His Monsoon Bride

CHAPTER TWO

AMRITA was feeling a little heady from all the kissing when she suddenly realised where they were. There was a party going on inside, and here she was kissing on the balcony. What if someone saw? ‘We can’t do this here.’ She broke away from Mehtab, who looked as if he didn’t care one bit about who saw.

‘No, we can’t, as much as I hate to say that. I don’t want your father thinking that I seduced his daughter when actually it’s the other way around.’ He laughed. ‘Let’s head back in.’

‘No, you go in first. I will go to the ladies’ room and then join the party. I can’t believe I did this. You know, I don’t usually go around kissing strange men,’ she suddenly found herself saying in a serious tone.

‘Yes, I know, Amrita. I don’t think any less of you, if that’s what you are worried about. I will see you back in the ballroom in a bit.’ His lips brushed her cheek and then he was striding away.

Amrita walked a little unsteadily to the ladies’ room and wondered, was this what love at first sight felt like? Or was it lust? How and why did she do this? Kissing someone she barely knew? What was wrong with her? But she couldn’t deny the fact that she felt good—strangely so, but happy. Yes, she felt happy. She reapplied her lipstick, combed her hair and walked out just in time to see Mehtab go up to her father, shake his hand and whisper something in his ear. Her father looked slightly worried but she saw him nodding away. Mehtab kept patting his hand and saying something softly and she was curious to know what this was about. As she walked up to them they stopped talking and looked at her—her father with a concerned expression, and Mehtab with one of lust.

‘So I will see you two tomorrow?’

‘Yes, Mehtab. Amrita and I will be there at twelve o’clock,’ her father replied.

Amrita was going to ask why when Mehtab took her hand and kissed it. ‘It was so nice meeting you today, Amrita. It was refreshing.’ He smiled and Amrita felt faint. ‘Until tomorrow, then?’ As he walked out Amrita turned to her father.

‘Daddy, what’s happening?’

‘Darling, it’s just business. Mehtab wants to help get the company back on its feet. You will accompany me, won’t you?’

‘Of course I will,’ she said. She had to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Mehtab sat behind his mahogany desk and found himself humming a tune he hadn’t heard for years. It was a lullaby his mother used to sing to him and his five siblings as she tried to put them to sleep after a dinner of a fistful of rice. He used to ask for more every time, and his mother used to gently smile and say, ‘Mehtab, one day you will have all that you want.’ In retrospect, it seemed perfectly natural to him that her prophecy had come true. He had known since he was ten years old that he could make it out of the slum, but there had been many dark days. He never stopped feeling guilty that his family was not here to enjoy his fortune.

He stopped humming and felt a migraine coming on. As he pressed the buzzer for his secretary to get him an aspirin a voiced boomed on his intercom. ‘Sir, your twelve o’clock is here.’

It was Manoj Piramal and his daughter Amrita, and suddenly Mehtab felt his anger melting away. Today his strategy of bagging the Piramal empire and marrying Amrita would come to fruition. He couldn’t think of a better business proposal—Piramal needed someone to rebuild the company, which was a challenge Mehtab was looking forward to, but in return Mehtab would also get a wife. A wife who would bring with her the sophistication that came with old money.

Amrita had it all—class, intelligence, wit and, though Mehtab had not expected it, beauty. She was gorgeous and when he remembered their kiss last night, he couldn’t help but feel his pulse quicken. Unlike the stick-thin women who usually graced his bed, Amrita had curves in all the right places, and it made her seem so much more feminine and delicate. Her outfit suited her perfectly and the yellow kurta brought out her hazel eyes and high cheekbones. Her straight black hair and the sexy fringe caught him off guard. He had wanted to kiss those lips the moment he walked in.

She was much more interesting than he had expected. The way she had indulged in that witty repartee with him—he couldn’t wait to meet her again. He just needed Manoj Piramal to accept his offer and couldn’t help but wonder if the old man was really desperate enough to broker away his daughter’s hand in marriage to save his crumbling empire. Mehtab could sense that he was. He realised maybe he would even do the same if the tables were turned. But he had to hold his horses, because Amrita didn’t seem like the I-will-go-along-with-anything kind of woman. If her demeanor had revealed anything to him yesterday, it was the fact that she was super smart, and even though she had kissed him, getting married to him was a totally different ball game. Would she fly off the handle? He knew he would have to tread very carefully today.

Amrita looked at Mehtab’s face as she entered his office and she was instantly reminded of their kiss, which had left her feeling woozy for a long time after. She had never felt so blown away before, but then she hadn’t ever been kissed like that. He was an intensely handsome man, with his chiselled jaw line, broad shoulders and that sinful smile, which she thought was the sexiest thing of all. The fact that he had kissed her had pleased her, and made her feel special. Even at work today, he looked perfect, as if he had walked out of an advert for a designer suit. His black suit and white shirt looked even better as he wore no tie, and he appeared casual yet so sexy. Amrita had taken extra care while getting dressed this morning—she wore a pale blue sheer kurta and jeans and had jazzed it up with a pair of leopard-print high heels. Her hazel eyes were shining thanks to the blue kajal. She wanted to look good for him, strange as that made her feel.

‘Mehtab, thanks for meeting us today,’ she heard her father say.

Mehtab shook Piramal’s hand warmly and said, ‘Sir, the pleasure is all mine. Thanks for coming in. I know this is a tough time and it can’t be easy for you to consider my proposition, but I am glad you are thinking about it.’

He quickly stole a glance at Amrita and noticed the look of surprise on her face. So, obviously, Amrita knew nothing about what was going to happen today. He could feel her curious glare.

‘What is this proposition?’ she asked, sitting down next to her father on the plush sofa, which looked out on the entire ocean.

Mehtab addressed her father. ‘Sir, I want to marry Amrita.’

Piramal was quiet and he saw Amrita sitting with her hands tightly pressed in her lap. Finally he spoke, ‘I thought you were going to say that.’

And that was when Amrita erupted. ‘How did you know that? Have you talked about this behind my back? Is this why he was there yesterday? Is this why you …?’ She looked at Mehtab with anger.

He remained silent and just stared at Piramal, who looked at his daughter and said, ‘No, we haven’t talked about this. But I had a feeling he would ask after I saw him with you yesterday. And if he hadn’t, I would have asked him. Once he marries you, he can be on the board of Piramal Industries where he can really help me return the company to its former glory. That was your offer, wasn’t it, Mehtab?’

‘Yes, sir. You got that right. But, Amrita, I do plan to keep you happy,’ Mehtab said softly.

‘Happy? How can you keep me happy when all this sounds like a business strategy? Who is thinking about me here and what I want? I don’t even love you,’ she screamed and stormed out.

Mehtab sat back on his chair and watched Piramal go after his daughter. He hadn’t expected Amrita to blow up like this. He had expected her to be a bit angry but then accept the proposal as any other society girl would. Had he misread her? Was she going to say no?

Manoj followed his daughter out and found her waiting for the lift. Angry tears were rolling down her face now.

‘Amrita, I am sorry. I am. But there is no other way. If this doesn’t happen, beta, we will have to sell the house, and then the company piece by piece. And to build a company from scratch is not easy. I can’t do it this time around. I don’t have the energy or youth on my side.’

‘But, Papa, I don’t even love him.’

‘Sometimes love can be cultivated, beta. He is a wealthy man and I am sure he will give you everything you would have ever wanted, even more than what I have given you. Please, Amrita, try and understand this,’ said Piramal, leaning back on the table in the lobby and taking a deep breath.

‘Understand what, Papa? I can’t just get married and expect to live happily ever after with a man who I don’t even know. Isn’t that like an arranged marriage? You and Ma had a love marriage—could you have ever agreed to this?’

‘Our love led to many other problems. But don’t compare us to you. I know what I am asking is unreasonable, but the creditors have come calling and if I don’t raise capital in a month, they will auction away everything I own. And they have informed me of this with threats that I have often heard in my line of work but never took seriously because I was the king. But now, if I don’t pay them, they will make me pay with my life.’

‘Papa, why didn’t you tell me before? How can they do that? We will call the police.’

Piramal’s face was white. ‘No, we can’t do that. I do owe them money. But you are right, I shouldn’t get scared and I shouldn’t be doing this. I just got so seduced by the feeling that I would be the richest man in India again. I wanted my company to shine again. And I forgot about my daughter’s happiness. I will go and tell Mehtab this is all off. I can’t do this to you,’ he said, and turned around and started walking.

His shoulders slumped and his footsteps were slow and tired. It was the walk of a man who had lost everything, and Amrita couldn’t do this to him. Her mind was in turmoil. So that was why Mehtab had kissed her last night? It had nothing to do with him being attracted to her. It was all a ploy to make her agree to this ridiculous idea. She suddenly felt like a fool for thinking that a man like him might be genuinely interested in her. She didn’t want to marry a man who used her. But then she saw the sorry, retreating figure of her father and felt immense sadness. Her father needed this. If she said no, he would lose all that he had worked so hard for.

She remembered him tucking her into bed every night, no matter how busy he used to be. He had always been there for her—from the time she failed in her Maths exam, to the time she won the school prize for best dancer. He had stayed awake with her when she studied at night, and, to date, he read every article she wrote and then got it laminated to put in his collection. Was she going to break his heart? She knew what she had to do. She caught up with her father and put her hand in his. ‘Papa, I will do what you want. Just don’t ask me why.’

Amrita took a deep breath and re-entered the lion’s den. Before her nerve failed her she announced, ‘Mehtab, I accept your proposal.’ And then she added, ‘But I have one condition.’

‘Anything you want,’ she heard Mehtab say.

She put on a defiant but calm expression. ‘I will continue to work after I get married, and the less you interfere in my work, the better.’

She worked? Mehtab thought, surprised. He had taken her to be a spoilt brat living off Daddy’s money. What was this work? But he knew better than to ask that question now. Instead he said, ‘Of course. You are free to live life as you want.’

‘Well, then, I agree.’

Mehtab saw her bottom lip quivering. He knew this was not what she wanted, and it was far from an ideal situation, but it had to be done. Amrita would understand in time.

Piramal looked at his daughter with love. ‘Thanks for saving me, Amrita. I am sure that Mehtab will make you happy. Won’t you?’ He looked at Mehtab with eyes that pleaded he do so.

‘Of course,’ he said, and he meant to keep her happy. He might not be able to be the Romeo to her Juliet, but he would give her all that she wanted. She didn’t realise how much this marriage could enhance his image and his career—the family man who had a perfect wife and a perfect business. He wanted to be admired and looked up to in all areas of his life and Amrita was going to make that happen.

Piramal heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I know this is not an easy situation but I am sure you will work it out.’ He looked at Amrita, who was sitting quietly, and he knew she had done this for him. ‘Amrita, should we leave?’ As she nodded and managed to flash Mehtab a half-smile, which he knew was just her being polite, Piramal said, ‘Mehtab, come to our house for dinner today. We need to celebrate. And also plan the engagement party. Amrita, would that be okay?’

Amrita wished her father would stop asking her questions. She couldn’t even think straight right now. She had agreed to marry Mehtab, and now she had to go through with this. Why was this happening to her? But she couldn’t lose control or else Mehtab would treat her like any other grasping woman. So she looked up and said as calmly as she could, ‘Yes, Mehtab, do come. Do you like kheer for dessert? I make it well.’

‘I love kheer,’ he replied without smiling.

‘See you at dinner, then,’ she said, and walked out of his office with her father. Mehtab found himself thinking there had to be a better way of doing this, but he couldn’t think of one. Well, Amrita would just have to live with it. There were worse things that could happen to a woman. But despite the success of the meeting, he wasn’t happy. And he found that disturbing. Was this woman going to make him feel bad about how he ran his life? No, he was stronger than that.

He had to be stronger. He looked out at the sea and thought of how the evening would turn out to be.

That evening, Amrita sat in front of her mirror and adjusted her pink cotton dress and fiddled with the diamond pendant around her neck. She was strangely nervous. Of course this marriage was a sham, but she still couldn’t stop herself from getting all weak-kneed at the mere thought of seeing Mehtab again. But despite her body’s traitorous reaction, she still hoped he wouldn’t turn up and that this was all a dream. It was all right to be physically attracted to someone, but marry him to save a company? It seemed like a plot out of a movie. This couldn’t be her life? She felt helpless.

Meera was brushing her hair and saying, ‘He is very good-looking, though. So at least you won’t be bored of him physically.’

‘Meera!’ Amrita snapped, but the older woman just ignored her tone.

‘Why are you shocked, Amrita? You are a young girl. Don’t you want to marry a gorgeous guy? I am just being honest.’ Meera giggled. But then she saw Amrita’s sad face and sat next to her. ‘I know this is not what you thought your marriage would be like. But life isn’t always fair. I fell in love once and he married someone else, even though he told me he loved me. Sometimes, love isn’t enough. Maybe you could try and be friends with Mehtab, see his positive side?’

‘But, Meera, it’s as if I have no choice. I can’t say anything. I feel like a puppet.’

‘I know, darling, but you are a strong girl. And if you really don’t want to do it, you can stop it even now.’

‘No, Meera, Father would die.’

‘Yes, you have to understand his side of this. It’s killing him knowing he is doing this to you. But he has no choice as well. Once you leave, he will be all alone. And so will I. I never had children, Amrita, but you made up for everything. You really did. I will always be there for you.’

‘I know, Meera. I love you too. This would have been doubly hard if you hadn’t been here,’ said Amrita, and as she hugged her nanny she felt some of her worries flying away.

Her worries returned as soon as she entered the living room. Her palms were sweaty and she hid them behind her back. Mehtab was already there, having a drink with her father. He looked relaxed in a blue tee over chinos and she could feel a wave of desire sweeping over her. She sat down in front of him and her father suddenly got up.

‘I have a few important calls to make. Why don’t you both chat and I will see you at dinner? Maybe you can decide when we should announce your engagement?’

They sat in a silence so heavy that they were glad when the waiter brought in some wine. Amrita took a sip and said, ‘How come you aren’t being all cocky today? You are not married yet. Why are you already mellowing down?’

Mehtab threw back his head and laughed. ‘You got me there. I was just playing nice in front of your father. But if you want me to be the arrogant guy I am rumoured to be, I can do that.’

‘Why are you so insufferable, Mehtab? Did a woman break your heart so badly that you can’t trust anyone now, or are you a murderer and just trying to hide your secret behind that steely exterior?’ She smiled.

But she saw him grow tense.

‘No, a woman has never broken my heart. And nobody ever can.’

Mehtab looked up at her and saw her staring back at him intently. Her hair was falling over her forehead and her earrings sparkled just like her eyes. This girl was beautiful, and it was sad she didn’t even know it.

‘No, I am sure no one will. You look too untouchable. So I should be the one afraid of getting my heart splattered all over the floor. Right?’

‘I know it’s not exactly an ideal situation. But we are smart people. We can be civil about this. Can’t we?’ he said and then smiled. ‘Let’s start by not being so formal. After all, I have already kissed you! Okay, okay, I won’t be arrogant. But I have to tell you that was the best kiss of my life.’

Amrita blushed. ‘And no doubt you have had many to compare it to, Mr Rathod?’

‘Not many. A few, maybe. Maybe a few too many.’ He laughed. ‘But, Amrita, finding a woman who really gets you is hard in this world. I have seen my friends get their hearts broken, so I decided I would never let that happen to me. Since then I have just dated women but never got serious. There are many other things more important than relationships. And the women of Mumbai? Phew.’

‘What about the women of Mumbai?’

‘They are just a little full of themselves. So empty-headed and so alike. Why do they all look alike?’

‘I know what you mean. That’s why I have never fitted in. Look at me, all curvy. I feel like a cow in the middle of all those poodles. And don’t even get me started about them being empty-headed. Maybe we are being too judgmental. But I just want to yell at them, Please, get your heads out of the fashion magazines for a minute. There is a big world out there!’

Mehtab laughed. ‘Amrita, from the moment you stepped out of that elevator I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you. In a world where size zero is a norm now, I was shocked to see a woman who still looked like a woman. You are beautiful, surely you know that,’ he said, and then felt as if he should tone it down. He didn’t want Amrita to get the wrong message. He didn’t want any emotional entanglement at all. ‘What I mean is, compared to them, you look great. Don’t be silly and worry about all this meaningless stuff.’

Amrita knew what he was saying was right—though why he was saying it was a mystery to her. Anyway, compliments or not, she might have agreed to marry him and be his wife, but she wasn’t going to swoon all over him. ‘Thank you,’ she said calmly. ‘That could be the best compliment I have ever received. But can we now talk a little about when this engagement will take place?’

Mehtab sensed her businesslike demeanor and thought, She is smarter than me. Instead of praising her, I should be the one talking all business. I can’t have her trump me every time. He sat down next to her and said, ‘Yes. What I think is that we shouldn’t wait. What’s the use? We could get engaged the day after tomorrow and get married the day after that. Don’t worry, I will handle it all. You just get ready and show up. Will that be okay, Miss Piramal, or should I say Mrs Rathod?’

Amrita felt an anxiety attack coming on. She knew he was right. The sooner, the better. Her father needed him to woo investors in as soon as possible. But was she ready to get married so soon? Before she could answer, her father walked in.

‘That makes a lot of sense, Mehtab. There is a board meeting five days from now and if you kids are married by then, it will make things so much easier. Amrita, can we do this?’ he asked her sheepishly, aware that he had stepped over the line once again.

Amrita felt her heart sink. Married in three days? She needed time to get to know her fiancé. But what was the use in delaying? Could she say no if she didn’t like what she saw? She sighed. ‘Yes, it can be done.’

Mehtab just nodded. ‘Thank you.’

She didn’t understand him. He could show more enthusiasm. He was really making it feel like a business transaction. But then, that was what it was. She still couldn’t believe she was getting married, though. Was this for real?