Chapter 51

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His caramel eyes gleam with anticipation.

"I mean coming to India has made me realize the value of family and having a partner to share my life with. When I was younger, I was too eager to rise in the business world and I did not give importance to relationships. But now I think it's not so bad, especially when you find the right person," he says between morsels.

"Take my parents for example. They have been through some really tough times, particularly when my father was building his business and was under so much pressure. But my mom, was his strength as well as his comfort. They are each other's best friend and confidante and no one - including us kids, could ever come between them." Jeet has a faraway look, remembering his childhood.

"When mom was diagnosed with cancer, my dad was devastated. Luckily it was detected at the first stage and her prognosis is excellent. But dad would not sit in peace. He shifted the date of the launch so that he could take mom to USA for treatment."

My shock and surprise at this piece of unknown news is evident on my face. I remember at the launch, senior Grewal holding on to his wife's hand tightly as if his life depended on it. Now I understand why.

"I am sorry to hear about it, but I am glad she is well." I clasp his hand to comfort him and his fingers automatically curl over mine.

"Yes. Her cancer is in remission and she has only a few more chemo sessions left. But dad says that the weather in LA is conducive for mom's health and so he has decided to stay back there, semi-retired. He will handle our US business and it will give him more time to spend with mom."

He leaves my hand when the next course is served. We have had three courses already, not including the amuse-bouche. The food is beyond excellent and I have never tasted such exquisite fare in my life. Well, obviously in my small town such things were never heard of. I now fully understand what they mean in Masterchef when they say food should appeal to all the senses. The aroma, the presentation, the complex flavours and texture of each course is sublime. While I am served a different wine with every course, Jeet sticks to sparkling water, as he is driving.

"Tell me about your family," he asks, as he cuts into his butter poached lobster in a delicate mousseline sauce. Perhaps it is the wine, but I am not averse to talking about my family, whom I have not discussed with anyone before.

"My family was pretty simple. Just my father, mother and me. My parents met in Delhi through common friends. Because my mother was a widow at the time and older than my father, both their families were dead set against the marriage. So, my parents eloped and got married. They settled in Nainital, where dad set up his cloth manufacturing factory. My mother set up a successful gynaecology practice. We lived a good life." My throat is constricting with emotions, at the memories of my parents.

I take a sip of the sauvignon blanc wine to hydrate my throat before continuing, "My Baba's business flourished even more after I was born. He built a bigger factory employing over a hundred people." I recall those days, I used to run around Baba's factory, playing hide and seek with the workers, hiding behind bolts of cloth rolls.

Jeet is watching me with rapt attention, his face unreadable. "How did you land up in Mumbai?" he prods when I stop talking.

"After my parents died in a car crash, I could not stay in Nainital. I left that place and moved to Bengaluru. I graduated in Mass Media and then did MBA in Marketing. I was hired by DeWorld through campus recruitment and that is how I ended up in Mumbai." I inform trying to sound apathetic, while in reality I just omitted the most painful and worst part of my life.

"And what about your father's business?" he inquires. "I gave it up," I give an insouciant shrug, feigning nonchalance.

I was getting uncomfortable with the discussion on my life, so I turned the focus back to him. We haven't spoken so candidly and freely with each other ever, and this was quite enlightening. By the end of our delectable seven course meal we had discovered many interesting facts about each other. Like he was a maths genius, he loves swimming and rock climbing or that he had his first heartbreak when he was thirteen. He learned that I was a badminton champion in school, I write poems in my spare time and my favourite meal is chicken biryani with boondi raita.

I also found out that Nivedita propositioned him on the day of the launch, inviting him over to her place. She did not take it kindly when he refused, or when she was being transferred.

Besame Mucho in Andrea Bocelli's sultry voice plays over the speakers as we wait for dessert to arrive. I start swaying, smiling slowly to the music not really understanding the lyrics, but liking the music. Jeet looks at me with a heated gaze as the music plays on, his eyes turning that deep golden colour when his emotions are high, while I blush and fluster under his ardent scrutiny.

The arrival of dessert breaks the intimacy of the atmosphere, both looking away, needing to calm down from that game of seduction that we seem to be dancing around.

After ending our dinner and thanking Arav for the delightful meal, Jeet suggests we go for a drive to the seaside. The weather is cool with no sign of rain, an ideal time for a drive. He has brought his sports BMW and since I have never sat in a convertible before, the offer is too tempting to resist.

Shireen throws me an envious look as we exit. Jeet politely smiles as we pass her, making her blush hard.

Marine Drive at night is a completely different experience. I have been here once before, when I had just arrived in Mumbai, as a wide-eyed tourist, visiting one of the city's most touted attractions. It was here that I fell in love with the sea. Though back then during the day, the place was teeming with people and a never-ending flow of cars. But now at night, there were no people, hawkers or cars. Just the sound of the sea and breeze. I giggle with delight as the cool wind blows on my face and through my hair.

Jeet looks at me sideways with a bemused look at my childish glee, but I don't care. I close my eyes, deeply breathing in the sea air. This is magical.

We drive up a steep road and Jeet parks the vehicle in an empty parking lot of an abandoned restaurant, overlooking the sea. From this vantage point, one can see the entire curved promenade dotted with golden street lights like sparkling diamonds and now I realize why it is called the 'Queen's Necklace'.

We sit in silence in the darkness of the 2-seater car, the retractable roof now drawn up, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I feel satisfied and peaceful, smiling to myself about my earlier apprehensions about this dinner. Silly me! Jeet has been charming, friendly and thoughtful and I had the best meal of my life and an amazing trip to Marine Drive.. What could be better?

I start humming the tune of Besame Mucho, the music stuck in my head ever since I heard it. He unbuckles his seat belt, turning towards me

"Mi chica bonita, do you know what the lyrics mean?" He asks lightly rubbing his fingers across my cheek leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

I shake my head, words failing to come out of my mouth, which has suddenly gone dry.

"It means - kiss me a lot. This night may be our last. Kiss me a lot for tomorrow I maybe far away." Jeet's voice is rich and husky, his eyes locked in on mine.

"Oh," I draw in a ragged breath.

His index finger traces my face from my temple, around my jaw stopping at my chin, lightly pushing it up. He searches my face, looking or maybe waiting for an answer, but my brain has shut down. His eyes are blazing with a raw hunger, fanning my own desperate need for him. My skin ignites with hot anticipation, my insides are trembling and my heart is beating so hard, it may just pop out of my chest.

Throwing caution to the wind I move my face towards his and he reciprocates by dipping his head to close the distance. I inhale the earthy scent of his skin, sending my senses in a further frenzy.

Just then a car with blaring music passes by, making us both jump guiltily in our seats, like we were caught doing something illicit, killing the tender moment we were having. I start adjusting my hair to compensate for the awkwardness, drawing lungful of air to even out my erratic breathing.

"There's something I have to tell you," Jeet turns to me, collecting himself quicker than me.

I look at him, still trying to catch my breath. He looks flushed, his poker straight hair falling on his face, which he seems to ignore. I am very tempted to run my hand through them and push it back.

I wait for him to continue. I can tell he is hesitating. My smile vanishes. Is he going to tell me this is a mistake... again?

"Look, if it's about what just occurred, don't worry about it. It was the wine and I wasn't thinking clearly," I tell him hurriedly. I am not ready to hear him say he regretted his time with me.

"Oh!" he frowns as he looks confused, "but that's not what I was going to tell you."

"Then what?"

"I will be travelling to US tomorrow to visit my parents. I will be back by the end of next month."

"Oh, okay." I try not to sound too disappointed that I won't get to see Jeet before I leave DeGlobal. "So, is this the last time we will be seeing each other?"

"Well not really, that is, if you are still staying in your apartment."

"What has staying in my apartment got to do with us seeing each other?" I ask, confused.

"That is what I have been trying to tell you for a long time, but things kept getting in the way. The building that you are living in, has been purchased by me. I will be moving into the bungalow on my return," he says quietly, as my confusion turns to shock.

I am unable to make any conversation on our drive back. Since when did I become so stupid? Since when did I stop observing and noticing things around me? It seems when I bumped into Jeet that first day, my common sense got knocked out of me as well.

Now in retrospect, he did mention numerous times that, I would not have to worry about the contract, after a few months. It was why he agreed for a fake marriage. Because he was in the process of purchasing the bungalow. And, it never once occurred to me to ask him, why he was so confident about it. It's why I am allowed to stay in the building without reservations, even after the sale. And I did not bother to ask why or who the new owner was. What was I thinking or rather, why was I not thinking?

It has been pretty long since I have mentally slapped myself, so I do it twice. I certainly deserve more.

"So, you are my new landlord now. Do you wish to negotiate new terms on the lease?" I ask Jeet when the car halts in front of the building.

"We...ll, our annulment papers are not filed yet, so the house is yours as well. There is no need for a contract. You can stay as long as you want."

A gamut of emotions run through my mind at his words and I cannot fathom which one to feel. I decide to stay objective and give a neutral smile, "That's very kind of you, but we should start the process of annulment, since there is no reason to remain married anymore." I reply, holding my welling tears in check.

"Besides, I had decided to move out when I was informed of the sale. I will be going to see some houses next week. If I find something suitable, I will leave immediately."

With a sinking feeling in my chest, I hold out my hand for a handshake, "So this is it then.. I guess .. goodbye."

"Not goodbye, but Au Revoir - till we meet again," he clasps my hand tightly.

His caramel eyes gleam with anticipation.

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