The Promise
Page 9
He moved his thumb and traced her collarbone. He had not seen much of her, but he thought her collarbone was her most appealing feature. He had wanted to touch it ever since he had seen her in that noodle-strap yellow dress she had worn to their movie-date.
He pushed the strap of her dress an inch and it fell off her shoulder. She moaned, when Arjun bit her softly on her shoulder. He licked the bite and sucked on it. That would leave a mark. She threw her head back and moaned again. Her hands moved from around his neck to his chest, and he felt his heart beat rapidly under her palms. She looked up at him and smiled. He kissed her smile, picked her up, and carried her to his bedroom.
There is a side to every man, which he lets come out in the open only before the woman he truly loves.
ow. This is just so beautiful,' Shambhavi breathed. They were working on the interiors of his hotel, like they had been doing since the last two months and it was turning out beautifully, just like their relationship. They met every day, working together on designs and throwing around ideas, for hours in a row. They met each other the first thing in the morning, worked together all day, had every meal together and bid each other goodnight and went to their respective homes. It could not have been any better. 'I think mahogany really works better with the background, don't you think?' she tilted her head to her side and gazed up at him.
'I have to agree,' he smiled. He was used to her enthusiasm. It had become a way of life for him.
'But I still think that your smile is more beautiful. You should do it more often.'
'Ha-ha-ha. Now, if you're done, let's go have something to eat. It's already very late.'
'Actually, you go ahead. I have to head back home for something,' Shambhavi made an apologetic face.
'What is something?' Arjun asked.
'Just ... have to check up on my dad. He wasn't feeling well this morning again, so...'
'Okay, then. Take care.' He kissed her forehead and asked her to meet for dinner. She hugged him tightly for a second then ran to her car. She was always like that-runningshouting-jumping when a regular person would just walkexclaim-smile instead. He loved her for her dynamism and vivacity. Her animation was just one of the many things he had gotten addicted to.
Ever since she had come into his life, she had changed its meaning. In the beginning, he had struggled to let go, owing to his reservations. But once he had decided to let go, a whole new world had opened up to him. From behind the mask of a calm sophisticated businessman, the real Arjun had emerged. His earnings had brought him satisfaction, but he had never felt peaceful. Shambhavi brought him peace.
'So, mahogany, then, sir?' Faisal asked, notepad in hands, and a smile on his face. Arjun knew that Faisal liked Shambhavi; he could sense it. But ever since Arjun started to see her, Faisal had stepped back happily. Way too happily, Arjun mused. Maybe because he had feared his boss would die alone and was relieved he had finally found a lady. Or maybe he just wanted to keep his job.
'Of course,' Arjun nodded. 'And is Tutul still here?'
'Yes, I am,' Tutul stepped ahead, a notepad in her hands, too.
'Could you come with me for a second? We need to discuss the dimensions of the reception hall. I think we need to get rid of the north wall to extend the area ...'
'That's a good idea. But if I can suggest something-I feel we should keep a separate waiting area, if we are keeping a big reception hall. Not completely partitioned, just to this height,' she motioned with her arms.
'Hmm. Let me think about it and run it through Shambhavi once. Meanwhile, show me the kitchen designs again?' Arjun said.
They started to discuss detailed plans about the kitchen space and Arjun found himself losing his concentration over and over again. He kept wondering what Shambhavi would think of the idea, what she would suggest. In a very short time, he had become excessively dependent on her. He liked the feeling of sharing responsibilities, ideas, thoughts and love with another person. She was his first friend in a long time. She was his one true love.
'Arjun?' Shambhavi asked over the phone. She sounded panicked. Arjun instantly got alert.
'Yes? What's wrong?'
'Arjun ...Her voice trailed away. She was clearly crying.
'Where are you? What's wrong?'
'Arjun ...she repeated.
'Shambhavi? Where are you? Tell me, I'm coming,' Arjun panicked.
'At ... home ...'
'Your place? I'll be there. Just five minutes, baby.'
'Arjun ...' she whispered again. That was all she was saying-his name, over and over again.
Arjun tried to ask her what was wrong again, but she didn't say anything. Frustrated, freaked and worried, he hung up and rushed to his car. He had never thought he would see Shambhavi bothered about something. He had never seen her so worried or panicked or sad. She was always the cheerful, annoyingly happy one. The light of his life.
He could not bear to see her cry. So even though he was driving wildly towards her place, he wanted to run away from her at the same time. He could not handle tears. They somehow signified death to him. They reminded him of the unlimited tears he had shed when his family had died in that horrible accident. That was the only time of his life when he had cried. And every time he saw someone cry, he was instantly reminded of that dark, painful phase of his life.
He wanted to run away, but he could not. Shambhavi needed him. He had to be there for her. Whatever the problem was, they would go through it together. She will have him by her side.
It took him seventeen agonizing minutes to get to Shambhavi's house. He braked harshly and jumped out of the car. The front door was open; he entered.
'Shambhavi!' he called, moving around the house to find her. 'Shambhavi? Where are you?'
There was a muffled moan from the washroom on his right. He rushed to it and flung open the door, to find her sitting on the floor, sobbing. Her eyes were red and cheeks wet from all the tears she had shed. It was worse than he had expected. Tears were bad enough for him already, but seeing Shambhavi cry was too much for him to take.
Those lovely eyes, looking scared and gloomy, that sweet face, crumpled up and covered with tears-it was not a sight he could handle. He noticed that her upper lip had swollen due to crying. Her hair was rough and tangled, it was clear that she had been pulling it in worry. Her nails were halfbitten in anxiety.
As soon as she saw him, she whispered his name again, 'Arjun ...'
'Yes, baby. I'm here. What is wrong? Tell me ...he held her hands and pulled her up, into his embrace. He hugged her tightly and told her it was all going to be okay, even though he did not even know what had happened.
She pulled back, trying to say something, but he pulled her close to him again.
'Come here,' he said. 'It's okay. I'm right here, with you, baby.'
'Arjun ...'
'Yes, Shambhavi, what is it?' he asked again.
'I'm ... I'm ... pregnant; she said.
'What?' he froze on his spot instantaneously.
Of all the things he had imagined, this was the most improbable one. He pulled back in a microsecond, as his brain processed what was happening. It didn't take him long to figure that out. Once again, the ground slid from beneath his feet.
'I had not been feeling too well recently, but I thought it must be because of the hard work, so I ignored it. Today ... today I was at the pharmacy for something ... I just happened to glance at this ... home pregnancy testing kit ... and I realized that maybe I am sick because of ...'
Arjun did not say anything. Shambhavi continued speaking.
'I bought a kit, just to be sure ... because I remembered we did not use protection that night we were ... together ... So I picked up a set, and it showed ... positive...'
He could not believe that Shambhavi was doing this to him. He thought he knew her, understood her. He thought she was different, not after money and money only. But it turned out that there was nothing unique about her after all. She was a part of the same old gold-diggin
g female community that uses men.
He dared to contemplate the chance that she might be telling the truth, but it was just too hard to believe. They had been together sexually once, just once, and that had been about two months ago. If she really was pregnant, why did she not get to know about it earlier? Why wait till she had a stronger bond with Arjun before announcing it? It was too cleverly woven a plan, not to be a setup.
His world came crashing down around his feet. All the talk about buying a big car and going to Paris and getting used to the high-class lifestyle ... she had been plotting all of this right from the beginning. It had all been a part of her evil moneymaking strategy.
He had taken a leap of faith, had trusted her, had believed that she was different ... But he was proved incorrect once again. She must be thinking what a fool he was, how easily he was trapped. He hated himself for falling into a woman's sweet trap again. He thought he had learnt his lesson the first time around. Turned out-he hadn't.
He would never trust a woman again. Let alone love.
There is silence before every storm. A perfect life is accompanied by a constant fear of it coming to an end. Some things are too good to be true, and inevitably, all good things come to an end.
Some people become a part of us such that we are forced to wonder how we were alive before they entered our lives. That happens only once they leave, never to come back.
A broken heart can be mended. Broken trust can never be fixed. The crack remains forever.
hose baby is it?' Arjun asked, pushing her out of his embrace.
'What?' Shambhavi asked. The question hadn't registered in her head. Her brain was clouded in her own worries and fears; his words had not seeped in. Her reaction was just a reflection of the bafflement she felt on being unceremoniously shoved out of his arms.
'You heard me. I don't have time to play any games, so just answer me-whose child is it?' he asked again, this time in an even harsher tone.
Shambhavi was shocked. One moment, he was holding her lovingly in his arms and telling her that everything would be okay, and the next-he was accusing her of ... What exactly was he accusing her of?
She was mad beyond any extent.
'Are you crazy? Do you realize what you're saying?' she shrieked.
'Shut up, Shambhavi. Just tell me what you want from me. Why did you do this-for marriage? Money? WHAT?'
'ARJUN. Stop it!' Shambhavi held his arms and tried to shake him out of this madness. She did not know what had gotten into him. He was suddenly a stranger to her. He had a closed expression on his face again, the same he used to have when they had first met. It scared her. She knew she had lost him.
'ANSWER ME,' he thundered.
She automatically took a step back from him. 'It's yours. Who else could it...? I was a...a virgin before that night. And have never been with anyone since we ...' she sobbed, desperately trying to make him believe.
'I can't believe I fell into this trap again,' she heard his mutter, behind his clenched teeth.
'What? What are you saying?'
'Don't act so innocent, okay? The show is over. I know what you are up to; I know this was a setup. Now just tell me what you want and get lost.'
'Arjun, what is wrong with you? Have you totally lost it? It's me-Shambhavi.' She shook him frantically again.
He pulled back roughly. 'What I don't understand is thatif all you needed was my money, why did you need to drag a baby into this? Don't you have a heart? What does an innocent child have to do with this?'
There was silence. No one said anything, no one looked at each other. Shambhavi struggled with grasping what was going on. When she had first met him, he had been aloof, closed from everyone else. All he cared about was his work, nothing else. Slowly, she had started working with him and gotten to know him better. She had sensed his struggle, a battle going on inside him. She had felt him trying to keep himself away from her, but finally giving in. And when everything finally fell into place, he had suddenly gone back to square one, leaving her alone-madly in love, heartbroken, defeated ...
'You have known me, on and off, since the last nine months, Arjun. Are you telling me that this is what you have thought of me since ... always?' Shambhavi asked softly, not meeting his eye. She was furious, and was controlling the anger she felt towards him.
'Oh, I wish I had known. I would not have let it come to this if I had, I swear,' Arjun seethed.
'This is the last time I am going to try to explain this to you; after this, I'll give up. I called you the second I got to know about the pregnancy. I had not planned on it, I had not known it would happen. It was an accident. And you know-it wasn't my fault alone. Take some responsibility. No girl gets pregnant on her own.'
'Agreed. She needs a man. And you used me-to get pregnant, to get to my money.'
'I need money, yes, but I earn my own bread, Mr Datta. I do it by my own competence. You might have a lot of dough, but I do not need a man to provide for me,' Shambhavi said bluntly.
'Not for yourself, but for your baby, I'm sure? Is this how we are going to go about it? That's where the baby comes into the picture, doesn't it?'
'The baby came in, when you put it in.'
'Of course. This has to be my fault. That is how you're going to make me pay for it. In cash, I'm sure?' Arjun asked curtly.
'Arjun-for the last time-this was no calculated trick. It was an accident. I have enough troubles in my life without consciously adding more complications to it.'
'But all those troubles can be solved by money, can't they? My money. You-'
'If that is really what you think, I think you should leave,' she said calmly, cutting him off before he could say anything else. There was excessive use of the term money in their exchange and frankly, she was getting sick of it. The storm raging inside her was cleverly concealed under the mask of detachment she wore.
Arjun stared at her for a moment, and finally said, 'Very well, then. I will send over the cheque with Faisal. If you were looking for marriage, you are in for a disappointment.'
'Get out,' she said, jaws clenched.
'Oh, stop the drama-'
'ARJUN DATTA, DON'T MAKE ME SAY THAT AGAIN. GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.'
'You don't want to create a scene-' he began to say. It seemed like he still did not believe that she was telling the truth, which only made her more furious.
'YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT WHAT I WANT AND WHAT I DON'T. SO, DO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.'
'Raising your voice does not make you right and me wrong.'
'YES, BUT TRUTH DOES. Now, GET OUT,' she tried to calm herself down but failed horribly. Her life was in pieces. The man who ruled it had no idea how much he was hurting her and she just wanted it all to end. She wanted peace. 'I don't need you, Arjun. For anything. I can manage on my own. I can handle a child without your help. I do not need your wealth, your time, your presence, your fake love, ANYTHING. Just GO.'
He gave her one final stare, which told her that he was disgusted by her and left. She fell to the washroom floor once again. Only, this time, she knew there would be no Arjun who would come to her, hold her and make it all go away. She had nothing to look forward to-no one to look after her.
Hours passed, and she went on with her day, living like nothing was wrong with her. She was sure her face betrayed what she was feeling, but there was no one who would notice the change. From her home, she had gone straight to the hospital, where her father had been admitted since the last four months. He was not conscious to register her mood from her facial expressions.
She knew her father was not getting better, only worse, and that broke her heart.
It all started almost exactly a year ago, in March 2010, with dizziness, double vision and impaired hearing. When she had taken him to a doctor, they had gotten the news of the tumour in his brain-a pituitary tumour, clinically termed-Pituitary Adenoma. It is basically a non-cancerous tumour, but lethal still. The one her father had was large in size and needed immediate surgery
.
Her father was her only family, after her mother had passed away when she was four. She panicked. The surgerymedically known as 'craniotomy'-required opening of the skull to operate. Even the thought was scary, but they had no option. There was no room for delay; his tumour was in the second stage, which meant it was of a size larger than one centimetre and if untreated, would have extended above the sella, which is a depression on the upper surface of the sphenoid bone.
He was operated upon the next week, after pooling together all his resources to pay for the surgery. Fortunately, the surgery had been a success. Or so they had thought. There were still a few nights when he had woken up with searing pain, but the doctors brushed it away as routine.
It was only after five months, in September 2010-a little after Shambhavi had completed the Ahluwalia assignmentthat during a routine check-up, the doctors had discovered that the tumour had not been in the second stage, but in the third when he was operated. There was not just a threat of expansion to the sella, but the invasion had already occurred.
Due to neglect of the condition and lack of medical care at the needed site, his tumour had swiftly gone to the fourthand the final-stage by the time the real problem was detected.
All Shambhavi's savings to take her father to Paris, the one place he wanted to visit before his disease killed him, had gone in his treatment. After weeks and weeks of radiotherapy, slowly and steadily, the truth had seeped in-he did not have long to live. He had accepted that; so had Shambhavi.
There was no sense in being sad, so they had taken on the challenge cheerfully. She knew he had no funds left. She had never let it show, but she had known it all along. His surgery had had a great impact on both their lives. For the first time in her life, she had thought seriously about her future and had taken work seriously.
When they had first detected the tumour, Mr Sen had gotten quite a scare, understandably. After all his assets went into the surgery that followed, he had told Shambhavi sadly that his only regret was not visiting Paris before he died. That night, Shambhavi had promised her father that she would take him there. She had devoted herself to the Ahluwalia's Mansion and had worked sincerely on it to earn the amount her hard work deserved.