chapter 14

OffersBack to College – Year 2003: Semester 3College resumed, and we started our third semester. Both Ankit and Pratham entered their final year of Engineering and MBA, respectively. Now we were seniors, and it was our turn to bully our juniors. Shiva was all excited to rag, but I was not. Why would I force an innocent first year to endure what I had to!That day during the confrontation my words had fallen on deaf ears of Shiva and Sarv. Despite my insistence, they didn’t discuss their feelings and were still only friends. However, there was one thing I did notice, they both acted a little warmly towards each other. Maybe things would look-up some day. The condition with Pratham was weird. He was back to his arrogant self. He acted as if nothing happened. And maybe from his perspective, nothing did. We worked every day where I maintained his schedule. Some or the other model almost daily flirted with him. And I ignored them, as usual.Ankit was changed. He treated me as if I was a fragile doll. He was a bit distant, but he stood by me all along the work. He indeed was now one of my best friends, and maybe someday I will tell him in detail about what actually happened.So, all in all, things were fine. I was happy, well kind of. And life was progressing one day at a time.It was the second week of our third semester when Pratham handed me an envelope. We were alone in the department, I assumed he waited for everyone to leave.“What is this?” I enquired.“Open it,” he was smiling ear-to-ear. I opened it and gawked at the letter. It was a modeling project, and it was assigned to me!“What is this?” I asked a little loudly this time. He was shocked. His smile vanished. “If you think that by using this you can get me in swimwear and shoot me, then you are wrong.” His shocked expressions turned furious.“What the hell do you think of yourself? Does everybody want to sleep with you? You know most of the time you are not even the sexiest girl in the room,” he clenched his fist to control his temper.“I know,” I whispered. He raised his eyebrows questioningly, so I continued, “I know I am not the sexiest girl ever.” He laughed at it.“You definitely are the craziest girl I have ever met,” he was still laughing. I looked at him confusedly. “I am not doing any kind of modeling for you.”His laughter vanished too. “This is the assignment for a bridal jewelry brand called Milaap. They wanted a fresh face and selected you.” “What? When?” I was surprised by the news. At this, he showed me a portfolio. It was my portfolio, and I was stunned to see me. These were the photos of the day when I had run away from my fake marriage. The day when Pratham had made me wear a bridal dress and jewelry. Pratham had clicked when I was wearing the necklace, earrings, and maang teeka. I was so depressed in the photos. He had even captured the teardrop that had trickled down my cheek. And the fake smile. His camera made me look so beautiful that I was impressed by myself.“You sent these photos? Without my permission?”“Yes,” he exhaled heavily, trying to mask his irritation. Obviously, no girl ever has had such a conversation with him.“How dare you?” I started, but he raised his finger to stop me. I didn’t care for his finger and continued, “I am not modeling.”“I did it for you,” he spoke exasperatedly.“Care to explain?” I folded my arms and gave him a condescending look.“So that you can unite with your brother. Rakshit, is it?” His words made my jaw drop.“How do you even know?” I asked baffled.“Or do you want your bastard boyfriend or should I say ‘husband’ to continue giving ads in the newspapers?” he finished and closed his eyes in disbelief. It was clear he spoke too much in his anger.“How do you know so much?” I panicked. “Are you stalking me?”“What? No!” The word ‘stalking’ pinched him.“Then how do you know about marriage and everything?”“You didn’t really marry him, did you?” he asked suspiciously. I didn’t want to answer, so I just shook my head.“How do you know?” I asked again, but he turned and cursed under his breath. After a long weird pause, he said, “Don’t you think that if your face was plastered all across NCR, your brother would recognize you?” he had changed the topic and not answered my question. But his point was valid.“What?” I asked, hoping he would elaborate a bit.“I thought that maybe your ads are not reaching him. Maybe you are not going to the right city or right newspapers. So, if you model and come on TV and billboards, you will be reunited with your brother.” He had a genuine concern on his face. “And I will never ask you to showcase your body to other people. I know what kind of girl you are and what you want.”I was speechless at his gesture and words. He started packing up his things, and as he placed his bag on his shoulder, he spoke, “Sign it. I don’t think you would get another chance like this. Once you are in this industry, for a beauty like yours, it’s unstoppable.”He started to walk away. There were so many questions racing through my mind. He was at the door when I found my voice again, “Why?”He turned and smiled. This was his saddest smile ever.“Because I know what it feels like to lose someone you love.” And he walked out.I rushed after him and followed him to the parking lot. He was kick-starting his Bullet when his eyes fell on me. He took off his helmet and gave me a questioning look.“How do you know about everything else?” I panted, clutching a stitch in my side.“I make it my business to stay informed about people who work for me.” His tone was flat.“Still, you know too much. How?” I asked. He gave me a searching look and said, “Hop on.”“What?” I was confused.“I am going for a drink. And if you want answers, then you have to accompany me,” he smiled. I was standing there nervously, wondering what to do when he spoke again. “It is only a limited period offer. Don’t even think that I would answer you ever again.” His last words were enough for me. I quickly hopped on the pillion seat, and he kick-started the bike. It roared passionately underneath me. “Hold on tight,” he shouted due to the loud noise of the Bullet’s thunder. And he zoomed us out of the college.We rode for almost forty-five minutes and stopped outside a rather simple looking place. I was scanning it cautiously when Pratham informed, “It’s a bar.” “First ever bar visit?” He smirked as he walked inside. I nodded, following him nervously. He led me to a secluded corner and after giving me a reassuring look, went to the counter to order. I looked around. It was a bit dark and dingy. For the first time, I was relieved that I had nobody to answer to, otherwise, only God knew how would I have told my family where I had been!“Come,” he ordered and led me to an open area. He was holding two beers, one bottle of sparkling liquid and one coke. “This is your first drink too?” he suppressed a laugh.“I am not drinking,” I spoke in a dominating tone.“Hmm… though I think you should,” he started but quickly added because I was giving him a very judging look, “because of the industry you are stepping in,” he finished lighting up a cigarette. I never knew he was a smoker.“You are just assuming that I will sign those papers.” “I know you would. Not for yourself, but in hopes that your brother will see you and come back to you someday.” He blew smoke at a side. I felt an urge to snatch the cigarette from his hand and throw it away, but I resisted. I had no authority over him to demand such things.“You don’t like it that I smoke?” he asked. I screwed my eyes, so he added, “It’s all over your face. Somehow, I usually know what you are thinking. Don’t you feel we have a connection?” Goosebumps covered my body at his words. “So, if I sign these papers,” I pulled out the envelope from my bag, “I would have to smoke, drink and do drugs too?” My tone was too sarcastic for someone who should be grateful.“No, I don’t think I can ever accept if you smoke or do drugs. Just casual drinks would be fine. However, given how you are, I would warn you to always take someone reliable with you. You never know who might take advantage of your soberness.” He was laughing.I wanted to ask ‘what do you mean by how am I,’ but he answered that too. “I mean, you are incredibly beautiful. Once you enter this industry, you will be unstoppable. You will be a heartthrob of millions, a sensation like no other.” My heart skipped a beat at the word sensation. It reminded me of that creep Akshara, however before I could dwell on that painful memory, he continued. “And I must confess that I lied today. Usually, you are one of the most beautiful girls in the room.” My mouth gaped open in shock. Was this the same brooding Pratham? I was dumbfounded, yet I couldn’t help but blush.“Are you a mind-reader?” I was curious. And he laughed again. He was drinking beer now. He had thrown away his cigarette. Was he drunk already?“No, I just know you well enough.”“How?”“Never mind that,” he dismissed with a casual wave.“What did you mean by someone might take advantage of my soberness?”“Anybody could add something to your drink. It’s very common in those parties. You might order a coke and might end up drinking Rum or something even worse,” he pointed at my bottle of coke. I eyed it skeptically. “It’s a soft drink. I am not a cheap shot.” I quickly took a sip, it tasted normal.“Here, try this.” He pushed a bottle with clear sparkling liquid towards me. I picked it up and read ‘Vodka.’“No, thank you.” I placed it down. “It’s merely 5% alcohol. You have to start some day,” he insisted. But I denied outright. “Not today for sure,” I announced firmly, and he raised his hands in defeat. “What did you mean by ‘you cannot accept if I smoked or did drugs?” I asked, and he raised his eyebrows in frustration.“You ask too many questions, Ms. Ishana. A person might get bored of your inquisitiveness,” he mocked and picked up the Vodka bottle and finished it in three big sips. I just stared at him in awe. “Yuck!” he remarked. “Too girly.” I laughed this time, and he gave me a questioning look.“You are drunk,” I giggled, but my laughter disappeared at his expressions. He was back to his arrogant self.“If I act friendly, then it doesn’t mean I am drunk. Just one bottle of Vodka and Beer cannot affect me. I am not…” he started but stopped abruptly. “What?” he narrowed his eyes. I was staring at him weirdly.“How do you know so much about me?” I whispered. I felt we had done enough chit-chat, and it was time to get down to business. He gave me a long, thoughtful look and left. For a minute I just stood there all alone, looking utterly stupid.I waited for him, but he didn’t return for a good ten minutes. ‘Did he leave me stranded in a bar?’ I looked around hopelessly, but he was nowhere to be seen. I had expected many things from him, but this behavior left me in shock. I felt dejected. Tears welled up in my eyes. I placed the envelope back in my bag – I had an urge to tear it, but I resisted. And I contemplated how I would go back home. Maybe I would find a taxi. I started to leave when I saw a very shocked Pratham. “Leaving already?” he demanded.“You thought I left you here alone?” he asked suspiciously. I wiped my eyes and shook my head.“Liar. I went to grab a drink. The bartender took a little longer,” he pointed at the bar. It was much crowded now. “Ishana, I would never leave you alone, especially in a place like this.” The sincerity in his eyes caught me off-guard. He gently grabbed my shoulder and made me sit on a corner table.“Maybe you should announce where you are going. You left so suddenly, I thought…” I started, but he placed his finger on my lips.“I promise, from now on whenever I will leave, I will let you know.” ‘What did he mean?’ I thought weirdly. His eyes fell on his finger that was still resting on my lips, slowly he pulled it. “I mean in a place like this. When you know we are together, alone…” he started but shook his head. Maybe he too was confused as to what was happening.“Anyways, what were you saying when I so rudely disappeared on you?” he asked, digressing. It took me a minute to remember. “How did you know?” I repeated finally.“Ah, yes. It is not a big deal.” He tried dismissing again, but I insisted a lot, so he divulged. “You discussed your so-called ‘husband’…” I frowned, so he corrected, “well, when you talked about that bastard, many times you were overheard. Girls use these things to gossip, especially when it’s my assistant’s love-life. Anyways, when I realized who you were dating – a man so older than you – I knew it was a trap. I found a source in his inside group, I am very resourceful, you know,” he paused to take a sip from his beer, “and I understood his intentions. What he had planned could only be called manipulative rape!” he finished in a disgusted tone.“You knew he was going to fake-marry me?” I asked flabbergasted. He nodded glumly. “And you didn’t tell me?” I asked enraged.“I didn’t think you would believe me. I was a nobody to you, and well, he was your ‘boyfriend’.”“You are not a nobody. I would trust you with my life. It is him I never trusted. That pig!” I snarled.“That’s good to know,” he spoke casually, sipping his beer. “Anyways, I didn’t think it was my place to interfere. However, I couldn’t stand what was happening. So, I warned you, practically begged you that day to discuss and not commit the blunder. And, I even waited outside your building from the morning and followed you to the college. I would have finally intervened if I had seen you step out with him,” Pratham finally disclosed, and my mouth just hung open. He did all this for me? Why?“You felt it was not your place to interfere, yet you warned me and stood guard outside my building? An outstanding style of staying away,” my voice was full of sarcasm, and he just shrugged.“Why does it matter to you?” I continued in the same tone.“Because I make it my business to know about people who work for me.” He repeated his words, but I didn’t buy them. I insisted, and he scowled at me.“Any more questions you want to ask?” he was a little irritated now.I knew as of now he was not going to answer ‘why he is so much interested in me?’ So, I tried another.“Why me…?” “What do you mean?” he frowned.“I was told that more than thirty girls had applied for your assistant’s job, but you chose me. Why?”He contemplated his answer for a moment, then with a deep sigh, he spoke, “Do you know you are a very famous case of Mohta? I had heard about you.” I didn’t know about it… but I stayed quiet. He was answering, and I didn’t want to say something to put him off.“Well, when I realized who you were, I gave the job to you instantly. All other applicants wanted this job to get fame, but you wanted it to survive. I saw you and realized how incredibly backward you were… your rags – oh sorry clothes – your posture, your confidence, and most importantly the hollow bleakness in your eyes. A desperation in you told me that you really needed this job. Maybe in your condition, you would have survived in a small town, but in Delhi, people would have eaten you alive,” he paused to take another sip. I knew it was sympathy and pity that had forced him to give me this job, but the way he spoke those words, I felt… I felt… ashamed. Tears welled up my eyes again. I was not the same girl now who had approached him in his cabin, but a part of me still missed that simple girl. A girl from a small-town who once had a family.He gave me a searching look and added, “And no, it was not just pity that forced me to hire you, I knew you were brilliant, a full-scholarship student. Who else could have maintained my schedule better? And if I might say, you do a flawless job, and I literally love to have you around,” and he took another sip. I had a feeling he was getting drunk by every sip; his voice and pitch were rising by the second.“I hope I don’t look like a beggar anymore,” I whispered, trying to shield my emotions.“You look simple, beautiful, and elegant, like always.” And he smiled. Yes… he indeed was drunk now.He drank a bit more and then I requested him to drop me home. Deep down, his non-stop drinking was bothering me. Grunting something under his breath, he led me out of the bar. Strangely his walk didn’t say he was drunk at all. He walked straight and in the same confident manner.We rode in silence to my home. As I stepped down, my eyes fell on his watch, it said 9:30 pm. Shiva must be freaking out. I wanted to run home so that she didn’t create a bigger scene, but there was one last thing I wanted to ask – if he still was answering my questions!“What is it?” he gave me his usual searching look and asked, “what do you want to know?”“How do you always know?” I couldn’t help but smile. He shook his head and encouraged me to ask. “Last when you were here, you had said something,” I started.“Many things were said that day, Ishana,” he hissed. Clearly, the memory of that day was not pleasing for him.“Well, your words were, ‘There are a few people who genuinely love you and care for you.’ Whom were you talking about?” At this, he looked directly in my eyes for a second and then closed them. He picked up his helmet and started to wear it. I pulled it from his hands. “Answer me, Mr. Pratham Khatri.”“You didn’t understand what I meant back at the bar, did you?” he was surprised by my actions. I stood rooted, wondering what he meant. “This is not the way I want to tell you.” He spoke, looking around. We were alone.“You can tell me any way you want. But please tell me. My life is hell as it is, don’t add misery to it,” I pleaded.“I could never make you miserable,” he whispered.“What do you want? Why are you doing all this?” I yelled.“Ishana…” he yelled back. “Are you this naïve?” “I am sorry,” he apologized, seeing my scared face. “Keep it, I don’t care,” he muttered, pointing at his helmet. He then started his bike and rode away.I couldn’t even move my feet. It was as if I was rooted to the ground. What kind of man he was? So weird, so indecisive. After a while, I dragged myself to my home to find both Shiva and Sarv out of their minds. As if Pratham’s yelling was not enough, they both were scolding me too. Shiva declared that tomorrow all three of us were getting cellphones, no matter how expensive they were. She had thrown away the one Mihir had gifted her. They were still shouting when the doorbell rang. It was Pratham! “You really didn’t understand what I meant back at the bar?” he spoke haphazardly. “You went to a BAR?” Shiva shrieked. I stood confused in the doorway. On one side, Pratham was staring at me expectantly. On the other side, Shiva and Sarv were shooting daggers with their eyes. I decided to oblige our guest first. “No, I really didn’t understand what you meant. The only thing I understood is that you keep an eye on me because you are my boss.” I spoke as I let him in.“Isn’t that the reason?” I asked curiously. He had the most sheepish expressions on his face.“Can we get some privacy?” Pratham asked my friends.“NO!” they declared together. I guess they have had enough of ‘privacy’.“Ishana, I am not a bad guy. Girls run after me because they want to be a model. But I gave the job to you. I got the assignment for you. You saw Tam kiss me, but I didn’t kiss her back. Girls always try to entice me so that they could use me, but I don’t indulge in flings or one-night stands. Ishana…” he licked his lips nervously. I looked at Shiva and Sarv, their jaws were hanging low. “Ishana, I have never done this in my life before but…” he paused again.“Pratham… are you feeling alright? Should I bring you some water?” I asked. The desperation in his voice and eyes worried me a bit. Shiva laughed. “I am guessing you will not help me here?” Pratham pleaded with my friends.“No man. You have to walk on this path alone…” Shiva was grinning widely.Pratham closed his eyes and fisted his fingers. “I…” “You have never done what before?” Their behavior was not amusing anymore, and I was feeling irritated now.“This is not the way,” he whispered.I walked towards him slowly. “Then what is the way? I think you are too drunk. Maybe we should call it a night. Are you okay enough to ride back home?” I asked, placing my hand gently on his arm. He had strong arms… I couldn’t help but graze my fingers on them. But it was the wrong move. He bent, cupped my chin with his fingers, and pressed his lips on mine. The shock of his actions had frozen me. Wrapping his second hand around my waist, he embraced me tightly and lifted me like a doll. His lips were soft, and I felt a spark crackle. My whole body shivered. And my heart almost stopped. “Ooye,” my friends interfered, and he put me back on to the floor. He pressed his forehead against mine and whispered, “I love you.”