Chapter 2
1 month later
Shilpa sighed as she walked into her dark and empty flat at 8 pm on a Thursday evening and collapsed on her couch without even bothering to remove her shoes. She knew that Armaan wouldn't be home for at least a couple of hours- ever since the disastrous office party Armaan's work load had increased quite a bit. She had a niggling feeling it had to do with the poor impression she made on Jai Rai. The day after Armaan had spent the night on the couch he had been called into work at 8 am and told he would be handling a new case at the Delhi firm. Most people would have thought it was compliment but she and Armaan both knew that he was being punished for what she said. He had been gone for a full two weeks, and when he came back he was sent to Bhopal on a case that a paralegal could have handled. Any time Armaan would mention Jai Rai or work Shilpa would tense up and Armaan would immediately stop talking, their house was fraught with tension and neither of them seemed willing to make the first step to break it.
In addition to Armaan's work troubles Shilpa was dealing with her own dramas at the dance studio. Gia had come to her two weeks ago informed her that she would have to cut her work load or quit completely. She was 2 and half months pregnant and continuing on full time would be impossible. Shilpa kept interviewing instructor after instructor but she could not find anyone that she deemed competent. Shilpa was seriously considering just taking on the additional classes herself if she was unable to find an instructor. She closed her eyes briefly trying to let the stress of the last month melt away and eventually curled up on the couch and fell asleep.
Xxx
Armaan climbed up the steps of the flat wearily at 11 pm, he placed his key in the lock but was surprised when the door sprung open. Anger and fear coursed through his bloodstream when he realized that Shilpa must have left the door unlocked when she went up to bed.
"Of all the ridiculous and stupid things this woman could do," Armaan murmured under his breath dropping his briefcase to the floor as he stepped into the dark flat. His eyes began to adjust to the darkness as he scanned their living room when he saw a small figure curled up on the couch. Armaan's expression immediately softened as he took in his wife's petite frame still fully dressed in her black pants, leotard and jazz shoes fast asleep on their couch. Armaan sighed as he turned around and locked the door behind him. Armaan quickly shed his jacket and draped it over the back of the couch as he took in his wife's beautiful face so peaceful in sleep. Her long lashes were like a carpet that lay on her cheeks, her cheeks were flushed with color from her exertions of the day, and her full lips that seemed to be in a permanent angry line these days were actually curved in a slight smile. Armaann couldn't help but smile at the picture she made but knew he couldn't let her sleep on the couch. He gathered her into his arms as he began to carry her up to their room and she burrowed further into his embrace.
"Armaan?", came a sleepy voice from his arms.
Armaan looked down and realized she was beginning to stir.
"Shh," He replied, "It's late, go back to sleep"
Shilpa twisted so her head fell on his shoulder and promptly fell back asleep.
Armaan lovingly placed her on their bed and proceeded to remove her shoes and her shirt before dressing her in one of his shirts that he knew she loved to sleep in, he covered her with the blanket and kissed her on the forehead.
"Good night Jaan," He whispered.
His only response was a sleepy murmur from Shilpa. Armaan chuckled and headed into their bathroom stripping his clothes off along the way. Armaan stepped into the steamy shower and let the hot water rain down on his shoulders as he leaned his head against the tile trying to let the water work magic on his sore muscles. For the last month he had become Jai Rai's whipping boy. If a brief wasn't done well it was Armaan's fault and he needed to re do it, if something went wrong in a case somehow Armaan had done something incompetent. If someone had to unexpectedly travel it was Armaan's responsibility. But Armaan shouldered the additional work and burdens quietly and just kept working away. He knew that Jai Rai was testing him to see if he would snap under the additional pressure and if he did, he knew Rohit Khanna was waiting smirking in the wings to snatch up the opportunities Armaan had been handed. Armaan wasn't about to let that happen so he just gritted his teeth and kept repeating to himself that when he was partner it would all be worth it.
Xxx
Shilpa awoke the next morning at 7 am in a warm cocoon of blankets and shook the sleep from her mind. She looked down and realized she was dressed in one of Armaan's shirts she inhaled the scent deeply with a smile and realized Armaan must have carried her into their room and put her to bed the night before.
"Armaan?", She called out with a hopeful tone. He had been leaving earlier and earlier in the morning but she was hoping he was still home.
Armaan stepped out the master closet already dressed for work wearing a black suit and white shirt with a dark blue tie.
Shilpa's breath caught in her throat when she took in how devastatingly handsome he looked as her gaze roamed from his head to his toes before settling on his smirking face.
"Yes?" Armaan said with a smirk.
Shilpa beckoned him to come closer motioning with her index finger and a raised eyebrow. When he came closer to the bed she grasped the end of his tie in her hand until they were at eye level.
Armaan braced his hands on either side of her body gazing into her mischievous hazel eyes.
"Can I help you Mrs. Malik?" He asked in a husky tone.
She nodded and her smile widened as she reached up and captured his lips with hers in a searing kiss. Armaan's hands went into her hair as he angled his head to deepen the kiss further pulling her bottom lip into mouth with a tug, Shilpa let out an involuntary moan as she tried to pull Armaan on top of her but he pulled away resting his head on hers and trying to catch his breath.
"No time Jaan," He said breathlessly, "I promise I will make it up to you later!"
Shilpa pouted at Armaan and he laughed dropping another kiss to her lips.
"I promise- we will finish this later!" Armaan stated a seductive gleam in his eyes.
"You better Mr. Malik," Shilpa responded haughtily, "I don't like broken promises".
Armaan laughed before pushing himself off the bed.
"Don't worry- I will certainly keep this promise!" He said with a wink as he strode out their bedroom door.
Shilpa grinned at his retreating figure before climbing out of bed to get ready for the day.
Xxx
"Shelly! I need the Mehra file!", Armaan hollered at his assistant from his office. His desk was neat and orderly everything stacked properly in its place so it could be easily found, the exact opposite of how Shilpa kept everything. Shilpa lived in a whirlwind so her desk was always cluttered with papers and files, Armaan had offered to help her organize it when she first opened her studio but she laughed and told him that she wouldn't be able to handle her things organized his way.
"Shelly!" Armaan called again, "Mehra file please!"
A petite girl with wide eyes and long hair shuffled into his office and handed him the file.
"Mehra file, sir." She said softly.
"Tina?", Armaan questioned, " Where is Shelly?"
"Sorry Sir, but Mr. Rai said that he needed her so he reassigned me as your assistant." Tina responded.
Armaan sighed wondering when the torture would end. While Tina was a sweet girl, but she was fresh out of college and lacked the instinct that Shelly had. Shelly had been his assistant for 3 years and had learned to anticipate Armaan's needs, they made a great team and now he was stuck with a moon eyed girl.
"Ok Tina, well there are few things you should know about my habits then, everything must be in order on my desk, if I am not in my office and you have to leave you are to lock the door to my office and if Rohit Khanna is sniffing around my office, DON'T let him in!" Armaan rattled off quickly.
"Ok Sir, umm you have a couple of messages from someone named Shilpa?"
"Shilpa called? She's got you on a tight leash there doesn't she," Came a voice from the doorway.
Armaan groaned when he looked up from the desk and past Tina to see Rohit standing at the door with a smirk.
"Tina, you can go, I'll tell you if I need anything, and Khanna, you can leave too, I never need anything from you." Armaan said condescension dripping from his voice.
"Tsk tsk Armaan! I am just here relaying a message! Jai wants us in his office."
"And he sent you?" Armaan questioned with disbelief
"For some reason he thought you might not get the message." Rohit said his gaze raking over Tina's petite frame causing her to shrink in mortification.
"Sorry Sir," Tina said quietly.
Armaan stood up from behind his desk and strode towards the door with purpose.
"Don't worry about it Tina, you will catch on, come on Khanna if Jai wants to see us both I would hate for you to be late". Armaan waited for Rohit to get a few feet past him and turned to Tina.
"You can make as many mistakes as you like Tina, I will figure out a way to fix them- but NEVER let him in my office if I am not there. Understood?" Armaan said in a deadly whisper.
Tina nodded and ran back to her desk.
Armaan shook his head at Tina's skittish behavior and thought to himself that he would need to do something to bolster her confidence before striding after Rohit to Jai's office.
"You called me sir?" Armaan stated walking into Jai Rai's plush office.
Rohit was already seated in front of Jai's desk wearing the same smirk he was wearing when he left Armaan's office.
Jai motioned for Armaan to take the seat next to Rohit.
"Yes I called you both. I hope you don't have any plans this evening, Mr. Mehra has some concerns about the case we are handling on his behalf and he wants to meet tonight." Jai said with a tone that indicated that saying no was not going to be an option.
"I am free as a bird," Rohit said, "But who knows about Armaan, he might have to ask the wife first."
"Actually Armaan, you should tell your wife to join us, I am bringing Meera and Mr. Mehra is bringing his wife- the women can distract each other while we discuss business. You know as long as she isn't too busy." Jai said condescension dripping from his words.
"Shilpa and I are both free tonight Sir, just let me know where and we will be there" Armaan said with a smile plastered onto his face.
Jai smirked.
"Excellent, Taj Restaurant 8 pm SHARP. Mr. Mehra does not like tardiness." Jai stated looking at Armaan with a pointed stare.
Armaan nodded vigorously and left the office quickly and ran to his office locking the door behind him dialing Shilpa's mobile and praying that she would pick up.
Shilpa was going through her latest stacks of resumes when she heard her mobile ringing and she started shuffling through her purse trying to find it. "ARMAAN CALLING" flashed across the screen and a broad smile split her face as she answered the phone.
"Hello?" came his wife's lilting voice.
"Shilpa! Thank god you picked up! I need you to meet me at Taj Restauraunt tonight at 8! Can you be there?" Armaan said in a rush.
"Armaan? What's going on?" Shilpa said
"Jai has asked us to meet with a client, and they requested we bring our wives.."Armaan trailed off knowing that this could be a deal breaker for Shilpa.
Shilpa groaned the moment she heard Jai's name.
"Excellent so I have to be arm candy? Is that it?" Shilpa said frustration lacing her tone.
"Shilpa….," Armaan trailed off, "Look this is the first time in a month that Jai has actually wanted me at a meeting that didn't include me taking notes like a bloody paralegal! I HAVE to do this, and I PROMISE I will make it up to you."
Shilpa sat back in hear chair and leaned back a smile playing on her face while she twirled a pen in her hand.
"You are making a lot of promises Mr. Malik, "Shilpa's tone immediately turned seductive, " I certainly hope you will be able to live up to them."
Armaan grinned at Shilpa's reference to their morning tryst and his voice immediately dropped to a husky tone as he leaned forward on his desk.
"I have never had any trouble with that in the past, have I?" Armaan asked.
Shilpa could feel the heat flushing her cheeks crimson and she looked up and saw Gia entering her office mouthing something at her and pointing to her watch.
"Armaan, I have to go..but I will there at 8," Shilpa said motioning to Gia that she would be with her in a minute.
"Ok, but PLEASE do not be late Shilpa, I'll meet you in the restaurant lobby ok? " Armaan said teasingly.
Shilpa rolled her eyes before responding.
"Ok Ok! I will be there on time! I swear!" She laughed before cutting off the phone.
Shilpa laughed to herself before turning to Gia who explained very quickly that the next applicant was there. Shilpa sighed as Gia ushered the woman in.
"Just a couple more hours."Shilpa thought," And I am home free!"
xxx
Armaan reached the lobby of Taj promptly at 7:30 keeping his gaze trained on the door and offering a silent prayer that Shilpa would choose to actually be on time. He could see Jai and Rohit standing by the hostess waiting for Mr. Mehra and his wife. Jai's wife Meera and Rohit's latest flavor of the month were standing a little off to the side in complete silence, probably because Rohit's date was too occupied playing with her phone to try to make conversation with Meera.
Jai sauntered up to Armaan
"Armaan, Mehra is here- we are going to head inside, Join us when Shilpa gets here…I don't want to waste any time that we have with Mr. Mehra understood?" Jai said with a strict tone.
Armaan nodded and watched Jai Rai's retreating form and quickly glanced at his watch- ten minutes till 8, and ten minutes till the complete destruction of his career. He turned around to the bartender and very seriously considered getting a drink to calm his nerves when a hand slammed a few bills on the counter next to him.
"Can I buy you a drink?" came a purr from behind him.
"Sorry," Armaan responded without turning around, "I am waiting for my wife and I am sure she wouldn't like me drinking with a stranger."
"She might make an exception, I am very nice…" the voice trailed off to a whisper.
"I am sure you are, but my wife, she's a jealous shrew and she might cause a scene." Armaan responded stoically.
"Jealous shrew Armaan!?" Shilpa grumbled as Armaan turned to face her with a smile on his face, "You couldn't come up with something better?"
"Nope! Especially since you are cutting it close Jaan!" Armaan said.
"I was trying to be playful and romantic!" Shilpa stated a pout playing across her lips.
Armaan rolled his eyes "Yes you were very playful and romantic, Jaan by the way, you look beautiful." Armaan's eyes roamed across her figure.
Shilpa was dressed beautifully in an off the shoulder black dress that hit right above her knees, she had swept her hair into a side ponytail and curled the ends lightly.
"Thank you!" She said with a smile, "Shall we go in?"
"Just one second, look Shilpa, I am already on thin ice with Jai Rai and with Mr. Mehra here…He's one of our biggest clients, and my most difficult case right now, so please just behave yourself tonight?" Armaan pleaded.
Shilpa's eyes narrowed to a glare and her back went ramrod straight.
"Behave myself?" She hissed. "What does that mean?"
"Jaan-Please you know what I mean, just don't be baited by anything they say ok? Mr. Mehra is very conservative and you already know how Jai acts..just please, for tonight don't cause a scene or any issues!" Armaan stated trying to take the sting out his words.
Shilpa's heart clenched painfully but she nodded.
"Fine, whatever you say." She said with a deep breath.
Armaan breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed her hand as they walked inside the restaurant. Armaan spotted Jai and company quickly and led Shilpa over to the table and began making introductions.
"Shilpa, you remember Mr. Rai and his wife Meera? Rohit and his date Anjali, and this is Mr. Mehra and his wife Anu."
Shilpa smiled tightly at everyone as Armaan pulled her seat out for her and she sat down gracefully. All of the women had ended up on the left side of the table so she was seated next to Anu Mehra and across from Meera Rai. Anu was a woman who looked to be in her late forties to early fifties. Her hair was pulled back into a tight chignon and she was dressed conservatively in dark green sari with gold border. Meera had pulled her hair back from her face as well and it was secured in a clip, she was also dressed conservatively in a black sari with a green and white border and a full length sleeved blouse with the same green and white trim. Both women were seated ramrod straight and seemed to be wearing the exact same placid expressions on their faces. Anjali was sitting next to Meera and probably as far from Rohit as she could get, she was dressed a little flashier in a gold halter dress. Shilpa could tell that Anjali had no interest in making conversation with anyone that was there and she kept playing with her phone. Shilpa tried to make small talk with Anu and Meera but they both seemed to be very introverted and not willing to make much conversation. She thought about interjecting in Armaan's conversation but had a feeling that wouldn't go over very well.
"Mrs. Malik, I am very pleased you were able to join us this evening, we didn't take away from your hobby tonight did we?" Jai said condescendingly interrupting Shilpa's solitary reverie.
Shilpa opened her mouth to release a biting reply when she felt Armaan take her hand under the table in a death grip. She plastered a fake smile on her face instead and responded sweetly. "No Mr. Rai, I knew how important this was to Armaan."
"Ah so you are finally learning what is actually important," Jai said with a smirk, "Good job Armaan."
Armaan smiled weakly as Shilpa's eyes flashed with anger but she swallowed hard and refused to let the brittle smile leave her face.
Shilpa pushed her chair back knowing that if she didn't walk away and calm down for a minute she would say something that there would be no coming back from.
"I am just going to go the ladies room," She said her smile fixed on her face, "I'll just be back!"
Shilpa turned and practically fled the restaurant and took refuge at the bar that she had met Armaan at just an hour and half before. She asked the bartender for a glass of white wine that she downed in one gulp before sitting on a bar stool trying to calm her warring emotions. All of a sudden a pair of hands came from behind her and covered her eyes.
"Armaan, Don't try to be cute right now, I am not in the mood." Shilpa spat angrily slapping the hands away from her eyes and whirling around to face him. What she saw surprised her though and brought the first genuine smile to her face all night.
"Hmm since I am not Armaan, do I really have to try to be cute?" Came a voice from above her from a very handsome face.
"SID!", Shilpa squealed leaping off the barstool and launching herself into his arms with wild abandon, "What are you doing here?"
Sid laughed as the force of Shilpa's hug nearly knocked him off his feet. He untangled his arms from around her and stepped back.
"Careful Shilpa, you are going to ruin my image as a swinging bachelor if someone sees you attached to me like that."
Shilpa rolled her eyes at Siddhant "Sid" Modi. He had been her best friend since her first year of college when they had been paired up for a project in a psychology class. Sid had the same easy going and relaxed nature as Shilpa and they had been attached at the hip for years.
"Please, as if you could actually find a girl stupid enough to date you." She said with a smile as she punched his arm.
"Ouch! Shilpa!"Sid winced, "That hurt!"
"Eh, your ego can take the beating," Shilpa said with playful shrug
"What are you doing here anyways?" Shilpa asked with a smile.
"Oh I had dinner with some of my dad's business associates, you know the usual boring stuff. But they wanted to meet with the eventual heir to Modi International." Sid said rolling his eyes. "What about you? Where is Armaan?"
Shilpa's expression immediately turned annoyed.
"He's inside with some of his work colleagues, he had a business dinner and he brought me along to 'socialize' with the other wives" Shilpa said her fingers making quotations around the word socialize. "It's been ridiculous." Shilpa vented finally happy to shed the perfect wife image she had been projecting all night.
Sid laughed at Shilpa's antics, "Then you should probably get back in there shouldn't you? "
"Ugh! Don't make me Sid!" She said desperately clinging to his arm, "Can't you just take me away from here? I'll text Armaan and tell him I am sick!"
"Shilpa, you know that wouldn't be right! Besides I am sure you can suck it up and smile for Armaan right?" Sid teased.
"Fiiine!" Shilpa said with an exaggerated sigh, "But I will be calling you later to bitch about how horrible this has been!"
Sid smiled, "I am sure you will! I will see you later though ok?" Sid walked away with a wave, and Shilpa smiled at his retreating figure as she turned to go back into the restaurant. She had barely walked five steps towards the entrance when a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the side.
"What the hell?" Shilpa exclaimed as she turned and faced Meera Rai, "Mrs. Rai? Why did you grab me?"
"Look Shilpa, I won't say anything, but you have to be more careful with your indiscretions, if someone else had seen you with that man," Meera trailed off, "Look it would have been a problem. "
Shilpa glared as she wrested her wrist from Meera's grasp.
"Not that it is any of your business, but he is a good friend of mine," Shilpa spat venomously, "I don't appreciate what you are trying to insinuate!"
Meera's eyes narrowed at Shilpa dangerously, "I am just trying to give you some friendly advice, you are lucky that I was the one who followed you out here! What if your husband had seen you behaving so inappropriately, I am just trying to help you! If anyone else realized you were having an affair.."
"Stop it Mrs. Rai!"Shilpa interrupted, "I love my husband, and I am not having an affair!"
"I am sure you do dear, but no one knows what it is like being married to a man like Jai Rai better than I do, and men like that do not trust the women in their lives." Mrs. Rai continued, "Look, I am just giving you some free advice, be careful!"
"Well you can keep your advice Mrs. Rai, I don't need it!" Shilpa exclaimed as she stalked back into the restaurant.
Meera shook her head at Shilpa's back. "Stupid girl," She thought.
Xxx
Armaan and Shilpa entered their flat finally, dinner had been a long affair but everything had gone over well. Armaan was practically floating on a high, Mr. Mehra and been impressed with all of his ideas and he out shone Rohit at every turn. He could see that Jai Rai was also melting his icy faade and he was well on his way back into his good graces.
Shilpa was silent as she followed Armaan into their bedroom listening to him prattle on endlessly about how great the dinner had been and how much progress he had made. She kept nodding at various intervals but didn't respond.
"Jaan, thank you so much you were perfect tonight!" Armaan exclaimed, "I am pretty sure that you undid all of the damage that was done the last time you met Jai."
"I am so glad Armaan," Shilpa said in monotone, " You had the perfect ice queen as your wife tonight, did you enjoy it?"
"Shilpa!" Armaan exclaimed, "What are you talking about?"
Shilpa shook her head, "Nothing, I am just tired."
Armaan slipped his arms around Shilpa's torso from behind and pulled her into him so that her back was pressed against his front. He began trail kisses from the side of her neck down to her exposed collarbone before lightly biting down on the sensitive part of her neck causing a hiss to escape from Shilpa's lips. He kissed the spot again before moving up to her ear and drawing her earlobe into his mouth and teasing it with his teeth.
"I still remember my promise Jaan," Armaan whispered into Shilpa's ear as he released her and she turned to face him, Armaan placed a light kiss on the corner of her mouth and was about to kiss her again when Shilpa sighed.
"Armaan, being on my best behavior was exhausting, I really don't need you to fulfill any promises to me right now." Shilpa said and turned away from her very confused husband.
"Shilpa?" He questioned watching her walk into their master bathroom.
"Armaan, I was perfectly 'good' for your colleagues but I just want to crawl into bed right now." Shilpa stated locking the bathroom door behind and leaning up against it wondering why she was so annoyed with Armaan's behavior and why she had let Meera Rai's assumptions about her needle her so badly.
Armaan stared at the closed bathroom door and exhaled, obviously he had a lot more to make up for, but he knew that when Shilpa shut down emotionally like this there was no getting through to her. He sat down on the bed, he would start tomorrow, tomorrow would be better.
Mahadev And Sons
14