The next day I made Appa understand why I don't want to get married to Abhinav. After persuasion, Appa let me meet him one time, and that 4 hours was a pain in the ass for me. He was the typical male who wants a girl to take care of his house, his family and before marriage, I have to resign and sit at home. Medicine is my passion and I didn't waste 5 years of my life and Appa's money just to sit at home. Sanskar would never ask me to do that or would he? After the meet, I told Amma the decision who was completely stumped because she was sure I will agree but everything got upside down.
"I still don't understand why you are rejecting this proposal I know he wants you to drop off your career but you can change his point of view Paapu after your marriage" this is one quality I love about Amma. She tries hard until she could.
"Amma, I brought in the environment where men encourage women to follow their passion, look at Appa itself, it was your choice to leave teaching but he knew it's your passion and he never stopped you when you proposed of having a tuition center now you earn your own money, both of you share family expenses, but from Abhinav, all I got was he just want a maid who will take of his needs and his family needs. If that's what he wants then I am sorry Amma I am not the right girl for him" Appa smiled looking at the way I made Amma understand. We both are headstrong ladies that sometimes the way we talk looks like we are arguing but when we sit and explain calmly we go back to our jolly selves. Amma went inside to get my lunch that's when Appa thought of dropping this bomb.
"Swara I really wanted to ask you this, by chance do you like any of the Maheshwari boys?" Appa asked casually eating his sandwich but the way he asked sent shiver down my spine.
"Appa? Why are you asking this?"
"Sanskar today called me asking my permission to set you and Laksh up for a date. As you know, I am quite young and open-minded in this area, he just asked me to ask you if you are Ok for one date. Swara by now I got to know no South Indian guy will agree to marry you either you will. So, you should try to go out with dates with people you like so that you will also know what type of guy you want in life" my brain shut down the minute he said Sanskar wants to set me up with Laksh that too for a date. Never in my life, I felt this much rage wash over me.
How fucking dare you Sanskar Maheshwari?
"I need time to think Appa, I will call Sanskar once I decide" kissing his cheek, I went out to start my scooty. I called Kashi to ask one-hour permission from Dean for myself. Clearly, I needed to settle some scores with this guy. Just because I made peace with the thought he is not the one for me, he doesn't have the right over my love life. No one has including my parents.
Parking the scooty in the nearby paid parking center, I walked inside Maheshwari Enterprises she is a 15-floor glass tower. I heard stories from Uttara who their grandpa started the company in a ten by ten office in one of the floors of this tower which was owned by some private sector that time but now they own this whole tower.
As I entered the cold air calmed my nerves somehow. We never visited their office because we never thought it was needed. As it was the first time, I went to the reception lobby where so many people are waiting impatiently with files in their hands. Looks like some interview is going on.
"Hello, how may I help?" the reception smiled at me warmly. How sweet?
"Actually, I came here to meet Sanskar, I mean Sanskar Maheshwari"
"Everyone is waiting for him only Mam, take this token and wait for your turn"
"No, no... I am not here for an interview, I am his family friend, just tell him Swara is here, if he is busy then I will come later" I said adjusting my shoulder bag and saree pallu.
"Ok Mam" the receptionist called him with hesitation.
"Hello Sir, someone called Swara came to meet you, Sir. She is saying she is your family friend" I couldn't hear the other side but the look the receptionist threw at me, made me feel disgusted.
"Sir is asking Swara who?" the guts of this man. I snatched the receiver from her and screamed at the top of my voice.
"Well the same Swara for whom you jumped over the terrace compound in the middle of the night like a thief at the age of 17, now do you remember me Sanskar bloody Maheshwari?" saying this I gave the receiver to the receptionist who looked at me like I am some sort of devil. She took the receiver and held it against her ear.
"Yes sir, Ok I will send her with Matt" she kept it down and looked at me with sorry all over her face.
"I am sorry for the inconvenience Mam, Sir is on the 10th floor, Matt will accompany you till Sir's cabin"
"It's Ok, anyway it's your Sir's fault, not yours so don't feel sorry things for which you are not responsible," I said with a smile and walked Matt who looked like a bodyguard. Matt accompanied me till his cabin and I asked him to leave.
SANSKAR MAHESHWARI CEO OF SOUTH ASIAN AND INTERNATIONAL SECTOR calligraphed over the matte-finished tinted glass door. Knocking on the door, I waited for a few minutes but no response. Then I saw a small switch on the right side of the door and pressed it. The next minute the door opened a bit and I pushed it to make space to enter.
"Can I come in?" I asked in a harsh voice controlling anger looking at the man who changed my entire mood for the day.
"You are already in Swara," he said and stood from the chair. That's when I noticed him, wearing a black shirt with sleeves rolled up till elbow and pants paired with black clutch and tie which is hanging loosely with top two buttons open. He walked to the front and leaned over the table. Did he come here to work or for a fashion show?
"Snap out of your world Swara" the click of his finger made me compose myself and I went back to my angry bird mode.
"Who the fuck gave you permission over my love life?" I asked him directly walking towards.
"Well, no one I guess, but why are you swearing at me this early morning?"
"Because you called Appa and asked permission to set me up with Laksh. Seriously, Sanskar, Appa? Don't you have any common sense to ask me first before asking my Dad? Well, this is how you take your foreign chicks to dates I guess" my voice got raised every minute, but he sat like a statue without any moment. After a second, I realized what I said but I bit my inner from giving out any expression. Sanskar stood straight and walked a bit closer to me.
"First of all, I never called Uncle and asked any kind of permission but yes I wanted to set you up with Laksh for one date because he has a crush on you and wanted to try if he has any chance with you. Coming to my dates with foreign chicks well you see I can charm anyone with a simple attire like how you checked me out before speaking [He smirked at me. He fucking smirked at me. I so wanted to slap him, but I controlled myself gritting my teeth] Looks like, you have been thinking about me from the way you described how you know me in the reception"
"Oh, please don't fly high Mr. Sanskar Maheshwari. No one is thinking about you here except your family. I have enough problems on the head. About how I described you, no girl will forget about the guy who jumped over the compound to meet her when she is forbidden to do. You just jumped over the terrace compound. There was Ajay who disguised himself as a girl just to meet when I was in 9th grade and then Sourabh who jumped into my room in the middle of the night just to wish me for my birthday when I was in 11th grade. You are not the only one who has the privilege of doing stunts for me" this time I smirked looking at his face which turned pale in sadness. At least that's what I thought but I was never prepared for his attack. He just crushed me over his chest locking my hands behind my back.
I shivered visibly being this close to a guy. That to Sanskar, I just looked away not looking at his face. This is so embarrassing. This is not how I pictured the argument would be. I shouldn't be in his arms. This is wrong. So wrong.
"Eyes on me woman" He whispers yelled at me, but I didn't. He twisted my arms in a hand way making me look at him in fear.
"You have the guts to walk into my office, yell at me in the phone in front of hundreds of people like you own me and now... Do you I am an idiot?" He twisted my arms even more which made me hiss in pain showing his angst over my words.
"It's hurting right. Let it hurt. You should know how I felt you were staging that whole scene of blushing and touching with Laksh"
"I wasn't staging anything Sanskar and leave my hand. Anyone can see us and hear us" I said trying to wiggle out of his hold.
"It's a one-way glass dear, no one can see what is happening inside, and FYI the room is soundproof. Even if we have sex here nobody will come to know about it" I gasped at his audacity. How could he casually say it?
"Mind your words Sanskar"
"Well, it's applicable both ways Swara. Why are you making this so difficult for both of us?" He asked pasting his forehead over mine. I controlled my tears closing my eyes. No, I should not fall weak. Not at this moment.
"I am getting married Sanskar and it's definitely not going to be you"
"Still you don't know how to lie Swara" he chuckled while making a space between our face.
"Ok, leave Laksh, will you go out on a date with me?" He asked making my heart flutter. Is this really happening? Sanskar just asked me out. I bit my inner cheek stopping myself from blushing.
"Stop biting your inner cheek. I wonder how come you still have your chubby cheeks"
"Don't change the topic. I came here to warn you not to meddle with my love life and I won't go out with you or your brother or anyone related to you both" I said and again tried to wiggle but this guy is just staying strong.