Part 23
She looked up at him and swallowed many times trying to force the
contents of her stomach back down. Ram felt her squeeze his hand forcefully as
she looked down, unable to force the contents back down she began to vomit
creating a mess on the dance floor, on her saree and on Ram’s suit and shoes. She coughed a couple times, her eyes red and
teary, her body completely exhausted; she trembled and helplessly fainted in
Ram’s arms.
Rishab and Soumaya, who were dancing near Ram and Priya witnessed
the whole event. Ram’s face, which was flushed
with the expression of disgust slowly converted into sympathy as he looked at
Priya helplessly holding on to him.
Rishab (quickly walked over to
Ram and Priya with Soumaya by his side. He began screaming over the music in
Ram’s ears, worriedly): Bhai what happened to bhabhi? She looks really
sick, should we take her to the doctor? Let me tell mom and than we will go… (he goes to turn around and run to Krishna who was sitting on the
sofa with Dadi but Ram stops him)
Ram: Nahi Rishab don’t do that… (he thinks Priya must
have had too much to drink that is why she vomited, what will I say when
everyone asks what happened to her? Than for sure the cat will be out of the
bag and Priya will feel so embarrassed. He looks around and notices that
everyone is merrily dancing with their partners and all in all everyone is in
their own world.) Rishab, I am going to take Priya up to our room… I think she is dizzy because of the medication she is on but
don't tell anyone otherwise everyone will be worried. Do one thing, handle the
party with Vikram, make sure all the guests have eaten and than see them off.
(he looks at Soumaya) Soumaya can you get some Lemon water and bring it up to
my room…
Soumaya nods in agreement and walks to the kitchen calmly so as
not set off any alarmed inquiries. Priya began mumbling something that was
inaudible to Ram and Rishab, her weak voice drowning in the music. Ram’s tight grasp on her arms made her stop and look up at him with
her big, brown pouty eyes to match her lips. Ram thinks, “ I know Priya you must be feeling bad, don’t worry we are going to leave right now.” He starts walking towards his room with his arm wrapped around
Priya’s back but his steps are halted when Rishab taps him on the
shoulder and asks him,
Rishab: what will I say when
someone asks me where Priya went.
Ram: good question! Umm… tell them that Priya went to change her clothes because she
dropped juice on it.
Rishab: and you?
Ram: c’mon yaar use the same excuse I also need to change. (he turns back
around)
Rishab: and what if they ask why
you guys never came back down?
Ram (looks at Rishab
frustrated): Arey mera Baap. If you keep asking me these questions about
excuses than someone might come and figure out the real reason. Dude please… I need to go up with your bhabhi can you think of a creative
excuse?
Hurdling many barriers discreetly they finally enter their room.
Ram seats Priya upright on the sofa and takes off his jacket throwing it on the
floor. He kicks off his shoes in some other corner of his room.
Priya: Ram why are we here? I
want to go downstairs and enjoy the party. (she tries to get up but Ram places
his hands on her shoulders, slowly pushing her back down. She sticks out her
bottom lip, looking up at Ram disappointed)
Ram: Bahut enjoy kar liya ap
nay. (he smiles) now it’s my turn to enjoy (he
winks at Priya and begins unbuttoning his shirt slowly with a naughty grin on
his face thinking why not tease her a bit)
Priya (responds unexpectedly):
Toh maine kaab maana kiya aap ko…Enjoy, I will also enjoy
with you!
Ram (thinks, “oh really?”): think about it Priya I
want to enjoy and you are the enjoyment and once this game starts it doesn’t stop ‘til I’m completely satisfied.
In a completely drunken and oblivious state Priya becomes excited
at the mention of a game. She gets up quickly, while Ram had his head down fidgeting
with a button on his shirt that seemed to be stuck. She takes one step forward
but Ram yanks her back strongly. Her hands pressed against his broad chest
where she uncontrollably landed. He wrapped his forearms tightly around her
lower back pulling her closer towards his lower body, fulfilling the
nervousness that his proximity and words alone had failed to convey. She shut
her eyes and clenched his vest tightly mirroring the commotion that was set off
in her stomach by the solid bulge pushing against it. He thought, “Priya, I wish you were
sober tonight than we could have been one again after 5 long years. But teasing
you in this state has always been a pleasure that I can’t reject even tonight. Your inner sherni must be drunk also so I
actually stand a chance.” With that thought
lingering in his mind, he loosened his grip on her lower back and moved his
hands to her arms, gripping it gently to steady her in case she were to
fall.
Ram: Where were you going
Priya? The game hasn’t even started yet and
you’re already chickening out.
Priya (opened her eyes
sharply): Haww you didn’t even tell me that the
game started and (she began to sob)
Ram (gets tensed): Ahhh aacha
meri maa I am sorry… please stop crying… (she continues sobbing) Listen if you don’t stop crying than how will you listen to the rules of the game? 1st
rule of the game is no crying, no matter what… if you do than you
lose...automatically (she stopped sobbing and listened to him attentively)
Priya: that…that doesn’t count…
Ram (smiles at her
innocence): Okay fine Baba. We will start from now… no more tears, okay? (She nods innocently in agreement) Before we
play this game we have to change into our pajamas…
Priya: kya??
Ram: that is the second rule
of the game. If you want to play that’s fine… if not I won’t blame you because I am
the best at this game…
That statement was enough to send Priya’s ego on a power trip just as Ram had wanted. He took Priya to the
change room and helped her change into her nightgown… Ram could have sworn that Priya did everything but change in that
change room, she sang, she danced, she sang and danced... All she did was
blabber utter nonsense the whole time leaving Ram exhausted from chasing her
here and there and getting her to change. Finally he slipped her into her night
gown and quickly wore his white Kurta while Priya sang her favourite song…
Ram (finished changing): Priya…
Priya (in her own world): Raat
Akeli Hai,
Ram: (says a little louder
this time) PRIYA!
Priya: Bujh Gae Diye
Ram shook his head from side to side and slammed his forehead with
the palm of his hand in frustration. He thought, “She is completely gone… No point in telling her
anything. Just do what you have to do Ram!” He whisked her up in his
arms and started walking towards the bed, her singing stopped, as she looked
around startled by his action.
Priya: Ram wwhat are you doing?
He laid her flat on the bed, trapping her in between his arms.
Leaning forward he was so dangerously close as he whispered in her ears. His
hot breath felt so pleasing to her ears as he spoke it teased every nerve in
its path. She closed her eyes moving her ears closer to the source of its
overwhelming sensation.
Ram: Priya… we can’t play the game
tonight... I have work early tomorrow morning and it’s already so late. So I am going to sleep… you should sleep too… Good night…
With that statement he moved away from her, she felt the mattress
move up as he got off. The hotness of his breath was quickly replaced by the
harsh coldness of the room. Her teeth clattered together in response to the
change in temperature, in response to his absence as if they were making noise
protesting his withdrawal. She managed to say, “Ram”. He turned around instantly,
Ram: Priya what’s wrong? Do you need anything?
Priya: I need you Ram, (her
eyes still closed)
Ram: what?
Priya: can you please hold me, I
feel so cold.
He was not unmindful of her obvious shivering despite the absence
of the air conditioner.
Priya: please Ram…
Her request was met with his presence as he glided under the duvet
and put his arm around her waist. Feeling his touch she turned to face him, he
lifted his arm up slightly to accommodate her adjustment. She moved closer to
him, their heads resting on the same pillow, their foreheads just a hair strand
away. He placed his arm around her waist again when she had stopped moving. She
held on to his arm securing it on her waist with one hand while her other hand
was placed underneath her head. Ram watched her sleep peacefully wondering how
much longer they will share this compromised closeness. They had wasted 5 years
when Priya made the sole decision to leave him, a decision that still enraged
Ram in a small corner of his heart. However that anger was not greater than his
love and the fact that Priya ways in his life again, in their room and in his
arms was a blessing that he could not take for granted. Drowsiness overshadowed
his eyes as he slowly drifted of to sleep…
Finally Soumaya entered Raya’s room with the lemon
water. Before she could open her mouth to explain the reason behind her
tardiness her eyes fell upon a graceful sight that left her staring in awe. She
tiptoed to Priya’s side of the bed and
placed the lemon water on the night table and as quietly as possible she left
the room closing the door behind her.
Sunrays penetrated through the curtains in Ram and Priya’s room accompanied by birds chirping that signaled the beginning
of a new day. Priya, who was hung-over from the night before, kissed her teeth
at the sound of the constant snoring, which was disrupting her sleep. She
turned to face away from the snoring that she believed was coming from Pihu.
Priya: Pihu dheere lijiye na
kharate… Mumma has slept so peacefully after such a long time…
She opened her eyes slightly; her gaze immediately fell upon the
empty sofa. A strong arm crept around her waist tugging her closer. Her eyes
widened as her sleep vanished like her memory from the night before. Peeling
Ram’s arm off her waist she sat up in bed speculating as to how she
ended up in their room from the party, how she got changed and how Ram and her
ended up in bed together? What had happened last night and where was Pihu?
Priya (shakes Ram): Ram what
happened last night?
Ram (turns away from her and
complains): Priya yaar let me sleep…Last night because of you
I went to sleep so late. We’ll talk when I wake up. I
am so tired.
Priya (thinking): OMG what the
hell did I do that did not allow him to sleep… Argh why can’t I remember anything and this headache (she grabs her head. She
can’t tolerate the suspense any further. She nudges Ram again) Ram
wake up! What happened last night?
Ram: (he sits up in bed and
rubs his eyes and than looks at a worried Priya): nothing happened last night
Priya…until you got drunk and than everything happened that should not have
happened…
Priya: Drunk?? Ram you got me
drunk again?
Ram: What? No I don’t know how you got drunk?
Priya: oh okay, so you just took
advantage of my drunken state?
Ram: (appalled) you mean all
this (he pointed to himself and Priya on the same bed)? Priya you wanted this,
I was going to sleep on the sofa but you insisted that we…(she interrupts, getting out of bed, Ram follows her)
Priya: I would never say that
Ram. Ram this is not the first time that you have gotten me drunk, last time
you got me drunk so that I would share the truth with you and this time for
what? So that I could share myself and this bed with you… how disgusting… but I should have known,
all men want on thing. In these past two days I thought you were different… but I was so wrong.
Ram: (goes in front of her and
holds her arms angrily): what the hell are you talking about? Priya, now you
are crossing the line. Even if anything did happen between us last night there
is nothing wrong in that, I am your husband dammit. Itna toh Haaq baanta hain
mera.
Priya: (angrily shrugs his hands
off her arms): so this was your plan? Haaq jataanai ka plan?
Ram (completely pissed off): you can believe whatever you want to
believe… I am done giving justifications. (he walks closer to her angrily
but stops when she steps back) you know what Priya, I just don’t understand why you are so mad at me… I know I did wrong by pointing a finger at your character but for
that I have apologized many times and have done many things to try and make it
up to you but you are not even TRYING to forgive me. And the accusation that
you are putting on me right now, is that right? Acha forget that!! What about
you? You left me 5 years ago and I died of guilt thinking that I could not save
you… how selfish was that? One phone call Priya!! That’s all it would have took but no you didn’t have the decency to even tell me that you gave birth to our
daughter. Don't you think that I had to the right to that happiness?
Priya: I did call you RAM… I called sooo many times and you wouldn’t answer and when you finally did you were busy praising some
other woman’s earrings. I was shocked
at how fast you had moved on without me but than again I realized that that was
what I wanted…
Ram (her words fueling his
anger): Did you really think I would move on!!! LOOK
AROUND YOU PRIYA! Everything is untouched just the way that YOU left it.
Everyday I would beg every corner of this room, which is fully drenched in your
memories, to share some with me… Those memories that I
did not let anybody get near, I selfishly savoured it ALL for myself, these
memories are the reason that I am still breathing after you decided to leave… (he pauses and breathes out heavily. Holding back his tears he
closed his eyes and swallowed before he continued) But anyways, why am I
telling you all this, none of it matters. None of my actions and none of my
words are getting through to you… All the times I said
sorry, it went over your head… Even if I give my life
as a way of saying that I am SO sorry for not trusting you, for pointing a
finger at your character, it would not be enough for you would it??? No it won’t be enough, you wanna know why? Because YOU (he points at her)
Ms. Priya Ram Kapoor have a bigger ego than me and that ego is clouding your
judgment and it's killing our love DAMMIT. So YOU can do whatever YOU want to
do, think whatever YOU want to think but I can’t do this anymore. In
fact I don’t even know what THIS (he
points to himself and Priya) is anymore.
Ram stormed into the bathroom, leaving Priya dumbfounded by his
words, she sat on the sofa trying desperately to iron out her mixed emotions.
Priya observed Ram as he walked out of the bathroom with his black suit and red
tie that matched his red eyes clearly indicating his grief and anger. Storming
out of the room he didn’t say a word nor did he
stop at the door to glance back at her… She covered her face
with hands, bent her upper body down and rested her elbows on her thighs, as
she wept, unsure of what had just happened. The truth in Ram’s words struck chords in her heart that created a hymn, which her
heart had so desperately tried to conceal.
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