Chapter Twenty Two
Megha continued to look at Mohan adoringly. She smiled at her silly thoughts. She felt like a crazy school girl, in crush with her favorite hero. She blushed and giggled. Then slowly she glanced around the room. It took time for her to recall the instances from previous night. As the remembrance of her sitting at the bar stuck, her face turned red in embarrassment.
She tried hard to recollect anything at all. She felt an intimate being and belonging to Mohan but didn't know what it meant. She thought she was secure and remembered that she was in his arms being carried by him. She thought she shed her mental inhibitions and remembered that she felt the dependable care from Mohan. Then she had slept well knowing his solid presence near her. She squeezed her eyes till it hurt trying to remember more. Then she remembered something. She had asked him to kiss her.
"Oh no, I didn't!" She blurted out and covered her mouth
He heard her. Mohan opened his eyes to find Megha dazed by her own revelations. He jumped awake not sure what to say. He understood from Megha's startled expression that she remembered everything. So, I don't have to tell anything!
"Do you want something to drink?" He decided to keep things light for her and for him
"What?" She was both confused and angry with his cool composure and his question
"To drink in the morning" He said and added "You must need one!"
When he received an annoyed look from her, he realized what his question must have meant to her. He suppressed his chuckle not willing to irate her more
"I meant to ask, Tea or Coffee?" He asked explicitly
"I don't need any" She wanted to be angry with her own but she snapped at him
"Anything to make you better?" He insisted
"I am feeling better. Nothing is wrong with me" She appeared to be a child throwing tantrums
But he liked it. He wanted her to be unguarded around him. Just to be her own so that she shared her emotions with him, in whatever ways she could.
She was wondering about what he was thinking. She didn't know whether the instance and her behavior made a negative impact on him. His opinion mattered to her. She wasn't embarrassed and she was thankful for that. What if he doubts my character? It bothered her most and she raged out her disappointment on him.
"Ok. I making tea anyway" He said and left the room
He saw her walking into the small kitchen after some time. She looked freshened up but the confusion was still there on her face. He waited for her to ask something.
"My phone, my bag? Nanhi?" She knew that she was talking non-linear but didn't mind correcting it and said "I want to talk to Guru"
He understood. Without saying anything he offered her bag. She snapped it from him and walked out of the kitchen. When she came back a little later, the confusion on her face had been fading. He grinned without looking at her.
"Thanks" She said "But you needn't have to do that"
"Do you think so?" He asked quizzically
She knew that she didn't really think that way. She appreciated his thoughtfulness and how he covered up for her absence. She couldn't have forgiven herself if she had known that Nanhi was not well taken care of. Guru was capable but he might have panicked if things hadn't turned out well. And she gave a flat expression in response.
"Are you sure you don't want it?" He asked drifting the topic. He moved a cup of tea in front of her
Megha felt guilty for her bad temper. She thought it was only fair for her to apologize but she didn't think she could explain her behavior. Too many things were running in her mind not letting her think clearly. Anger was the only easier emotion that she could express at that moment. Before she could do anything stupid she decided to cool her down.
"Thanks" She took her cup and sipped the tea. It was really refreshing and she felt better.
"I have collected enough thanks' for a day" He teased and got a smile as response
They drove back home silently.
Her silence brought many thoughts into him. She must be bothered about the night's events and it must be something to do with my presence or my doing. If something about me is of her concern then that's a good sign. That's needed to bring her closer to me. He thought their closeness grew as the silence wore on. Anyway we just had our first fight! He was thinking of a way to make up to her.
His silence bothered her very much. Why is he not talking to me? What is he thinking? Is he upset or irritated about last night's events? Or about my temper? Or he's not bothered about anything at all? She thought they were drifting apart as she didn't know what he was thinking at the moment. We are just not in talking terms! She was thinking of a way to make up to him.
***
"Good morning baby!" Neya greeted Nanhi who was playing with her food, on the dining table
She kissed the chubby cheeks of the baby
"Buuu-booo" Nanhi offered her spoon to Neya
Neya found Guru in the kitchen busy with something
"Mr. President, one coffee" She ordered to annoy him
And yes, Guru was annoyed "Baby doesn't drink coffee" He said firmly
"Do I look like a baby to you? Nobody has complimented me like that. Thanks"
"People compliment fellow people only" Guru laughed at his own joke
"Ok! Now I will compliment. You both are good kids. So, behave like ones" Jiji intruded. Their banter had been tiring her since the time Guru landed with Nanhi, into their home the previous night
"Di! Are you ok?" Guru noticed Megha and Mohan entering. He found Megha not in her usual spirits
"Good morning Jiji. Hi Neya. I am fine Guru. Hey baby" Megha finished her addressing and attended to her daughter. Nanhi was cooing at her with smiles and giggles, as if to say that she missed her.
Mohan joined the scene in adoration for the mother-daughter duo. Jiji in turn adored her nephew's spirits flying in ecstasy. She prayed to see the scene every day in the coming future.
"Do I see some competition in my kitchen?" Mohan asked looking at Guru
"May be we will have competition in eating" Jiji said looking at the dishes on the table
"We better be careful before eating anything" Mohan winked glancing at Megha
"Come Megha, sit and eat. You must be tired from working all night" Jiji said
Megha was embarrassed by Jiji's statement and looked uncomfortably at Mohan, for wanting to see his expression. He was just focusing on the newspaper not wanting to add to her embarrassment. She wasn't sure whether she was relieved or confused.
"Di, I have some work in the college. So, shall we leave now? I will drop you at home and then go to college from there" Guru joined them at the table eating his breakfast
"Neya will drop you at college, Guru. Megha and Nanhi can leave little later. Mohan will drop them" Jiji informed her well defined plan without seeking any suggestion
Megha didn't object to her, as she didn't want to be disrespectful to their hospitality. Guru didn't want to say anything against the affectionate elderly woman. But he turned to give an irked look at Neya who waved it off with her hand in the air.
***
"I will ride the scooty" Guru offered to Neya. He wasn't comfortable sitting behind
"This is my scooty and I will be the only rider. If you want you can take the ride else do as you wish" Neya threw a purposeful attitude at him and also added "But remember Jiji darling had asked me to. So you better inform her if you are going on your own" Neya didn't want him to go on his own either. She was just enjoying the fun with him
"Ok. I will take your ride" Guru was angry enough to go on his own but he didn't want to offend Jiji
"Hello Mr. President, what are you doing?" Neya stopped Guru who was trying to sit on the pillion seat with legs spread across both sides
"Sit on one side" She ordered him
"What?" Guru's irritation and shock was obvious to her and she controlled her laughter seeing his expression
"Do you think I will let you sit like that?"
They argued but nothing worked in favor of Guru. He was forced to sit on one side at the back seat throughout the ride. He slapped on his forehead when people gave strange look at their riding amidst the busy road of Mumbai. Neya appeared to be enjoying the scene and never failed to laugh at it every time she remembered it long after she dropped Guru at his college.
***
It was long after Mohan dropped them at home and went back to work, Megha was still sitting at her verandah while Nanhi was napping. She was still replaying scene by scene the previous night's events. Finally she came to her asking for a kiss part. A new question stuck her mind.
"I asked him. But did he kiss me?"
She tried to remember but nothing came to her mind. She touched her lips to see if any answer was there. She closed her eyes and calmed herself to feel anything inside her. Nothing came there as well. She wondered whether she had wanted him to kiss her and was it just mere rambling in her unconscious state.
"How will I know?" She went to play back the events in her mind again
"But why do I want to know?" She quizzed
She recalled Mohan saying that he didn't like what people did after getting drunk.
"Did I misbehave? Did I create a scene?" She shook head getting weird imagination of her misbehavior.
She folded her fists and hit her forehead in frustration. "Megha! What a mad fool you were" She chided her own. She was tired but she couldn't help thinking again.
"Would I be happy to know that he kissed me because he too couldn't resist his temptation?" She blushed and continued her thoughts "Or would I be happy to know that he didn't because she didn't remember it?" She was confused but still wanted to know.
***
Later that day Mohan found Megha working at the site, measuring and angling her work to fit on the walls. He was glad to find her alone. She heard the footsteps and recognized him without turning around. Her heartbeat quickened as she sensed his presence near her. All her determination to be strong and handle him face to face had vanished into thin air. Her hands trembled and she stopped her work.
Mohan noticed her trembling and thought of easing her condition. He lifted his hands, outstretching it comfort her but she turned abruptly to blow it away.
"Did you kiss me?" She asked bluntly in a trembling voice
Edited by Senpoo - 12 years ago
