Mine, To Hold And Behold

Chapter 13

I took a little while longer to calm my rising temper. I was still mad at her. I could understand the judgments that others passed on our way, when we were together. And I can contemplate how difficult it had been for her, to cope up with all that kind of bullsh*t, that others fed her and how pressurized she always felt, in our relationship. But I never, not even in my dreams, thought that She would give up on us. She was the stronger one among us both. She was the one who held on to the last strings of our relationship even when I faltered a bit. I just couldn't wrap my head around the idea of her loosing all hope on 'us'.

When I heard she was getting married, I thought she was doing it to spite me, or for the sake of her father or for any god damn reason, but I never once thought that she gave up on me. It never occurred to me that she might be over me. Because that intense was her love for me. God! I still remember how crazy she was for me.

Keeping her happy was not at all difficult for me. A sweet toffee, a simple text, a small peck on her cheek and a single flower, any flower, were enough to make her day. It was always these little things that bought up a smile onto her face and that spark in her eyes. She loved everything I did for her, the smallest of smallest gestures would make her fall hard for me each and every day.

She would blush every time I intertwine our hands in public. She was never keen on PDA. Though back in our country, PDA was a strict 'no-no', young couples would often sneak into the bushes of parks and gardens to have their little romance. But Pari never allowed such things. She would blush whenever I mentioned something about PDA.

Huh! Those were incredible days. Now when I think back to those memories, I miss them. I miss how I used to make her blush, smile and laugh, so easily. How I would please with very slight efforts. How I would sneak into her bedrooms at night just to cuddle with her and she would transform from that shy girl into a minx and tease me, whenever she got a chance. I miss all those nights when she left me alone with hard-on's.

Her craziness, her feistiness, her shyness, her devotion, all her emotions were something that I adorned. I fell in love with her each day, every day and more. She made my day colorful and lively. I cant believe she just defined our time together as, 'beautiful', beautiful wouldn't even begin to describe what we had. Others might think it is exaggerated but others haven't lived it like I did.

I can't forget those days. Nor I can get over her.

I walked through the front door and hung my coat on the hanger beside the door, and walked in. All the men were in the living room with serious expressions, except Salim of coure. That i***t was smirking.

"What have you done now?" my dad asked in a bored tone. The girls might have heard his question because they came into the living room. Pari was still in her track pants and t shirts. Her hair was pulled back into a high pony tail and she had this scowl on her face. I narrowed my eyes at her, Is she seriously mad at me? Despite the scowl, she did look adorable, but I maintained a straight face and challenged her look. Her scowl turned into a full on glare and I maintained my stance without squirming, successfully.

A throat cleared and bought my attention back to the crowd, I sighed, "Look everyone. Nothing happened, so stop with the staring contest" I said, but no one seemed convinced with it.

"It didn't look like nothing when Pari marched in furiously wanted to break the house into pieces", Salim said. I glared at him, he didn't have to add those details right now, he just shrugged at me.

"Look" Mr. Sharma got up from the recliner he was previously sitting on, "I am really tired and I have had more than enough drama for today. Can you both please tune it down for tonight. I need to rest" he said and walked off towards his room muttering a good night.

"Behave kids. I don't want any drama either" he sighed and walked off too.

"looks like its just us, tonight" Salim said. "Good thing we don't have to sleep with that snoring machine" he sighed. That scumbag Noel slept like a corpse and snored like a train. Salim and I didnt catch a glimpse of sleep all night, because of his snoring. We were on the verge on comitting a homicide last night. I practically saved Pari from a wrecking marriage, because, considering, she was a light sleeper, she couldnt have lasted a night with him. Though I would never let that happen, anyway. Still, I saved her and here she was scowling at me.

"Hey" a squeal escaped from Anya, "How about a Camp-in night?" she asked completely excited.

"A what?" Pari asked.

"A Camp-in Night" Anya said as if it was the obvious thing. When we all gave her confused looks, she explained, "When I was a kid, I always wanted to go camping so badly, but I was never allowed to. So my cousins and I came up with this idea" she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes,

"And there goes my plan on having a peaceful night, down the drain" Salim muttered but still shrugged nonetheless, and so did Pari and I.

******

Anya's idea of camp-in meant that, the camping area was their bedroom, since it was the largest beside the one, our fathers occupied. And the tent was a makeshift of the duvets. Anya's excitement was contagious, soon we all were completely into the idea of 'Camp-in'.

Anya and her cousins had to sneak out from their rooms and go into their elder cousin's room hiding from their elders to 'Camp-in'. Because the opposite sexes weren't allowed to stay all night in the same room. Right now, Anya convinced all of us to switch off all the lights and talk in hushed whispers because anytime the elders might wake up and catch us red handed. We lighted a couple of candles, and turned on the lights from our cell phones.

"Dude! we need more pillows" Salim said in a hushed whisper, seriously involved in the act. Though I was inwardly chuckling I played along too and whispered back, "Then lets go and get them from our room" I said.

He nodded and tip toed to the door. He slowly opened the door and it made a creaking noise in that pin drop silence, "Shh" Anya scowled, Salim caught his ears and apologized, and we both silently tip toed to our room across. Salim lead the way and I followed, he continued the act, even though we were out of Anya's supervision, and that's when I realized that this tough guy was smitten with that woman. He was already head over heels for her and had no idea about it. His serious involvement in such a silly childish game, just because Anya insisted, was enough to prove the point. I felt happy for him. He did deserve a woman like her.

"Dude, what are you doing?" he whisper yelled. "Get the pillows and get going" he said and I quickly caught three pillows and followed him back into our camping area.

The tent was set up and the girls were already inside, we placed the pillows one next to the other and made a make shift mattress and got comfortable.

"Hmm... I feel like ten again"Pari said with a huge grin, she pulled her knees to her chest and rest her chin on it. "Now what?" she asked with excitement.

"Now we either tell ghost stories or play a game" Anya replied folding her legs and sitting Indian style,

"I know a few ghost stories" Salim butted in, lying flat on his stomach pulling himself up on his elbows and placing his chin on top of his hand. He was facing Anya and I was sitting in front of Pari.

"Really?" she asked and he just nodded his head excitedly grinning like a kid who announced he had seen mickey mouse.

"hey, don't you think we are a little too old for ghost stories?" Pari said with a straight face. But her eyes gave away the fear that she was trying to mask in. I rolled my eyes,

"Too proud to admit that you are scared of them?" I teased, she narrowed her eyes at me, before she could come up with a reply, I turned to Anya, "Lets forget the ghost stories, for your sake", she gave a questioning look, "Or else you will have to deal with a lot of snuggling later tonight. And trust me when I say this, it isn't pretty".

"Oh" Anya bit her lip to contain her chuckle, and Pari let out a animalistic growl towards me. Whenever Pari watched a horror movie or a soap opera, she would phone me endless times and beg me to accompany her in sleep. I still remember once, she made me check her room, to see if there was a serial killer hidden under her bed, just after she watched a thriller. And the snuggling afterwards, was nowhere near pretty. She would grip my skin in a deadly way with her long manicured nails that it left marks the next day. And the next day she would be too embarrassed to admit that the marks were made by her, and blame it all on her imaginary pet cat. I shook my head at that memory and looked up at a scowling Pari.

"Then lets play a game" Salim said. "Yup" I said leaning sideways and propping myself up on one elbow, my left ankle propped on my right knee.

'Okay, how about truth or dare?" she asked,

"too childish" I said. "How about, 'Never had I ever'?" I asked

"we don't have any booze" Salim frowned, and Anya squealed an 'Oh' before getting up and going out of the tent, leaving us all confused. She came back after a minute,

"Will this work?" she showed up a bottle of Vodka. Salim and I straightened up at once. We were shocked was an understatement.

"Where did you get this?" Salim asked.

"Shh" Anya silenced him, "It was there in the bar cabinet of the master bedroom. I took it earlier" she shrugged,

"Why did you take it?" He whisper yelled with a disapproving look on his face. I took the bottle from her and examined it. It was sealed and looked good. "You aren't drinking" he said in a serious tone.

"But-" Anya started, "But nothing. You aren't drinking. Have you ever tasted alcohol before? You can't deal with a hangover. You are not drinking, and same goes with Pari" he said with a tone of finality. The same tone that I often heard my father use, during making deals or signing agreements.

Both the girls pouted but Salim remained unfazed. Salim's phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his boxer short's pockets.

"No reception in the middle of woods" she said with a pout.

"One second honey, this will take a second" he said engrossed in typing a text.

Honey? I think I know a way of making this work. I looked at Anya who was pouting and I moved closer to her and signaled her to lean in, she complied and gave her ear to me, "You could persuade him into anything, if you knew the right way to do it. He is a guy after all. You know what I mean?" I whispered to her and winked. She smiled at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I'm done" Salim closed his mobile. "No more reception in camping" he said keeping it inside his pocket.

"Salim Miya" Anya addressed him in Urdu, in a hushed tone , that I never heard her use before, Salim looked at her with hooded eyes. Being a guy, I could easily understand the thoughts running behind those looks. And more over, he himself mentioned to me that he gets turned on when he is spoken to in Urdu, as it has become too rare for him, living in New York. "Vaise hoon toh mein bhi khaandani ladki par-" She lowered her head and looked through her lashes, "iss ek bar meri yeh choti si qwaish qubool kijiye na." she said and fluttered her eye lashes.

"Mohatarma A-apko samajh nahi aa raha hai. A-aap ise samhal nahi payengi" he managed to reply in Urdu but I could say he was too stunned and was trying hard to gather himself,

"Aap hai na hamein samhal ne ke liye", she said Salim continued to stare at her with that lust-filled look and Anya blushed a deep crimson.

After what felt like forever, he cleared his throat and said, "Fine, lets play this game", he said looking everywhere except at her. We all got comfortable again, by leaning into the pillows we bought.

"I will go first" Pari chirped clapping her hands. "Never have I ever..... farted publicly" she said and giggled, looking at each and everyone. Everyone shook their heads and 'Nope' and 'Never's' followed.

"That was childish, I will go next", Salim said, "Never have I ever.... kissed a guy" he said with a smirk and looked at the girls,

"Never" I said and joined him in smirking at the girls. Obviously they were very uncomfortable talking about this. They squirmed under our gaze, Pari was the first one to break, she groaned out loudly and took the bottle into her hands. She took a deep breathe and lifted the bottle up and kissed its mouth gulping down the transparent liquid, She removed her mouth from the bottle and coughed a couple of times. I took away the bottle and Anya patted her back soothingly,

"Cool" Salim nodded at her, "So.. who was it, Pari?" he asked with a smirk similar to mine. She rolled her eyes

"What makes you think that it was just one guy?" she smirked back at us, wiping off my smirk completely. I narrowed my eyes at her, What the fu*k! If she was trying to annoy me then she was definitely succeeding at it.

"Okay!!!" Salim said before I could respond, "Your turn Anya" Salim offered her the bottle. She looked panicked, gazing at the bottle, "tsk tsk, you were soooo excited about getting drunk, panic doesn't suit you honey" he said shaking his head,

"Wait a minute, you kissed a guy before?" Pari asked, really surprised,

"Yep she did" Salim replied for her with a underlying excitement,

"Who?" Pari asked curiously. Even I was curious, but the mischievous smirk on Salim's face is implying something,

"Go on and tell them Anya" Salim smirked, she just blushed at that and looked away, "Tell them how you kissed your employer" he added,

"Hey" Anya protested, but it was weak, because Salim was grinning widely.

"Wait a minute, you both kissed?" Pari asked,

"Twice" Salim added, and Anya face palmed herself,

"It isn't how it sounds. It was an accident", she whined,

"Once can be an accident honey, twice cannot" Pari said crossing her arms, "You have nothing to say?" she asked facing me,

"I have nothing!" I said shaking my head, keeping a straight face, though it was becoming impossible with Anya profusely blushing and Salim grinning like a maniac. "Is this the part where I threaten him that if he breaks your heart then I break his bones?" I ask Anya, maintaining a serious face. This made her blush more.

"Oh my god" Pari exclaimed closing her mouth with both her hands. I rolled my eyes at that, Seriously!

"I don't want to play this game anymore", Anya said trying to suppress the blush with anger.

"Tsk Tsk" Salim shook his head, "Can't back down now, honey", he lifted up the bottle, "Drink up" he said. Anya reluctantly took the bottle and gulped the Vodka like an expert.

"Cool" I appreciated her for not coughing as it was her first time.

"Okay" Anya wiped her mouth and cleared her throat, "Never have I ever, I mean before today, I never tasted alcohol"

"Ooh" Salim took the bottle and tipped it upside down taking a huge swig, I followed.

"Well," Pari took the bottle from my hands and lifted it to her lips and took a long sip.

The game continued like this for a while, which included many stupid, funny and embarrassing situations. The bottle got emptied very quick than we assumed, as Salim and I took larger sips than the girls. Though Anya and Pari seemed a hesitant a little at the beginning, they turned into real fun eventually, as the alcohol kicked in.

We all were laughing loudly when the door burst open and a booming vice echoed in our camp site, "What the hell's going on in here?" We came out of our tent, stumbling and swaying, we stood in a row.

My dad and Mr. Sharma stood their with disapproving looks on their faces, we stood in front of them with our head hung low. All of a sudden I felt like a kid who got caught with his hand in a cookie jar.

"Anya and Pari go to Raghu's room. You both will sleep their tonight" My dad said and the girls didn't waste a second and scurried away. I pouted at Pari's retreating back and Salim had the same pout. "And you two, clean this mess and go back to sleep. Don't you dare step out of this room, until tomorrow"

"I want to pee" Salim whined lifting up his pinkie finger. I chuckled at him,

"You are free to do it in your pants" My dad yelled which shut him up. This made me whimper, I didn't want my Dada yelling at me.

"Dada! I want to sleep with you" I said extending my hands. I remember it like yesterday when I used to share my bed with my dad. He was rarely home but whenever he was he would hold me while I slept.

"What?" he looked taken aback.

"What what? Came on, I want to cuddle. The Chinese dragon will capture me or else" I cried, the memory of the Chinese dragon, that haunted my dreams for so many years, bought tears to my eyes. It had two heads and eight eyes. That brown and orange dragon had huge fangs and wings. I was on the verge of tears, "I want my Dadaaaa" I cried, literally and ran towards my father who was staring at me with open mouth, I threw my hands around his stomach and hugged him laying my head on his chest. "Dont leave me alone. The dragon will come get me" I said, wiping my nose onto his t-shirt.

I know I am a grown man and I shouldn't cry but a father will always be a father to the son. And right now I need my father to protect me. From the dragon.

I heard sniffing and sobbing from behind me and looked around to see that Salim was wiping his dry eyes. Though he didn't have tears falling down, I knew he felt for me. I extended a hand towards him "Come on. Dada will protect you too", with that he came running and threw his hands around my dada's shoulders, almost knocking him down.

"I love you Dada" I said grinning at my dad. He had a few gray hair but he didn't look a day older than thirty.

"I love you too Dada" Salim said kissing my dada's cheek.

"Hey" I protested, "You can't kiss him. Only I can. Muuuu" I was about to plant my lips against his cheek when I was yanked away. I stumbled back and stood again,

"That's enough" Mr. Sharma said pursing his lips. I pouted,

"Why Mr. Sharma? Why do you always do this? Are you against kissing or something? You don't allow me to kiss my Pari and now you wont allow me to kiss my Dada, too? Why? Are you jealous that I am not kissing you? Because I will, if you insist. Mmmmhhhhh" I was about to kiss him when he caught my shoulders and kept me distant.

"God ! Are they always like this when they are drunk? Remind me not to allow my daughter anywhere near him when he is drunk" he said.

"Hey" Salim protested. He was still hugging my dada's tummy. Lucky Bastard! "We aren't drunk" he said.

"Yup" I said placing my hands on my hips.

"Yeah yeah! And the earth is flat" my Dada muttered. "Time for bed" he announced, pulling Salim with him towards bed. I was also being pulled towards the other side of the bed. Salim slumped against the pillows and Mr. Sharma was trying to make me lay down.

"I don't want to sleep" I said as my head hit the pillow. "Dada!" I called,

"What is it kiddo?" My dad asked with a sigh, turning the lights off.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked. I didn't want my Dada to be mad at me. I want him to ruffle my hair and tuck me in. I miss him.

"No. Why would you think that?" he asked. A warm hand stroked my hair. I smiled catching the hand, it was warm just like I remember. I placed the hand under my cheek and laid my head on it. "I am sorry" he whispered.

"I miss you" I said ignoring his apology,

"I miss you too, son" he said.

******

I woke up as someone groaned beside me. "I hate hangovers" Salim muttered beside me. I ignored him and snuggled into the pillow, blocking the sunlight. My nose buried deep into the pillow. It smelled unusual. Instead of my usual musky scented cologne, it smelled.. vanilla. I frowned at that. Where did that come from? It definitely isn't Salim's. I am familiar with his cologne, then whose odor is this. I lifted my face up and rolled over to look at the surroundings. Holy hell! what am I doing in Pari's room?

I quickly got up and looked around. And soon the memories of last night flashed in front of my eyes.

The 'Camp-In'. The tent, which was now, unseen. The game. Vodka. My dad and Mr. Sharma. And....

"Oh Fu*K" I groaned and buried my face in my palms, "Why? Why" I let out a few muffled profanities.

"Salim got up from his deep sleep groaning, "Don't yell" he caught his head. I quickly snapped my eyes to him.

"You" I got on my knees and towered over his slumped form, "are an i***t. I blame you for all this" I pointed my finger at him, almost poking his nose

"What are you talking about?" he asked looking through squinted eyes. I had a taste of hangover once, I sensed that the light flooding through the windows must not be helping him reduce the ache. "And why don't you have a hangover like I do?" he narrowed his eyes. I rolled my eyes and sat back on the bed.

"Stop whining. We didn't even have the entire bottle of it."

"That s**t was strong man" he said falling back and groaning into the pillow.

Soon the door opened and the last person I wanted to see stood in front of it.

Why did I have to become so emotional last night? Why? I behave like a hormonal pregnant whining house wife when I get drunk. Why? My mouth loses all its control as soon as the alcohol kicks in. And Why? It was not even that much of alcohol anyway. I hardly had half of it. I could have handle more alcohol than that. It usually takes a lot of alcohol than that.

He looked at me with a faint smile n his lips, and didn't move an inch from that place. It was as if he was silently asking for permission to come in. I gave the tiniest nod and he entered into the room. Though he was towards the other side of the bed and Salim's bod was lying in between us, I couldn't shake up the feeling, that he was violating my personal space.

"I have a good news for you" he said with a smirk. I raised my eyebrows at him. As soon as his eyes met mine, I looked away, remembering my last night's antics.

Chinese dragon? Scared? For fu*ks sake, I called him 'Dada'. I never called him that since third grade. uggggh!

"I convinced Pari to come home with us", he said, I looked up at him in confusion. What is he talking about. Wasn't he here to talk about last night?, "back to India" he said sensing my confusion. Before I could reply to that, he came around the bed to my side, actually violating my personal space and placed a hand on my shoulder. With a faint smile, "I would like to make up for all those years I lost with you. If Pari is what will make you happy, then be it", he removed his hand and I internally sighed. I am not comfortable with the unusual physical contact between me and my dad. Not when I am sober at least. "Since you think I took her away from you, now I will only bring her back into your life", he said and I gaped at him. I opened and closed my mouth like a gold fish in a fu*king fish tank. I wanted to say a lot. I wanted to ask what I said last night. I wanted to know whether I offended him or accused him of anything. And if I did, I wanted to tell him that I dint mean it and none of it was his fault. I would never blame him for how my life turned out. Because I am what I chose to be. I don't want my dad or any one else to take responsibility for my fu*ked up life. I wanted to say a lot of things but all I could say was,

"Thanks dad" I choked out the words.

"Anything for you, son" he smiled and walked away.

TRANSLATION OF THE CONVERSATION IN URDU,

"Salim!" "I know, I do come from a well reputed family-" She lowered her head and looked through her lashes, "Can't you just let me have a little fun, just this once?" she said and fluttered her eye lashes.

"Y-you don't understand. You can't handle this." he managed to say,

"You are here to handle me, aren't you?"

OKAY... SO THERE IT IS.

I AM NOT TOO GOOD AT URDU. AND I SUCK AT TRANSLATION, I KNOW. I TRIED TO BUILD UP THE CONVERSATION AS PER MY KNOWLEDGE OF THAT LANGUAGE (WHICH ISN'T MUCH). ALL I AM SAYING IS I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF HURTING ANYONE'S FEELINGS.

SO FORGIVE ME FOR MY ERRORS.

DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS. I DON'T MIND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.

And What's going on between Anya and Salim? WELL, THAT IS FOR ME TO KNOW AND YOU ALL TO GUESS. KIDDING! AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS RAGHU'S STORY, AS HE DISCLOSES THE TRUTH AND LEARNS ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP, EVENTUALLY YOU ALL WILL ALSO KNOW. THIS STORY IS IN RAGHU'S POV. SO STAY TUNED TO KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

What about Pari's POV? I AM THINKING ABOUT IT. THOUGH IT WON'T BE ANY TIME SOONER. I WILL DEFINITELY WORK ON A PARI'S POV CHAPTER. JUST MAKE IT MORE CLEAR AND LESS CONFUSING.

ANY OTHER QUERIES LET ME KNOW. AND SALIM'S PIC IS UPLOADED. I HAVE SELECTED ARJUN KAPOOR FOR SALIM. I DON'T KNOW WHY, I JUST PICTURE ARJUN, EVERY TIME I THINK OF SALIM. SO THERE IT IS.

DON'T FORGET TO HIT THE STAR.

GOOD NIGHT. AND ALL THE BEST FOR THOSE WHO ARE HAVING EXAMINATIONS TO DEAL WITH.