The Media Circle - Scene 5

He had just returned from his retreat and had especially requested dad and papa as she also had the last day of auction and lying in bed, he felt her soft hands under his t-shirt and she was searching for his warmth in the body. He understood that again her mind is full with doubts of their relationship. So he let her be with him at this time. And just rubbed her back with his coarse hands. Till the time her breathing gets normal and her hands stop searching for warmth. Then he would feel her head drooping over himself and sleep taking over all her senses.

The next day he came to know the reason, it had some of his photos released in media circle where he was portrayed with a girl fishing near Manali and the headlines were “PLAYBOY STRIKES BACK”

The article wrote was “Here, we find THE playboy of jewellary industry, Mr. Shankar Dobriyal seen in Manali, whereas we have being informed that he was outside India for some event that was planned months ago in his alumni. But our efficient reporter finds out what looks  over here is the fact that he is in relaxing mood in Manali, with all trekking and fishing and camping going on though he was spot over here only once but while even resting he seems to be fully in playboy mood as we see him busy with one of the girls. Here we see him with a girl, though the photo is being taken from an  faraway angle, we see them in cozy pose where they are fishing in a camping site  as they are busy laughing and fishing as they roast the fish in open campfire.

Mr. Shankar Dobriyal as we all know is the CEO of Dobriyals Jewellary line which was started by his father Mr. Prasant Dobriyal, with his friend Mr. Vikas Kelkar whose daughter, Priyashi is now the Head Designer of Dobriyals with her own private boutique Priyali. Shankar who is a love child of Mr. Prasant Dobriyal, whose young days are known to be as colorful as his son. Both of the Dobriyals are   very open about their life and it has being seen that Shankar likes to get attached into flings rather than permanent relations.

Mr. Shankar is known to have lukewarm kind of relation with that of Ms. Priyashi on a personal level, but they seem to share a warm and brilliant rapport for work. Many of the reporters first use to doubt that they both are into some kind of attraction but rather it seems to be friction on their part. As Ms. Kelkar is seemed to be avoiding him on all regular levels in media circle but they seem to be good business co-workers as she seemed to dropping him from work on some days as where Dobriyal men lived. She also has a duplex in same building which actually belongs to Dobriyals where she seems to be staying some nights.  As ever since after the death of his wife and Priyashi being there in foreign studies, Mr. Vikas Kelkar has being seen in the building quite often with his bestie Mr. Prasant Dobriyal, so the father-daughter duo shifted permanently over here the previous month. So now Mr. Prasant, Mr. Vikas and Ms. Priyashi live together and Mr. Shankar lives in penthouse which is by many identified as his bachelor pad

Though Priyashi by some are seen as the future contender to the post of Mrs. Dobriyal either by live in or by marriage as after her acceptance of head designer, they seemed to be seen a lot of together in social circle but only as partners.

These photos went viral on media circle since two days so to take byte on this new development, we tried to reach Mr. Dobriyal who seemed unavailable at the moment but we could reach Ms. Priyashi, though she agrees that after shifting to the same building they have being more than just business acquaintances rather they are at a path of being friends . On the news of ‘alleged’ wedding as she termed it, she just gave the scoop that she loves both Prasant and Vikas and will do whatever makes them happy but for their happiness they will not sacrifice hers. She has accepted that she will go for an arranged marriage with the person most appropriate for some time being she doesn’t seem Shankar to be that person.

She has also accepted and confirmed the scoop that Mr. Shankar Dobriyal is there by in India and in Manali as the his alumni news was wrongly interpreted as he was not leaving for his  university yet his school as he did his schooling from Manali and so he was spotted over there. Over the involvement with the girl she just stated that she isn’t his bestie or by far his PA, so she doesn’t get into his private space and coolly stated that Shankar was always free in his life to do whatever he wants. Neither we nor she ever has a right to question him.

Our reporters could track the girl in photo, she denied being in any kind of relationship with her and said that she is Bhutan’s national and was there only for a night, she told that she his classmate so both of them were just having some fun as friends and he was teaching her to fish.

Hence, we just conclude that playboy was again involved in his game and that too with his school mates, plus his father is right now not serious for his settling down and so was rather him.”

 He was shocked that how his just some sweet gesture turned into flirting act, he sometimes use to think this media circle should be damned into and if possible could cut them in small pieces and feed them to fishes but alas he cannot do that, so he never cared a damn about what they circulated but after coming of Priyashi he had always wanted to be her prince charming and not playboy. So he never was involved with anybody rather her. And now they live together how he make her believe because she was always skeptical about the relationship and now it reaches heights with she being hounded by his personal life question.  So now what he should do, just then he saw her coming out of kitchen in her yoga tracks and vest cut tee. Her hairs were tied into a messy bun and she was holding two steaming cups of sweet tea, which they took as starting the day with reading the newspaper.

She just sat beside her and passed one to him and while reading the newspaper said “Shankar, Dad and Papa are coming for dinner as an evening free so you also keep your free as they would like see you. I know you just returned from holidays so work pending but manage it today.”

When she didn’t gave a reaction to news, he only stated “Don’t you want ask about the media scoop.” She nodded negatively saying “If I would have not trusted you, then would have not lived with you. They are doing their job so why bother ourselves.”

Today, they crossed a large distance in their relationship, once the cause of their awkward relationship or her cynical behavior for his advances is now nothing just a factor in their life.   

The Media Circle-Scene 4

“Here she is, our head designer...”

He interrupted immediately, his voice husky and completely inappropriate for the business environment they were in.

"We all know who she is; we have met before, haven't we?"

She no longer had an option, she had to face him now.She raised her eyes to his, and almost stumbled back at what she saw there...

Desire.

Previously, she had thought that it was all a figment of her imagination, but now, it was plainly visible. His eyes no longer promised, but demanded an answer. An answer she had no intention of giving.

"Yes, we have. It is a pleasure meeting you again, Mr. Dobriyal."

"The...pleasure...is all mine, of course."

She didn't miss the subtle inflection in his voice, and fought to control the blush that rose to her cheeks. She cursed the fair complexion she had been born with, and cursed this man for embarrassing her in front of her colleagues.

Outwardly, she remained calm, and turned away from him in order to greet the others.

Once that was done, she took her seat at the head of the table, supremely conscious of his every move as he seated himself at the other end of the conference table.

He took one look at his folder, and then looked up at her again.

"Shall we begin?"

"Of course. I'm sure everyone present is aware of the fact that we are operating under a deadline, and it will benefit for exhibition if we are able to reach an agreement on terms today...”

"The Dobriyal Group agrees to all designs in this brochure."

His voice broke into her carefully prepared speech, startling her.

"What?"

"You heard me. As the CEO of the Dobriyal group, I am letting you know that we have no problem with anything outlined in this brochure."

Taken aback, she could only stare at him for a moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. We can go ahead and sign this right now, if only you will agree to one small addition."

"Addition?"

"Yes, I'm sure you will find that it is quite reasonable."

"What exactly is it?"

He tilted his head to one side, his eyes moving over her face with barely hidden intent. She fumed inwardly. How dare him!

"It is something that I would like to discuss in private, if you don't mind."

Her anger reached new heights. Who did he think he was? How could he sit there and ask this of her? She answered her own question immediately. He could do this because he knew. He knew how important this  meeting was to her. Gritting her teeth, she stood up abruptly. "Please excuse us, everyone." Without waiting for a response, she turned away, facing a window that overlooked the city outside. She heard the sounds of chairs being pushed back, and waited while the room emptied. When the door closed behind the last person, she turned to face him again.

She was startled anew to find that he had moved up right behind her while she had her back to him. She took a step back, and raised outraged eyes to his when he closed the distance between them again.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"Something I should have done a long time back. Taking you home. It’s already 11 at night and you need to go home to rest. And that’s final. The Shankar Dobriyal has spoken. That’s it" he said closing her in his embrace, which she came. In her green short frock with black stockings, and her lucirious hair which just ended somewhere in her mid spinal length, though he always liked to be just near ear and full straight but till now it’s the wooing part so he had no such right over her tied into a high pony tail. He took her outside his office where she had come for meeting. In his way to flat he asked “Do you allow these late meetings every time even after knowing the environment of Delhi. and even when you are such a party dress” While driving she was cracking her neck due to hectic schedule which preceded her day, she didn’t had time to grab a lunch but she knew if told him he will storm all Delhi which was of no use.  she said teasingly “Not generally, it’s just a major auction lined up and I had to deal with one insufferable brute who is leaving country for next 10 days, so to finalize the auction I had to be there.” She left him in pent house where he stayed majorly and Prashant’s house over another floor in the same building was their main house. But when was about U turn the car, he just took her out from the car and said “you are staying because Shankar’s girl doesn’t travel’s alone at night 12.” It was common to stay some nights at his bachelor pad, now their pad after the acceptance. Both the fathers had full trust over the couple so never questioned. And they also kept in limits. She entered the pent house, then only came Omkar, the house-help and said “Didi, are you here for dinner but there’s no dinner cooked today and I was also leaving.” He left and after that she changed into her nightie. She now kept some pair of her dresses over here which were generously gifted by Shankar. Today after changing into a loose sunshine colour shorts with Winnie the pooh print t-shirt. She went to kitchen and cooked and now it’s a household or ghar fully stocked with cooking items.  The bachelor pad was now their house. It was the way married people houses looked. She decorated it delicately. His play stations and bean bags were mercilessly thrown and pearl decorative were placed. In them, she entered beautiful moments of Shankar’s childhood and he insisted of photos her also and now it had some of their photos which he clicked every time they were together. Though they both slept together in same room but it was a clean relationship.

“May I ask you something?”

“Say, you don’t need my permission, you are Priyashi Shankar Dobriyal, though not now but I have full trust one day, you will be.”

“Are you really going to somewhere for 10 days? Or it’s just a way to torture your staff? Is it something related to you won’t want to tell me?”

“No, I am in India only. Actually would going for silent retreat in our Himalayan bungalow near Dhramashala. Would have asked if you could join but you are busy so I didn’t tell. And for you nothing matters. If you want me to be with you, I can cancel everything. And there’s nothing in my life which I can’t tell you. And I proved it by telling my biggest secret.” Hearing that she again was lost in some other memories……

“One secret that I never told anybody else, I can dance, actually I’m a trained kathak dancer plus I am well acquainted with ballroom dancing as I learnt it 2 years. Didn’t want anyone to know this. So that I’m not forced to dance in parties especially with some of clients I detest for their lusty behaviour, now your turn.” She said when one day they were discussing the secrets in their life. It was then she told him that she was 16 when her mother died and it was her funeral prayer that she was tried to be molested first time by her father’s client.

He told her that he remembers his mother’s name, it was Carol, she was a one of model with whom his father had affairs in his life and others dates but the day he stepped in his father’s life, only he was there, after that he never even was seen with a girl but he never went to his mother because he believed they were not meant to be together. But even she had some hints of it, so he told her that “I cant drive because I had an accident when I was 18, I was in outers when due to my recklessness I ended in pits, though the car and me both didn’t got in serious problems but since then I have road fear, so either Dad or my friends drop me home or I keep a driver for the work. Now I have you”…………..

 As Priyashi drove a  SUV that too a Conquest Evade of wine colour so she use to pick him from work whenever they had to be together. So they did went on long drives but she drove the car and he just quietly leaned his body on headrest with old Bollywood songs in background.        

Upkaar

“Don’t ask her such questions all of us know that she is committed to that single man whom her Badi Maa has chosen.  She loves and adores her. And plus there always that lurking stranger who send her flowers and gift. I sometimes doubt she may also run away one day like smoke, right Prithu” her buddies having fun on her expense.

Prithu a successful co-owner of a high end home merchandise store with her best friend Nisheel, though he also knew she is here only for just the time being because she has destinations fix but its just about for much time she resists her destiny and the inevitable. The most stricking thing about her was she was a modern girl and so she wore dresses to work and otherwise also. They varied from designs and colours but no one had seen her upper back till now, from her perfectly toned legs to her thin yet crisp hands. Even her cleavage area was beautiful with seen in some of her clubbing  dresses. Today also as she joined some of her contemporaries for lunch who used to be her collage mates in simple deep necked leopard print shirt and a red knee length skirt.  Her knee length hairs were tied to nice fish tail and she wore huge gold rings, her hands had few rings. With her 7 inch red shiny heels she was undoubtedly most wannabe business associate but it was not her looks but brains that everybody envied because Nisheel and she passed college 2 years ago but their house merchandise, Nishaan was the most wanted brand in home decoration. But suddenly she felt his presence. She also felt how could  she unremarkably feel his presence. So she just turned with pretext to call waiter and spot him in one of the tables with his lunch, Chinese and looking at her plate she realised even she also ate Chinese religiously.

He was sitting there in his regular 3 piece suit. And rather concentrating on his lunch to onlookers but she knew he was there for her, so she excused saying to everyone that she has an urgent meeting while passing him, she signalled him to follow, they met in parking lot where both were waiting for their cars, “Why are you here?” she asked plainly, in same tone, he replied that “We need to talk.” She also answered “This is not the time or place. Meet me after my office near that café. We will talk at home.”

 That evening when they met both were brimming with emotions but kept straight face. They entered a decent flat and the first thing he asked is “Do you share this flat with someone?” “No, it belonged to Nisheel’s wife, now I am renting it out.”

“Won’t it be a problem if we are seen here together?” he asked. “No, the only neighbours I have are 2 college students and an airhostess, so they don’t mind such plus they are never here.”

“If you want lets change the clothes then discuss the matter” he stated matter of factly. “Ok, and I will order for home delivery” she stated. He pulled his small leather suitcase to the opposite room. He came out of his room and while going towards kitchen from the gate he saw some really bad marks on her back, they were really bad as it looked dark cut marks in her fair skin.

It’s only him that in whole world knew story behind her marks. But it is not time to look in the past but rather make future. They sat together as he saw her in a sleeveless only noodle strapped shirt and shorts while he was in his shorts and vest. They both were having dinner, she said “What made you visit me before our annual holiday.” He said “Mom returned from New York last week and the maximum she has got is between one week to a month and she wants to meet you. Or rather wants that we both stay with her.” “Ok, just let me call Nisheel that I am out.” They packed as fast as they unpacked. And by the break of dawn both of them were in the private jet to Mumbai. And they hadn’t exchanged single word during the whole journey.

He always knew that his mother’s and her reunion will be filled by tears as Maa was more attached to her than him. And Prithu also was shattered about loosing her Badi Maa. But everybody was prepared for this as she had being detected a cardical hole years back. And that’s the reason they went for annual holidays to create some beautiful memories together for the one person both of them loved  unquestionably.

As they proceeded to their rooms which were interconnected by a mutual study which had beautiful moments of their life as they both use to study over there, it had all the results of them struck over in walls to beat each other and high scorer use to frame his or her mark-sheet   in the room, it was a warm room with single table and 2 huge leather chairs but after she was 16 and he 18, only single chair was enough, as he use to make her sit on his lap. Both the rooms were almost similar, and as she changed clothes and sat on her old armchair wrapped in the shawl and just then he brought a steaming cup.  As she drank feeling the warmth  of home. He sat on his chair,  which was ackward  as the last time was more of bad memory for both of them and he regretted it more than her.

He asked “You know what Maa wants from you. And you are ready for it. Even after all this” “Don’t  ask you will not understand. Its something you never felt. Ye who jagah jo hume  jodti aapke maa ke pyaar se,  uske upkar se, ek unchukaaye udhaar se. I will do anything in this world to make her relieved in her last moments.” She said.

The next day only was the engagement party of  Prithu and Amole, though it was never a shock because it happened the way that Gayatri Devi was the sole guardian of these children since decades………..

Prithu was 3 when her parents were killed in a car accident when they were returning from a movie show, she had slept so she only remembers figments of it but in hospital she found a kind lady in white saree saying that from now on she is her mother, her Badi Maa, strangely she was more attached to Amole not as sibling as would have being expected but something and Gayatri never had trouble with their unconventional love story.

It was when she was 13 and he 15, Badi Maa told that the car which killed her parents was of her x-husband who also died in that accident. Though they were divorced for 3 years at the time of that accident but she felt responsible for her spouse. From that time Amole and Prithu’s bond grew strong.

Gayatri was never old fashioned , so only after engagement they were allowed to share the room. So when that night when both of them stood in that room and she was undressing herself , he saw his mark on her, such a mark which will never leave her…………………..

It has being 7 years, that time when 19 year old Amole had scarred to beautiful 17 year old Prithu. That incident was clear in their minds like it was still yesterday’s thing, you could say it was dominance or territorizing or possessiveness gone bad…………………but it was when he saw her once coming out of her school with someone else smiling slightly, as he was there  to pick her from school. It was the unsaid rule that both of them came together and left together from school and college respectively.

It would be wrong to say that they look just good together because when a budding 17 year old girl stepped beside brooding 19 year boy. They looked nothing less than spectacular together, he was in his 2^nd year of management college. So when returned home and he was screaming at her and in his anger he broke a huge 5 feet tall glass statue kept in the study room but he never would have thought or imagined, it pieces got struck to the frightened Prithu who was standing there. And it scarred her back forever. Though everybody knew that something got struck to Prithu but no one knew the whole truth.

But he took care that Prithu never needed to see him after that incident…..he made whole arrangements for her study in best colleges of world but he never forgot to send her presents and they use to spend sometime together with Maa but it never left them………….now years after they are life partners though not in love as it was few years back but upkaar for that one person, their Maa

Coming back from a guilt trip from past, he decided to help her settle in their room though these room since starting was designed considering both of their choices and need. But he thought its better to give it some time as these 7 years everything changed , so as he decided to shift back in his room as till now Maa would have slept, he was about to leave the room when she said “Amole, its high time that we discuss what’s between us as now we have to share a life together because we both know that its lifetime commitment for both of us.” She said pointing to her newly nested 15 carat ruby and diamond engagement ring.

After 7 years he looked to her without any presumptions, she was wearing a short blue nightie and overcoat tightly tied around her while he was still in his 3 piece suit. They both settled after locking the room as she removed her overcoat and his blazer and  waistcoat , while unknotting his tie as she knew he never likes to keep them knotted, she said “You know I hated you for all college years for giving me these scars as i had to do away with all off shoulders and you knew how much I loved off shoulders and baggy t shirt. But with time as you started to keep a distance with me, these marks were a part of you which stayed with me. Whenever I looked at them I remembered you. First I resented them but with time they became my existence. We need to overlook our past and start a new future with each other.”

He looked at her “Prithu I can never forgive myself for them. they are the reason of slow poison in my life, and it started the moment I gave you, seeing you in that place with your back having huge slits from broken glass, then seeing you in hospital for next 2 weeks. After that when I came to know that someone had bullied you that day in class and that guy was just trying to help you by reliving of some of your burden and after that from last 7 years……I have missed you but never could come back to you…………” That night the two souls cried for their mutual pain and when early morning Amole snuggled in Prithu in bed as a child searching for mother’s warmth, a new present was written.

“Don’t say a single word about the scars of my bride. These are the mark of victory. They prove that she has seen the worst and survived it.“ As someone commented on her bare back during one of their early post weddings appearances, where he forced her to wear a golden lace saree whose blouse exhibited her back from peek-a-boo net blouse. That night when Amole barred that lady to be again part of any of their function, the world got the message clear and bold that Amole would hear a word against his young wife.    

It teared him to think how his one action changed their story forever. He was so close to lose her- his one and only love. How he had scarred her for a lifetime. That was something he regretted all his life. Who says love only gives you happiness, it gives you the most wrecking pain of your life and still you can’t do anything because you still have to survive with that feeling because love cannot be replaced with any other emotion………………….so was the case with Amole……….