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
