ok I am posting this update ...mainly for the antaakshari gang ...but all you silent readers ...do comment ..warna I swear I will not update the next one ...

and ..oh ..just so you know ..most of this update was wriiten on a transatlantic flight with a jetlagged brain...my body no longer knows what time zone it is in ... so bear with me for this update
here we go

XXX

Chapter 20
The color of the SUV matched his mood...black. Mehak Sharma was late by a full 10 minutes . It seemed that infuriating , stupid girl with whom he had the misfortune of falling in love had made a choice . A choice that he did not like . He contemplated the impression he would make on his future partners ,the Nazareths , if he was seen carrying his future wife like a sack of potatoes on his back. Out would go , the quite professional argument, he had given for having Mehak with him for 24 hours .
Oh well what had to be done , had to be done . He was ready to tell Mehak, only if she would listen , that he was going to marry her and they would live happily ever after . However , happily ever after required both of them to be alive . Being hunted by his crazy uncle would not lead them to the happily or the ever after .
He kicked the SUV door in frustration, gritted his teeth and started walking towards , what he now knew was Mehak's cottage , when he stopped short .
She was walking towards him in a black and red Churidaar , kurta looking gorgeous. In a nano second he had forgotten the anger . That girl always had the capability of kicking the wind out of his sails , just by appearing on the scene . To his relief she was carrying a bag, which meant she was coming with him and he could preserve his professional image.
She had a look of haughty determination on her face and walked passed by him . Shaurya Khanna did not like being ignored . The wave of anger and irritation that had started receding came back in full force . He did a U turn and followed her , catching up with her with his long strides.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him , forcing her to face him..
" Lose the attitude Mehak "
" Speak for yourself Shaurya "
He ran his fingers through his hair in sheer frustration " Why the hell don't you understand?"
"why the hell don't I understand what? , Shaurya "
" Do you even realize ... "He trailed out , and looked at the time ..they were already more than fifteen minutes late ..
"Forget it Mehak ... just get in the SUV "
She kept her bag in the back of the car and settled in the front seat quietly , putting her seat belt on.
They had crossed the lake and were well in the woods , when he broke the silence ..
" Have you forgotten Ms . Sharma why are we here? "
" Explain Mr Khanna why are we here?"
" You need to start talking to me what were your ideas for the open air and the boat house restaurant "
Mehak decided to bury the hatchet in favor of her passion .
There are two themes I had in mind for the boat house ... one was a traditional Kerala theme and the other was a Venetian theme..
You know with Kerala theme we could bring in some elements like a ayurvedic spa etc along with the restaurant and I will do my fusion menu marrying traditional cuisines with some international influenes .
For e.g, I have been thinking what if I serve appams with middle eastern influences like ...hummus , tahini sauce..
I could also do the greek
Or the Morrocan tagine with fish stew or tapioca pie ...marrying malabar and Moroccan influneces ...
In the spa ofcourse we will have a lighter spa menu
Hmm interesting ,...other than her beauty and the sheer sweetness of her nature , her talent continued to amaze him. The sheer novelty of her ideas and the simplicity with she presented them always bowled him over .
I just need to do some more research on the cuisine to marry the right food items with each other ...
She hesistated " I am not good with wine and the drinks to go with the menu ...I..I ..I would need some help there "
Hmmm...He always admired , how easily she could share her vulnerabilities , something he always struggled with .
What about the venetian theme ...
He was surprised that she blushed at that ...
I..I ..I always loved Venice ... I mean I have never been there ..but I had some time ago done some research on venice
I believe that we could create small gondola like structures along with the canal network on the lake and serve authentic Italian / venetian cuisine ...
If we were slightly more ambitious , we could build a some accommodation for honeymooning couples in and around the lake and boathouse and sell the whole honeymoon package .
Ofcourse the food and ambience could go with that ..
"Laddoo?" , his voice had gone soft again ...it was her turn to look up at him in surprise ...
" why were you researching Venice ?"...
His hunch was confirmed as she turned a deeper red...
"Nnnotthing ..I had jjusst seen some movie and I was fascinated by the gondolas and everything ...she trailed off"
"You know you are a really bad liar" ...he smirked ...
She was still thinking of a retort...when his cell rang ...
Hmmm ..he sounded grim ..."I will try to get to Mumbai," he said in a clipped tone ...
"I do not think he can do that "..." Yeah well ok ..."
Mehak could feel something wrong ..her protective instincts took over her anger ..
"Is everything ok ..Shaurya ?" " are you ok ?"
He looked at her ,his eyes had a bigger question than what he said ,very quietly .." Do you care Mehak?"
She lowered her eyes .." I..I.."
He let it go, he had seen what he needed..
"So you were telling me why you researched Venice ?..."
This irritating man was moving from one uncomfortable topic to another ... she could see those sexy lips of his curling up on one side in that famous smirk of his ...
She could ..She could ...oh hell..., she hated him really she hated him and his smugness,..
Ms ..Sharma why did you choose Venice as one of the potential themes...?? He asked again ..
"I .I ...I ..Butterflies" ...Screamed Mehak ...
Haan? The Suv almost skidded as he breaked with suddenness as a reflex reaction to her scream ..
Kya ...Butterflies in Venice ?? paagal ladki ...chillayi kyun ...??( crazy woman ...why did you scream?) He was exasperated ...
Shaurya could not believe how mad was this girl...
She had the courtesy to look embarrassed ...
She tentatively pointed outside to a directions board ..that read "The Butterfly Conservatory "
" ever since I have been here I have heard so much about this conservatory ..and I would really love to see it .." she said wistfully ...
Hmmm.. he looked at his watch ...and then looked at her face ...
Ok let us go ... ..he parked the vehicle where it was almost hidden by the trees.. and they started walking up the hill side, ,
Since they had entered from the wrong direction some distance they saw the entrance window where they had to buy the 100 rupee entrance ticket ...
Mehak was literally jumping up and down with impatience , as he went to the window to buy the Tickets ...
" let's go Shaurya , Let's go "..
He returned back from the ticket window and pulled her by the waist ..close to him...putting his fingers on her lips...
" shhh...Laddoo...patience is a virtue ..."
She was totally flustered by his sudden closeness ...she tried to push him away ..but he held her firmly ..
" I have asked for a guide to join us ", he said looking into her eyes ..
" and I am here" they both turned to see an old man with twinkling eyes and a big smile right next to them...
She lowered her eyes as he released her slowly , reluctantly , refusing to take his eyes off, the gently spreading red on her cheeks.
Their guide started walking ahead , taking them over a trail that led through lush greenery ..
" you will find it hard to believe , that this piece was a barren land just a few years ago ..till we had a couple , who decided to something about it .." The guide had started talking ...
" today you see more than 121 species of butterflies , a few fishes in the lake and birds that are attracted to this greenery "
He took them through that almost magical wonderland , pointing out the butterflies , in their shimmering hues and myriad colors , the flowers they feasted on ..the birds as they sang their chorus
Mehak ran through it all like a child in candyland ..her appreciation for all things beautiful , her love for nature , color and simplicity shining through her eyes ,,and Shaurya just appreciated her ,,,
It seemed life was visiting him again , after taking a break ...as if the greys were being banished as the colour of cheeks and her laughter again enveloped his heart.
The guide as he left them as they were at the end of the trail encouraged them to have a fish foot message. They both tentatively put their feet in the pond , rolling up their leggings /trousers. The first bite of the fish felt a little ticklish,   making Mehak squeal in delight.

Did you enjoy , he asked looking at her ..
She gave him her first true smile in months ...Yes I did , thank you for bringing me here
He shrugged ..yeah it is amazing what this couple did here
She suddenly grew quiet and then after sometime said   as she took her feet out and rolled down her leggings " two people who truly love each other and stand by each other , can move mountains , it takes a lot of commitment and passion to do so "
She started walking back towards where their car was parked , when she was pulled back from behind with force .
She landed like usual on his chest ...
He put his finger below her chin to make her look up into his eyes " you do not think I have commitment or passion " he almost sounded angry ..
"I do not know " she tried to stay non committal   and move away from him
"Achcha so what are we doing here ??"
"As I said I do not know , all I know is when you feel like we are supposed to be together , we are and then you throw me out of your life like garbage ...
And do not tell me that we are here today because you seeked me out ..it was coincidence ,,,,and then to satisfy some ego trip of yours , you have blackmailed me in coming with me "
His grip grew tighter on her ..
"You think this is an ego trip of mine ..when all I am trying to do for the past 4 months is keep..."
His phone started ringing ..
"Yes " he barked into the phone
His eyes grew furious ..as he listened to what was being said on the other side .
He disconnected , pulled Mehak by her wrist and said " let's go ...we do not have any more time.."
A deep foreboding gripped Mehak's heart ..." What is wrong Shaurya ""
Baad mein ( later) said Shaurya , as he almost started running , forcing her to run with him...tibs092017-08-06 10:43:03