Chapter 28

Parking Lot, ASR Designs

Payal parks her Tomato and then looks around for Aakash.

Payal’s Look:

Then she sees Aakash come out of the office.

Aakash’s Look:

Payal smiles at him: Hi.

Aakash smiles back: Hi to you too.

Payal blushes: Ummm… I thought may be I was too early.

Aakash gives his own sheepish smile: Actually, I was early. I came here about an hour ago.

Payal gets flustered a bit: Errmmm… I was wondering, why did you call me last night and ask me to wear leather jacket?

Aakash smiles: Because motorbikes don’t have much safety features should any accident happen. Leather protects the body to a certain extent for being tough.

Payal: Oh.

Aakash hands her a helmet: Here’s your helmet.

Payal’s Helmet:

Payal looks at the helmet and sees that the tag is still on.

She looks up at Aakash: This is brand new.

Aakash smiles: Yes, just bought it yesterday on my way home.

Payal asks: Wow… You didn’t have to buy such an expensive one. I may not know much about bikes, but I know anything with BMW tag doesn’t come cheap.

Aakash smiles: Well, that’s because BMW is known for its quality which I can personally vouch for. Why don’t you try it on? That’s why I kept the tag on just in case. If it doesn’t fit you, we’ll stop on our way to the shop to grab another.

Payal laughs in surprise: Which shop will be open at 6 a.m.?

Aakash smiles: Well, they made an exception today for their best customer.

Payal shakes her head in disbelief but puts her helmet on and it’s a perfect fit.

She lifts the flap and says: It fits perfectly.

Aakash smiles: Awesome.

Payal grabs her camera backpack from Tomato and they walk to Aakash’s motorcycle.

Aakash’s bike:

Payal’s eyes widen: Wow…

Aakash smiles: It’s my pride and joy. I love it.

Payal rolls her eyes: I bet.

Aakash puts on his helmet.

Aakash’s Helmet:

Then they both hop on to the motorcycle.

Payal (nervous): Errmmm… Aakash, I never rode a motorcycle before. Just tomato.

Aakash (serious): Well, then you only need to know one rule.

Payal (wide eyed): What is that?

Aakash (twinkles): Hold me tight.

Payal blushes but scoots closer to wrap her arms around Aakash’s waist.

Aakash smiles and starts the bike and off they go for their trip.

Nandi (gleeful): Ooohhhh… Aren’t they looking divine… I wish I could hop behind Payal and go with the wind.

Devi Maiyya (sarcastically): I wish you stay far, far away from them, but looks like none of our wishes are coming true.

Nandi sulks.

Dining Room, Shaantivan:

ASR comes down for breakfast.

ASR’s Look:

NK is talking animatedly with Mamiji and Naniji making them smile.

Mamaji is reading newspaper and occasionally participating.

One of the Prakash brothers (who the hell can remember their names anyway) is running around serving breakfast.

ASR grabs the business section of the paper and sits down: Good morning. Where’s Aakash?

NK chirps: Don’t know. He went out really early in the morning.

ASR nods his head and goes back to his reading.

NK taps his shoulder: Nannav, mere bhai. What are we doing today?

ASR frowns: Nothing. What I am doing today is going to office. I have to finish some work. What YOU are doing today is none of my business.

NK (puppy face): But what will I do all day? Aakash left too.

ASR (from behind the newspaper): Not my problem.

Naniji frowns at ASR: Chotey…

ASR (shrugs his shoulder): What? I said the truth. It’s not my problem what he does.

Naniji opens her mouth to speak when NK’s phone starts to ring with angry birds ringtone.

NK looks at the caller and brightens up.

He hurriedly picks up the phone and chirps: Khushiji…

ASR looks up from the newspaper and glares at NK.

NK jumps up from his chair: Khushiji, you have no idea how glad I am that you called.

What?

No no… I am not busy at all.

Would I like to meet you today? Of course I would. In fact, I am going to get ready right now.

Where should I come?

NK starts running towards his room ignoring Mamiji’s shout to finish his breakfast first.

ASR glares at NK’s retreating back, then glares back at Nani’s fond smile: What the hell? Why is Khushi calling NK?

Naniji smiles: NK and Khushi bitiya are good friends. Why won’t she call him?

ASR (sarcastically): Yeah, right. Nani, they just met yesterday. How can they become good friends in one day? I think that Khushi is after NK’s money.

Naniji scowls: Chotey, you have to stop this. Khushi bitiya is a good girl from a very good family. She is not after NK’s money. In fact, we are after her family. I think, we will have great alliance with Gupta family.

ASR (angry): When did I say I want to marry?

Naniji (sarcastic): When did I say that the alliance was for you?

ASR (angry): What? NK is a moron. There is no way he is ready for marriage.

Naniji: It’s not for NK. The alliance is for Aakash. We think that Khushi bitiya’s…

ASR stands up in anger: There is  no freaking way Aakash is marrying that girl.

Naniji (equally angry, stands up): That’s not for you to decide, Chotey. I’m still the eldest member of this family.

ASR bites out: We’ll see, Nani.

Then he storms out ignoring Mamiji’s shout to finish breakfast.

Mamiji (on the verge of tears): Both boys left without finishing breakfast, sasuma. This is turning into a nightmare.

Naniji (sighs): Manorama, stop the melodrama. When they are hungry, they will eat. They are not kids anymore.

Mamiji sniffs into her hankie.

NK comes rushing downstairs and runs out the door bumping into furniture: I’m taking one of the cars, Masiji.

NK’s Look:

Mamiji rolls his eyes: Hello Hi Bye Bye. Look at that boy. He is running like Obama has called for lunch.

Naniji smiles behind her napkin.

NK ponders for a minute. Then smiles and grabs this car.

NK smiles to himself: Khushiji, I’m coming…

Nandi scratches his head: Why are you not stopping NK from going after Khushi? I thought you decided to drop that bomb on ASR.

Devi Maiyya frowns at Nandi: I decided to make ASR’s life interesting by giving him Khushi as a gift. Yes. But if she is a man magnet, I can’t do anything there.

Nandi pouts: Well, as long as she does not aim that magnet towards my Aakash, I’m good.

Devi Maiyya raises her brow: Your Aakash?

Nandi stammers: I mean my Payal’s Aakash…

Devi Maiyya (sarcastic): Thank Me, for a moment I thought you were tuning into another guiter.

Nandi pouts.