Chapter 22

Kajal was studying for her upcoming paper. She hadn’t turned the page in the last couple of hours.

The turmoil in her heart didn’t let her rest. The visit to KB’s home, the moments spent there, and then Ganpat kaka’s call… all did nothing to reduce her anxiety. But, besides that, she had the sense… some premonition of something going wrong somewhere…

What was it? Why was her heart beating rapidly… it was the same feeling she had that morning when her aai had hugged her for the last time. She shuddered.

Maami and Poonam were away shopping, and she had handed over the credit card and choice of clothes for the wedding to them. That they were ecstatic was an understatement. Maami was on the seventh heaven, and Kajal knew they would go overboard, to her utmost dislike. But she got a few hours of solitude, and that was important.

She saw the volume she had left to study, and her heart fell… how on earth could she appear for the exam? The exam for which she had her heart set on for ages didn’t hold much appeal anymore… nothing did, except for her heart which yearned to be with that enigma called KB. She longed to spend time with him and melt into his warmth… She knew by now he was struggling with something. She hoped she could help him find peace.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Mr. Mehta. Why was he calling?

“Hello, Mr. Mehta…”

“Kajal madam… KB Sir… he… he is…” Mr. Mehta was panting, and her heart beats increased.

“What is Mr. Mehta… what about KB? I can’t make out…”

“He got into… ac…accident…”

She dropped her book and stood as panic seized her. “Is… is he OK?”

“He is in surgery and… can you come here? I can’t reveal this to his grandmother… I have to take care of the media…”

“Where is he?” she already gathered her purse and the house keys to drop them with her neighbor.

“Winston Hospital… he is on level 4. I have informed them only to allow you… so bring an ID… take the service elevator. I have arranged that as well… I will see you upstairs.”

She didn’t wait to disconnect as she rushed out towards the auto stand. The diminishing sunlight resonated with her mood… She had lost too much. Was she a bad omen? Her maami had once said in a fit of rage that Kajal was unlucky and had the arrangement of her fortune stars was inappropriate. It brought calamity to whoever was associated with her. Kajal had often wondered if it was true. Her aai had left then her baba had been into that ‘accident’. Krunal was struggling… and now KB.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized how important KB had become to her in a short period taking the place of everything else in her heart. She did not doubt that she was in love with him. But she had brought bad luck to him… what would he now think?

Whatever it was, she only hoped he was safe as she desperately prayed to Bappa.

She reached the hospital and was spellbound to see the sea of scribes gathered outside the main gates. She rushed towards the service elevator, and a waiting ward boy took her upstairs.

Mr. Mehta was waiting outside the surgical ward, tension written on his face.

“Mr. Mehta… how’s it going?” she asked.

“Kajal madam, the surgery is almost done with… that’s what I heard a while ago. I have no idea how he is. The police have been handled, but the press got wind of it… you have to tell his grandmother… before she gets to know from the press. I have the driver waiting… please go to the estate.” Mr. Mehta rubbed his fatigued face, and Kajal felt for him too.

She only nodded and rushed towards the waiting car. How on earth was she going to console the fragile older woman when she herself was a mess.

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“Come beta… what a surprise at this hour… all OK?” Ajji called out to her, adjusting her heavy-rimmed glasses. From the looks of it the lady had been unceremoniously woken up. Her tousled hair and wrinkled cotton saree spoke volumes about her fragile state, but the glow in her opaquing eyes was something Kajal looked for. She rushed to the couch and sat at ajji’s feet, placing her head on the woman’s knew.

Though she had tried her best, it wasn’t possible to hold back tears especially as ajji caressed her head.

“What happened beta?”

“Ajji… KB has been in an accident… and I am scared for him… ajji…” Kajal cried amidst fear gripping her.

“Beta…” Ajji’s calm voice surprised her. “…our Krishiv is strong… nothing will happen to him. He has you now to worry about him, to look forward to spending a life with… I am glad you are with us, dear…”

“…But ajji…”

“…No buts, dear. I won’t be able to do anything, but you should be in the hospital. Don’t worry about me here. I am stronger than I look… its just that I have always been worried about Krishiv… he didn’t deserve anything that he has gone through.” Ajji sighed, her eyes filling.

Kajal rechecked her phone. There was no call from Mr. Mehta, which meant KB was still in surgery. What was happening? She wanted nothing more than to rush to be with him.

“Kajal…? Promise me one thing…” Ajji suddenly spoke.

“ye…yes ajji?”

“Promise me you won’t leave his side come what may… My Krishiv has lost so much… his mom, dad, friends, and being in this industry has alienated him from us too… he may be a part of showbiz, but he is all alone and lonely. I have never been his anchor whenever he needed me, but I saw how he looked at you… Kajal, I have never seen him happy ever since he came to live with us years ago….so promise me…” Ajji’s voice cracked as she raised a trembling hand towards Kajal.

Kajal held her hand and only nodded. Right then, her phone buzzed, and Mr. Mehta informed her KB was out of surgery in the ICU.

Kajal soon left for the hospital, wondering the strange turn her life had taken ever since she had met KB. Her life had never been a  bed of certainties, but this kind of inconsistancy was killing her. Her anxiety was at its peak. She texted Poonam about the situation. As expected, there was no reply… such conceited people… she huffed.

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Kajal sat on the hard steel stool next to KB, lying on the bed, all patched up. It looked like a sea of white, and his beautiful eyes were swollen shut. They had to do a craniotomy to reduce the pressure in the brain, and though he was out of danger, he was still in an induced coma.

The doctors had said that any neurological Issue would be known later, probably after he regained consciousness. His arms were fractured, but fortunately, the car driver was an expert and had put the brakes as soon as he got the hint of KB falling, and KB being actively into fitness, had tried his best to cushion his fall to save his head…

The doctors added that anyone else in his place would not have had it so easy. Kajal shuddered, and the very thought brought tears flowing down her cheeks. She had elected to stay back in the hospital, and Mr. Mehta had left after assigning a couple of bodyguards outside the private ICU. Kajal was allowed only after lots of pleading and after scrubbing and wearing the ICU gear. She didn’t mind wearing even the astronaut suit if it meant she could be next to KB.

Since when did KB become such an essential element in her life that she felt her breath halt totally… at the very thought of something happening to him? She shook her head. No, she had to be practical. She couldn’t let him know her true feelings at any cost. She didn’t want to make him feel oblidged… she knew by now he was a kind-hearted man.

Sitting amidst the antiseptic odor, she fell into a disturbed sleep with the instrumental beeps for a lullaby.

Somewhere in the night, she heard a creak… she opened her eyes a bit, trying to gauge the uncomfortable position she was in.

What was that sound between the monitoring beeps? She slowly moved her now stiff body and saw a silhouette of a man staring at KB. He held a …OMG a knife.

She screamed, startling the man who probably hadn’t realized her presence in the dark. Then, without thinking, she ran towards the man and pushed him away. She continued to scream…

“Help… is anyone out there?”

The man dropped the medicinal tray crashing the liquids all around, and Kajal waited in fear as the man stood up, his dark shadow heaving angrily, looking for what she thought was the knife. Right then, the door to the private ICU opened, and two burly guards got in. One of them switched on the lights…

Before anyone could react, the shadow in complete black barged out of the window shattering the glass… a trembling Kajal watched in horror at the scene unfolding, something she had only seen on TV. Right before he jumped his hand was exposed and she saw a blur vision of the unmistakable tattoo of the Swastika with the bent handle..

The police arrived soon following the angry doctor and Mr. Mehta, who was ruthlessly roused from his slumber. Fortunately, nothing happened to KB, who was lost into oblivion.

They were wheeled into another room, and Mr. Mehta increased surveillance, and the number of bodyguards beside the police constables gathered to keep a watch… it was now looking like someone was after KB… there were whispers around if the accident was also some kind of a  sinister plot. The man had jumped to his death, the news sending the hospital into a frenzy. So what was the superstar doing at such a downmarket area?

Now that the adrenaline had subsided, Kajal’s heart fell… she sat in the room, her sleep-laden heavy lids forbidden to shut by her as she stared wide-eyed at the man. Internet news was filled with speculations. Krunal sent her a few links. Her poor brother must be worried about her. She had assured him she was fine and asked him to focus on his studies.

As another hour deep into the solitude of the night passed, she sat back on the couch, covering herself with the shawl Mr. Mehta had got her. It was pretty cold. Or maybe the chill she felt in her heart after the incident was seeping into the rest of her body.

Something troubled her, but she couldn’t point out. Sleep was now long gone… she was too worked up to sleep. As she stared at the tiny subtle shadows playing on the ceiling, she replayed the event. Something about that man had caught her attention. There was something familiar about him. But what could be familiar about a thug like that, who preferred to end his life than surrendering to the cops?

She sighed as she tried to catch a couple of winks. Her mind was now a mush with a wide array of intermingled thoughts. Suddenly she remembered her mother. Would that retired ACP know more about her aai? Even if her mother didn’t want to return, she would be happy to see the woman was doing well. At least she was safe…

Suddenly she sat up with a jerk as it struck like a thunderbolt. She remembered very clearly.

The man who was probably an assailant had the swastika tattoo, and Kajal had seen it before… on the hand of the man talking to her mother that evening on Ganpati Vsarjan day years ago. She clutched at her chest. What was happening? Was this a mere coincidence? No, the swastika, too, had the bent hand. So how was KB linked to this? First the musical lighter and now the tattoo… too.

She remembered reading somewhere, ‘there is no such thing as a coincidence.

Right then, KB stirred… probably not yet conscious but in pain. She buzzed the night doctor on duty, and he checked the vitals. She was relieved to know KB was now stable and out of danger. He would sleep away the anesthesia and wake up gradually. The doctor and the nurse left the room to its silent self.

As she tried to settle again on the couch, she heard him again. KB was whispering something. Was he in pain? This was more than just pain.. he was in a nightmare. She saw him try to flail his hands which were now in a cast. He could hurt himself. She rushed towards him and held him, whispering into his ears that all would be fine.

“Gyan… don’t drive so fast buddy… Ruhaan will throw-up and who is this dame yaar… she is trying to get into my pants…right from ‘President disco-club’. Gyaan look out…lookout…aaaaa…Oh God… Gyan? Ruhaan? Oh no… no… no… it cant be…. No… I dodnt kill them… so sorry… so sorry… ”

KB moved in his nightmare, tears rivulated down his palloured cheeks, and she held him. What was he talking about?

“KB it’s going to be ok… don’t worry… Just recover. For our sakes, just recover… please, come back to me… please,” She whispered into his ear, and suddenly he went still, slipping into a deep slumber.

She continued to hold him close more for herself than for him. He was in so much of pain… physically, emotionally…. From whatever had happened in his life. As her eyes welled up for the nth time and she prayed for his recovery and peace.

As you cement your place in my memories,

Accelerating its growth, snowballing everyday

The earth and wind and sun may change territories

Your imprints on my soul are there to stay.

©priyagole

Chapter 21

KB walked back as he watched the tiny version of Kajal get into the cab. He felt like a piece of his heart had been taken away. No… he couldn’t… he had no right to feel the emotion. He knew Kajal felt something for him… maybe a tiny bit liked him as well.

But he didn’t deserve a pure soul like her. So he tried his best to stay away. But he couldn’t help it… Kajal had only been kind, and every gesture of her, whether caring for a drooping plant or preparing a quick lunch for him… she had cemented her way into his heart.

He walked into his bedroom and lay on the soft bed staring at the intricately carved false ceiling. This was his prominent extravagance in this house. He had wanted to look at something appealing rather than a blank ceiling reflecting his life. He was KB the small screen superstar for the world, but in reality, he was lonely… always had been.

He decided to take a little nap before getting back to reading scripts. As he turned to dig his head into the pillow, his eyes fell on the Zone-in visiting card he had kept when he had come in to change clothes earlier. Sleep all forgotten he remembered the day he had contacted the investigative agency a year ago.

Last year, he had been shooting for a hit TV series when he had received a package from the current owners of the Mudh Island plot where he had once lived. He had the dream to buy back the entire land and some more along with his father’s factory in Virar. However, he was falling short of capital because the factory was a dilapidated haunted unit, and he had to involve and bribe municipality guys. That would call for attention and link him to his father and everything in the past. So he had let it pass for the time being and focused on buying land in Madh island. He had bought land near the waterfront and it was still a vacant plot. So he had to buy his old home property close to it, which was now with a bureaucrat.

KB’s father had purchased the vintage bungalow during an auction years before he was born. How the man had acquired the money for that was still a mystery. He had seen his father live extravagantly and when he grew old enough, he realized his father had been busy with his alcohol and women in and out of his life.

He had always wondered what his father did for a living… was it textiles as the textile factory was their only source of income. His father had come from nowhere. He didn’t know his paternal grandparents or anyone else. He remembered the frequent phone calls towards the last days where his father would fight and abuse. Then in a fit of rage, he would throw away the bottles… in the last year before his death, they barely had servants in a house which at one time buzzed with them… He knew they had gone bankrupt, and that was what coaxed his father to pull the trigger on himself.

KB had been in touch with the owners whenever the house changed hands, hoping to buy him out someday. However, the current owner, though cordial, had no intention to sell the place unless someone offered him something extraordinary, which was beyond KB’s means at the moment. The owner, however, had promised to ask KB first before he sold it though.

Last year, when the house was remodeled, the current owner found a leather pouch containing receipts and bills and a ledger hidden in the basement. He had, as a goodwill gesture, handed it over to KB.

KB had been through it all… they were all hotel bills for different five-star hotels amounting to lakhs, and the ledger has transaction details. In addition, there were a few initials commonly next to the credits.

One name, which was an alias, stood out, however. It only said ‘the rain’. Some names, including this one, had the Swastika symbol next to them with one of the bars bent.

Nothing had made sense to KB, and he decided to find out more. He had taken the help of the investigating agency, which Mr. Mehta recommended when he said he had to trace a long-lost friend. But, of course, the NDAs were airtight, and the agency couldn’t reveal anything and face his ire. He had handed them all the information and numerous tidbits he could remember.

Then for a month or two, he had followed up, but they hadn’t faced success. Instead, he had pushed it under the carpet given his PR voes and work commitments.

But suddenly they had got back after almost a year… what could it be? Did they find something?

He placed a call to the man who had come to meet him and the agency owner.

“Hello Raj, it’s KB… what was it?”

“Hello Sir, we have to meet… there is some information I have unearthed, and I can’t even share with my colleagues… So I have to see you and you alone…”

An hour later, they both sat in a café, in the corner most seat, which offered the needed privacy. KB was skeptical about being seen in the public, but the down-market area was perfect for his camouflage. The likes of him didn’t visit the place infested with flies and the constant rotten fish odor.

“So what was so important? Could you get any information about those bills and the ledger?”

“I am not sure, sir, if the information I have is credible enough, given my source.” Raj looked scared and roved his eyes around.

“What do you mean?” what was so scary in a few hotel bills, KB wondered.

“Sir…” Raj spoke softly, and KB had to strain to hear. He bent his head further despite the foul-smelling smoking odor emanating from Raj’s breath. The guy was killing his lungs. “…Sir, I hadn’t received any kind of information for your stuff and had closed the file. But a month ago, I was following a man for his wife, who is our client. They are in a divorce settlement case, and she wanted dirt on his wayward ways. So he entered this hotel on the outskirts of Pune, and the logo sounded familiar. As I waited behind him in the lobby, it struck me that the logo was against one of the bills you had provided, but the name was altered… I remembered because the original name was Hotel Indra Plaza, but it was now ‘In drop Plaza’ with the same logo tilted… it was a huge drop of water model with a building in it which was unique, so I remembered….”

“…You mean to say the hotel names are now changed?”

“It’s possible sir. So I followed this man, and I saw he was taken to a special suit and very soon a young girl barely out of her teens walked into his room. There was a ruffian-like man with her, and another one waited back in a car. I don’t have to tell you what was going on in the room. I hid in the shadows… and I am very good at camouflage…. I heard screams and wails from the room. A while later, the man laughed ad left the room, and a little later, a doctor rushed to the room. After a while, the girl limped out all bandaged and she was taken by the service elevator back to the car.

I bribed a waiter there, and later, he spilled the beans that a part of the hotel was meant to supply girls to these men who had violent tendencies and had wanted more than a lay…I was also told the group of suppliers aka pimps was way too dangerous….”

KB couldn’t believe what he heard. Nothing made sense, however. “What is the relationship of this incident with those bills?”

“Sir, these activities were rampant during the period mentioned in those bills. The same group was involved… they were silent for a few years but have restarted operations stealthily right under the noses of the Law Enforcement. Besides, I am told these girls go there with their free will or perhaps are too scared to file complaints…”

“So… then…?”

“Sir I checked for other hotels too and found two others with similar name changes. I worked in one of them for a week and befriended an old guy… from housekeeping. He revealed something sinister too that had happened years ago, however, currently, that hotel was clean. But the owner of that hotel had kept a backup in the custody of this man. It was CCTV footage from those days. The old man hadn’t spoken about it because the topic never came up, but I had to pay him, and a few malts did the trick… he gave me the footage, and I made a copy of it…”

Raj pushed the pen drive towards KB. “Sir, I went through… it doesn’t have clear faces to incriminate anyone as such…, but there was something that caught my eye.”

“What… what is it?”

“All those men, including the ones I saw in that Pune hotel, had the Swastika tattoo on their arms… the one with the bent arm.”

“Oh… you mean… my father had something to indict these people?”

“Sir… I don’t know how true this must be, but I enlarged a picture from the footage… it took me two days, but here it is… this man looks like your father. The one, ordering the guys in the tattoo…”

All blood drained from KB’s face as he saw the picture. There was no doubt the man in charge was his father. What the hell… ? His head reeled, and he had to grip it in his palms.

“Sir… may I suggest something?”

KB didn’t react, too stunned to fathom anything.

“Sir… please stay away from all this… pretend you never heard about it. It won’t bring back the dead or stop anything. These guys have political clout and are dangerous…”

“Why do… why do you say that…? We can give this to the police…”

“Sir… don’t ever do that. The waiter who spoke to me in that Pune Hotel has gone missing… no one knows his whereabouts… and the old man who gave me this footage…”

“Wha… what happened to him…?” KB asked with a pounding heart.

“…that old man is dead… fell off the stairs and died instantly… how can it all be a coincidence?”

“But Raj…”

“KB Sir, let it go… destroy this… I only gave this to you because of our commitment, and I keep my word. I am out of this… Let’s not meet again.” Raj stood up and left the place like a breeze.

KB stood on wobbly legs and walked towards the main road where he could catch a cab.

As he passed the innumerable hawkers screaming out offers on their wares, the hair at the back of his neck pricked. Someone was watching him… he turned around but couldn’t make out. Speeding his steps, he walked fast towards the main road. The signal turned red, and he stood with the other common folk waiting to cross the busy highway to go to the other side from where he could hail a cab. The uncanny sense of being watched refused to go.

His father’s words suddenly rang in his ears from the night before he ended it all. ‘I shall not go down alone, you bastards… I told you I was framed… I didn’t betray you guys… you have to believe me’.  He thought his father had sobbed that night… but given his mood swings those days, his father could do anything.

Someone was watching him for sure…

Suddenly he felt a push from the back and before he could realize it he lost his balance and toppled on the street. The rubber screeched mercilessly as the approaching car tried to break, but it hit him hard, throwing him up, and he crash landed on the car’s bonnet…

The world blurred before him as everything got numbed, and he fell into the dark abyss.

The world isn’t what it seems

The past and the present make the future gleam

Letting go  of the tough veneer and staring into the soul

The only way to retain sanity and not lose control

©priyagole

Chapter 20

They walked into what Kajal felt was a different world. As they stepped out the cab, KB sprinted ahead, rushing through the sharply manicured lawn around his high-rise even as the security guards and the other housekeeping staff looked on. Kajal had to run to keep up with him and could barely observe her surroundings.

On the way to the foyer he was stopped by a man in black overalls and black cap standing next to a security guard.

“Hello KB sir I am from Zone-in investigative agency… we had spoken few months ago about…”

“…ok…Ok… fine. Can we talk later?” KB abruptly shut him.

“But sir, it’s very important that I…” The guy was persistent.

“…I said… I-will-talk-to-you-later…” KB firmly said staring down at the guy and he meekly bowed away.

“Please call me sir… you have the number…”

He walked away outside the compound and Kajal heard the roar of his exiting motor-bike. Why did KB need services of an investigating agency? Was there a serious problem?

The more the time passed she realized she knew practically nothing about the guy with whom she was tying the knot. She remembered some old Hollywood classic where the hugely respected doctor husband of the female protagonist was a serial killer.

She chuckled suddenly at the irony of her situation and KB gave her a look.

They got into the elevator and he pressed number 12. The last floor. Wow that meant she could have a great view, could she? She loved heights and to see the tiny world from there.

KB had withdrawn into his shell and had that mask of indifference back on his face. Her frustration was climbing higher up the ladder and she wanted nothing more than to jerk him back to his senses. He stood like a statue enroute and finally when the elevators opened, he gestured her towards his…. lone house… Gosh the entire floor for him? But of course, he was THE KB.

They stood outside his entrance; the door beautifully carved with tiny brass bells screamed of opulence. There was a security keypad which was covered by a plastic lid. KB slid it up and showed her the codes.

“Its better that you remember them since in less than a fortnight from now you will be here.” He spoke in a neutral tone as the lock clicked open with a musical tone… he turned the iron knob and the thick door finally opened. He stood aside letting her enter the house, before shutting the door.

She walked through the short corridor lined with a couple of his pics, otherwise the walls were blank and lonely…

The corridor opened into the huge drawing room. It had sparce furniture in its corners consisting of a three plus two-seater couch and a center table. There was a dining unit at the far corner of the room and the mother of pearl-colored walls. Here too there was only a single portrait of his on one of the walls while the rest were blank. There were a couple of potted indoor plants but their state of neglect was clear from the drooping leaves.

Kajal couldn’t see anyone or anything wither away. She immediately picked the water filled spray bottle next to the plants and sprayed water on them, using a thick twig to turn around the mud which had dried.

“What do you think you are doing?” KB asked from behind her. She didn’t know when he had come close.

“What do you think KB? This plant needed some tender love and care and that’s what I am providing it.” She answered not looking at him. Her annoyance was now increasing by the moment. She didn’t even know what she was doing here, in his house.

He held her arm and pulled her up. “That’s enough of gardening. These aren’t my plants. Ajji had forced them on me last month. I don’t have the time to nurture them and my housekeeper comes in once a week…”

She jerked her hand away. “Why did you get me here KB? And what was that on the road? I think I deserve to know what happened.” This time she looked at him into his eyes.

He stared at her as she saw the change of emotions in those beautiful eyes before he looked away rubbing his face.

“Let it go Kajal…” he said softly. He started to walk away.

This time she held his hand and turned him towards her. Folding her hands against her chest she waited for her anger to subside. The whooshing of the breeze from an open window was the only sound besides the ticking of the grandfather’s clock which ran through the silence.
“KB this is unfair. I know ours is a contracted union… I get it and I will always respect your privacy as discussed. But I need to know what happened there today. You had called me for lunch… all of a sudden. I thought… we had a moment after the engagement but I realized it was good for us to not mix up things here…I am not blaming you, but I demand to know… WHAT HAPPENED TODAY…”

“…I had a Goddamn panic attack, OK? I get one at times when I drive… I never drive at night. I had given my driver an off today so I took out the car. Happy now? Is there anything else you want to know and analyze?” She could see he was angry.

“Don’t be angry KB, I was worried so I asked you… I think you are fine now. So, I will get going then…I have my exam coming up in a couple of days and I don’t think there is anything else to discuss here.” She turned and walked briskly towards the corridor blinking tears of disappointment. Why on earth did she expect anything at all in this relationship, if any?

He followed her to the door and held her wrist, stopping her. “I am sorry Kajal… don’t go…please.”

She halted still her back towards him and he gently pulled her behind till her back touched his chest and he circled her body in his arms, digging his heard into her hair. She turned around in his arms and held his face in her palms.

“Are you ok now? Really, OK?” she asked him.

He only nodded and pulled her closer. She placed her head on his taut chest circling his torso and they stood like that for a while. A strange calmness descended on her bringing with it a strange sense of security. She always had to look out for herself and her brother but today she felt there was someone looking out for her. The breeze calmed her further. Suddenly she heard his stomach growl.

“Hey…” She chuckled. “…We forgot lunch…”

He drew a hand through his hair and smiled his million-dollar smile. “Yeah… lets order. What do you like?” he pulled out his phone.

“Wait… do you have anything in the fridge? I can pull up something quickly. I prefer home cooked food…” She pointed towards the giant double door fridge at the corner leading to what she felt was the kitchen.

He smiled and held her hand leading her towards the fridge. She opened it and was happy to see items which she was familiar with.

Picking up some of the veggies she said. “Wait for a little while, I will cook up something.”

 She rushed to the kitchen while he went to his room to change. She was enamored by his elegant kitchen which was neatly arranges unlike her cluttered one back home. Maami was a great cook but she didn’t clean up well after her work in the kitchen.

Kajal soon cooked bhindi fry and rotis. She also quickly chopped salad and found curd in the fridge. His housekeeper must be amazing to stock the fridge so well. She knew he would probably under some diet given his profession and hoped he would be allowed to eat what she had spruced up for them.

KB had showered and changed and as she placed the food before him, he looked wide-eyed smiling like a child who got a new toy. He put a bite in his mouth and as she waited in anticipation, he looked at her and smiled.

“This is amazing Kajal… actually it reminded me of someone from a lifetime ago…” He relished each morsel and she was glad they didn’t order food.

After lunch he showed her around the house on the lower level. He showed her, her future bedroom which was right next to his. It had plain walls like the rest of the house, complete with a wardrobe and a pretty double bed… not to mention the attached bathroom and a … study table. She had longed for this privacy all her life.

He didn’t show her his bedroom nor did she ask. The lower level also had a bathroom and a home gym. There was a huge library and she knew she would spend the maximum time here in the library amidst the enviable collection of books. KB didn’t look like a reader to her!.

“So, this is it Kajal. I wanted to show you the house. You may come here before the wedding as well if you want to keep your stuff in the room. But come alone so no one knows about the arrangement. And stay away from the first level. Its off limits even to my housekeeper.”

Though she was curious she didn’t bother to ask him. It didn’t concern her she explained herself.

She checked the watch. It was evening already. “I will have to take your leave now KB, I have to study…”

He nodded. “Uh… I am going to Mahabaleshwar for a shoot for next the upcoming week and then after returning I have back-to-back shoot before the wedding. You have the credit card so buy the clothes you need. As you know we will be having the marriage in the local temple near your house, but feel free to dress the way you want to… just send me a pic so I can ask my designer to coordinate my outfit accordingly. We have to keep a good show for the press. I have arranged for the security so it shouldn’t be a problem to keep the crowd away.”

She nodded and turned to leave.

“Kajal?”

She turned around. “Yeah…?”

“All the best for the exams”

She smiled and nodded as she walked out of the door. He had called for a cab and as the vehicle moved away from her future house, she felt as if a piece of her heart was left behind.

KB would be gone for two weeks… not that he called her or texted her regularly but at least he was in the city. She shook her head. Why was she even thinking about him? She held a hand to her chest trying to calm her racing heart.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Ganpat kaka. Why was he calling?

“Hello kaka….?”

“Hello Kajal, there is something I have recently found out about your… er… aai…”

Her heart stilled. Did he find her mother?

“Kaka… is she safe? Where is she?” she asked frantically.

“Look Kajal I don’t know details. It was just incidental finding. Why don’t you see me after your exams?”

“NO kaka… I will see you right away…”

“No kajal it’s of no use. Because the person who can give the information will be back only after a fortnight…”

“But kaka… my wedding…?”

“don’t worry Kajal, go along with the ceremony. Your marriage is in the Chintamani temple near your home, right?”

“Yes, kaka and you don’t have to be told that you have to be there.”

“Of course, I will be. Not every day do we get to see a TV-star’s wedding. Ever since you texted me about getting married to KB, I have been a celebrity myself here”

“Kaka, do you think aai is OK?”

“I hope she is beta… at least for the sake of your closure.”

“Who knows about her, kaka?”

“There is an Assistant commissioner of police who is retiring from Nagpur and when I heard about him, he felt familiar. It was then I realized I had come across his name when I was trying to look for your mother. He was one of the investigators involved those days. He handled the case till the end. So, if anyone knows something its him…”

“Can’t I see him kaka or speak to him?”

“No child, he is a big man. We can’t antagonize him…and he is busy with the handovers and stuff. Don’t worry he is shifting base to Mumbai. And I have been entrusted to the security duty arrangements at his bungalow. I will arrange the meet. Also, he won’t refuse actor KB’s wife…” kaka chuckled.

Despite her emotional upheaval, Kajal smiled.

She disconnected the call and wiped away the tears she didn’t realize were flowing down her cheeks.

The fire that ignited her desire, the ice that froze her heart

Was that what they called ‘till death do us apart’?

©priyagole

Chapter 19

KB had just changed into his track pants and a loose striped sleeveless t-shirt. The latter reminded him of the moment shared with Kajal in the vanity van. He rubbed his face… he had let his feelings and emotions get the better of him.

He didn’t know what got over him. Whether it was the engagement blues or the innocent smile on her round face or the beautiful, expressive eyes as she laughed at his funny anecdotes or her imaginative play on the board game… he couldn’t point his finger yet, but he had lost control, and when Kajal had melted in his arms he was a goner. He would do anything to relive that moment. From the go, he knew she was a virgin. It had taken all his self-control to stop what they had going back in that bedroom.

Later in the evening, she had been a pro before the photographers. He had drowned in her excitement and her beauty further enhanced by the saree as if it was designed for her. He had been sept away in the intoxicating aura emitted by Kajal, and nothing mattered. He had put on a show before the photographers, which he could do in his sleep, but in reality, he was enamored by the beautiful Kajal, who was now his fiancé.

And then that asshole had asked him a question about Hetal, and it was like someone had poured a bucket of ice water on his head. Everything had been ruined. In the flow of things, he had forgotten about Hetal and his ‘arrangement’ with her. He had forgotten his vow to himself… Kajal did that to him. She made him forget everything obnoxious or painful and made him want to live his life.

He had blocked her out almost immediately, and the poor woman must have been confused by his fire and ice attitude.

The doorbell rang, startling him out of his reverie. He knew who it was if his constantly buzzing phone was of any indication. He had been avoiding Hetal ever since he had come back after dropping Kajal at her place. He had wanted nothing more than to hug Kajal goodbye and kiss her before the world marking her as his…

He walked to the door and unlocked the alarm. Hetal barged in like a mad cat, huffing and panting with hands on her hips.

“Goddamn it… Goddammn it all… bloody hell, you are engaged? What the fuck is going on, KB?” she screamed, her high pitch screech echoing through the house.

“Calm down, Hetal…”

“The fuck I will calm down… what did you do, KB? And why?”

“Don’t… cross your boundaries, Hetal…” KB warned.

“Boundaries? Fuck the boundaries. So, you mean, what we shared was only me?”

“It isn’t like that…” he had a splitting headache and not to mention the ache in his heart.

“…cut the crap KB. We had such a great arrangement. I broke up with Rugved, and now all you have to say to me is ‘calm down’?” Hetal was panting in anger.

“Hetal, you wouldn’t have lasted with Rugved anyways. What we shared was mutual, and I agree I should have broken up officially with you before the engagement…”

“…Broken-fucking-up? You talk as if we were a couple romantically involved. I had been clear I only wanted a no-strings relationship… You seemed to be fine, and it was all going great… an open relationship where we were free to date and sleep with whomever we wanted but eventually had each other’s backs. Now that you have messed this up, my parents will pressure me to marry some nerd they choose for me….not to mention the huge embarrassment before the press. You are so damn selfish KB…”

“Hetal, just hear me out, OK?” A sudden brainwave hit him.

He spoke to Hetal, explaining the reason for his sudden engagement and upcoming marriage. He then proceeded to tell her his plan and her role in the same.

“What the hell KB, do you think she is an idiot?”

“Hetal, I don’t have a choice. This is a win-win situation for both of us. As you see, I can’t ruin her life…”

“Don’t you think by marrying you and agreeing to the contract, she is ruining it on her own?” Hetal stood with hands on her hips.

“She has her reasons, and I don’t want to be an obstruction for her in reaching her goals…” he rubbed his face for the nth time.

“Goddammit KB, had you not helped me out during my rock-bottom, I would have kicked your ass before the world. I am so angry though… you put me in a soup… big soup.”

“Nothing changes, Hetal…” he said softly, his head was now pounding with rising intensity.

“Of course, it does, just… just look at you, man… you are a mess. Do you think you can retain your sanity in this year?”

“I will need your help, Hetal and under no circumstances should Kajal ever know the truth…”

“KB..?”

“…Yeah…”

“…You love her, don’t you…?”

At that moment, he could only hear the wall clock ticking away to glory in its rhythmic manner as if it had no care in the world. But, of course, time waited for no one.

“There is nothing of the sorts, Hetal… it’s just a contract marriage.”

“Don’t fool yourself KB. The last two times we met up for sex, you just couldn’t get it up, and now I know why… but then how long can you keep up the façade? I have my options outside. But what about you? I know you have a huuugee appetite… Will you only resort to that room upstairs?”

“I will cross the bridge when I come to it… but our arrangement continues in name…” he wanted to drug himself to sleep away from the mess he called life.

“KB… I know it’s not my place to tell you, and I would want it for my selfish motives, but still, don’t do this to yourself… It’s ten years already…”

“Hetal don’t…you won’t understand…”

“Come on KB… you know how I felt about Ruhaan… he was the only guy I ever loved. You are aware we were childhood sweethearts. He ruined me for everyone else… I do cry for him once in a while, but he isn’t going to come back. Neither will Gyan. I wonder if I didn’t have a fever that night, I would be gone as well. But we are here… living. So let the past go KB…Officially declare we are done and set me up with some actor colleague of yours who is ready for my terms…”

“…No, Hetal… we need to continue this for a year at least… please…”

“Fine …. Fine… OK… so when is the wedding? And when do I come in?”

The following morning, he woke up with a mother of all headaches. He couldn’t sleep that night. The nightmares had diligently kept their date with him. His friends’ gore-filled black and white headless visuals haunted him as if blaming him for enjoying life while permanently depriving them. After hitting the gym, he had sat to look through his scripts that Mr. Mehta and his team had worked around and filtered.

But every time he tried to read, he had only seen Kajal, and her infectious laughter played into his ears. Finally, he shut the unread first page he had held open for the last half an hour and picked up his phone. He had almost called her at least ten times. What would he say? That he was a screwed-up guy and was screwing up her life as well? That she was marrying a ruthless monster? A murderer?

Even after a couple of hours of not being able to do anything constructive, he gave up. From tomorrow he had an outdoor shoot for the next week, following which he had back-to-back shoots for a couple of ads, and then he had taken a break for his ‘marriage’. So that left him only with today where he could see Kajal.

He picked up the car key and texted her. He didn’t even bother to wait for her response and rushed out of the house.

Kajal stood outside Sharanya productions waiting for an auto. She had to rush home and get to her studies. With a newfound goal in life, she could finally move ahead.

Right then, she received a text. Her heart skipped a beat to see it was from KB.

‘Come to Passions immediately. Here’s the address…’

What the hell was this? Though she was excited at the prospects of meeting him, her conflicted brain refused to give in. He was switched off last evening and all of a sudden he now wanted to see her. She knew the restaurant. It was close to where she was. But how could he just order her around like that? She had to make it clear to him; she had her studies. She would just meet him for a while and leave… yes, that she could do.

Nodding, she looked for an auto to take her to the restaurant.

Kajal reached Passions within twenty minutes given the light traffic, but KB hadn’t come as yet. She didn’t want to order anything given the exorbitant rates, and revealing that she was KB’s fiancé would call for unwanted attention. So she waited outside, covering her face with a stole and sunglasses. But for almost half an hour, KB didn’t turn up. She had texted him she had reached, but he hadn’t seen the message as yet. Was he driving so he couldn’t check his phone? Of course, but he usually had a driver. Did he forget his phone back home? No… his phone was his life.

She decided to call him. His phone rang for a while, and finally, he answered with a whisper and cracked voice.

“Hello KB…? Where are you? I have been waiting here…”

“Ka… Kajal… I … I …. Can’t….” there was a disturbance as if there was traffic around. She got worried.

“hello? KB? What’s happening? I can’t hear you…”

“…I can’t…Kajal…I…”

Her heart fell, and she was now worried. Something was wrong.

“Ok…KB, tell me where you are… I will come there…”

“Right across that lane… high… highway…” the call abruptly disconnected.

He would have been on his way here, which meant the opposite side of the highway. She hailed an auto, and as it stuttered through the empty afternoon highway, the heat hitting her hard, she struggled to check the road in the opposite direction. Then, somewhere between the rushing vehicles that side, she spotted him… next to his familiar white car. He was bent over the bonnet…

She stopped the auto, and it took her another five minutes to cross the highway, the other half being busy. The zebra crossing was a little away from where he was, and no wonder no one recognized him in the daily rush. He was in casuals…

She rushed towards him. “KB…KB…” She screamed as she struggled to sprint in her heels. What was wrong with him?

He looked up and started running towards her… what on earth?

They met somewhere in between, and he slammed his body into hers as he pulled her into an embrace. Then, holding her close, he dug his head into her hair. She felt him shudder in her arms and reflexively began to rub his back.

“KB… it’s fine… whatever it is… it’s going to be alright.” She was trying to be strong, but at that moment, standing on the side of a busy highway under the hot scalding sun, she was terrified. Was he ok?

She felt him relax and release his hold on her and move away. He rubbed his face, and at that juncture, he looked like a small kid lost in the forest without his guardian. He gripped her hand.

“Let’s… let’s take a cab back to my house… can you come along, please? I… I… will drop you back later…” he looked at her with eyes full of expectation shining in their depths. How could she refuse? She realized she had missed him. She only nodded, and he was already pulling her towards the car to lock it. He then called for a cab which arrived in about ten minutes. Even as it cruised towards his house, his grip on her hand remained while he stared outside the passenger window watching the zooming scenery.

She sighed… a mixed bag of emotions engulfing her. She was thrilled to be going to his house… the place where she would be staying for a year. Yet, she knew something was troubling him… would she ever know what it was?

The gamut of his emotions surpassing the stormy upheaval

Her rock-solid support beneath his rocky foundation gets critical

©priyagole

Chapter 18

The car dropped her home outside the gates of her housing society, and KB only nodded expressionlessly as she thanked him and got out of the vehicle. No ‘goodbye’ or ‘see you soon’ nothing, and she wondered if she had got her hopes high.

As she walked swiftly towards her house, the cacophony of the children playing in the quadrangle between the society’s buildings didn’t affect her thoughts. Instead, she teared up, wondering what went wrong. Was she hallucinating KB’s interest in her? If yes, she had been the greatest fool on earth to give in to her desires. She reflexly touched her lips which still felt sore from his ravaging earlier that day.

As she climbed up a couple of steps to reach her ground floor house, she saw the door open and many footwear outside. What on earth? The memories of the day her father had passed flooded back, and her heart thudded.

But she stood at the entrance and saw her aunt distribute sweets to the neighbors gathered, even as her mama looked on uncomfortably.

“Oh, here comes our princess…” Maami squealed, startling her, and held her hand, dragging her inside the house. “…Look, Kajal, they have all come to wish you on the engagement. I teated them to motichoor laddoos. But, of course, it’s so expensive… but then it’s not every day that your niece gets engaged to a TV star. And do you know how many gifts they gave us…?”

“…That’s enough…” Her mama interrupted and released her hand. “…Kajal must be tired. Go inside and take a rest, beta.”

That was the respite Kajal needed to gather her thoughts, and she rushed inside. However, it was not to be. Poonam caught her in the way. Holding her hand and looking around, Poonam said, “Wow… this is a lovely saree, and have you seen the number of likes your viral pics have got? I have put up mine too… I got a record number of followers…”

“…Tai, I am tired, so…” She tried pulling her hand away.

“Fine, fine… I know you are a superstar’s fiancé and all that. But don’t forget who you really are and the arrangement. Do you think someone like KB will ever fall for the likes of you? Just wearing a designer saree and makeup will not hide who you are… remember that.”

“I have not forgotten that, but it looks like you have. You had to rely on me doing this to salvage your alliance, hadn’t you?”

Poonam looked menacing as she tightened her grip on Kajal’s hand, and the glass bangles Kajal had worn cracked, causing her pain, and she cringed.

“you have learned to talk back, haven’t you? You aren’t doing me any favor… you are living and breathing because of my father… else you have heard stories in orphanages and young women’s homes, haven’t you? You would have been on the roads, both you and that parasite of your brother, and eventually, you would have landed up in some brothel. So giving up a year of your life for us is nothing….” She let go of her hand, and even as Kajal held the bleeding wound, Poonam continued her rampage. “…Don’t forget you will be a rich woman, richer than all of us put together next year, and your brother gets set in life too. So once again, Miss Melodrama, you have to thank me…” She humphed and walked away, leaving Kajal to wallow in her miseries tearfully.

She got into her room and shut the door behind her, glad that Krunal wasn’t home. She had pooled in everything she had and completed his hostel formalities that morning before going for her engagement. Maami had been too blindsided by the bling she was facing, to object to the decision. She had even lent her the extra few thousand without having to ask twice.

Kajal changed into her nightgown and tied up her hair. Her tears didn’t seem to stop. She held the saree close… it still had his citrus fragrance, and it reminded her of the moment of togetherness in his room, which had raised her hopes, taken her to a whole new pinnacle, and now she had been ruthlessly thrown down the cliff making her struggle to gather her bearings.

She was a hopeless case, she sniffled her tears away. Sharp pain in her wrist got her back to the present. Poonam was right, she thought as she applied a bandaid to the cut. She had forgotten for a moment who she really was… she was just Kajal, a simple middle-class young woman who had dreams for her brother and herself. Finally, she made up her mind. That was what she was going to focus now on, making her dreams come true, and KB was only a catalyst…

She switched on her phone, and it pinged with an email notification among the others.  It was from the HR department of Sharanya Productions. They called her for an interview scheduled next morning. Kajal immediately felt better and mailed them her acceptance, hoping it wasn’t late. Instead, she got a quick reply giving her the time and the floor.

Kajal kept everything aside and inhaled deeply. She had to focus on two things at the moment, getting this job and finishing her final exams. The rest of the world, except for her brother, didn’t matter to her…

Krunal called her almost the next minute.

“Hey… how’s the hostel?”

“Tai… are you Ok?” he sounded serious.

“Of course, dear, I miss you, but I am fine. Why do you ask?”

“Tai I saw those pictures online, and I felt uncomfortable, I have become a mini-celebrity here as well, and thankfully many don’t know you are my sister… yet. But I am worried about you, tai… I hope you aren’t getting into something you shouldn’t, just for me. If so… just forget all this. We will manage like we have been doing all these years.”

Kajal teared up yet again. Her brother had become mature. “No darling, it’s nothing like that. You focus on your studies all right? Next year after you finish tenth grade, I promise you can live with me until you want… OK?”

Kunal chuckled, and his soft voice coming across the receiver sounded like music to her ears. That laughter was worth her sacrifice. He told her about his day, and they disconnected. She kept checking her messages for the next hour, but there was no text from him, except congratulatory messages from her college friends. She soon slept off holding the saree and dreaming about the handsome cryptic man she could never have.

The following day, she walked into the huge glass building of Sharanya Productions Ltd. Before she got into the stunning entrance, she looked around. The bougenveilla drapped surrounding compound wall with flower-filled bushes lining the ground beneath neatly trimmed brought life into the place. She walked into the foyer as  a blast of air hit her head, tickling her neck!.

She wrote her name in the visitor book and waited for her turn. The lobby was filled with people who looked like wannabe actors or writers from the looks of them. Amidst the murmurs, she looked at the walls filled with posters of the company’s different movies or TV soaps. There was a vast podium dedicated to housing the innumerable awards won by Rugved Choudhry and the production house across categories.

Kajal smiled in awe, and finally, her eyes rested on a life-size portrait of the most beautiful young girl she had ever seen. The eyes full of life beaconed her, and she walked towards the picture.

She read the name below in beautiful lettering.

 Sharanya Choudhry… eighteen forever…

Oh goodness, that meant the girl was no more? Was she related to Rugved Choudhry?

Before she could think more, her name was called, and she was asked to see the HR on the seventh floor.

Her interview was a formality and a cakewalk because she loved literature, and once they confirmed her position, she was asked to see Rugved in his office on the same floor. Soon she was sitting in his office as he attended to a call after indicating her to take a seat.

The colossal office had the looks of a typical producer’s office like she had often seen when she was with Rhapsody. But in addition to the filmy paraphernalia;lining the walls and the screaming decors, there was a huge couch too.

Once he finished the call, he plonked himself on the couch. The golden velvet cover, along with the shining brown throw pillows brought made him stand out. Rugved was immaculately dressed in a striped suit combination, and she didn’t know if anyone else could carry himself with the poise the actor radiated… well except maybe KB. No… she wouldn’t go there.

She looked around to see the same portrait of the beautiful girl, but of a smaller size, and here it was garlanded by fresh mogras. So that was the source of scent in the office. She smiled. Her aai loved mogra too and her baba made it a point to bring her a gajra every time he came home after a gap. Good old days… she sighed.

“That’s… my sister. Sharanya. I named this production house after her. She dreamed of being an actress someday.. But fate had other plans.” Rugved spoke softly, staring at the photo. Oh God… that was so sad… Kajal’s heart broke to hear of a young life snuffed out too soon. She couldn’t even fathom the grief the girl’s parents must have gone through if Rugved’s forlorn expressions were any indication.

“I am sorry to hear that…” She spoke softly.

He waved his hand and looked at her with a slight smile on his lips.

“It was a long time ago. Ne ways welcome to the company. I was told the interview is done with. So you will be joining next month onwards post your exams, right?”

“Yes and after my… marriage…” She added

“Ah… about that. Well, this job won’t be paying you as much as Rhapsody did, and now that you are set to tie the knot, is KB aware of this?”

Did she detect skepticism in Rugved’s voice? “Um… yes, of course. KB knows. He doesn’t have a problem with this.”

Rugved frowned and gave her a look she couldn’t make sense of. “Look, Ms. Kajal, I don’t know what the scene is…”

“…I beg your pardon?” what was he talking about?

“Your marriage scene. KB of all the people? I don’t intend to sound condescending, but he isn’t someone to commit to a woman. I have to say I am surprised, given what I saw the other day at the studio. Are you under any pressure Ms. Kajal? Is that man threatening you? Are you forced into anything…?”

“Sir… with due respect, I don’t want to discuss my personal life. However, I assure you that my marital obligations won’t interfere with my work. I will work hard and not give you any reason to complain.”

He looked taken aback, but the expression was soon replaced with an all-business one.

He raised his palms in mock surrender and nodded. He placed a call, and in a short while filled with uncomfortable silence in the cabin, there was a soft knock on the door.

“Come in…” Rugved spoke curtly

The door opened, and a middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair walked in. OMG… Ashwin Acharya, the outstanding award-winning writer? Kajal couldn’t believe her eyes. Was she dreaming? She seemed to be doing that a lot these days.

“Come in, Ashwin ji…” Rugved gestured him to take a seat. “… this is Ms. Kajal, your newest protégé. I hope you both will share a harmonious relationship.”

Ashwin Acharya gave her an insignificant look and cleared his throat. “Rugved, which project is she going to assist me in?”

“I have thought of the new drama kickstarting next month. ‘Adhuri kahani’ The love story with a  twist… What do you think? She is new, and we can do with fresh ideas.”

Ashwin ji nodded and agreed. Then, after discussing a few details, they left the room together, and soon she was out of the building.

As she walked outside the enormous building, she saw the gathered people had swelled outside the gates, and there was some uproar as people screamed about giving one chance to their script or acting talent. There were young girls with dreams in their eyes and dejection written over their faces. They probably had come to Mumbai hoping of a bright future in Bollywood but couldn’t find a foothold.

She said a silent prayer to Bappa. So her situation wasn’t bad after all.

A year from now, she could be independent, and this work experience would secure her admission to her dream college in the UK, where she wanted to pursue her Master’s studies.

All would be fine if life were a bed of roses

But then, man proposes, and God disposes.

©priyagole

Chapter 17

“oh wow… Monopoly? You like to play this one?” Kajal exclaimed as she held up the slightly tattered box.

She was looking around his bedroom, which was probably the size of three-fourth of her home. She saw him blush and look away. Something was way too different about him today. The man was an enigma, no doubt, but today she saw another side of him. He wasn’t the arrogant star she had seen so far. He didn’t force himself on her vulnerability. She knew she was developing feelings for him because he was the first man who had touched her mind-body-soul.

But she had to be careful, or she would get burnt to ashes. She couldn’t get attached to him or his kind grandmother, who had showered her with love in the past couple of hours that she had never seen after her mother left. Despite her failing health and the old grandfather in a coma, the lady had seen to it that Kajal was comfortable and well-fed.

Ajji had asked KB to show Kajal his room, which was his true face according to her. KB had just made a face of annoyance and moved away. Kajal had chuckled and wandered into his room, checking out his framed pictures on the wall. Surprisingly there was only one picture of his from his younger days, and she wondered why. Would she ever know?

From what she had researched during her period with Rhapsody, there was nothing about him available from before the last eight years. All that was available was news about his initial struggle and how he became the most sought-after show stopper for designers and ad film directors and then his foray into mainstream TV. He had done a few side roles for movies, but he had tasted success only on the small screen. Most of the information available was only restricted to his flings and drunken brawls.

But she had never sensed him to be a drunk every time she had met him so far. Did he have any vices she didn’t know of? She shuddered but then, she needn’t have worried. She would be busily confined to her room or at work most of the time. She was yet to hear from Rugved’s office, but she hoped to get the job.

Though KB’s grandmother had given her a platinum credit card with a reservoir for a limit, she wasn’t keen on using it. Besides the fact that it was in KB’s name, she didn’t want to milk the guy dry… she wasn’t in it for the purpose. She was glad to get what was agreed upon… that made her cringe already.

She had found a rack of old books like Hardy Boys, TinTin, and a few board games. She was surprised as though he had never outgrown those or a phase of his life was not documented anywhere was something not to be spoken about. Whatever it was, she had the gut feeling he was a kind soul and probably was misunderstood… was it a PR gimmick? He constantly lived under scrutiny. She was glad he didn’t insist she did too… she would have felt suffocated.

She was lost in her thoughts and didn’t see him walk towards her. He took the game from her hand and looked at it with a forlorn expression.

“This was my father’s gift to me. For my 12^th birthday… I never played the game as such, but I have kept it more for his memory…”

“I am sorry… is shouldn’t have spoken about it… I didn’t know.” She turned to move.

“Let’s play?” He abruptly spoke, and she stopped.

“What?”

“You seem to know the game… let’s play…we have a few hours before the press meet… so why not just relax?” he looked at her with a look that reminded her of a little kid asking, for candy.

She smiled and nodded.

For the next hour, they played the game, sitting on the bed, and she was lost in fun. He wasn’t KB the star nor was she Kajal, the prospective contract bride who had just been engaged in a hush hush ceremony. They were just two kids involved in a game testing their business acumen, and though Kajal didn’t have much experience, she found herself enjoying every moment. KB looked carefree, a far cry from the snobbish personality she had experienced.

He was right; she was now relaxed and they spoke about her likes and dislikes and he cracked her up making fun of her choices of colours, movies and food. She burst out laughing, and he kept regaling her with a few tales from his shoots where he had freak accidents. She didn’t know when they came closer as he sprawled next to her balancing himself on his elbows. She was laid back and inclined to the backrest of the bed, and suddenly they looked at each other.

Kajal’s heart paced, and she turned to move, but he held her arm, pulling her on top of him.  She balanced herself on his chest and stared into his molten eyes. The fury was back now… there was something there she couldn’t fathom still, but she was getting pulled into them by the minute. He palmed her face with one hand, and she leaned into its warmth. Then, with the other hand, he dragged her closer, and soon her lips touched his.

This was not rushed like the last time, but she could feel the slow combustion… moving up her body now in close contact with his. Holding her in his arms and not breaking contact, he explored her softness with his tongue even as he turned over. She didn’t know her hands had a will of their own as they circled his neck, bringing him closer, monopoly long forgotten.

He gently bit her lower lip and sucked at, and she pulled him closer to her feeling his taut chest against her soft ones. Her breasts wanted to break through their barriers and feel him… she gasped at the intensity of her desires. She didn’t know she had any. He stopped the kiss and looked into her eyes. He kissed her forehead, a gesture she hadn’t expected from him, and her eyes filled. Something about the gesture spoked volumes of the brimming tenderness in his heart and she wondered if it wasn’t just a mirage.

“Kajal…” he whispered, sending shivers down her body. “…while I want nothing more than to take you right here, I know you aren’t ready… so… let’s prepare for the upcoming event, shall we…?”

She could only nod at his consideration. Yet, for all her wicked thoughts and bravado, deep beneath, she was scared. She shut her eyes to prevent the tears from escaping the boundaries.

“hey…” he spoke softly, palming her face. He was till close, and she could inhale and feel him. “…are you upset with what just happened? I am.. sorry… I …” he fumbled with words.

She shook her head. “No… not that..” she hoarsely said, placing her palm on his.

“Kajal, look at me, please” he was so close she could feel his warm breath on her face. Letting caution to the wind, she opened her eyes, and the stream of tears made their journey downwards.

He wiped her tears and helped her sit up. He leaned on the bed rest and held her close to him. She placed her head on his chest and felt her turmoil drain away, washing her fears along with it. She had never felt so secure in her life before, ever since her mother had left.

KB didn’t speak anything. He just held her close, rubbing her other arm as if he already knew what was troubling her. She knew he was hurt too… physically, emotionally… she only didn’t know the hows and the whys. She didn’t know if she even had the right to know anything personal about him. She just hoped, like how he made her comfortable and made her feel better, forgetting all her troubles for a while, she could help him someday.

About half an hour later, the makeup artists and the hairstylists came over to prep them up for the show they had to put up before the scribes. The event was to be held on the lawn right outside the bungalow.

Kajal was taken to another room and helped into a grey designer saree with pink floral motifs. Her hair… well they took an hour to do something with it along with her make-up while she sat still. The outcome was that her hair felt softer, and oh God, there were tints in it. They were made wavy and fell on one side of the shoulder. She wore a sleeveless blouse and felt a bit coy…. Would KB like it? She shook her head, chuckling. Since when was she interested in what KB thought?

Filling the stilletoes, she stood tall, admiring the finishing touches to her look when there was a knock at the door. Her heart fluttered as if it knew KB was here.

The door opened, and she turned to look at who it was. KB stood staring at her; his words paralyzed on his tongue. Then, suddenly gathering himself, he nodded at the make-up and hair artists as they left the room. He walked towards her and gave a side smile while she looked down, blushing. She hoped he wouldn’t hear her heart galloping at the rate of 120 kilometers per hour!

He looked gorgeous too like he always did. It was a simple buttoned-down shirt and faded blue jeans, and her limited fashion sense said it complimented her look. She was swooning over him, so he would have looked great to her, even in rags.

As they approached the area, the little dais built for them, the shutterbugs clicked away, and she was suddenly thrown back to the first-day fiasco with the press. She halted in her tracks, and KB looked back. He walked back to her and held her hand, interlocking his fingers with hers.

“Don’t worry Kajal…. We have got this sorted. They are only looking at you because you look a million bucks now!! So chill”

She laughed at his compliment and felt lighter. Then, they walked towards the central place directed by the organizer and were asked to pose.

Many questions were fired in quick successions precisely as they had anticipated, and KB answered them with his practiced poise. Finally, they posed with fingers upwards, showing their rings. The gathered crowd roared.

A while later, as they turned around to leave the area, one of them asked.

“KB, what about Hetal?”

They halted in their tracks. Kajal’s heart fell. How could she forget his latest arm candy?

He turned towards the crowd and smiled. “As you all can see, I am engaged to Ms. Kajal… we met on the sets in a professional capacity and fell in love… whether you want to call it a whirlwind romance, love at first sight… I leave it to you. So everything else is past, and Kajal is my present and the future. I think that should answer all the doubts!”

He turned back and took her hand, walking briskly back to the bungalow.

Though he didn’t say anything, Kajal could feel the change in the atmosphere… he had withdrawn into his shell, and the easy-going camaraderie was now gone. Did Hetal mean that much to him? He could have married the woman… Hetal swooned over him anyways.

So why did he agree to marry her, and all they just shared that evening was it all fake?

Ajji came to see her off and made her promise to visit her at least once before the wedding. Given the condition of his grandfather, the ceremony was to be a simple affair.

Kajal nodded, still disturbed that KB hadn’t said a word even when he accompanied her in the car as the driver took them to drop her home. He had frozen and was completely locked up as if possessed by another spirit.

As she watched the crimson sky changing its shade as the dusk passed and the darkness replaced it totally, she wondered if there was any similarity with the man next to her who had changed his shades… he was all dark now.

She rode on the exuberant bandwagon filled with love and desire

The start of a relationship marred by doubts spreading like wildfire…

©priyagole

Chapter 16

The fast and furious breeze slapped his doped face as he lay on the roof of the car. He was tied down to it, but strangely he liked it. Gyan was the designated driver as usual, and they had partied enough to last a life time… Ruhaan was weeping and laughing as though he was hysterical. The guy was probably stoned. And where was that pretty chick who had followed them into the car? He had tried to get rid of her in the party itself but she had tagged along… she had been whispering something into his ears about some exams… what exams? Did they know each other? He didn’t think so… suddenly, the car rocked to a halt, and he looked up to see they were in quicksand and the car was sunk to its wheels… oh God…. The car would soon drop entirely and he was tied and couldn’t make a move.

Where on earth were Gyan and Ruhaan? What were they doing? Suddenly he heard the murmurs creaking through the night and lifted his head. In the brightness of his headlight, he saw Gyaan and Ruhaan… yes, they were his friends. He recognized the cowboy pants that Gyan always wore and gifted that T-shirt that Ruhaan wore that night… it was an original Louis Vuitton. The guy was brand crazy… wait, why was he only seeing their bodies? As they approached the car, he almost had a stroke. They were just bodies… without heads. He tried to scream but it lodged in his throat… And his phone rang… what the Fuck? Riiiiinnnnnng…..

KB gasped as he jerked up awake, his shirt wet with sweat sticking to his body despite the full blast of AC. He was panting as the tentacles of the nightmare began to release him. He had this one after a long time. He often had visions like whenever he got behind the wheel at night, he would feel he was crashing into a wall and would begin to palpitate. So he now had a driver. He barely drove around without panic setting in… he had almost given up driving. His therapist had told him to face the fears and rationalize them, but it was easier said than done. Every time the scenes of the accident a decade ago came to haunt him… they were triggered by anything eventful in his lousy life.

He knew what triggered the nightmare this time. He got out of the cot and walked to the living room. It was 2 AM, and he knew sleep would only be playing hide and seek with him. Gulping a glass of chilled water, he sat in the dark confines of the living room. Kajal was the trigger this time… in fact, ever since she had maneuvered her way into his mind, he had had emotional roller coasters which threw him off balance. He had punished himself a couple of times. But he had to halt because he had the condom ad shoot and couldn’t risk showing off his new injuries.

But he didn’t have any shoot where he had to bare his back anytime soon, and it was the right time to inflict some chastisement physically. His offense this time? He had been genuinely happy since last evening.

His ajji had only mentioned some woman coming over to visit them, and he had been planning his moves. He had developed cold feet and had wanted to get out of the marriage, fund money or not. His heart was stuck with Kajal, and until she stayed, there wouldn’t be room for anyone else. Of course, he didn’t deserve a pure and innocent soul like her, nor would he ever approach her.  He would watch her from a distance. Besides, all he had done was only put her off.

But he had seen Kajal seated next to his ajji the moment he had entered the room and all his plans went for a toss. He suddenly yearned for something… someone… he desired Kajal. She brought out all the dormant emotions, phallic and the contrary ones and he didn’t want that.

But at the same time, if he could think of anyone sharing his life for an entire year, it was Kajal. She had agreed as well, and all he wanted was to take her in his bedroom right there. He didn’t know since when he had turned into a horny maniac lusting after her.

He had judged that lady accompanying Kajal, and she seemed shrewd and conniving. He wasn’t surprised Kajal had agreed. The lady must have pressurized her and pulled strings for money. After their encounter the last morning, he had been happy and contented after ages as he had gone to bed last night.

And then he had the nightmare reminding him why he didn’t deserve to be happy. He was a murderer… his friend’s untimely deaths were on him. They had their lives snuffed out because he had been adamant. He should have died as well… As for that young girl that night… he didn’t even know who she was. Her identity was never known. And his grandfather had covered up everything. The police archives had only a mention of an accident in which all four had died.

Bottom line… this life was just something he had got ‘by chance’. He had no right to an iota of bliss… let alone marriage for love. As he was engulfed by grief threatening to drown him, he undressed right there and walked into his ‘room’ upstairs. As he got inside his special den, he walked to the assorted whips. He picked up his newest possession, a leather whip with a  glass handle. It was the perfect one for the Dom in him.

Tonight however, he was role-playing both the Dom and his Sub… He was the sub needing the severest of punishments.  He picked up a couple of nipple clamps and fastened them on his tits. These were the high-intensity ones with sharp edges, and they bit into his skin the moment he constricted his chest. Right then, he flogged himself, the pain increasing multifold with the clamping on his chest… He raised the frequency of hits till his hands ached and tears streamed down his stubble. Finally, he threw the whip down and removed the clamps, watching his bruised self in the mirrors facing each other, reflecting him numerous times.

He collapsed on the floor and took the fetal position coiling into himself as he sobbed… for his friends, for himself and that though he was sure he was in love with Kajal, he couldn’t do anything about it except make her despise him like he always did.

Kajal’s vision in that saree that brought out her curves in a delectable manner made him hard instantly. He walked to the attached bath and stood beneath the cold shower piercing his newly inflicted wounds, but nothing brought down his arousal.

Holding his shaft, he visualized Kajal on her haunches before him taking his manhood into the warmth of her mouth. Then, in the next moment, he roared, his hoarse cry echoing in the bathroom as he sprayed his release on the tiles as it got washed over by the infinite rivulets flowing from the shower.

Wiping himself, he flinched as the soft Turkish bath towel touched his lower back and glutes where he had just imprinted them with the whiplash literally!.

He walked painfully into his bedroom and threw himself into the softness of the mattress. It felt cold, just like his heart did… till it was lit by the smiling flames of the beautiful brown-eyed beauty. He was damned…

Two days later, he sat on the couch at ajji’s place, unable to take his eyes off Kajal. She was dressed in a bright pink georgette saree with a contrasting blouse. The choker set brought out the browns in her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to drown into their depths and stay there than to face the world and its turmoils. She looked up and caught him, and he immediately looked away.

He wanted to get done with the ceremony… he had a break for the next couple of days, after which he had back-to-back shootings for the ongoing series and a few ads. His backside burned, and he hoped to recover by the time the shoot began, and then there was a wedding to plan too.

Today he was to address the press also as planned by his lawyers and Shipra. But, if the news of his marriage had pissed her off, she didn’t show it. Instead, he couldn’t wait to see her reaction to seeing Kajal as his fiancé.

Only Kajal’s maami and her cousin Poonam had come from their side, and Kajal seemed confused and worried. The frown marred her pretty forehead, and he still had to prepare her for the upcoming press meet. Though the scribes were handpicked, he didn’t want to take a chance and leave her between the wolves. He knew how this world worked, but she didn’t, and he didn’t want to sacr her for life.

The rings were exchanged and soon maami and Poonam were dropped back to their home. He held Kajal’s cold hand and took her to his room. He made her sit on the massive poster bed while he latched the door and sat at a distance, probably surprising her.

“Uh… Kajal… there is something you should know…”

“Wait… KB sir… are you hurt?” She asked, and he instantly glanced at her. How on earth did she know. No one ever had found out ever… he had been cautious in hiding his injuries.

“NO… why do you ask?”

“Um… It just felt… you seemed to be in discomfort.” She spoke softly, those brown orbs dropping a bit of their sparkle, and his heart stopped.

“No… I am fine. First of all, stop calling me sir… Its just KB. And today I have to give a statement to the press… it’s a part of PR. So you will have to come along.”

She nodded and began to fidget with the end of the saree. She was undoubtedly sacred, especially after the last time.

“Look Kajal; you won’t be alone… I will handle it…Ok? Trust me. Just… come along and just to update you, so we are on the same page…uh… I have cooked upa  story about our uh… affair.”

She snapped up to look at him, and he stared at his clasped hands. For superstar KB everything was effortless, be it acting or modeling or giving a speech, addressing the notorious press… just about everything. But today cat had caught his tongue. He saw her fidget even more, and she had caught her upper lip between her teeth. Oh God… he was hard again. Who the hell was she? A walking Viagra?

Drawn to her, he went before her on his knees. He released her palm from her saree and looked up to see her still gripping her upper lip. She was going to be the death of him. He touched her lip, releasing it, and she widened her eyes.

“Kajal, just relax all right? I will handle everything. I will do all the talking, got it? I have cooked up some story, and the press can lap it up. So I want you to relax.”

He saw she had unconsciously gripped his palm and her breathing was rapid. He sat next to her on the bed and hesitated a bit but put an arm around her shoulder and held her close. To his surprise, she didn’t resist. Her head on his shoulder he inhaled her shampoo, which didn’t help the pressure building in his loins.

“Don’t worry Kajal, I will see this through.”

She nodded into his shoulder still gripping his palm and her trust touched him. He had been a douchebag, but she had put her life in his hands.

He was a goner and it was not just physical… there was something about her that kept him getting back to her. Forget one year; how was he going to resist her even for a night?

The lengths traversed, keeping away gratification he didn’t deserve

Life threw her in the ring, and the bout was filled with verve…

©priyagole

Chapter 15

Kajal almost fell, feeling giddy as she felt the air snuck out of her body. So the prospective groom was KB? Was she hallucinating?

KB walked towards her, and if he was surprised, he didn’t show it. He didn’t show any reaction, and she gave him the credit of being an actor par excellence.

They sat on the couches. Kajal, still shaking with nerves, sat next to maami while KB sat next to his grandmother, and the way he held her weakened wrinkled hand in his was simply adorable. He looked nothing like the obnoxious man on the set.

They were provided with refreshments, after which Kajal could finally breathe at ease. It was then that she took a look around. The walls of the vast drawing-room were off-white-colored.

From the decorative pillows and cozy throws topping the expertly upholstered sofa to the eye-catching color combinations, every detail enlivened the space. Of course, it was an open-spaced living room with large windows opening to the lawn outside, letting the late morning warmth float inside. But, overall, Kajal felt that though there was a luxury, there wasn’t an overt extravagance.

Even ajji was dressed in a simple designed pure silk saree and was grace personified as she spoke or conducted herself. However, she lifted her eyes to see KB staring at her unblinkingly, but besides the usual turmoil brewing in his eyes, she couldn’t make out the expression, wondering why he had to resort to buying a bride for himself. Moreover, she wondered what he thought of her.

That her heart kept pounding, threatening to break free of its thoracic chambers, wasn’t helping her. Unlike him, her face was a dead giveaway; she was sure of that. 

She saw her aunt fawning over KB and was embarrassed. Maami was glued to TV shows every evening, and she would have indeed recognized KB, not to mention smelling the richness around.

“My Krishiv is an honest person, and the best son one can have. And I am glad he agreed to this arrangement.” Ajji spoke.

“Our Kajal is no less, kaki….” Her maami spoke. “…She is good at everything she does. Be it studies or cooking or painting.”

“Uh… Krishiv why don’t you take Kajal to the balcony upstairs and chat up a bit?” Ajji asked, and Kajal’s heart skipped a beat.

Her maami nudged her, and she stood up, following KB as he took the stairs. He led the way to the bedroom, which opened to an expansive balcony overlooking the sparkling lawn.  He gestured her to sit on the cane chair while he sat across on an identical one.

“So Ms. Righteous is here to become a misuss, eh?” he smirked.

Kajal looked away at the lawn, not answering.

“What happened Kajal? Didn’t work out with Rugved?”

At that, she glared at him while he continued chuckling. “…Okay, okay… so tell me what made you agree to this marriage? I am sure had you known it was me, you wouldn’t have come here… or would you? I was curious about the woman ready to adjust for the sake of money… but now that I saw you, I am not surprised anymore…”

“Wait KB Sir… what is that supposed to mean?” Kajal was annoyed at his nerve.

“Come on Kajal you are in this for the money, right? And what a settlement after a year… you have it all sorted for yourself and your family. So I have to give it to you, Kajal, acting all bashful on the exterior, but this is what you…”

“THAT’S ENOUGH KB sir… you have no right to call me names. You are in this for a reason, too, and you didn’t even reveal it … so don’t be the pot that calls the kettle black. And you are right. If I had known that it was you, I would have refused right away. Nonetheless, I will take your leave…” Kajal fumed as she stood.

“Wait Kajal…” He spoke standing and was soon next to her, making her breathing halt in the lungs. “… Please sit…” He moved back while she sat, not because she wanted to but because her legs almost gave away.

“Fine, I apologize, OK?” he smiled the devilish grin that made her insides turn into the marshmallow. How could she remain angry anymore? He had that impact on her… she had become brazen and immune to insults!

“Kajal, there are a few rules you must understand if you agree to this marriage. First, I will not tolerate any interference in my personal life, nor will I bother you. Second, we will be staying in my penthouse in Andheri, where I will be giving you a room, and you will remain there or go out of the house whenever I entertain friends at home. Third, you are free to use anything you like on the lower level of the house right from the kitchen, pantry, library, mini gym, home theatre… whatever you like. But under no circumstances will you go up to the first floor. Lead the life you want to, and I won’t say a word… stay away from the press and a few occasions you will have to accompany me to a few dos to show the world. Is that okay with you?”

Kajal stared open-mouthed, and he snapped his fingers to bring her out of her daze. What just happened? Did he state rules? Goddamn rules? What was she getting into… frying pan to the fire? She shook her head to try to contain the sudden blood flow to her brain, which still felt blank.

“KB sir, I only have two conditions… no one should know about this arrangement, and I want to go to work.”

“The first I understand I wouldn’t want anyone to know either, but why do you have to work? Working with Rhapsody may jeopardize…”

“…I am leaving Rhapsody…” she said abruptly.

“…so where will you be working? Got a new job already…?”

“…I have an offer from Rugved Sir for an assistant to writer’s position… its something I always wanted to do… so…”

She saw KB stiffen. What was it between the two, just professional rivalry, or was there anything more to it? She sighed as she looked at him.

“Fine by me then… so let’s tie the knot in 9 days from now… and you have your exams too, right?”

How did he know? She nodded as he continued. “…you should appear for the papers then… the official honeymoon can be pushed ahead, and we will have a reason to tell the press as well… the exams couldn’t have come at a better time.” He smiled as if he was planning the plot of his TV serial, and she shook her head. But, of course, this was a TV serial in itself… they were going to act their parts of husband and wife.

The paths were laden with upheaval

yet they were trodden, as though critical…

She only hoped her heart would survive the emotional upheaval she was subjecting it to.

She stood up to leave, and he walked up to her pushing a stray curl away from her face behind her ear, even as his trademark citrus cologne engulfed her senses. She moved away from him, but he gripped her arm. She looked into his eyes, and for the first time since she had arrived, she saw that raw fire embedded in his eyes, snarling at her threatening to burn her. What she feared was agreeing to turn into ashes.

He moved closer to her, their bodies almost touching. He just had to touch her, and she was combustible in his infernos aura.

She gasped and tried to pull herself away, and as if out of a spell, his expression turned neutral again, and he released her looking away.

“Kajal, give me your phone…” he spoke softly and took it out of her hand. Her phone was locked. “…unlock it for me, please…” he almost whispered, and she was on autopilot as she put in the codes.

He typed a number and dialed. His phone rang, startling her.

“Save my number and answer me whenever I call… that’s another important rule I forgot to mention.” He gave her a side smile that did something to her insides. She nodded softly and walked out of the room, not bothering to take in the beautifully decorated room.

She spent the rest of the day trying to study but in vain. She looked at the phone now and then.. and her heart fell when there was no text or a missed call or anything of the sort. So then why the hell did he take her number of he had nothing to talk about? Everything in this reeked of quicksand, and she wondered if she was sinking deeper into it.

The only solace in the entire fiasco was she knew KB and was attracted to him… so the year shouldn’t be awkward… should it?

Later that evening, she explained her decision to marry to her stupefied mama and an unhappy Krunal, even as her maami wholeheartedly ‘supported’ her. She knew Krunal would eventually come along and convinced herself she was doing it to secure his future.

Her engagement was in two days, and she had emailed her resignation to Rhapsody, sighting personal reasons. But, as she went to bed that night, a strange fear rose through her being. Why did a rich, handsome guy like KB need to get into a contract marriage? And why did he agree to her when he had women ready to eat out of his hands?

What would her aai-baba say about her decision had they been here?

©priyagole

Chapter 14

Kajal slapped her book on the table. William Shakespeare’s words which she usually loved to read and analyze, were dancing before her eyes for the past hour. Krunal and gone to school, and Poonam and maami were in the local temple to her utmost surprise, and mama and Pratham dada had gone to their respective jobs.

She should have been happy since she got her me time for studies, and surprisingly maami hadn’t been pestering her to do the housework like she usually did whenever Kajal was at home. Instead, Maami had prepared her favorite sabudana khichidi and given her two servings!

Irrespective of the kind of person she was maami was a fabulous cook, and that Kajal had to give it to the lady.

The khichidi helped elevate her mood a bit after the day she had yesterday. She had rushed back to the office from the studio and changed into her original clothes and did a quick job of handing over her duties to the guy who was to be in charge of her workload till she got back.

But she could barely sleep last night watching the fan wings cutting through the streetlight streaming in through the windows, making the ceiling shadow-design sprinkled with cobwebs. Krunal, who had been overjoyed at receiving an autographed cap by his favorite actor, had gone to bed gripping the object in his hands.

But every time Kajal closed her eyes, she was haunted by the citrus cologne and the warmth of KB’s body at her back, and her heartbeat accelerated. She had to grip her chest to calm herself down. She was fiercely attracted to the wrong guy, and it was interfering in her daily life. How could she?

Even now, as she tried to focus on her studies, she felt the butterflies in her stomach every time she thought of him, and that was virtually every moment. Krunal had called sometime back saying he was staying in the hostel for the duration of his final exams, and the warden had agreed to let him be. So she packed a bag for him, thankful to get something to distract her at the moment.

Yet as she got back to studying, she couldn’t… what was it about KB? She had received an email from Rugved’s office asking her to fill an employee form if she was interested in joining them. She was offered assistant to the chief writer in Rugved’s Sharanya Productions. That was what she had wanted to do. Her pay was slightly less than what she got at Rhapsody, but the work hours were less, and she had the freedom to work from home as well. This was great if she wanted to pursue a postgraduate program by correspondence later.

The giant man had been kind to her, and she had heard the staff only speak good about him. What she felt for Rugved was respect. But, unfortunately, she was drawn to KB, and she had to get her traitorous heart under control. She didn’t know why KB behaved savagely like he did both times, but she wasn’t a toy for him.

She had studied all articles she could find about KB but hadn’t heard him behave in this manner despite the web being filled with malicious gossip maligning his character. So why did he do that to her? Not that she was complaining, and that made her hate herself all the more.

The front door clicked open, and she heard her maami and Poonam enter. They seemed happy ever since they had gotten back from the village.

“Kajal, come here please…” her aunt called her, surprising her at the politeness.

Kajal walked out, unsure about the chasm of uncertainty before her.

“Come here, Kajal. Sit here…” her maami pointed to the place on the couch next to her.

When Kajal sat, she continued. “Ok…Kajal, there is a piece of good news… in fact, several good news. First of all, Poonam’s wedding has almost been fixed. If all goes well, we will formalize it on Sunday next.”

Kajal saw Poonam blush as she sat on the opposite chair.

“Congratulations tai… congratulations maami… that’s excellent news.” Kajal was genuinely happy for Poonam.

 “Well, the boy is an engineer and works in a huge company in Baramati. The family is good, and the horoscopes have matched as well. The most important point is that they do not want any dowry, accept a house in Baramati where the couple will continue to live after marriage. I have agreed to the condition…” maami spoke hesitantly.

Kajal wondered how maami could be so naïve as to agree to provide a house. Of course, they didn’t have a hand-to-mouth existence, and maami had also kept aside some jewelry for Poonam. But beyond that, it was not easy. What was maami thinking, and did mama know about all this?

“…Umm… Kajal, your mama doesn’t know this as yet. And I just checked a house from a local there, and it’s a beautiful apartment.. But it costs, I mean thir… thirty lakhs….” Kajals heart skipped a beat. Maami had lost it. “…but kajal, this is a God sent alliance for Poonam, and she gets to stay independently without interference from her inlaws.”

“I agree maami, but how are you going to afford that house?” Kajal couldn’t help but ask.

“Um… Kajal, that’s where you come into the picture.” Maami straightened on the couch, and Kajal looked on confused. She didn’t have any jewelry or money kept aside. How could she help?

“How maami…?”

“you know my brother Sahu mama, right?” Maami asked, and she nodded. Sahu mama used to visit them regularly till a few years ago. He was a kind soul, unlike his sister, and was always courteous to Kajal and Krunal. Despite his sister’s utmost annoyance, he loved them more than Poonam and Pratham, getting them goodies every time he visited. Maami continued speaking, breaking Kajal’s line of thought.

“Umm… Sahu mama has been working at an estate for the last decade after his company closed down. Through the owners, he got an amazing marriage proposal for… you Kajal.”

Kajal stood up. She now began to understand why maami had been so good to her since yesterday. “What on earth maami…? Marriage and me?”

“Aga… bas jara…aikuntari ghe. (sit and listen at least).. The family is super-rich. Have you heard of the Deshmukh conglomerate? Deshmukh oils, rubber, and Deshmukh cooperative banks? They want a good girl for their only grandson. He is handsome and best suited for you. In a flash, all our problems solved.” Maami’s eyes gleamed of greed.

Kajal was angry, and the rage she had been feeling for a while rose to the surface.

“Maami… this is ridiculous… do you even know what you are saying? So you are selling me off to fund Poonam tai’s wedding? I know you don’t like me, but I promise you it’s a matter of a couple of months; I shall leave with Krunal…”

“…Of course you will leave…” maami spoke with an icy cold tone that chilled her as well. “…you will have to leave this house because we are selling it….” She looked at a stunned Kajal and continued. “…your maama had mortgaged this house ages ago. Do you think that petty pension coming your way from the police helped tide over the expenses of this house and your father’s bills? No …Kajal, your maama got the money after giving up the only treasure we had… this house. And he is retiring in two months as you know. Pratham’s job isn’t all that up to the mark, and I can’t ask him for money. So how do you expect us to run the show?”

“But maami…?”

“Kajal, for the last decade, we have given up everything for you and your brother. I know I am harsh, but if I hadn’t kept aside my jewelry for Poonam, your maama would have sold those as well… to fund your father’s bills. And now… even after we sell this house, we will barely have anything after repaying the loan. We will move into the village and build a small house for us, but Poonam’s marriage will not materialize, and your maama’s meager pension won’t suffice… do you want us to have a pathetic existence after all we have done for you…?” Maami wailed, her voice raising notches higher in pitch.

“Maami, there will be some alternative…” Kajal’s throat was clogged.

“Kajal, you listen to me now very clearly…” Maami’s tone had taken the aggressive route. “… It’s time you pay us back for what we did unless you want us to go on the roads in the next couple of months and your Poonam tai’s alliance getting canceled… it’s a tough life for all of us. Think of your brother too. Krunal has his future before him all in the dark, but a single ‘yes’ from your side will brighten it up… he can study whatever he wants to…. We all will be happy…”

“…And maami… what about me…?” Kajal’s voice cracked.

“What do you mean… you are marrying an heir to a huge conglomerate. You will be sitting on a pile of money… what else do you need…? Listen carefully Kajal, I have already had the talks. They will buy that house in Baramati, pay this house’s mortgage, and we get to retain it, but we will sell it and move to the village. They are also setting aside a huge amount for Krunal’s education so he can stay in a hostel and study and besides all that, Pratham dada will get a good-paying job in one of their factories close to our village… so can’t you see…? Everything gets sorted…”

Kajal stood rooted to the ground.  Maami continued her tirade.

“…Look kajal, your mama doesn’t know about all this, so I would prefer you keep this between the three of us. Listen it’s nothing to be worried about. Women have to adjust…And in case you don’t like the guy and want to separate, you can do it after a year… and that too with a huge settlement… I have asked for 2 crores of which we get 75 lakhs and you pocket the rest. After that, you can go abroad and study and fulfill your dreams…”

Kajal was hyperventilating as tears now streamed freely down her cheeks. “Maami… would you have asked Poonam tai to get into such a marriage…?”

“Why on earth would Poonam have to do that? Her parents are living, and yours aren’t. So for a moment, forget about all of us. But what about your mama…? He did so much for you. You and Krunal would have been in some orphanage if not for him. So cant, you do this in return for your mama’s happy retirement life? He is in tremendous stress about making ends meet after a couple of months…and don’t show up with this teary face before him… you know he gets affected when you cry… stop the melodrama… you can reign like a queen. What else do you need?”

Kajal only stood crying, and her chest constricted as she thought of the handsome face who had touched her mind, body, and soul. No, she didn’t stand a chance to be with him… even if he was a great guy. But she needed time to get over her crush… yes… that’s what her feelings were. She had a crush on KB. But this marriage…

“Kajal here take this… we have to go to see them tomorrow. You can meet the guy too…”maami handed over a packet to her.

“What…? So soon? Maami my exams…” Kajal muttered.

“Skip the exams for now. You can give them later. The Deshmukhs are in a rush to get the grandson married…There is a good muhurat in ten days from now. They aren’t revealing the reason for marriage, and we shouldn’t bother either so far as the legal documents are in place. So tomorrow, be at your best behavior. And… we aren’t saying anything to your mama right now… Got it? Don’t be a big mouth and ruin everything for us. Now go inside…”

Maami walked into her bedroom, followed by Poonam and Kajal slumped on the floor sobbing on the hard ground.

Aai where are you? I need you so much now…. Please come back… she wailed, but there was no one to hear her cries.

Kajal was glad Krunal wasn’t around to see the drama unfold at home. She gave it all a thought and realized she had to sacrifice herself at the marriage altar for her brother’s future and repay her mama. It was a matter of only a year after all… in the larger frame of life; how much did a year matter?

The next day after her clueless mama left for office maami and Kajal took an Uber. Autorickshaw would be too downmarket maami had said. So Kajal had been drapped in a simple yellow with pink border chiffon saree and had matched it up with bare minimum accessories.

As they arrived outside the vast estate, Sahu mama came running to welcome them and take them into the house. Maami had a strange bounce in her steps as she walked ahead. Sahu mama held Kajal’s hand and stopped her.

“Kajal, I know this is all a shocker for you, but trust me, this will be good for you… I know this family very well, and they are a gem of a people. You will be happy… I can assure you that. But if you don’t like the boy, feel free to say no and I won’t allow my sister to pressurize you… got it?”

Kajal only nodded, blinking back tears, knowing she was walking into a lion’s den and there was no turning back.

They were welcomed into the elegant drawing room by a herd of maids, and a frail old woman whom she was told was the boy’s ajji.

Kajal touched her feet, and the woman instinctively hugged her flooding her with a strange warmth of affection she had never known. Instantly Kajal’s eyes filled, and she tried her best not to cry.

“Welcome, my child… my grandson will be here any minute now. You are far more beautiful than your picture. I hope you like my grandson and say a yes to him. Oh, there he comes.” The grandmother said.

Suddenly, it hushed around, and the uniformed maids all got away as Sahu mama and maami stood up in anticipation. Kajal turned around in the direction of everyone’s vision, and her heart missed a beat.

She watched wide eyes as KB strode into the drawing-room in his trademark suit like a lethal tiger in its regal stride, drawing out all the oxygen in the air around her.

©priyagole