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5. MISCALCULATIONS
Rishab lay back in his lonely bed and stared at the ceiling, contemplating lifewhat it had been and what had become of it.
The mission he'd embarked on to fulfill his mother's wishes and thereby get her off his back had culminated in a virtual catastrophe. He had ended up marrying not once but twice. Nothing could be more ironicRishabKundra, a man determined to stay unencumbered his entire life was now shackled to two different women!
A bubble of agitated laughter erupted in his chest causing him to double over. His stomach contracted with painful spasms.
"But for sure I'm at fault, too,he muttered after recovering. "If I had exhibited more caution, if I hadn't listened to Rudy's preposterous advice, if I had told my mother to go to hell! If... If... If!
Yet there was something he couldn't understand. Why in the mandap, upon discovering that the girl sitting next to him was not Deepika, had he not stood up and called the whole shindig off in classic filmi style? Why hadn't he denounced her in front of everybody? Why?
Grabbing a handful of rose petals, he tossed them high in the air, then closed his eyes as they floated down enveloping him in a curtain of fragrant satin.
The only possible explanation was that he hadn't been himself. His body had been taken over by an alien force. Those magnificent eyes had mesmerized him and he had fallen hopelessly under their spell. They had defied him to stay seated and continue with the rituals, and he had accepted the challenge, proceeding to tie the sacred thread around her neck and apply the vermillion powder to her forehead. And it'd been under the influence of the same spell that he had almost bedded her last night. To do something like that would never have occurred to the real RishabKundrathat girl Madhu had bewitched him!
He sat up breathing hard. "Yes, that's it. She has magical powers! It's good she left or I'd have completely lost it. My perfectly ordered world would have come unhinged. She's way too dangerous. I'll be happy if I don't ever see her again,he announced aloud to the empty room, then collapsed back onto the bed feeling supremely relieved.Yet it was a very long time before he fell into a restless sleep.
***
Not unexpectedly, morning found him groggy and irritable. A loud, jarring, annoying clamor that grew steadily intense and more insistent, penetrating even through the thick pillow he had clamped over his head, had breached his slumber. He couldn't place the noise. The sound didn't resemble his pager nor his cell phonehis only two ever-faithful companions.
He lay on the bed for several moments trying to orient himself before realizing where he was and what he had been through in the past few days.It wasn't a nightmare. It had happened and now someone was knocking hard on the door.
"Chachi? Aap? Why...you needn't have taken the trouble,he blurted, discovering Uncle Rajbir's petite wife, Rashmi, standing outside his door. She was carrying a tray bearing two silver cups and a carafe.
"Kya karein?(What can I do?) I waited forever for bahu to come down to the kitchen. But when she didn't, I chose to take the initiative myself,she replied cheekily, while taking in his disheveled appearance. She ventured a peep into the darkened room but he blocked it with his broad torso. Her eyes chided him.
"You opened the door. Where is bahu?
Rishab inclined his head slightly toward his empty room and called out softly, "Sweetheart, look who's here.
Then smiling apologetically, he said to his puzzled aunt, "Seems like she's fast asleep. She's worn out.
"And you? Rashmi asked observing his droopy eyelids.
"Yes, me too. We were up all night and we really need to get some rest. Sorry,he said stepping back, drawing the door close.
"Rishab! Besharmi ki bhi koi hadh hoti hai! (There's a limit to shamelessness!)
He stared at her, bewildered for a moment, before realizing what his words had implied. He colored, but didn't correct himself. Let her think what she wants to. I'm not ready to reveal my folly yet.
"All right, leave it. She smiled, round brown eyes fluttering mischievously. "But you surprise me,RishabKundra. Kahaan woh bachelor aur kahaan yeh Romeo! (You've come a long way from sworn bachelor to Romeo!) Perhaps bahu has cast some kind of spell over you!
"No chachi...she hasn't! She... He stopped when his aunt burst into a merry laugh.
"Don't worry beta, I was just teasing. But you both better wake up from your dreamland soon...nahin toh toofan aa jayega!(...or else prepare to face the storm!)
"What kind of storm?Rishab muttered, utterly baffled. Had she already deciphered what he'd been so desperately trying to hide?
"Bachu!she replied with an indulgent shake of her head. "It appears you have forgotten everything in your excitement. Your mom, dad, sister and her husband are all going to be here in a short time. And Shobha is so worked up already for missing the wedding of her only son...guess what will happen to her if she doesn't get to see her bahu right away! She'll kill us all and both of you as well!
Aunt Rashmi wasn't smiling anymore. She looked quite nervous herself. Placing the tea tray aside, she scooped up a large red and gold box from a table behind her and thrust it into his hands. "Here Joru ke Ghulam! Give this to your beautiful wife and ask her to get ready ASAP. You can spoil her rotten when you take her back with you, but please maintain some decorum while you are still here. Accha impression banta hai (It makes a good impression)! She tempered her stern words with a smile and a fond tap on his cheek before hurrying down the stairs.
Rishab tossed the box carelessly on the floor and began pacing the room. He was fraught with trepidation.
"Good Lord! Chachi's right. It completely slipped my mind! He sunk into a chair, clutching his head in his hands. He could imagine his mother's reaction. She would be utterly devastated. But instead of pouring empathy on him she would launch into a tirade. He could see the entire scene play out in his mind.
"It was bound to happen, she'd begin, holding her tiny four-eight frame stiff and erect. Then, pausing briefly to glance around at her audience to assure their unequivocal attention, she'd continue."My son is such a simpleton. He has a brilliant mind but that is only as far as his work goes, otherwise he's as unworldly as they come. Her ire would then turn onto his hapless dad and he'd be soundly censured for spoiling her son's ways. Then after his mother had calmed down some, instead of leaving him to his devices she would take it upon herself to find him a proper wife.
"No! That can never be!Rishab shuddered as he imagined himself being dragged around and exhibited like a dumb mannequin, and without his assent, betrothed to one of the girls of her choice; he would be relegated to a condition worse than Rudy's! At least Rudy liked women!
"God,he moaned. "What am I to do? If I can persuade Madhu to act as my wife, maybe I can buy some time. Mom will be happy for a while and I can ponder over the next course of action.
But how would he find her now? Last night she had muddled him so much it hadn't even occurred to him to ask for her phone number.
Damnit! Damnit!Damnit! He started to pace again when his eyes suddenly fell on a tiny piece of paper lying beside the bed. He picked it up and saw Deepika's cell number, printed in Madhu's crisp, clear hand.
He flung it away after tearing it into even tinier pieces. He didn't care to think of her name, let alone call her up.
There was only one option left.
In a few minutes he exchanged his deep red sherwani for street clothes. Bolting his door from the inside, he rushed to the balcony and jumped down. Then, after a cursory survey of the surroundings, he ran out onto the street.
He had to find his wife...and soon!
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