Chapter 9: Their Comely Affair.

Chapter 9: Their Comely Affair.

“Uncle. I can explain you everything.” Priya pleaded to the secretary of the society.

Informed about the development that happened in absence of her, Priya tried to convince the lady who complained to the secretary, but she denied listening to her plea. She must, perforce, deal with the matter immediately.

“When she was bad mouthing in front of my little boy, Ram Ram...” as the lady took lord Ram’s name, the Ram of flesh and blood standing there looked up and supressed the laugh with much difficulty. “And Priya we at least had faith on you. But you are also welcoming boys into your house in odd hours too.”

“Excuse me.” Priya stood up. “I agree that Neha shouldn't have spoken so rude to you. But neither I nor she has ever allowed any man after 9 pm except Neha’s father. If that is also a crime you should have let us know that parents are also not allowed in the flat.”

“Priya.” The secretary spoke, “Neha has crossed her limits many a times and this time speaking about intercourse in front of kid, is that justified?”

“I don't want to comment on it.” She refused to answer. “Didi but you also should be rational. Please tell me did you catch them in any compromising position? Were they doing any unwanted act? And uncle..” Priya turned to the secretary, “Even if a newly married couple stands close to each other they have problem. If we argue with a vendor for his artifice, they will put their ears there also pretending us to having an illegitimate relation. Is it right?”

“You all are young; they try to protect you only.” The secretary defended.

“But...” Priya was forced to back, when the lady’s voice screeched into their ears, “They must be thrown out. Bhai sahab you must throw them out today.”

“Excuse me. If you don't mind can I say somethings?” Ram took few steps to the discussion table. “I think I will be dragged into this so I should get a chance to defend.” Ram moved his eyes from one person to other including Priya.

“Who are you?” Asked the secretary.

“Better.” Ram whispered to himself. “I am Ram Kapoor. I and Priya work in the same organization. We are peers there and good friend, basically we like each other.”

“Ram you stay out of it.” Priya gestured him  to stop.

“Mrs.... I don't know you name.” Ram particularly ignored Priya. “But why are you reacting in such a manner if Neha has spoken about sex?” The lady looked other side ignoring him. “Look I don't feel Neha has done anything wrong by protesting your arrogance towards her for being with a man. He is my childhood friend whom, you are targeting also.” Pointing to Vikram Ram addressed the lady. “They were sharing a light moment that’s it. If I can touch my friend and if it is not a crime then why it is a crime when it comes to opposite sex? I am born and brought up in Lucknow. People I grew up around and with have more conservative thoughts than the people of Delhi, but I never found people to judge by the first impression and on their first sight you declared them guilty when they are innocent” Ram found the lady blabbering to herself. He smiled and continued, “And I know after this discussion you will ask Mr. Secretary to cancel their agreement with immediate affect. Being bachelorette is not a crime!” Ram shrugged off his shoulders. “Sir” he turned to the Secretary, “I came to drop Priya almost 8 every day and she never gave me an entry, because she respects the thoughts of the people residing here. Vikram came to pick Neha on one Sunday, at 7:00 pm, he has to wait outside because Neha didn't allow him. Doesn't it imply they respect you? We are humans and every one has a threshold, if it breaks we react, to which she gave up today. But did she use any slang to you Ma’am? If yes then she has definitely made a mistake but if she haven't then I am extremely sorry but you are over thinking and over reacting to protect your ego only.” Ram looked around the room which sported a melancholy silence.

“Has she?” The secretary asked the complainant.

“No. But she spoke about sex.” The lady hurried with her answer.

“Stop Meena.” Ordering her to stop the man looked to Priya and Neha. “Your agreement has been renewed just four month back. So I will not cancel it but it will not be renewed any further after it gets over.” He said. “And the discussion is over.”

One after another when the visitors left Priya and Neha’s rented apartment Priya dropped her on the bean bag. “Sorry yaar.” Neha approached her.

“Don't be.” Priya replied. “I am also getting pissed off being diplomatic all these time. My only worry is 6 months is not enough to find a cheap and reasonable flat to live.” Under a tensed sigh Priya answered.

“Okay Time up!” Ram cheered up the people around, “Shall we go out for dinner? It's double celebrations.”

“Celebrations?” Priya replied in a stern voice. “We are going to be homeless in six months.” Sitting there for a while with closed eyes Priya gasped before leaving for her room, “If you guys want please carry on. I will manage with Maggie.” With a straight face she walked inside.

“Let me check with her.” Ram said looking towards Neha, “You guys have a mall nearby right?” encouraging Neha he asked, “Why don't you buy some chicken and vegetables and noodles. I will cook.”

“But Priya...” Neha’s voice broke.

“Let me handle her.” Ram assured her. “Vikram buy her an ice cream. That will definitely lift her mood and go fast, it's already late and we have to leave too. Your society people will definitely check with us.” Pushing them out Ram walked to Priya’s bedroom.

He knocked before entering.

“You don't have to knock Ram. Come in.” Priya replied from inside, the room which has sheeted in darkness with a bed lamp enlightening the room gloomily. “Don't switch on the light.” She said anticipating.

“Why are you upset?” He climbed on the bed and sat by her. “Everything will be fine; it is just a matter of time.” He started caressing her head dearly. “Neha is in guilt.”

“I am not upset with her. I am upset with the people around.” Priya turned her back to Ram. “Their mind set.”

“You cannot control people but you can control yourself and your emotions.” Ram smiled turning her to himself, “Everything happens for a reason.”

“But what is good in this?” under her snort, she said and sat on her position.

“Did I mention good?” Ram smiled pleasantly, “See you know that leaving this place will be good and who knows something beautiful is going to happen.” Ram pulled out the rubber band letting her hair to cascade down around her shoulder. Mounting on knees he came behind her. Drifting her hair to one side Ram looked to her from the other side, “You have a tattoo?” he asked mischievously.

“Yeah two. Other one I will definitely not show you.” Priya smiled naughtily. “Other one is bit private.”

“I have never noticed this, forget about the private one. Let me check.” Ram traced his fingers over it. Hovering his hand over it he asked its meaning.

“What does an angel means?” annoyed she asked.

“Is it an angel?”

“Yes.”

“Where is the other one?” Holding Priya from behind he smirked. “Let me see.”

“No never.” Priya ran away from his hold. “That's private and mine only.”

“Didn't the tattoo artist saw it?” teasingly Ram asked trying to block Priya from escaping

“Yeah she saw.” Priya escaped and slipped into the leaving room.

“Accha so the artiste was a female!” he was curious, “Now I can guess where it can be.” Skilfully he ran across the room to block Priya. “and that makes me more snoopy.”

“And the answer is still no.” This time Priya failed to juggle out from Ram’s web. Submitting to his strength and the strong hold along her waist, Priya fell atop him on his wide chest. Her hair made a mess spreading all over her face. Keeping his head elevated, Ram untangled her hair, tucking them behind her ears he cupped her face. “See how beautiful you look in smile.” Ram said kissing her lower lips. Pulling her closer he let Priya rest her head on the crook of his neck. He kept stroking along the length of her hair lovingly. “Doesn't it hurt?” Ram asked.

“What making tattoos?” Priya asked.

“Yeah!”

“Nah! It's about your mind-set!!” she replied. Ram felt her smile over his neck. Holding her they lay there until the door bell rang.

“I think its Neha and Vikram.” Ram said, “I send them to bring ingredients for preparing dinner.”

“You will cook!!” bemused Priya said. She walked out to open the door after arranging her hair into a bun.

~~

“Ram brace yourself. Your girlfriend doesn't know to cook.” Neha giggled putting a morsel into her wide opened mouth.

“Shut Up!” Priya scolded, “If I didn't know how did I manage to make coffee and maggie?”

“Maggie and coffee don't qualify to judge one’s culinary skills Priya.” Mimicked Neha, “So you fail singularly.” She said allowing Priya to throw a withering look towards.

“Shut up! I am not getting intimidated by your blank threats.” Neha continued speaking to the men.

Before the dinner was staged, Priya cleared the black clouds stalled over Neha. Priya assured Neha that she was not upset with her or with any of her actions. Sharing a loving and much needed Hug they reassured their undying friendship.

“Basically Ram, you have two options, either to  be the cook of the house along with the man or to hire a full time cook-er for your family.” Laughing hysterically Neha said.

“C- double o K ; Cook.” Priya corrected with a straight face.

“I tell you Ram.” Continue to chew her food, Neha struggled to speak clearly but she spoke, “When I go for holidays, either restaurants are on their business or her previous organization.”

“So when you are going for holiday this time?” Ram asked. With a stiff gaze over Priya he slithered his toes up along her limb. “So that I can be her chef for those days.”

“I should go soon then.” Winked Neha.

“Stop pulling my leg.” Priya scorned. “There is no offense in not knowing how to cook. There are many arts I excel in. Can you bake cakes like me?”

“No. That’s some commendable calibre she endures Ram.” Neha seconds Priya. “Priya why don't you bake tomorrow evening? We can get the ingredients in morning.”

“Then she has to do it at my place because I am hijacking her for the whole day.” Ram declared keeping his mastery act in action, making Priya uncomfortable, under the table.

Judging Priya by her reactions, Neha leaned back against the chair. Grinning ear to ear Neha scuffed her throat, “Vikram there is some other story going on under there.”

Being caught Ram withdrew his feet back to its own place.

“Guys. Please.” Priya stood up to leave, “And Ram I have to go for shopping tomorrow. I need some essentials for myself and for daily needs. So sorry.”

“So can't I take you there?” Ram threw a stern look, “I will pick you up tomorrow sharp at 10.”

“If you have decided to go by your decisions. I will come to your place on my own.” Priya differed.

“As you wish.”

~~

Next Morning. 9:00 am Ram’s Apartment.

After parking her bike, Priya walked to the bank of elevators which was crowded. None of the faces are familiar to her neither she is familiar to them.

“Excuse me!” one lady in her early fifties spoke to Priya. “Are you here new?”

“No..no.. I am here to visit a friend. Ram Kapoor.” Priya answered.

“I see. You are not familiar, neither Ram had a female visitor any time. He is changing his taste I think.” Smiled the lady, but it doesn't go good with Priya. She stood clumsy. With the elevator door opening to them, Priya slipped into it hurryingly. Her bad luck, the lady also climbed into the same elevator. Unlike her society, Ram’s society had elevator operator. Prompting the desired floor, Priya stood silently between few ultra sophisticated people who were least interested about a girl visiting a bachelor. She was the first one to leave the elevator. Sharing a brief smile with the enquiring lady, Priya walked towards the apartment door of the desolated floor.

“Hi.” Priya greeted Ram, who took her in a deep embrace. “Ram let me come in.” Her plead went unanswered.

“I told you, this floor belongs to my father. So those elevators stop only when I have guests and today I have no one else than you.” Ram made his grip stronger.

“But someone from your society is happy to know that your taste is changing.” Priya’s response made Ram came out and stood straight, his lips stiffens. His eyes traced along Priya’s movement.

“Was she a lady? Grey hairs? Taller than me?” Ram asked. With a nod of assurance from Priya,  he smiled briefly. “She is this society's secretary. She saw you for the first time so interrogated you and about my taste I never invited a lady alone to my house; before. That's it!” Ram answered. “Now tell me what you will have in breakfast?”

“We can go out for it.”

Closing the door behind Ram turned to speak. “No. I want to know you better. We will go out in the evening. So tell me what you will have.”

“Okay. Anything of your choice. Don't make me feel like an alien.” Priya sat casually on the couch.

Ram cocked his face to the land line ringing, “Hello” he responded to the caller. “Good Morning Aunty.” He then looked to Priya, his lips arched to one end with a subtle hint of smile. “Yeah she is a friend and close friend.” Flipping through the magazine Priya once looked up. “Yeah she is here--- Oh no. She is not moving in. If she does I will let you know--- Yeah sure--- Have a good day.” Ram kept the receiver back to its place.

“What she was asking?” Priya jumped to inquire.

“She was asking about you?” Ram walked to the couch and adjusted himself by Priya leaning back to the couch. “And wanted to know if you are moving in?”

“Moving in as in?”

“As in living with me.” Ram shrugged his shoulder.

“She meant live in?” asked Priya.

“Yes.” Ram widened his eyes to judge Priya’s reaction. “Look!” failing to judge Ram sat straight to rectify the situation, “I don't have such things in mind. I have nothing in my mind. I only have one thing in mind that is I want to know you and would love to share my life with you. She was curious because in all these months I have never invited any female friend alone and our society already have 5 live in couples, declared. So she hinted me to declare the same to her if I have anything like that in mind. That's it!” He looked up to Priya to know her stature towards the situation. “I have not invited you here to do anything wrong. Trust me. If you want we can go out and spend the day out.” Ram stood up failing to register a reply back from Priya, “Okay. I am coming in a moment give me 10 mins to get ready.” He felt a pull in his hand as he turned to leave.

“I believe you.” Priya said, letting Ram to sigh in relief. “We don't need to go anywhere. I will stay back.”

“Thank you.” With a deep sigh of relief Ram kissed her forehead dropping to her height. “10 minutes. Okay.”

“Will you not show me your house?” Priya asked.

“Yeah!! Come.” Holding out his hand to Priya Ram said. Smiling sweetly Priya stood up slipping her hands into his.

After showing every room he took her to a huge room, with decors in black and white. The exotic furniture hint to the royal taste of the person using that particular room. Her eyes stopped at a snap of a man and wife smiling heartily holding each other lovingly. “Your..” Priya asked the unasked.

“Yes. My parents.” Ram said walking inside. “This is their room. Though they rarely visit me but this is customised for them. Come.” He held out his hand again to her.

Walking into almost same sized room like the previous one, Ram declared, “And this is mine.” Priya’s eyes travelled to each corner of the room. He definitely has a royal taste too. In brown and off white the room looked exotic too. Another picture of his parents enlightens the room. The head to toe glass sliding door leads to a terrace. “That is a place where I used to refresh mind.” Ram said sliding the door open.

Starring to the king size bed place in the middle of the bed Priya smirked. Managing herself to sink in the foot rest she asked Ram if he sleeps alone in the bed.

“Yes. Why?” he asked in reply.

Nodding her head, her eyes roamed around and stopped at the neatly managed desk. A laptop lays there, a macbook maybe, that has stormed the market recently, definitely not a cup of tea for her. The recliner matching the decor of the room lay there tidily. Surprisingly she found no closets in the room. “Your choices are exotic too.” She turned and leaned a little before walking towards the door that lead her in. Few beautiful paintings adorned the beauty of the room. Hovering over the signature of the artist she smiled. “You are an artist too.”

“Hobby!!”

“But you do draw to perfection!” Priya replied.

“Only abstract. I am bad with figurines.” Ram blushed. “Come this way.” He led her to a changing room. “This is again a messy place for me. My changing room.” Pointing to another door he said, “That's the washroom. You can use it too.” Walking back into the room Ram stood in front. “Ah.. now you can have a look all around I have no hidden secrets. So make yourself comfortable and have a look, in between it I will have a quick shower.”

She nodded back in assurance. Leaving him alone in the changing room Priya walked out to the bed room, for few minutes she kept on caressing the painting made by him and then walked out to the living room. While roaming clueless around her eyes got glued to a room still undiscovered. The dark brown wood door added a magnificent stature to it and making it stand out from the crowd. Pushing the door as she entered her guess it counted to be true. That can only be a library. Starting from the ancient literature the book shelf mastered its presence with modern literature too. It was hard for her to believe that Ram had such a great taste. “I am here in your library.” Priya answered when she heard Ram taking her name failing to find her.

“Oh! You are here. I thought you will be bored by this.” Ram said. He is now dressed in a black track pants and a sleeveless green t-shirt.

“Then you have missed the two shelves in my room.” Priya said flipping through a book. “I love books.”

“Okay.” An unusual smile painted his face.

“What?”

“Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law will have a good time together in near future.” He smiled. “This is my mother's.” He added. “I find books boring.”

“Too bad. I didn't expect this from an artist.” Exclaimed Priya.

“So you have a good time here. I am hungry and last time I am asking you what you will have in breakfast?” Ram asked again.

“My answer is still the same.” Priya replied sitting on the couch there in the room.

Smiling Ram left to prepare breakfast.

~~

After Lunch.

Terrace Ram’s Apartment.

Resting her head on Ram’s lap Priya lied quite while Ram swung the garden swing carefully.

“Priya.” Caressing her head lovingly Ram asked, “May I ask you something?”

“Hmmm...”

“You agreed to come along, without any protest didn't you felt that I may try to take a step forward into this relationship?” Ram surprised Priya.

Coming back to a sitting position Priya sighed and collected her hair to tie it in bun. “Ah... let it be.” Agreeing Priya let that rest around her shoulder. “Never ever I thought so.” Answered Priya. Shifting her to the garden chair she looked straight, “Because I trust you and I know that you will not take this relationship ahead without my consent. I trust you.”

“Thank you.” Ram stretched his hand to her. As she stood Ram pulled her closest to himself letting her rest her hand on his chest. His entwined hands behind her pulled her closer. “I love you.” He whispered. “And Thank you for trusting me.”

Smiling inwardly she responded, “Thank you for having me in your life. I Love You.”

Until we meet.

Love

NB