As though he cared about rules! She heaved a sigh of relief when he was gone. If it crossed her mind why her pulse became so slow when he wasn’t around and why the day began to feel dull, she determinedly turned her attention away from such silly thoughts.
CHAPTER TEN
Guy found himself thinking of an unlikely subject as he entered the lobby of the posh apartment block housing his flat. The concierge behind the desk got up as he entered, deferentially asking him how his day had been.
‘You know, Gopal,’ Guy told him. ‘We don’t have many trees in the grounds. You should make sure some peepals are planted there.’
‘Trees? Peepals?’ Gopal’s swarthy forehead set in wrinkles trying to understand what had caused this statement.
‘Yes, peepal trees. They give maximum oxygen. Besides, they help birds to get used to urbanization.’
‘Yes, sir. Very good, sir.’ The poor man was too polite to voice what he really thought. Guy chuckled to himself as he trod up the stairs, avoiding the elevator which he did when he had missed his gym as he had that morning.
He thought amusedly Lyna had to have a hobby which was so un-urban it made him wonder what she really was like. She’d said she’d spent her childhood roaming around orchards. He thought of her with pig tails and bruised knees, was unable to complete the picture and laughed out loud. So not Ms. Cool Perry.
And she’d sounded sorry not to have beer in the fridge. As though someone had told her she should always have beer for a guy.
What about what she’d let fall about her dad? Matthew Perry was a well-known business man. His father had settled down in India and he had followed suit. Guy didn’t know much about him but it sounded like he enjoyed his wealth like most of his kind. Affairs weren’t unknown in social circles, so it didn’t surprise him to hear about that side of Perry. But it made him think of what it must have meant for Lyna.
As he stepped into his flat, he realized he was thinking too much about her. Yet how could he not? This new fiasco. He hoped it would die down soon. Much he cared about the opinion of the social queens and kings, but he priced his privacy. He wasn’t into being made the talk of the town. His family had upheld a certain dignity and position. They lived in the country, but they were well known in the whole state. They had to impose certain restrictions and sometimes make sacrifices to keep up a front. He didn’t care for any of that. But his head of family cared and he had enough sensibility not to hurt his feelings. Even in Llwellpore, the family name was uttered with respect among the reigning social clans. He took care not to dispel that respect by his conduct. By nature, he knew he was a bit of a rebel but even in his high school days his excursions out of bag had aroused amused indulgence than shocked displeasure of the community when they heard of it. In the urban areas, the license was loose but he never took too much of it. He obeyed the rules and paid his taxes. He participated in races but had stopped going to the rave parties. Indeed, no one had actually found him in one. He carefully chose the women he dated. Made sure there were no expectations either side. No scandals that went to the public eye. It was better to remain alone than get involved with someone who could not understand the silent protocols of a heritage which weighed too much to be shrugged aside easily. He hadn’t met any woman he was tempted to share that burden with. Not that it would be any use looking for one. He instinctively knew no woman could understand that liability and privilege, both were his. Most viewed having a heritage as worthy of envy. When he had first stepped into the town, many women clamored for his advances. To be his wife was the cherished dream of most of them and quite a large number would have been content to be his mistress. Lures had been cast, some conniving, some shameless. He had learnt to extricate himself. Now he knew his reputation was that he was too finicky in his tastes. That he was looking for a wife with the sort of ancestry he held or even that he was a hardened case who would never marry. He encouraged the last. As much as he enjoyed female company, the shackles were something he stayed clear of.
The shrill ring of the phone shattered the quietness of his apartment. Unlike many wealthy people, he wasn’t afraid to indulge in silence and solitude. His grandfather had once said it was the mark of someone with a clear conscience and a strong mind. Quite a few evenings he preferred not to go out. Even relax with a quiet game of chess with one of his acquaintances or read a book. Habits put into him during his upbringing.
He frowned at the ring, recognizing the customized sound. The picture on the phone put his doubts to rest. The face was lined, hair grey, but a fierceness in the eyes gave the impression of being vibrant, rather than faded. Guy’s expression changed. With a rapid movement, he flicked the call on, but his eyes held a guarded expression.
He uttered a traditional greeting. His grandfather spoke in the local language.
‘Jashith!’ He had a way of speaking stringently that came from ordering hundreds of rented land farmers and his numerous staff. ‘You shameless ramshackle piece! You can’t stay put at your house. Now I have to use these cursed cell phones to track you down. Is that the way you show respect to your elders?’
It was three years since he’d heard that voice. He was overcome by the effect he didn’t expect it to have on him. His voice was low, but it held a thread of humor. ‘So you do remember you have a grandson, sir? I may not have done anything to merit the honor of having this call. But to merit existence in your eyes maybe one needs to have exceptional attributes.’
‘You rascal, I didn’t pretend to misunderstand. I – we can argue about right and wrong later. Don’t tell me you haven’t missed coming home.’
Guy’s grip tightened on the phone, but he spoke calmly, ‘It is a show of strength, I believe, to forge one’s own path. That I have done. My company is now worth –’
‘You fool, do you think I doubted you? It was the circumstance –’ He cut himself off. He cleared his throat. Assuming a formal tone, he continued more formally, ‘I am eager to hear about it.’ Guy’s lips twitched. ‘But only if you tell me face to face.’ His grandfather concluded.
Guy frowned. The pause lengthened. ‘Sir, if you have forgotten what passed and caused me to walk away, I haven’t...’
‘Are you asking me to apologize? You know your grandfather was born to command!’ His voice boomed over the connection.
Guy held the phone away from his ear, smiling wryly. That was as much as he could get the old boy to bend. ‘You know,’ he said gently, ‘Your grandson can’t be arrogant with his own family.’
This time the pause lengthened on his senior’s side. At last, he spoke in a low voice, ‘With every sentence, you leave the field open. Yet, you convey that you have your pride. Well then, yes, I have erred. Come home now, kid.’
The voice in his ear sounded gruff. Guy’s throat worked a bit and he swallowed before saying lightly, ‘Not very gracefully said, sir. What, the pride and haughtiness of Pratap Singhs succumbing so soon? Becoming soft in your old age?’
His booming laugh sounded. ‘You misbegotten son of the devil! Your father, whatever he was, wouldn’t dare to put me in a whirlwind. Yes, and make me laugh too. But your latest exploit doesn’t make me laugh. What do you mean by this video which every household here is glued to? I never thought I would see a son of Narendra do something like this. Who’s lacking tact and grace now, sir?’ Beneath the rather mild words, he could sense his Dadu’s anger.
‘No one.’ His voice was cool. He didn’t bat an eyelid as he said, ‘She’s my fiancée. Someone caught us illicitly. Breach of privacy.’ He crossed fingers in a youthful habit, when he knew his grandpa would catch him out. ‘You know how these news hounds are who want to stir interest in public – ‘
‘Engaged! Oh and so coolly you tell me this!’ There was a short silence as though he was processing the news. Then he said, ‘I don’t say I relish you getting engaged without telling us...I don’t consider it a done thing let me tell you...not without your family’s consent. But that’s understandable though. No wonde
r... Yes, news people are annoying as hell...’ His voice dimmed. Guy found himself smiling at enthusiasm spilling from the old man as he addressed someone in vicinity. ‘Savika, have you heard? Of course not. Come and talk to your brother. Yes, it’s Jashith. He says he’s got engaged. Tell him I’m angry. How could he do something like that without my permission? I demand he bring her home...’
Savika came on. ‘Guy! How are you? It’s been an age! Why wouldn’t you pick up my calls?’
His throat felt like it was being choked. He switched to the local dialect. ‘Sis, spending the monsoon at Somanvar? How many times I have told you rains are the worst there. Did you get so sick of Sunil, you had to come?’ he spoke lightly but his hand clenched over the arm of his chair.
‘I should know better than to expect a straight answer from you,’ Savika sighed. ‘I can guess why of course.’
‘And you’re probably wrong.’
‘He’s like your God and when you don’t talk to God, you cut yourself off from his protégés too,’ Savika said softly. She caught her breath on a sob. ‘Oh God, Guy, am I glad I came here. I’m bursting out of my skin to hear all about you! And what’s this about getting engaged?’
‘Er I’ll tell you soon.’ The said fiancée doesn’t know about it yet. Briefly, he closed his eyes, crossed his fingers again and said, ‘It’s very recent, in fact nothing is official as yet.’
‘Then you must come here and let us make it official.’ She lowered her voice and he could picture her moving away from Grandpa. ‘You owe it to him, Jashith. Pretend you are waiting for his approval. I know it was all his fault for turning you away. But he loves you. He’s been miserable as hell. You don’t know what he’s looking like now. I’m sure Dr. Banerjie is going to have to reduce his BP medication, he’s so excited.’
He sighed, the humor going out of his voice, ‘Savika, how have you been? How old are the kids now? I’ve been following on media, they look like angels...’
‘They miss you. Kids are funny that way. Out of the blue, they’d ask me when are you going to get home? Will he drive the big bike?’ she mimed them and laughed. ‘Oh Jashith, it’s wonderful, so good to hear your voice. When will you come home?’
‘I can’t say but definitely very soon.’
‘Please! We’ll be waiting for you.’
A few minutes later, Savika rang off, after assuring herself he really meant to keep his word and making Guy promise to call about his plans the next day. She put down the phone she was holding and picked up her own, swishing and pressing over a familiar number.
Soon a husky male voice was complaining in her ear, ‘Darling, you’re forgetting the time zone. It’s 5 a.m. here.’
‘I know, but I was too excited to wait. Guess what? Grandpa called Guy! I’ve just finished talking to him. He’s to come over at Somanvar. And he’s bringing his fiancée!’
‘Whoa, slow down. That’s a lot to process before morning coffee.’ She heard noises as though he was sitting up and shaking his head free of the cobwebs. She smiled, reminiscing the gesture, wryly, as she realized how much she missed him. ‘I should’ve video-called. I want to see your rumpled bed-time look,’ she said softly, injecting a sensual purr at the end. ‘Do you miss me, darlin’?’
‘Talk in that vein and I might be back before the series of meetings finish. Now what’s this about that hellraising bro of yours? You didn’t really say he was coming down to your country palace with a fiancée!’
‘Hmm…mmm I did too!’
‘You must have heard wrong. Guy would fight tooth and nail before he succumbed to marriage. It must be an engagement of convenience.’
‘Whoever heard of such a thing!’
‘Your bro is nothing as docile as me, love, he’d simply not tie the knot.’
‘I’ll have a fight with you if you keep on like that,’ his wife warned. ‘And docile? You? Hah! Let me remind you, you also fought tooth and nail before admitting finally you couldn’t live without me.’
‘You made me do the running.’
‘And why shouldn’t I have? Oh, don’t sidetrack me. Why I called you was because I’m getting the jitters about the whole thing.’
‘Why? What’s to get jittery about?’
‘In a word, Mummy.’ Sunil made a sound of agreement. ‘I knew you’d see my point of view. Sunil! I’m worried. As happy as I am that Guy is coming home, I don’t know how Mummy will react. How can one miss and love a person, while at the same time be afraid when they are to meet you?’
‘How did you guess? That’s me when you come home.’ He chuckled as Savika threatened all sorts of dire results for him. ‘But you’re not afraid of Guy, dear wife.’
‘No,’ she said, assuming a more serious tome, ‘The thing is, as dull as it has been without him here, still things have been fairly placid. I know when he comes, circumstances are bound to change.’
‘Hmm…that’s to be expected. It’s been three years and all we’ve known about him has been from the media. He’s wisely kept his personal life from the grapevine…or at least till the incident you told me about.’
‘Yes, I taxed him about it. And also why he wouldn’t pick up my calls.’
‘And his reason?’
‘As usual diverting from any topic of serious nature,’ she sighed. ‘He didn’t like to talk to us when he wasn’t talking to Grandpa, I guess.’
‘I think it was more than that. He knew the old man wouldn’t have approved of it if you were in touch with him when he was angry with him. He could’ve forbidden you to visit the house and Guy knew how my mother would take that.’
‘I hadn’t thought of that. It is like him too. He never said a word to anyone the last time, you know, about all the things Mummy said…’ she broke off. ‘I don’t know what will happen. There are too many undercurrents in this place.’
‘Well, you can run to me if it gets unpleasant.’
‘I know I have you, and I’m glad, but I do want to see what his fiancée is like. I wonder if I will like her. I must break the news to Mummy…here I mean. Grandpa would be ecstatic and she’s bound to say something that would put the salt in his pie. I’ll be off.’
Blowing him kisses, she disconnected but stood looking abstractedly at the phone. She tried to look at things optimistically and convince herself everything would turn out fine, but there was a voice in her head that kept saying, if you think that, really, you are good at deluding yourself. The game is just begun.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Studio spaces were costing the earth as more and more content production took place for small screen. The number of serials getting produced, especially with newer time bands and numerous channels and the craze for high-class sets, meant that entertainment creators were vying for space and looking farther afield for accommodation. One of the wise decisions Guy took early on, was to buy space for studio setting. Their fifth one, a state-of-the-art production set was almost complete and already contracted to an eminent set designer for their newest serial soon to be on the floors. Lyna and Guy drove to Powai to take the final look at project.
She especially loved the ‘mirror’ setting of the ‘living room’. Their enterprising contractor had used the traditional shape of the mirror which echoed in the shape of the cushions of the seats and on the walls. The color coordination appealed to her with its muted peaches and deep peacock hues. This living room was the center point with many scenes to be shot here where the family – a young and modern family that comprised of the main characters – gathered as the members dealt with issues like lack of instilling netiquette and awareness in their growing-up kids and the complications around their lives arising thereof.
Vinayak, their set designer, had made clever use of space. What used to be a shed had been reconstructed and he had remodeled it into office space and the adjoining portion as the ‘airplane’ set which mimicked the interior of a jet.
They went all over it, as the handsome set designer explained the last touches that were needed f
or the completion. She and Guy consulted the requirements of the script together and made remarks. Hers were mostly effusive and Guy’s more guarded. She began to suspect he was assuming a slightly negative attitude towards the designer. Then dismissed the stupid notion. Yet some devil prompted her. As he folded the plans after making notes, and shook hands and went away, she let her gaze follow him.
‘He’s so young and debonair – he ought to be an actor,’ she commented to Guy.
He didn’t look pleased, but said with all his customary mockery, ‘If you want to flirt, you don’t have to look that far. Run your gaze closer home.’
She met his gaze with a limpid look. ‘Oh, you mean Seerat?’ she said of their recently chosen actor. ‘Yeah, he’s good looking. But already taken. He and Aanya were on a date last evening.’
His eyebrows rose. ‘My staff is mixing business and pleasure? Why didn’t I get to know of it earlier?’ He steered her away from a roll of cloth placed adjacent to the wall.
The touch on her elbow was firm. She noticed he retained the support though they drew away from the storage material pile. ‘The wise thing to do is to turn a blind eye,’ she advised him. ‘People will be people.’ He let go at last and she shaded her eyes from the glare of the sun, facing him. ‘Besides, after that video you’ll look funny trying to object.’ Despite herself, a provocative smile touched her mouth as she fished for and put on her sun glasses.
‘No, I won’t.’ In a peremptory gesture, he reached out and tweaked the glasses, setting them as though in a better way. ‘I’m the boss. They can’t expect me to tow the same line as them.’
‘Of course, they can!’ she said indignantly, tweaking the glasses herself in the opposite direction. She over-righted them and one side came off her ear. Exasperated, she pulled the shades off.
‘I didn’t hear that. Have you forgotten, I’m your boss too? He grinned in response to her eye roll. ‘Moreover, we are partners in crime so to speak.’ He fell into step with her as they took a turn around the reconstructed old mill. Most of it had been renovated, but work was still going on in the peripheral parts.
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