CHAPTER 51 UNPLEASANT MEETINGS
Mohan murmured a thank you to Shilpa for introducing him in a good light without having to explain his true identity. But he was sure he won't be that lucky during the entire meeting: the homely lady will surely ask about his job as soon as they seat themselves in one of the plush sofas inside the spacious living room.
If the secrecy is meant to be broken now, it will happen. There's no use worrying about it. The purpose of this disguise is almost fulfilled anyway.
Mohan thought and prepared himself for the inevitable inquisition by Mrs Rakesh. Right now, she didn't seem to have any eyes on him and not even on Shilpa: her sole interest was on Megha whose smile was becoming more and more forced with each second.
How is Megha acquainted to her, I wonder. However it is, Megha does not look even remotely thrilled to have met her.
Mohan observed as he followed the three women into the living room. It was just as luxurious as he had estimated with plush couches and sturdy side tables. The walls boasted of the achievements of the men in the family and the interior, the mistress's taste in design.
"Please take a seat, all of you. My husband will be here in a few minutes." Mrs. Rakesh said.
Shilpa sank into one of the couches immediately, probably seeking the feeling of homely protection after leaving the campus and the dangers associated with her life there. Mohan followed the suit and took that day's The Morning Wave from the table as an excuse to escape the conversation of the ladies for as much time as possible. Megha was still standing, looking at the couch gloomily.
"I'm sorry Shobha Aunty, but I need to be back soon. Nanhi will be waiting for me." She said.
"You left her in someone's care, didn't you?" Mrs. Shobha Kumar enquired.
"Yes, with my colleague," Megha said, "but-"
"No buts Megha. I'm going to make us all some tea and you are helping me. Come." She caught Megha's hand authoritatively and led her away before anyone could respond. Mohan watched the whole thing with puzzlement.
"Do you know how Megha is associated with your Guardians?" Mohan couldn't contain his curiosity and asked Shilpa.
"I'm wondering the same thing, Bhayya." She replied, but didn't sound much intrigued by the fact.
Before his mind could come up with some possible answers, a man's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"How many times have I told you not to leave the front doors open at night, Shobha?," the volume kept increasing with the sound of approaching footsteps. Soon, a tall, regal looking elderly man entered the living room. Even though his fluffy white hair tried to reveal his age, the tracksuits he wore hindered the effect.
"You never-" he stopped abruptly on noticing Shilpa and Mohan. Both of them rose from their seat in a gesture to show respect.
"There were guests inside as you might've noticed by now. Sit down, I'll bring tea now." Mrs Rakesh's sound echoed in from the kitchen.
"You are Rashmi's sister, aren't you?" He asked after scrutinising them for a few seconds, not too unkindly.
"Yes, and this is Mohan Bhayya, my family friend. He accompanied me to ensure my safe arrival here." Shilpa explained for the second time that night.
"But your class in charge was going to drop you here. Where's she?" Confusion marred his face as he gestured them to sit.
"She's inside with Shobha Aunty." Shilpa replied again.
Mohan sat back gingerly.
Where on earth had Mrs. Rakesh disappeared with Megha?
*****************
Megha was whisked off from the living room before she could even formulate a response. In a matter of seconds, she was standing besides Shobha Aunty as she precisely poured out one cup of milk from the container.
"I've wanted to speak with you for ages, Megha. I'm really sorry Rajeev did that. I still like you, my girl, but what can I do? He met Rashmi in some business meeting in some rich hotel and has been her toy from then on." She poured two and a half cups of water into a steel vessel and placed it over the gas flames.
It was then that Megha heard a new voice in the living room. Someone was blaming Shobha Aunty for leaving the doors open. Megha assumed it would be Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Rajeev's father and Shilpa's guardian.
Shobha Aunty too noticed and she bellowed:
"There were guests inside as you might've noticed by now. Sit down, I'll bring tea now."
Then she resumed her conversation with Megha in a much lower tone.
"I'm not saying that Rashmi is bad; but I can't seem to overlook the fact that our way of life is different. Our values and customs may not seem important enough to uphold for someone like her. We - ie, his dad and I - tried to put some senses into his head but he doesn't listen to us any more." She ended the tirade in a dejected note as she dropped premium quality dried tea leaves into the boiling water.
Megha idly arranged the tea cups in the tray, wondering how to respond. She finally replied in a placating tone:
"Well, Rajeev is mature and clever enough to know what is good for him. And if he wants someone like Rashmi in his life, you should better accept his decision. May be he wants her because of her sophisticated nature, the thing you consider her shortcoming. But I'm sure in your guidance, she'll soon learn to bring the right balance between her and your lifestyle."
Shobha sighed and nodded her head, still unhappy about her son's choice. As the tea boiled over, she carefully sieved it into the cups and handed over the tray to Megha.
"I'll just bring some dry fruits also. You go ahead."
"Okay." Megha left the kitchen, eager to escape further discussion and entered the living room, bearing the tray.
"Here she is." Shilpa declared her arrival to the other two in the room.
Mohan who was involved in a conversation with Mr. Rakesh broke it instantly and passed her a desperate look. Megha controlled the urge to smirk at his tensed look: nowadays he had made it his job to tease her and it was not so often that she got to see him so flustered.
Mr Rakesh looked shocked just like his wife as he saw her, but he covered up quickly with a cordial smile.
"Shilpa here told me her class in charge was whisked away by my wife. I guess the lady in question is you." He stated tentatively.
"Yes, sir. It was I who called you this evening." Megha replied as she set down the tray.
"So tell me why Shilpa demanded to come here all of a sudden. Nothing serious, I hope." he addressed Megha with a questioning look.
By then, Mrs. Rakesh also emerged from the kitchen and joined them with a platter of dry fruits.
"Not that you lot are unwelcome here, but I've been wondering the same thing."
Megha didn't think it wise to reveal the truth to them before Shilpa had a chance to explain everything to her father. So, she decided to cover up for her for the time being.
"It's just that she's having a study leave now and she misses her Dad very much. Since it is not mandatory to stay in hostel for study leave, she requested me to let her go as soon as possible. Her sister and father's phones were engaged and I thought the earlier, the better. So she vacated the hostel this evening itself. She has promised not to neglect her studies even if she's at her home, haven't you?" Megha asked Shilpa as she sat down near her on the couch.
"Yes, Ma'am." Shilpa replied earnestly. Her phone rang just then.
"It's Dad." Shilpa looked up at Megha with wide eyes. "Will you be with me, Ma'am, as I explain to Dad? Will you talk to him if he refuses?" She pleaded.
Megha didn't think twice before replying: "Sure."
They excused themselves and moved to the verandah outside. The glass partition didn't obstruct the view of those sitting in the living room, but Megha was sure it would give them enough privacy to be involved in a conversation. She turned to her student and saw that Shilpa was still staring at her phone screen worriedly.
"Just do it, Shilpa. I'm with you." Megha reassured her.
Shilpa nodded and pressed the call button.
Megha witnessed a father and daughter's heartfelt conversation, albeit from one end, for the next few minutes. At first, they were just engaged in usual catching up. But soon, Shilpa broke down into tears, as she explained the fix she had put herself in. Megha immediately went to her and hugged her close to her body. She moved both of them to a corner of the verandah so that the ones sitting inside will not witness the scene.
She could hear Shilpa's dad offering comforting words over the phone, reassuring her that he will be at her side as she tries to recover the addiction. He continued to talk to her, raising her morale and finally, even managed to make her smile by narrating one of her childhood stories. Shilpa finally pulled herself together and Megha relinquished her hold on her, relieved by the outcome of the conversation.
"He still loves me, Ma'am. And he'll help me recover." Shilpa said excitedly as she finished her call.
"I gathered as much from your expression." Megha replied, smiling happily.
Shilpa suddenly hugged her fiercely.
"I don't know how to thank you, Ma'am. You've brought hope back in my life."
Megha felt equally overwhelmed as she returned the hug.
"Just promise me to never give up your studies. If you can't appear for exams this year because of treatment, you'll join the college you like for the course you like during the next academic year, okay?"
"Of course." Shilpa replied, happiness shining through her tears as she looked up at Megha.
"Ladies, the tea is getting cold. Come inside." Mrs Rakesh's voice reached them.
Megha's phone rang just then: it was Ruchi.
Oh, God! Not her! I hope Nanhi is behaving herself.
Megha thought worriedly as she told Shilpa to go inside and took the call. The agitated voice of a four year old reached her ears:
"When are you coming, Chachi?"
"We are about to leave, Nanhi. I'll be there in half an hour. Please adjust for a little bit more, won't you my princess?" Megha pleaded.
"Hmm... Okay. But if you don't come soon, I won't talk to you." Nanhi replied, not so moved by her request.
"Okay, done. See you soon." Megha cut the phone, not wanting to waste more time.
As she was about to go inside, a car entered the open gates and halted by the side of her own car on the garage. The man who exited the car stopped in his tracks as soon as he saw her standing in the verandah. He quickly regained his senses and approached her with an undecipherable look in his face. Megha noted in a detached manner that he looked just as handsome and smart as when she had met him last time.
"How come Miss Megha decided to grace this house with her presence?" His sarcasm didn't go unnoticed by Megha, but she decided to not to sink to his level and gave a polite reply.
"I had to accompany my student, your fiance's sister and your father's charge."
"Oh, so you know about the engagement. Then why are you not congratulating me on finding some one like Rashmi?" He asked arrogantly.
"I don't have time for more meaningless chatter. If you'll excuse me.." She was about to turn around when Rajeev moved right in front of her, blocking the entrance.
"Have you seen her, my fiancee? I have her picture right here..." Rajeev fished out his mobile from his pocket and started swiping his fingers in various patterns n the screen.
"No need to take the trouble, I met her the last week." Megha replied curtly.
"You have? Ah, now I see the reason for the extra frosty attitude of the Ice Queen. Not every girl can have great looks and personality. I totally understand your envy for her." Rajeev smirked at her.
Megha felt anger flare up inside her instantly. As she was about to retort and put him down a peg or two, some one emerged from the living room into the verandah.
****************