My stomach growled again and my mind immediately went to the main house, where I knew Anjali, one of our cooks would have started to prepare for lunch hour. Papa always loved to have his lunch served, it used to be tradition between him and Mummy. They had first met over lunch with their parents and knew after that that they were meant for each other, their marriage had just worked out for everyone. It was one tradition he kept ever after her passing.
I slipped my feet into my favourite, white slippers and grabbed a shawl from the table, heading for the main house. Opening the side door of the house by Papa's office I stepped inside to be greeted by Aatish, smiling as usual as he carried what looked like my father's dry cleaning towards the stairs. "Namaste Divya Madam," he stopped as soon as he saw me.
"Good afternoon Aatish, is Papa in there?" I pointed to the closed door of the office and he nodded. "Ji Madam, he is meeting with Mr. Roshan today, until ten thirty."
"Hmmm," Mr. Roshan had been by almost every week for a month or so, and not once had I had the chance to even see his face. The only tell was his black suv parked in the driveway.
"Thank you Aatish," I nodded and he bowed once more before heading up the stairs with the clothing.
Making my way to the kitchen, I couldn't help but continue to think. Not that there wasn't anyone from one office or another that stopped by the house for some reason, but Mr. Roshan had been here every Tuesday and more recently some Fridays for more than a month, maybe even a month and a half now. I didn't really know; ever since school ended, I couldn't keep track of days. Why was he so important? What was going on that he had to come to the house so often? Come to think of it, Papa hadn't left the house much in a long while. Maybe to go for dinner or meet a client, but mostly he was home now, in one of the two offices of the house.
"Namaste Divyaji," Anjali bowed her head and smiled warmly as she stirred a pot at the stove. "May I make something for you?" She stopped to see my head disappear into the fridge. There wasn't much in there that I could eat without preparation, which she probably already knew. Closing the fridge, I spotted some danishes out on the counter beside the bread bin.
"May I?" I pointed to them glistening on the counter.
"Really, Divya, you know you don't have to ask!" She stood smiling with a hand on her hip. Sometimes when I looked at her, she reminded me of mother, the way her smile was all knowing and compassionate.
"Thank you Anjali," I snagged one, and then another in a napkin, they just looked so deliciously appealing to my empty stomach, I couldn't resist. I nodded in her direction and she winked at me before turning back to the stove. Aimlessly, I left the kitchen back out into the hall outside Papa's office which was no open now. Walking by, I tried my hardest to crane my neck, trying to see as far as I could into the huge space. There was Papa standing behind the desk, facing my direction, and talking to whom I assumed was Mr. Roshan, sitting with his back to the door on the side closest to me.
Keeping most of my body around he corner, I watched and listened as they spoke to one another candidly. "Sunil my friend, there's no mistake, I need your help and I'm asking for it," Papa shrugged his shoulders as if unsure of how else to say it.
"Sankarji, this is a very big honor, thank you," he rose to his feet briefly to shake hands.
"Don't mention it. She's my baby, I need someone I can trust." I nearly dropped the food in my hands. Did he just say what I thought he did? Was he making an offer for me? Behind my back?
"Well I look forward to our union together Sankarji, I promise I won't let you down," he nodded again.
"I know Sunil, and call me Danny, you'll be part of the family all too soon."
"Thank you Dannyji," he smiled knowingly. What had Papa been planning for me all his time? I told him I wasn't ready for marriage yet, I wasn't ready for anyone just yet. Furthermore, I wanted to find my special someone instead of tradition winning out. I'd told him all of this. And now?!
"Divya!" My heart skipped a beat in my chest when he called me. I stepped out from around the frame and into the doorway, trying as hard as I could to finish the bit of food in my mouth.
"Haan (yes) Papa?" I hid the food behind my back.301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCXUv1tWOo
"Divya, come in here for a moment," he waved me into the room. I swallowed loudly and made my way in. Not until I was right at his side did Mr. Roshan stand up, and when I finally got to see him, I froze. He was, for lack of a better word, incredible. By the light lines in his forehead and temples, I would put him only a few years my elder, his incredibly pale brown eyes were unlike anything I'd seen on a man. His rough demeanor and rugged features made him seem more dangerous than he probably was. A good shave might relieve him of that. Those eyes only met mine for a second before dropping down to the desk. His shoulders forward, his body completely vulnerable.
"Sunil, this is Divya, my daughter," Papa kissed the top of my head, smiling like a fool as he introduced me.
"Namaste Madam," again his bright eyes shot up for a moment to meet mine, then fell back down to the desk.
"Namaste Mr. Roshan," I nodded back.
"Ah Divya," Papa squeezed me at his side again and I knew he wasn't going to stop there. "See Sunil here? I would hope that one day you find a husband like him," he paused and I nearly fell over. "Don't go getting any ideas now Sunil," Papa shook a finger at him and his head rose again. What was happening?!
"Of course not sir," I thought I caught a sly grin flash across his face before he dropped his head again.
"You need someone with stature, someone with class and morals Divya," I bowed my head embarrassed. What was he doing?! Asking if he has a friend or brother for me? I couldn't have been more embarrassed had I been standing there naked.
"Papa!" I wanted to be out of there so badly. If it weren't for the man cowering in front of me, giving me the feeling he was feeling exactly as I was, I would have run already.
"I'm sorry Mr. Roshan, Papa doesn't always know when and where..." I put on my brightest smile at Papa who looked like he was going to slap me for talking about him like that in front of an employee. "His heart sometimes wins out," I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. He was defenseless.
"I don't blame him Madam," I looked at him and the sly grin flashed again. "I would do the same. He can't help loving his daughter," his eyes sloped back down so slowly, as if making some sort of a point.
"Haan (yes) Sunil," Papa turned back to me, "I can't help it, she's one of my most valuable assets."301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ci4XZx5RX
"That she is sir," this time it was obvious. He was flirting with me under those sultry eyes and long eyelashes, and Papa was missing it completely. I felt my cheeks get hot at the realization, wanting nothing more than to leave. I was not going to stand there and be their entertainment.
"Indi's coming Papa, I have to get ready for our swim," I pat him on the chest, trying to break his thought train.
"Oh! Yes, Inderjit. Well I guess you should go," he kissed me on my head again absently and I knew he'd all but forgotten about the other topic already. He thought of Indi as a second daughter, especially with how she'd helped me when Mom died. He loved to see her just as much as I did.
"Rohanji," I nodded to him and he looked at me for only a moment, taking my breath away again before lowering his head.
"Namaste Madam," his voice rumbled low.
"Papa," I kissed him again and left the room.
"Maybe you can talk with Indi about it, yes?" He called after me and I swear I could hear Sunil snicker.
"Oh my God!" I whispered to myself rushing out of the house as fast as I could. How could that have been any more embarrassing? Not that Papa hadn't talked about it before, but never seriously, and never as blatantly as this. Had Mom still been around, she would have made sure I was comfortable first, she would have made sure that I knew about it first. Papa wasn't always so graceful.
Then again, if I didn't have the choice, Mr. Roshan definitely won out in the looks department. He was trying to flirt with me, I think, so maybe he was interested? Why was I even thinking about this?!
"You look like you're going to throw up!" Indi's voice nearly scared me half to death as I entered the front door of the pool house.
"Indi!" I stopped to catch my breath before picking up a pillow from the couch closest to the door and throwing it straight at her, putting the wrapped pastry on the kitchen table to my left.
"Ow!" She just barely deflected it before it hit her in the head. "What?!"
"What are you doing here?" Realizing I wasn't going to be attacked, I relaxed a bit, sitting down next to her in the couch.
"Well it's nice to see you too!"
"You know what I mean Indi, what are you doing here so early?" I glanced over at the stove clock which read eleven fifteen.
"Well Daddy dropped me off today, he's going in town to meet with Mummy. Ranjit's family are going to meet with them as well to discuss our futures..." She made quotation marks on the air. "Whatever that means..." She tossed her curly hair to the side, straightening the scarf on her head.
"How does that make sense, don't you have to be there to discuss your futures?" It seemed an obvious question.
"Not when it comes to our parents. I swear they should just marry each other for God's sake."
"It can't be that bad Indi, really?" I put a hand on her knee, not quite sure entirely.
"You don't think so? Mummy is already picking out names for her grandson. His father doesn't like the names and so they're meeting today to discuss."
My jaw dropped. "No, really?!"
"I couldn't make it up Didi, I don't think we'll ever really get married, not if our parents have anything to do with it. It's our wedding but they won't let it be," she looked to be on the verge of tears. I knew how much this all meant to her and it was all hitting a little too hard. I secretly only wished for her happiness as I rubbed her shoulder.
"I'm sorry honey. I'm sure that once they realize..."301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZawxDYngo
"Realize what? That they won't allow us to be adults? There's no use Divya, Ranjit and I have already discussed eloping. Just have you and his brother there and run away for the weekend."301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMqSRLFDYJ
"You wouldn't..."
"I would! If this continues, that's exactly what we're going to do," she crossed her arms in front of her and nodded, making her point. I could only wish her the best.
"Well you know I'd be there regardless of what you decide. You know that, right?"
"For sure," she took a deep breath and relaxed a bit, sitting back into the cushion. "So..." Her focus changed, I could tell by the inflection in her voice and the new brightness in her eyes. "What happened to you before I got here? You looked horrified."
"Oh," I had almost forgotten about that. I was kind of hoping I wouldn't have to mention it. "Well, I got to meet Mr. Roshan finally."
"Mr. Roshan?" She shook her head at me confused.
"The man that's been coming to see my father for the last month or two?"
"Mr. Roshan!" She lit up with recognition. "Really?! How is he? What's he like?" She nudged my leg with her elbow. "Huh?"
"Well, Sunil..."
"His name is Sunil? Hmmm sexy!" She hopped up and down in the seat.
"Indi! Let me finish," she was already getting too excited.
"Okay, okay..." She straightened up. "So, Sunil?"
"So, Sunil was..." how could I put it, he made my heart stop. When I thought about him, butterflies danced in my stomach, time seemed to not matter. His eyes, stole my breath away and yet, I knew nothing about him. So what could I say? "He was nice."
"Nice? Matlab (Meaning)?"301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdS8wTFpbZ
"He was nice, he didn't really say much," with his words, but his eyes said enough.
"So, what happened? How did you two meet?" She shifted her weight beside me, leaning in closer.
"I was just going to the kitchen and Papa saw me walk by his office. He called me in to meet him," I shook my head at the embarrassment. "He stood me in front of Sunil and basically sold him to me saying, 'Why don't you find a husband like Sunil here?'"
"He didn't!"
"He did, and I had to stand there like an idiot while Sunil practically flirted with me under Papa's nose," I crossed my arms.
"What? He was flirting with you? How?" This had peaked her interest for sure. How rare it was that I talked about the opposite sex. "What did he say? What did he do?"
"Papa was going off on a tangent about how many qualities Sunil held that my husband should have and I said that Papa's heart wins over when it comes to talking about me."
"And?" She shuffled closer to me on the couch.
"And he answered, 'I can't blame your father, I would do the same' agreeing when he said I was his 'most valuable asset.' Do you believe that?"
"Accha! (Good) Divya! He likes you!" She shook my arm.
"Oh Indi, stop," I didn't think it was the case. I wasn't interesting, and that had been the first time we'd met. He knew nothing about me.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, I left."
"Didi..." She nudged me with her elbow again, somehow always knowing when there was more to the story than I'd let on. "Didi what aren't you telling me?"
"Well Indi..." The image of his light brown eyes was burned into my mind, and I knew there wasn't a single thing I could do to stop it. "I have to admit..." I couldn't help but sigh.
"Divya!" She slapped my arm impatiently.
"Indi, he was gorgeous..." His full lips and sharp, hard features. His caramel brown skin and light eyes, I was lost against my own will.
"God!"
"His lips, and that sly grin, I swear it was made to make me weak Indi, I have no idea what's going on." I shook my head at the realization. I didn't know what was going on, I hadn't felt like this about anyone before.
"Divya! Oh my God! You like him too!" She bounded like a small child atop a bed. "You like him! Finally!"
That stopped me. "What do you mean finally?"
"Oh Didi, how many times have I come to you about one boy or another? It's always me that has the crush, but now?!" She clapped her hands excitedly. "Now it's finally your turn!"
I guess it was true. I'd never really had any interest in anyone before, it just hadn't been my thing. But ever since I left that office, I couldn't get him out of my head. "He's fantastic Indi," I found myself sighing again. "He really is wonderful," and I couldn't believe myself. I couldn't stop myself for thinking about him that way, all light and fluttery in my head and stomach. The way my hands shook a little when I thought of him saying my name. How ridiculous! "Let's get changed into our workout clothes," I tried to change the subject, but by the glimmer in her eyes, I knew she wasn't done.
"So, when is he coming back? When are you going to talk to him again?"
"I don't know," I sighed. "I think maybe Friday? Papa said something about booking a meeting so..."
"Oh Didi! This is awesome! Are you going to talk to him? You have to talk to him again!"
"Indi! Never mind that, okay? I don't even know him," I grabbed her exercise top from her bag and threw it at her. "Get changed."
"Thik hai... (ok/fine)" She rolled her eyes at me dramatically before getting up. "But you have to talk to him again, okay?" She planted a chaste kiss on the top of my head before grabbing her bag and heading for the bathroom. I shook my head at the thought, being in the same room as Sunil Roshan again, would I be able to do it? My stomach fluttered in response, making me smile.301Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfBXd2n8vf
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