Take a chance on me, p.20
Take a Chance on Me, page 20
“I can’t Kabier. The three of us have waited for one of us to get married for years. I have to be with her now. She needs me.”
Kabier mumbled a four letter word under breath.
“So, I assume that you’ll be at my place tonight?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“Then I’ll see you tonight, in any case,” Kabier turned around and walked up to his car, where Sameer and Rishi were waiting for him.
“Hey Kabier, I saw you whispering to Keya earlier. So, you got a date tonight or what?” Rishi asked Kabier from the back seat of the car. Sameer was driving them home from the yacht and they had just stopped outside Kabier’s home.
Kabier turned behind to look at him, “No, not tonight.”
“So, tomorrow then?”
“No, I doubt it’ll be till after Sheena’s wedding. She’s promised to spend as much time as possible with Sheena till the wedding.”
“And that’s okay by you?” Rishi asked amazed. He had never seen Kabier bow to the wishes of a woman before, especially one he was pursuing.
“Well, I don’t have much of a choice do I? They’re extremely close and apparently they’ve been waiting for one of them to get married since forever maybe, so it’s like next to impossible to get her out of my sister’s hands for the next two weeks,” Kabier said with a grimace.
“Oh! So someone is going to be extremely frustrated these next few days, huh?” Rishi said pulling Kabier’s leg. He rarely had a chance to get the better of his older cousin and he was enjoying every minute of this.
“Stop it, Rishi.” Sameer scolded his brother jovially. To Kabier he said, “What’s with these girls? Why do all their girlie fantasies involve a wedding? It’s beyond me.”
Kabier shrugged his shoulders. “Me too! Any case, I’m assuming that my mom’s not going to let Sheena out of her sight for the next two weeks, so I suppose Keya and Raashi will be at my place all those evenings before the wedding. So, at least I’ll get to spend time with her. You guys want to drop in for a while later?”
“I’ll come,” said Sameer.
“What about you?” Kabier asked Rishi.
“I won’t miss it for anything in the world! How often do I get to see my big brother make a fool of himself over a woman?” Kabier laughed, shook his head, got out of the car and waved them off.
In reality the next few days were the most frustrating days of his life. A whole week had passed and he had hardly exchanged a few words with Keya. They were both very busy at work during the days and in the evenings Keya was busy with Sheena, doing last minute things with her like packing or going out with her to distribute wedding invites to some of their friends. Sameer and Rishi gave him company on most nights and whenever they couldn’t he would lock himself in his study and work on his laptop. It was highly annoying that Keya was around him and yet not with him.
And then before he knew it, the chaos increased tenfold as the twins descended from London with their entourage of friends.
The twins had planned a dance performance for Sheena’s sangeet. Since the trend was that the close family and friends of the bride and groom performed choreographed dances on some of the latest hits, the twins, Shauna and Rhea had started practicing daily with their friends. They didn’t need a lot to convince Rishi, Raashi and Keya. And just yesterday he had heard that Sameer had also agreed to dance with the lot. They had tried to convince him too, but he just wasn’t interested.
Keya was also having an extremely hectic week. She had things to complete at work before she took off for the wedding. She was about to leave for yet another meeting when Kabier knocked on her door and entered, shutting the door behind him. Without a word, he walked towards her and before she could say as much as a hello, he had her in his arms and was kissing her senseless. It took her a moment and then she was kissing him back, putting all the pent up emotion she felt for him in the kiss. She had missed him.
Kabier kissed her ravenously; devouring her. He had been deprived of touching her for so long that he felt that if he had to spend any more apart from her, he would die. He wished he could just whiz her off somewhere for a day or so, rather make that a week and to hell with everything else.
“Hey,” he told her, finally breaking from the kiss, still holding her.
“That was amazing.”
“I know. I’ve missed you,” he told her honestly.
“Me too!”
“Where are you off to?” he asked noticing the papers in her hand.
“Meeting.”
“Can you cancel?”
She smiled. “What do you have in mind?”
“I was thinking of taking you out for lunch. Can you manage to make time for me?” he asked her.
Keya turned to look back at the calendar of her laptop and then made a phone call rescheduling her meeting.
“Alright then, we are good to go.”
“Come on, I’ll drive you.”
As they exited the elevator on the ground floor lobby, they walked towards a group of Keya’s colleagues who were on their way to lunch, someone called out to Keya and she went across to meet them. While he was waiting for her to finish her conversation, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Trisha smiling at him.
“Hello stranger!” she said.
“Hey Trisha, how are you doing? The foot better now?”
“Perfect. Thanks. How are the preparations going for Sheena’s wedding?”
“Good. We’re almost set for the big day. By the way, your invite has been lying on my desk since ages. I’ll send it over today. You will come, won’t you?” Kabier asked.
Just as Trisha was about to reply, Keya interrupted them. She linked her hand in his and leaned into him and said, “Hey sweetheart! Where’s that lunch you promised me?”
Kabier stared at Keya, very surprised. She never made a public display of their relationship. So her behaving like this was so not her. Before he could reply to her question, she turned to look at Trisha and said sweetly, “Oh Trisha, hi! Sorry, I didn’t see you earlier.”
Kabier shook his head finally getting what Keya was playing at.
“Actually, I was just asking Trisha if she would be attending Sheena’s wedding.”
Kabier said smiling at Keya now. He drew her closer to him and put his arm around her waist.
“Well, I am hungry. So if you’re done here, let’s go,” Keya said looking warmly into his eyes.
“Yeah, okay. Trisha I’ll catch you later.” Kabier steered Keya out of the lobby and towards his parked car.
“I hope you’re not inviting her for the wedding?” Keya asked him, the minute they sat inside the car.
“That was the plan, why?”
“I just can’t stand that woman. I’ve just about been tolerating her the last few years and now she’s getting on my nerves even more.”
“What is the problem with you two? Why don’t you like each other?”
“She’s succeeded in making my life hell on more than one occasion and frankly now I have had enough of her. What I dislike even more, especially now, is that every time she is around you, she tries to cling on to you like a sticky vine.” Keya made a face.
“I suppose the obvious display back there was meant for her benefit. And here I was thinking that you wanted to make our relationship public! Our lobby is very busy and a lot of people would have seen you draped around me,” Kabier told her mischievously.
“I don’t care about anyone else; as long as that woman gets the message that you are off limits to her. You are mine.”
Her words made his heart swell with pleasure.
“Is that so?” Kabier came forward to lean into her.
In reply to his question she came closer to him and kissed his smiling mouth.
“Yes you are mine, Kabier, as I am yours. And I mean it. I don’t want her at the wedding. So I’d rather you not invite her at all.”
Starting the car, Kabier said, “I can’t do that. And she’s really not that bad a person. You two just haven’t gotten along, that’s all.”
“Trust me Kabier, she’s dangerous. There is something about her that always makes me wary of her. I am just not comfortable of her being around you.”
“Well, I think she must have definitely got the message about the two of us, from the way you behaved today. So I am pretty sure she knows that I am not interested in her at all.”
“That may be the case, but please, for my sake, just don’t send her the wedding invite at all.”
“You’re crazy,” Kabier smiled.
Trisha was shocked beyond words. What had she been missing? The last time she had seen the two of them, was on the yacht and they hadn’t even been talking to one another. Trisha had enjoyed spending time with Kabier that afternoon. And he had seemed so concerned about her when she had fallen. But then her attempt to be alone with him had failed when Rithwik had escorted her to her room instead of Kabier. All her attempts to snag Kabier’s attention were failing. And somehow Keya had worked her way into his life. Something had happened between Keya and Kabier that had definitely changed the equation between them. She had to do something soon, but what and how? She was at a loss for the first time in her life.
Chapter 20
On Sunday, Keya had spent the entire morning and afternoon with the twins and their gang, practicing the different dances for Sheena’s sangeet. She so wanted Kabier to participate but he just wouldn’t agree. Sometimes, she wondered why he had to be so staid about every damn thing. Couldn’t he just let loose and enjoy himself for a bit? Come to think of it, she had never seen him dance ever.
She ought to ask Sheena if he actually did know how to shake a leg. Even Sameer and Rishi were participating in the show they were putting up and they were dancing rather well, so it was quite surprising that Kabier wasn’t interested.
Since they had practiced most of the day, the entire lot of people had gathered at Kabier’s place at night. It was the night before Kabier, Sameer and Rishi left for Goa. They were leaving early to do a last minute check on everything before the rest of the family and the guests descended.
The house was lit up, beautifully. Every corner of the exterior was done up in lights, to celebrate the joyous occasion. Keya entered to even more noise and crowd than was usual since the last few days. She entered the main hall and noticed that it was already filled with Kabier’s mom’s friends and they were singing wedding songs and playing the dholak. She then went to the lawns where everyone else had congregated. A bar was setup in one corner and many people were standing around it.
She saw Janak sitting in one corner and went up to him. He had, definitely, recovered from his illness very well and looked as fit as he had in the past. He hugged her warmly and kissed both of her cheeks and they chatted for a while. All the time her eyes were searching the crowd looking for Kabier.
“He’s not yet here,” Janak told her knowingly.
“Who?” Keya pretended.
“Kabier, of course.”
“I wasn’t looking for him,” Keya told him, not looking at him directly.
“Tch tch, you’re not a good liar, so why even try.”
“How did you know?”
“It’s written all over your face; whenever he shows up, you light up like a bulb. I’ve known you for a long time and I have never seen you this besotted, with anyone, like you are with him.”
“Is it that obvious?” Keya asked him shyly.
“Not to everyone, but I know you very well Keya. At least I know for sure that he reciprocates the feeling.”
“I doubt he feels the same way about me as I feel for him,” Keya told him honestly.
“I think you need to give him a chance Keya! Let him into your life, into your heart. Learn to have faith. Not every man is like your father.”
Before Keya could think of an answer, she saw Kabier step out on the lawns. He looked around and then his eyes found hers. He came towards her.
“Here he comes, but remember what I told you.”
“Hey, you two! What are you talking about?” Kabier asked jovially.
“We were wondering where you were. Why don’t you take Keya to the bar for a drink?” Janak advised.
“Can I get you something?”
“No, you guys have fun.” Janak turned and walked towards another group of people.
“You look tired,” Kabier told Keya the moment they were alone.
“I am; the twins are driving us mad, with all that dance practice. They’ve now decided to compere the whole performance themselves, so they’re making us work double time to ensure that everything is perfect. But it’s fun.” She shook her head. “Tell me, why aren’t you dancing with us?”
“It’s just not like me to do something like that.” Kabier shook his head.
“Either that or you simply have got two left feet.”
“I do not have two left feet, in fact I can dance very well, thank you.”
“Oh right!” Keya said rolling her eyes upwards.
“Seriously, I do know how to dance.”
“Now, why do I find that hard to believe? Wait, maybe because I’ve not seen you dance ever, not when we met in that night club, some months ago, not on the yacht and now you refuse to participate in your own sister’s sangeet.”
“Oh come on! Don’t tell me you are making a conclusion based on this alone.”
Keya folded her arms and looked at him. “And why not? Anyone who knows how to dance will simply move when music is played.”
“I am not just anyone.”
“So I rest my case. You do have two left feet.” Keya laughed aloud.
“What if I prove it to you that I don’t?”
“Yeah sure, whatever!”
“If I prove that I can dance and that too, to your satisfaction and expectation, you’ll give me what I ask for?” Kabier challenged her.
“Deal.” Keya was sure that he’d never be able to meet her level of expectation.
“You won’t back out of it.”
“I won’t. What are you going to do?” Keya asked.
“You’ll see.” He turned and headed towards the bar, leaving Keya standing alone staring after him, wondering if she was mistaken about him.
She followed him eventually and got caught up socializing with the people around. Kabier was always close by, near her and most of the times a part of the same circle in which she was standing. Keya was wearing a simple, full length, silk beige and gold anarkali. It had dark green and gold work on the neck and sleeves, with a beige churidar. She had a dark green and gold worked net dupatta, around her neck. She loved her outfit so she was extremely distressed when one of the twins’ friends accidentally bumped into her and she spilled her drink all over the front of her kurta. The liquid seeped through her outfit, leaving a big stain right through her front.
Sheena rushed to her and insisted that she go up to change into one of her outfits. The guy who had bumped into her, apologized profusely and Keya couldn’t help but laugh at his buoyant attempt to appease her.
Laughing she turned to go to Sheena’s room, to change.
Kabier watched her retreating into the house. He had witnessed the whole episode, standing on the side with his cousins. “Excuse me. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Kabier followed Keya into the house and upstairs to Sheena’s room. He had been delayed a bit because on his way in he had been stopped by his uncle and his friends. He looked around to check if Keya had already left when he saw her coming out of Sheena’s room.
Keya had taken the first thing she could find from Sheena’s wardrobe. She had changed into a long flowing yellow and gold anarkali. She exited the room and turned to shut the door when strong hands grabbed her waist and held her tight to an even stronger body. She turned into his arms and smiled at him.
It was very quiet upstairs; down below the party was in full swing and no one had needed to venture up. Without a word he backed her against the wall and kissed her witless. His lips moved over her own sensuously, trapping her lips beneath his own. That was enough of an invitation for her; she wound her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to him, surrendering to him.
Keya had missed him so much in the last few days. She kissed him back, pouring all her love for him into the kiss. Kabier held her tight, pushing closer into her. He knew that he was playing with fire kissing her here in the corridor when anyone could walk in on them. He should have taken her into his room where they could have had some privacy. That had been his plan all along but the moment he saw her, he just had to have her in his arms.
He lifted his head as he heard a discreet cough in the background. He turned and saw Sameer and Rishi staring at him, arms folded. He growled in frustration. Keya turned at just that moment to see what the interruption was and seeing his cousins, she buried her face in his shoulder. He thought he heard her whisper Oh no!
“You guys sure have bad timing,” he said annoyed at his cousins.
“And you are taking one hell of a risk doing what you were doing just now,” said Sameer.
“Your mom was looking for you. You are lucky we saw you follow Keya and stopped your mom from coming here.” Rishi said.
“Damn!” Kabier whispered into Keya’s ear. “We have to go.”
She nodded and took a step away from him
He led her back from the house and walked her back to the lawns, with Sameer and Rishi following behind.
“Seriously, I mean, I didn’t think he had it this bad for her,” Rishi said as he saw Kabier and Keya mix with the crowd.
“Oh, he’s crazy about her, alright. I’ve guessed it since even before he accepted it to himself. She has him wrapped around her little finger and she doesn’t even know it. Heaven help him, when she realizes that,” Sameer said shuddering.
“I hope that never happens to us. I can’t imagine falling trap to a woman’s wiles and fancies,” Rishi said.
“Me neither. I just like them where I can do with them as I please, namely in my bed, to enjoy and then leave when the novelty ceases.” He then turned to look at Raashi who has laughing at something one of his sisters had said. She, caught him staring at her but ignoring him, she continued to talk to his sisters.
