Radha was more than happy to see Ankit after four days.
He was not alone.
It was the whole gang from The Cafe.
They knew it was late but when does friends ever care about time or decency?
Sunday morning The Cafe opened an hour later, which gave the employees a mental breather on Saturday nights.
Hence the unexpected 11 PM call.
It was just five days between Monday to Saturday but to them it seemed like ages.
They missed Radha.
She was not really the party rocker but she was the silent watcher whose presence was greatly appreciated by each and every member of the group.
She was a guardian figure to them all.
Radha missed them too.
She was not really friends with them, but, this group was closest to what she could call friends.
After Tuesday they all knew Radha was not coming back to The Cafe.
And that crushed them.
Literally.
After the girls finally let go of her, Survi spoke:
Now what? Are you joining that handsome dude? Or have other plans? And how is your preparation going on for the Civil Services?
Civil Services.
Shit.
In the last seven days Radha had missed all the tutorial updates.
Not that it mattered.
She was thorough with her almost three years of solid preparation and had cracked the Prelims to make way to Mains in the very first attempt.
She knew she would nail it.
Yet, the usual guilt for procastinating gave Radha a kick....
Two months to the Mains Examinations...
So much to practice...
Damn.....
She cleared her mind.
Damn Radha... Job first.
Better job later.
Focus.
She gave herself a mental thrashing before she decided to reply:
Actually I am yet to sign any contract with the Sens yaar. I am practically jobless.
Whaaaat!!!! Fuck you Ra!!! Are you mad? They didn't even sign a contract !!!! What is this?
Circus?
Damn how will you pay the bills? And then those exams you are so obsessed with.... Why the hell you left the job at this point?
It was Tanya this time. The girl was foul mouthed and short tempered, but, perhaps the most loving of the lot.
She cared. She cared way too much. And Radha was indeed afraid of her.
She would kill her if she guessed even a tiny bit regarding her messed up reality. May be UPSC was the least possible messed up part of her life right now.
What has become of her life in a matter of a week!!!
She huffed mentally.
Da.... I mean the contract was supposed to be signed today evening itself but I kinda called in sick and the things were postponed.
Come on Tanya, chill, it will be done in a matter of days....
Gimme a smile now.
Leaving The Cafe is not really a bad decision girl.....
And may be I can pre talk to the Sens about this fortnight long study vacation!!
From where I see, the shifting time is wrong Ra.
Very wrong.
This is gonna jeopardize everything....
Hey.... Did Madhav ask you to do this.
TELL US.... TELL US...
COME ON.
Oye... No.
You all know I was job hunting...
Give Madhav a break.
I need money yaar.
It was a good break...
Now, can I really put UPSC before my sister?
Come on....
Nobody looked convinced.
Radha tried to use Shova as a shield.
But she could see her attempt failing miserably.
They all knew how passionately she prepared for the Civil Services.
They knew well she would never leave The Cafe at her free will at this crucial juncture of her life.
Tanya was about to open her mouth when Madhav walked in ,
Well well.... Radha never told me she is writing the Civil Services this year.
Amazing....
Seems the Sens would need to wait a bit till I let her join the new post....
Radha could feel blood draining off her face. Two months without job!!!!
Damn....
I gotta talk to Madhav. This can't really happen. What will I eat? Where will I stay? How shall I send money to home.
While Radha almost lost her mind in anticipation of joining after a couple of months, Madhav made himself jovially comfortable with the group.
Saurav was the first one to speak.
He had neither seen Madhav nor interacted with him so far.
Saurav was the regular late coming Cafe Chef. So, on the day of the accident he was stuck at his spot while the others drooled over Madhav. And on the termination day he simply missed everything. He was late. As usual.
Hey, Royal Challenger buddy....
When do you plan to release our Ma'am from here?
Madhav laughed but Radha raised an eyebrow.
Royal Challenger?
Now where does that come from?
Ankit was laughing out loud now,
Ma'am, I presume you haven't seen Madhav Sir's visiting card then?
No, I haven't.
What's in there?
Here, check this out.
Ankit handed her the visiting card that Madhav handed Ankit in the Clinic. And she started grinning which progressed to an obscene laughter which refused to stop.
Radha could feel herself choking with the hysteric laughter attack.
R. C. MADHAV.
The card read.
She really couldn't blame Saurav!!!!
Madhaav..... Seriously?
That's all she managed to say before breaking into laughter fits.
This guy was just too much.
Radha..... Seriously.....
He replied, exactly mimicking her tone.
It was now her turn to blush.
She was sitting amidst her former colleagues and only friends who held her in a position of esteem. Her stay with Madhav itself gave rise to so many questions. And with his unfaltering charm and casual flirting Madhav was making things more difficult for her.
She arched an eye brow in reflex.
Madhav immediately arched back an eyebrow in return.
Damn.....
Radha cursed mentally.
Now.... Now..... Do we see an eye brow war in here?
Finally the last person in the group spoke.
Shrestha.
She was the quietest but the fastest and perhaps the wittiest.
So.... What's exactly going on here?
And Ra, what are you not telling us?
Suddenly everything went quiet.
Radha could hear her own heartbeat.
She was busted.
These guys were pure evil when it came to making people confess. Radha always enjoyed seeing them torture each other. But right now she was afraid.
What would she say!!!
Who was Madhav to her!!!
Why was she staying with him?
Did they know how much Madhav paid Sahni?
Shit.
Cat got your tongue or what?
Survi raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Ah... Well no.... I mean.... Madhav is an old acquaintance. And he referred me to the Sens. And considering my health Rajomma kinda kept me in here. I tried to sneak out but..... Madhav tell them na....
Radha was a bad lier. And she needed help.
She knew her body language gave it away to her friends. But she herself didn't know what to say.
The Lady asks me to explain... So hope you won't mind me taking over. Will you?
Nobody objected.
Radha suddenly started feeling restless.
Why the hell I asked Madhav to speak?
Nobody knew what he would say!!!
Oh Gods...
But it was already too late and Madhav had taken over from her----
So, like the Lady said, we had a tiny bit of acquaintance and recently we ran to each other again on the day of her accident. The people in here loves her, so.... right now she is under house arrest.
She ain't going anywhere till she is cured.
And now that I know she is writing the Civils, I guess she ain't leaving at all.
Madhav gave her a naughty wink.
Radha shuddered.
It's a different thing that she tried to escape Tuesday morning itself....
Madhav smirked devilishly as the group gave a collective gasp.
Wow girl, you are nuts!!!
Come on, how can you run away when you are sick?
Damn you. Have you lost it Ra?
Radha grinned sheepishly while her friends sided with Madhav and the accusations continued.
It was annoying but sweet.
They cared and Radha liked it.
Everything seemed lighter and nicer as the small talks continued until Srestha decided to drop the bomb...
So Madhav, R.C. is not Royal Challengers I believe. You radiate money. What are you?
Well.... I am a man.
And a decent one too.
Madhav was again acting as himself. Elusive and evasive.
But Shrestha was the adament one.
When I interned , I had a three months run with the Taj group, you know. And I believe I had the luck to meet a particular Royal businessman, Baldeo Chand Radhore. I also got a glimpse of his younger brother Madhav Chand Rathore. Why do I believe it was you and your brother?
Even before Madhav could answer, the rest of the gang went crazy.
That Rathore guys you talk about!!!
OMG.... OMG.... OMG....
If you have a spare car can I drive it someday?
NO WAY...... WICKED!!!!
"Mr. Rathore...
Just because you are Royalty, do you think you are allowed to keep Ra hostage at will? I know Radha for quite sometimes now. And she is the last person to stay with someone and let someone have this influence over her.
What are you using against her?
Why are you messing around?"
All the heads snapped to Survi.
Was she mad?
But suddenly Madhav was smirking and his eyes were twinkling.
Shit. Radha was afraid now.
Madhav usually had that mischievous looks when he was about to say or do something mischievous....
He was having this exact look when he was dealing with Sahni the other day.
Oh no. Absolutely not Surviji.
I am not at all messing with your "RA". It's the other way round. It's her who has messed around with you all, I guess.
Suddenly Madhav was flaunting his Estate keeper ring.
His left hand was crossed over his broad chest. He looked absolutely sincere and then, he started the fakest lecture that Radha ever heard..
I am a taken man ladies and gentlemen. My bethrowed is a strict lady and I can't really mess around.
I am not permitted.
He was now shrugging casually.
He was a sight.
Even Radha herself was almost convinced until she realized where this conversation was headed.
But she was too late to react.
Madhav was now looking at Radha and was asking something.....
Tell them Madam.
Am I permitted to mess around?
Are you that generous?
BLOODY HELL?
WHAT WAS HE DOING?
SHE HAD NOT EVEN SAID YES.
DAMN THIS MAN.
You guys are engaged?
From when?
Survi chocked on her coffee and Ankit almost fall from the sofa.
Radha wanted to strangle Madhav bare handedly.
She didn't really plan to say him NO.
But she was not even sure whether he deserved a YES!!!
Wasn't this too much?
Madhav had definitely played the right cards. He had practically convinced her friends that they were engaged. But what would he do about her family?
Suddenly Radha wanted to play along and she batted her eyelids:
Survi , I am sorry.
I wanted to.
But it's complicated you know, Royal secrets are kinda ..... You understand.
Moreover we are yet to tell my parents. You know it can actually cause trouble..... My lineage.....
Goal.
Radha screamed mentally.
Defend your post Madhav.
It's awesome that you have publicly declared us as couples. Now eat dirt.
Oh Radha.... I forgot to tell you something since you were sleeping in evening.
My Sudha Bua is coming tomorrow with your Mom. That lineage issue needs to be sorted out you know.....
And her face fall.
Her friends were now congratulating her and were demanding party.
But Radha was in a daze.
Was he serious?
Ma is coming?
DAMN.