Chapter 10 : An array of Downers.

Chapter 10 : An array of Downers.

There are a very little traits that matched. The variations are more visible and tangible than the same traits. They became a couple mis-matched largely.

Like every other day, Ram came down to his parking place to get his car. An unsaid schedule has been made amongst them, the routine of pooling Priya from her apartment to Office to his apartment and back to her den is one amongst many. To his surprise that day Priya was already there, startling him with her mesmerising view.

“You scared me!” Ram exclaimed putting his hand near his heart. “Good Morning.” He wished next. Looking at the bike that was parked beside Ram was taken aback with a decent shock. “Why you brought it here?” he asked maintaining a smile.

“I have to go for shopping after office and you are helping me in that. As simple as that.” Priya smiled while putting her bike to double stand. “Let's go, otherwise we will get late.”

“Thank God! I thought you were about to declare that as our ride to office today.” Ram said pointing to the bike and skidding into the driver’s seat.

“It could be. If you were not in business suit today.” She smiled.

Office Reception.

Pleasantly welcomed by the receptionist but cruelly looked upon by the counterparts, Priya's day starred in confusion. Soon after she became aware of the grapevine that was round the corner about her relationship status with Ram. The morning meetings went bad for her, mostly she was over voiced by Supriya. When ever she was about to escalate a point Supriya took an upper hand to be a senior to push Priya into back seat. And as pre decided Ram kept himself from defending Priya though sometimes his blood raged but he was cuffed under his promise.

After the meeting it was Priya's turn to learn her mistake from Supriya. Hurrying out from the board room she paced up to match Supriya's pace and though the latter didn't want any further discussion Priya insisted her to have one.

“Look Supriya, I don't think I have any personal glitch with you. Today's behaviour was completely unexpected and unwanted don't you think so. Every one in the room were there to share their own views for the betterment of the organisation. I think I was no exception.” Priya said blocking her way.

“Oh! Comeon you are definitely an exception Priya and you are smartest than anyone. You know whom to be with for your escalation. Do you think people around you are blind?”  Supriya rebuked.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t try to be so smart!”

“Elaborate.” Priya stopped Supriya holding her wrist tight.

“Priya mind it.” Supriya being senior to her knows how to control Priya and her adamant behaviour.

“Sorry” Priya responded with an immediate apology. “But please enlighten me. Please.” She requested.

“Priya, what I can see and every other person in this office can see is not unknown to you. But if you want to hear your praise then listen carefully, Mr. Ram Kapoor is here for not more than two years. Within two years he will be one of the heads of this organisation and if you think that makes you feel to remain attached with him, get your head into its place.” Supriya’s reply was cruel.

“Wait! What did you say? Me and Ram Kapoor. Wait a minute. You are miss-judging. Don’t be such a judgemental Supriya.” Priya stated a confused answer.

“Delhi may be a huge city Priya. But people over here share the same locality as you or Ram. And girl you make me wonder what you have more than the others. Than Priyanka.” Supriya rolled her eyes from head to toe.

“Look what I am doing in personal life is none of your business. I am an adult so do Mr. Kapoor. Did I used any of his influence here inside the office?” Asked Priya standing with her hands folded near belly.

“Trap begins in bed room.” Smirked Surpriya. “Don't make me learn what girls like you can do. But not in the cost of letting me down.” She started walking away from Priya, who was still to recover from the shock of what she heard. She responded back to the urge to reply, when Supriya was already few metres away from her almost close to the elevator bank.

“Wait Supriya!” Priya's call remain unheard and was answered back with a wicked smiled and thumbs down.

~~

Office Canteen; 3:00 pm.

Priya was already late by 2 hours for lunch, when Ram called the canteen supervisor for the 4^th time to know about her, if she was there. When at last Priya entered and placed her coupon to the staffer who was serving the lunch at the counter the Supervisor called Ram and informed about her. Without wasting time he dashed out of his cabin, denying wasting time to wait for the elevators which were parked in the basement he rushed towards 2^nd floor through staircase.

Ram knew the place where Priya could be found, he paced towards there. Lost in her own thoughts, Priya kept on scattering the food along the circumference of the plate heedlessly. Her lost eyes to no where, never knew that Ram has already taken the seat opposite to her seat.

“Priya.” Ram made a clicking sound to get her back into the place where she belongs. “What is going on? You were constantly ignoring my calls. Why?”

“This should not be discussed here Mr. Kapoor.” Priya replied before pursing her lips.

“Anything happened that shouldn't have?”

“We will talk later. Did your lunch?” Priya averted the topic.

“No.” Priya’s denial to discuss the same irked Ram. He averted his eyes to the entrance of the cafeteria entrance.

Knowing it didn't go well with Ram, she tried to pacify him which went to vain when Ram also denied to leave her alone in stress. “Look Ram...” Priya kept her voice as much low as can be. “I am not denying sharing the matter, it is just not the right place to discuss it. I promise you once we will be back at home, I will do it first.” Softly she placed her hand over his confirming that no one was around. “Trust me.” She smiled.

~~

While in Delhi Traffic

“What is the problem with Supriya? Did I favour you anytime lately? I don't remember any instances.” Ram said without looking at Priya, after listening to the brief that she delivered to him from the conversation with Supriya.

“This was expected.” Said Priya under her sigh.

“So we have to choose our personal life according to their choice?” Rebuked Ram.

“When did I say that?”

“You just gave up that it was expected.” Ram sounded annoyed.

“I said that it was expected and stick to it. It was definitely expected. When I joined this office, from Arora to married Supriya everyone was having crush on you. The most eligible bachelor who is here to find his perfect match and suddenly I bumped into your life. A week older in this organisation we started enjoying each other's company, do you think that will go good with those who were in queue to get much anticipated and expected attention from the most eligible bride hunting bachelor.” Priya breathed heavy after saying all those in one long breathe.

After barred to move in the traffic, Ram looked at Priya bemused. “I....I didn't mean that. I was ..”

“Stop it Ram.” Priya intervened between his words. “I am not getting it why the hell we are fighting for some third person. They are not important neither will be any day. I just wanted to share what I faced today and trust me there is lot to come, but...” Priya placed her hand over Ram's, “If you are by my side trust me there all will never bother me.” she said under her smile.

“But it bothers me.” Ram answered tucked her hair log that fell carelessly on right cheek. “It bothers me if anyone disgrace you.”

“How I wish we were not in the middle of traffic.” Priya said under her shy smile.

“Why?” He asked being curious.

“Then...” Priya stretched her words, “Then I would have kissed you right now right here.” She said tapping her hand on the dashboard.

“Okay. I can make your wish come true!” Ram winked at her. “Let us reach the parrking.”

“Shut up!!” Priya smiled back sweetly.

~~

Parking Spot, Ram's Apartment.

“So Madam, what you were wishing?” Ram asked bl9cking Priya between his two hands while his back rests on the car's door. “I can make your wish come true now.” He leaned close. Priya felt his smile over her when she was not looking at him at all. Inches apart Ram stopped when a female voice cleared her throat just beside them. Hurrying himself away from Priya he looked to the direction to find the Society Secretary beaming at them.

“Oh! Hello Aunty. Good... Good evening.” Uneasiness was suffused all through Ram's face.

“Good Evening” The lady in a off white Saree replied. “Good evening young lady.” Her eyes meet Priya's eyes.

“Good evening Ma'am” Priya chose to narrow the conversation as much possible.

Without replying any more, the lady left the place and Priya was surprised to see Ram wiping out sweat buds those came unwelcomed into the scene. “What happened?”  he asked Priya enquiring her steady gaze over him.

“Haan... nothing. It’s too humid here. Let’s go up change and then we have to go for your shopping right.” Ram took his and Priya's bag from the rear seat before heading to the elevators. Priya followed silently till they reached Ram’s apartment. 

“You use mine washroom I will use the other one.” Ram declared putting the car keys on the key holder.

“Ram what you are hiding?” Priya asked.

“Sorry?”

“You are hiding something from me. What is it actually?” she came around and tried to find Ram’s eyes to arrest them in her gaze. “You are. I told you Ram there should not be any secrets among us then why? I said you the most awkward truth of my life that I don’t share a healthy relation with my family then why not you?”

“I am not hiding anything Priya.” Ram defended.

“Then why you become so nervous when ever society's secretary and I come face to face. Why she said me that day that your taste is changing?”

“Priya there is nothing such, it was just a misunderstanding that you think. Nothing else.” Ram still refused to jacket a truth from her.

“I hope and leave the matter to be proved wrong.” Priya said. “I want to have some coffee. Will you?”

“Yes. Please.”

Priya who became regular visitor to Ram's apartment and vice versa, they became aware of the positioning of the important and essentials for daily use in one another's place. While Priya was preparing coffee for both of them, her mind was left with the confusing lady and the mystery that she was carrying with her from the first meeting.

Stirring the coffee she came out from the kitchen and headed towards Ram's bedroom. But after few steps she changed her mind and turned towards the library. Switching on the lights, she picked up one book from the shelve, an English translation of Satyajit Roy's Book from Feluda series. Sipping the coffee she sat on the couch. Turning the first page Priya froze at her place. The name and smiley inscribed on the page stunned her when Ram already said that he don’t love to read books. She picked up few other books which turned out to be his mother, after checking few books one after another she randomly checked other books from the shelves which also belonged to his mother, the book that she kept on the table was the only one which belonged to Ram gifted by Nisha with lots of love.

It could be a friend, a relative, an ex colleague like Priyanka was, can be anyone not so concerned. But the smileys inscribed at the end was pointing to another story. Flipping through the page Priya's eyes stopped on a page that popped up with a photograph that broke Priya's heart into many pieces.

Ram and a girl beaming to the camera showing their rings along with; looked the most happy among the group and to her surprise there was the society's secretary in the picture too. The place in the photograph was not India but a foreign land.

“Priya.” Ram came inside calling her. “You are here, Thanks for the coffee” he picked up a cup from the table when Priya sat there silent.

“What are you hiding from me Ram?” she asked again. “Please Ram tell me what are you hiding from me.” She gave him the last chance to recover the damage already made.

“Priya why are you nagging?”

“BECAUSE OF THIS!” Priya reluctantly threw the crumbled piece of paper which was a printed photograph few minutes back towards him. The paper ball landed safely into Ram's possession. “I WAS ASKING YOU CONTINUOUSLY THAT WHAT YOU WERE HIDING FROM ME, I GAVE YOU CHANCE, BUT NO YOU WERE SO ADAMANT TO HIDE IT FROM ME WHY?” Priya screamed as Ram opened the rumbled piece of paper that has a price of past hidden from Priya.

“Oh God! Where from you get this?” Ram asked her trying to move close.

“Stop there and don't think I am spying on you. It landed to me accidentally and I guess she is Nisha?” answered and asked Priya at the same time.

“How do you know her name?” Surprised Ram looked for an answer.

Priya pointed to the book that she picked up first from the shelf. “Your book gifted by Nisha with love.”

“Priya look, I am not so outspoken like you. I take time to open up. I had no intention to hide it from you. Trust me.” Ram defended.

“To declare your past to your present and may be future is not related with the trait of being outspoken or not, if you see your future in present!” Priya said. “It needs a heart to speak.”

“You are messing up Priya.”

“I am messing up Ram? Then what you are doing?”

“Come seat here.” Ram extended his hands towards her, “Give me a chance to explain Priya.”

“I GAVE YOU CHANCE TO SPEAK.” She squeaked. “But now I am not in a mood to listen to your lame excuses. Bye.” Priya dashed away from the room being apathetic.

“Stop Priya” Ram rushed behind her and successfully stopped her just at the door. Shutting back the door Ram pulled Priya with all his might before pinning her to the wall by the door itself. “Listen to me carefully Now!” Ram’s voice has a tone of harshness. “I can explain everything to you. You need to trust me.”

“I trusted you that were the reason I opened up the darkest part of my life. But unfortunately you don’t trust me.” Priya said while her eyes went moist.

“I trust you Priya.” Ram said under the arrest of her innocent gaze.

“I don’t think so Ram.” She pushed away Ram from herself. “If you would have then you must have informed me about your engagement.” This time she left Ram with no choice but to allow her to leave.

He heard Priya's voice while she spoke to Neha when she descended taking the stairs. He stood there absorbed in the piece of past that he considers to be a decision taken in haste and now a thunderous mistake that forced his love away from him and he was left with no option to justify his move to hide such a big mistake and pacify her.

Blur and blank. Clueless and Guilty. He stood there numb.

Until we meet

Love NB.