowed the words. I slowly cleared my throat, "I am Mr.Watson" I said with an accent. Where did that accent come from?

The frown on my dad's face turned into a complete scowl, and the words that I guessed would be running in his head stumbled out his mouth, "Are you out of your bloody mind?" everybody cringed when he yelled, "What were you thinking, coming here with a fake identity?" , A loud gasp was heard. There was no mistaking that it was from Mrs.Smith. That poor lady had no idea that my name was fake. She bought my deception completely without an ounce of doubt. Though Richard had a smug look etched on his face as if he already figuered it out.

"You would have been behind the bars if you got caught. Didn't you have enough tormenting my name already? or do you find pleasure in dishonouring me?" he yelled throwing his hand up in his air.

"Chillax dad. I didnt get caught, did I?" I said rolling my eyes.

"Do you fuc*ing hear yourself?" my dad cursed loudly. Another gasp. Mrs Smith excused herself and left the room.

"Krish!" Pari chimed in, Krish? Did she just call my dad, Krish? What the hell! When did this happen? She gave me a stern look before continuing, silently ordering me to keep my mouth shut. "You need to calm down. He didn't do it on purpose" she defended, for which all heads turned to her, "Okay! May be he did it on purpose, but we talked it out", That as*hole whom Pari is marrying, that which I wouldn't let happen, snorted. She ignored him, and turned to Krish. "I talked to him and made him see the facts. He has learned the truth and accepted it. He wouldn't cause any more problems from now on. You need to trust him". My dad, or should I also start calling him by his name?, looked rather convinced.

"Okay" he whispered. Pari was all smiles. She grinned at me. The tension in the room seemed to reduce a little.

"Oh" Pari squealed, remembering something, "I also invited Raghu to the wedding", she announced. Now it was my turn to grin.

"What" my dad, Mr.Sharma, Noel cried together.

"Yes", she shrugged looking at them confusedly. I smirked at all three of them.

***********

I got out of bed finally. I stretched and my limbs felt sore. I need a hot shower, I stepped into the bathroom and stripped to my boxers. Somehow I don't fathom the idea of bathing naked. Not like I am not satisfied with what I have got, but stil,.... okay! I am a still a little shy to get naked while bathing. Figures, I havent grown out of it, yet. Weired but true! I turned the faucet on and let the water warm up. Once the water was warm enough I stepped into the shower letting the water wash my body and my thoughts too. My dad, and everyone else beeing here, crowded my thoughts. I can't think strraight with them hovering over me.

After Pari stating that we don't belong together. I somehow didnt fight her. I didnt give up yet, but I figured, a verbal explanation was not enough. She lost her faith in me. I failed her. She lost her faith in love, our love. And once again, I am the reason. I need to gain her trust and I need to make her believe in love again. It will take a lot of time, but I am ready to wait. She is worth waiting for and she is definitely worth fighting for.

They were all in the living room. I could here them talking, not among themselves, but on phone. Everybody looked busy and occupied. I walked into the living room and suddenly al eyes were on me. What? Did you think I would stay in bed, forever? I wanted to voice my thoughts but I decided against it and just raised my eyebrows.

I walked to the dining table, where Pari was seated with her laptop sat on the table. I sat across from her and smiled at her. She looked refreshing as always. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, with a pen stuck in her hair. She looked so cute and gorgeous. My cheeks hurt and that was when I realized I wsn't smiling but instead I was grinning, like an i***t, might I add. I luickly covered it by taking a glass of water and drinking from it.

A screeching sound distracted me. Noel pulled out a chair beside Pari and sat. I mentally rolled my eyes. Either this guy haa insecurity problems or trust issues, or he was too smart and he already realized that I am a serious threat to his relationship.

A throat cleared beside me. I looked up and Mrs.Smith was staring at me and my company.

"Can I get you something Mr. Wa....."she stopped after that. I chuckled lightly at her confused expression for which she bushed in embarassment. She was completely oblivious to this situation.

"You can call me Raghu. And some soup would be fine" I said nodding.

"Okay Sir, I got mushrooms from the grocerry shopping. I will get the soup ready in ten minutes", I nodded at her in acknowledgment.

"Tess! he is allergic to mushrooms. Let me deal with the soup. I know what he needs right now" she said getting up from her seat and putting her laptop aside.

"Oh! I didn't know that" she looked at me apologetically, before I could say anything Pari continued. "Why dont you cook the chicken breasts. He needs a lot of food to gain his energy back" She said smiling.

"Yes I can do that. The chicken is frozen, it will take some time to cook, though", she frowned,

"I am in no hurry Mrs.Smith and I would like to help" I said even before I realized what I was saying.

"No you won't. You need to rest. You should be in bed actually" Pari said cutting in.

"I am fine seriously", I said and got up, making my way towards the kitchen island.

"Stop" Pari said, placing a firm hand on my chest. "You will rest", she said with an authority. I raised an eyebrow at her. This new confident bossy attitude of hers is amusing and not to forget a major turn on.

She crossed her arms and gave me a challenging look. I crossed my arms too and raised my eyebrows at her. She narrowed her eyes at me and we coninued our eye-to-eye battle. I finally gave up and broke the eye contact. "Fine. I will rest. Can I atleast sit and watch. I'd rather sit here idly than lay down on that bed. Its daaaamn boring" I whined.

"Great" she smiled broadly. "You can sit here, but you will rest. we are going to the doctors tomorrow to get the remaining tests done."

I was going to inturrept her but she raised an eyebrow at me challenging me and I shut my mouth. "Sit" she said, and I grumpily walked back and sat on the same place. I was sitting opposite to the kitchen island and had a direct view of them cooking.

"Make the Chicken extra spicier, Tess", Pari told Mrs.Smith, which she replied with a 'sure'.

She remembered my tastes. "Thanks babe!" I grinned at her. She looked up from the soup she was cooking and smiled at me.

"Babe?" Noel shrieked. He yelled actually, his fists clenched tightly and an murderous look etched on his face.

"Oh" Pari inturrepted, she smiled, "Its our routene" she dismissed it with a wave, "Raghu used to call me 'sweetheart' when we were kids and it later became 'babe', as we grew older. And now, I just cant get him stop calling me with those names" she sighed dramatically.

'Oh quit it drama queen" I smirked at her antics, "we both know that you love being called by those 'names'", I said emphasizing 'names'.

"No I don't" she denied too quickly and walked to the other end of the kitchen, to cut vegetables. My grin widened.

"You do" I stated simply, Knowing how much she loves it. No one can miss the sparkle in her eyes when she hears it.

"No I don't" she turned back glring at me, playfully.

"You do"

"I don't"

"You do"

"I don't"

"You do"

"I don't"

"You do"

"I don't"

"You do"

"I don't"

"You do"

"I don't"

"Shut Up" A yell broke our bicker. We turned to the source of the voice and saw a fuming, annoyed Noel. His fists were clenched to his sides and he shut his eyes tightly. He was definitely trying to control his anger. What the hell is wrong with him? Its not like we were flirting with each other? Right?

"Noel" Pari whispered, she looked scared and guilty? her lower lip was trembling and she clutched the kitchen napkin tightly in her fist.

"Don't Pari, Not now" he said and walked towards the door. "Salim, can we go and start the bonfire, already? Its seven o clock now" he said and raised an eyebrow at him. I looked at salim and we both exchanged looks. I didnt understand a bitof what he was tring to convey me through his eyes. Come on! I am not a face reader for christ's sake. But everybody thought we did. And with that he followed Noel's trail.

I need to talk to him, about all this.

After they left a deafening silence filled the room. Mrs.Smith stood behind Pari, hesitating to place her hand on Pari's shoulder to offer comfort. Mr.Sharma and my dad were also there, which I didnt realize till now. They both conversed through thier eyes and unlike me and Salim, they could understand thier eye-to-eye language. With some creepy nod's, they both left the living room as well.

I looked at Mrs.smith and signalled her to carry on with her work, she nodded and turned back to the refrigerator,and started pulling out some ingredients. Pari looked at me with tearing eyes, she forced a smile, excused herself and left the kitchen.

I badly wanted to go to her and hold her, comfort her. But before that I needed to know something. I turned to look at Mrs.Smith, she turned off the stove, where Pari just finished my soup. I walked closer to the stove with a small smile on my lips. I opened the lid and aroma of the soup filled my nostrils instantly watering my mouth. "Mmmmmm" I moaned.

"Great cook, isn't she?" I opened my eyes to look at a smirking Mrs. Smith.

"Oh yeah!" I said still smiling. "The only reason I stayed at her placeoften, is because of her cooking. She cooks so good!" Imoaned remembering the Hyderabadi biryani that Pari specialized.

"Only reason?" she quirked an eyebrow at me, with a knowing smirk. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah yeah! one of the reasons" I said and she grinned at me. "That obvious huh?" I asked.

"You were so excited that day on your accident. She was going nuts when she saw you in that unconscious state. Whenever you look at her, there is a stupid smile plastered on your face. And we can' forget that little 'argument' that you both displayed" she said giving those imaginary air quotes to 'argument'. "Doesnt take a genious to put two and two together" she said. I smiled at her analysis. but soon it turned into a frown, "What does our argument has to do with it?" I asked genuinely confused.

"Come on. You both were looking so..." she turned to me and realized my genuine confusion and stopped. "You didnt realize now, did you?" she asked and I shoook my head as a reply. "Only couples fight the way you both did. You both could easily pass as a married couple" she stated simply. I waited for her to eloborate but she didnt.

"Okay. So may be we did. But Noel didnt have to react that way. He was clearly upset and I don't understand why. Out of everyone he knows about our past relationship very well. Yet he agreed to marry her, so shouldnt he be the understanding type? Instead he goes all furious on her, when she doesnt even intend to offend him in anyway". I dont know why I was voicing out my thoughts or why I was even discussing these things with a house maid. But I just did.

She sighed deeply, "Well, you are right about one thing.Since he already knows about your past, he shouldnt have reacted that way. But you cant completely blame him. He is human after all. He is intimdated by you, which is obvious. He is scared that you might take her away from him", she tried reasoning, which further iritated me,

"Doesn't he trust her. He doesn't me, which I can understand. But what about her?"

"You have a valid point. He must work on his insecurities" she sighed agian and returned to the chores.

******

I gently knocked on the door. A faint come in came as a response.

"Hey" I greeted her.

"hey" she greeted me with that newly developed smile of hers. "Come on in" she said. Her bedroom was just like mine except, mine was a bit larger and this room was sccantily furnished compared to mine. I walked to her, where she was sitting on the bed, her legs folded beneath hers, Indian style. I was silent, trying to comprehend what to say to her, to make this conversation light and unintensified.

"Dont" she snapped. "Dont try to make a conversation about the 'scene' in kitchen. I dont wanna discuss it", she said mumbling the last sentence,

"Okay" I said carefully, "What do you do?" I asked. A simple way to start a conversation. Not bad, huh!

"Where did that come from?" she asked, her lips quirking up into a smile. I shrugged as a responce. "Look who's trying to develop thier communication skills. Back then, a glare from you would shut everyone up and now..."

"Do you really want to talk about the past? Cause Im not sure thats a good idea, considering about the whole 'Situation'" I cut her in. If she started taking about the past, Im not sure I can be responsible for the consequences anymore.

"You are right" she sighed. "So what was the question again?" she asked turning to face me.

"What do you do? As in for a living" I asked.

"Im a counsellor. I deal with traumatised children of the age group 5 to 16. Children who have been traumatised by the incidents like, loss of a family member, abuse, s****l or emotional, witnessing crimes or life endagering situations. Sceniors of such", she paused to take in some oxygen. Whoa!

She was about to start again, but one look at my horrified face and she broke into a grin, "What?" she asked.

"I..I don't know" I said honestly, "When I was informed that you work in a school, I thought you took up some job as a teacher, or something like that. This is... intense?"

"I know", she sighed, "But I have realized that most of our problems are somewhere connected to our childhood experiences. I wanted to figure out what and how it works. That curiosity lead me into this proffession", she finished.

"But weren't you a maths major?"

"I never finished my graduation" she pointed out. I mentally cursed, I was the reason she didnt complete her graduation. "Yet, I completed my diploma in 'Psycology', during my first two semisters back in India. So that helped me take up the graduation course in the uniiversity here. Though the subject sounds tough and complicated, I managed to complete them within three semisers. I took few exams with my seniors and completed my graduation a little early. Its just been over five months, since I have started counselling"

"You were a smart student since always, so I am not surprised" I smirked. She just shook her head at me. "but what about higher studies? Dont you want to study further?" I questioned. She remained stuned for a moment at my question. It's definitely because of the way I was before. I never wanted her to study any higher. Because I somehow blamed studies for my insecurity, of loosing Pari. I used to think that if she pursued any further studies she might decide to leave me. Stupid but, my insecurities always got the best of me back then. Not anymore.

"Yeah. I would love that" she whispered, she cleared her throat and added, "After speaking to a few children, I have realized my passion in this field and I would like to explore the depths of it. The school where you thought I worked. I work in the Delinquents campus. Not a job exactly, a mere internship you can say."

"Thats good" I said. After a minute of silence, "So? Do you have any favorite patients of sort?" I asked, trying to make this serious topic light.

"Hm.. No.i wouldn't say my favorite, but Jamie... Te- Mrs.Smith's son, is one I am very concerned about", she said

"what about her son?What appened?"

"Tess's husband was a van driver. He died in a road accident. Burnt alive and Jamie witnessed it. He was just four years old and he just couldn't.... It had an impact on his brain. He stopped talking. When I first met him, he wouldn't speak or let me help. It tok a lot of time and I had to earn his trust, then he started to open up a little. Its just after the therapy, that he started to speak again, normally."

"Oh. That explains a lot", Now I understand, why Mrs.Smith was so scared when she thought her son had witnessed another accident. And why she thought I was so lucky to survive it. "And how long has it been? You know..since her husband's death?" I asked.

"four years. Jamie will be eight in a month, and thats exactly when his dad died. His birthday" she sighed. Her head hung low, I placed my hand on hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze, "you know, I am so proud of you" I said in complete honesty.

A small smiled, a genuine one, appeared on her lips, that melted my heart.

This girl, woman, how could I ever get over her? This talk that I had with her, it not only refreshed me but it lso brought a sense of pride in me for her. I am proud of her. More than anyone else.

Sure there are a lot others who are doing a lo of much greater things. But for me Pari will always be an exception. SHe will always be my number one. She will always be my best and she will always be... mine.

The talk. I smirked at the thought.