Past Present And Future

The past...

Sameer

I am at the jewellers, today is the day, staring at the big round piece of diamond that glittered and gave out rainbow colours. The salesman couldn't stop gushing about its special features and the clarity it possessed but my mind conjured up the pictures of her, and her excitement and how her eyes would shine on seeing it. She would be elated. After all I had been dropping the hints for long and I knew she anticipated it too. But she had been a little distant in the past few days and that's what bothered me the most especially in the past two to three months she has been kind of speaking less with me. But may be she was stressed about her upcoming exams and also her father had not been keeping well. I asked the jeweller to pack the ring and once he was done I almost dashed out of the shop. I couldn't believe it, I was about to propose the girl of my life! Excited I almost flew my car, while I stared at the envelope every now and then that now was lying on the front street of my car, the offer that I had received from the firm in US. My mind meandered back to the conversation we had a week back about the same, she had not been thrilled about the same.

Sameer: I got the offer

Her: what offer?

Sameer: I told you right the firm in United States I had applied at, they have given me an offer. And its quite lucrative

Her: so you are gonna take it up I assume?

Sameer: why not? It's a great offer and we can stay in US away from all the hustle and bustle of India

Her: what if I say that I don't want to stay away from all the hustle and bustle and also that for you it isn't the best career prospect. After all you are big here in India, I mean you come from an industrialist family and your naanu is eager to hand you over the charge of a million making company and you want to go to US and struggle? Doesn't make sense to me

Sameer: c'mon I just need a break from here, especially that somani has been a real pain and has been breathing down my neck for long. I want to stay as far away as possible and live in peace. He thinks the Maheshwari empire is his son's birth right and I don't have any qualms about letting it go and hence I have conveyed the same to naanu. Ya he was not ideally pleased about the same but then he understands me. He plans to draw the papers up in Rohan's name and announce about the same on his upcoming birthday party.

She seemed surprised, almost stunned to silence

Her: you have no problem with that? After the announcement Rohan would have millions and you wouldn't have any! Aren't you bothered?

Sameer: why should I be? I am happy with my offer and the fact that we are moving to US

Her: we?! Sameer do you realise that after the announcement Rohan would have the world while you would be a mere employee in a firm earning somewhat at the most a 6 digit salary!

Sameer: yes I do and look at the brighter picture we would be moving to US

Her: how are you so sure that I would be moving with you?

Sameer: c'mon love...

She shut me out

Her: I need sometime, to think I will see you in a week for naanu's Birthday

Sameer

That had been a week back but I knew once she saw thing ring she would have no more doubts and would be ready to take the plunge. May be she was having second thoughts since she too came from a formidable business group. Though theirs is not as expanded as that of my Naanu but not small though medium sized. May be she felt nervous as she had never seen a world beyond but once she sees this piece of art, I patted my coat pocket, where the ring laid, she would forget everything and run straight into my arms. Today is my naanu's birthday and also the day when he hands over the empire to its next scion Rohan. So a huge party has been organized at the Taj Hotel and I headed the same way and I planned to propose to her in front of everyone. To the somani clan it is a day of huge importance but I plan to steal the limelight away. As I gave my keys to the valet and breathed in a few quick breaths and got ready to enter into the premises I am greeted by many known faces. My naanu's business colleagues. Each one of them patted me in the back, some shook hands with me telling me how big a day it was and how they always knew that I was always the right choice. Fools they thought naanu was about to pass it on to me, little did they know. Once I entered the hall, my eyes scanned the place like a hawk trying to cite my lady love. I saw her dressed in a peach gown dazzling away with all the diamonds that twinkled all over. My heart skipped a beat but when my eyes fell on the man standing next to her, fury filled in my veins. Rohan! She laughed at some silly joke that Rohan was telling. How could she. I almost strode to her only to be accosted by my mother. She looked kind of pale, the smile didn't reach her eyes and she regarded me with wariness.

Sameer: maa whats wrong? Is that Somani giving you a tough time?

Visakha: Sameer stop it! Stop calling him that he is your dad

Sameer: him being your husband doesn't make him my dad, he is Somani for me and will be the same forever. I think you shouldn't hope for this equation to change anytime. You are my mom and will remain so baaki mujhse expect mat kijiye ki main uss aadmi ko apna dad maanoo

Visakha: ok ok! Are you alright?

Sameer

The question didn't sit well with the day or the occasion, is my mother hinting at something I had no clue about?

Sameer: what do you mean? And why do you look so pale? Its naanu's birthday you should be celebrating also that foolish son of yours gonna get what he wanted for long. Then why are you looking so off kilter?

Visakha: you don't know?

I could see her eyes grow big like two big saucer, she had almost gasped the words out. The expression on her face changed to that of horror. And she caught me in the arm steering me towards a corner.

Visakha: Sameer beta, listen to me, this ..this..this.. what you are going to hear today even I didn't know about it for long and trust me I had no clue and also you remember I never really approved of her for you. She is....

Ladies and Gentleman my naanu's voice boomed over the microphone and we all turned towards him, he was smiling yet I could see his eyes twinkled a little less today. My mind swirled with all the words that my mother had spoken out all at once. What was she saying what did she mean when she said she never approved of her for me? What was happening? Before I could get hold of my own thoughts my naanu took centerstage while the spotlight moved over him.

Jaiprakash: so like everyone knows you get a year older and you get a year wiser but then you cant stop your failing health right? Though am still fit as a fiddle ready to run the marathon yet I think the time has arrived to pass on the baton, to the younger generation, who with their new ideas and sharp minds have so much more to explore and so much to delve into and offer. So with that intent I have arranged for this party. I intend to introduce you all to the next scion of the Maheshwari Industries.

His eyes moved across the room finding me and pinning me with his determined look

Jaiprakash: so the next man who takes over....

Somani: I think we should start with the less serious announcement don't you think, after all you got tow gifts today

Sameer

I could see my naanu's expression change from that of being determined and confident to that of anxiety and fear. Fear! My naanu and somewhere there was pain and he kept looking at me while that scoundrel Somani got Rohan on stage along with Her and her father. He signaled for my mother to join them on stage and she whispered a sorry before she took off. I was still at a loss. I could see Somani beck on my naanu to make some announcement. I tried looking her straight in the yes but then she averted my stares. She kept looking at that fool as if he was some cake. Naanu somehow had wriggled himself free from Somani and walked down the stage to stand next to me. He held me tight by the shoulders while we both looked on at the stage.

Somani: my father in law is a bit shy making these announcements but this is the surprise gift that my son planned for him on his special day and hence we are here to announce it to him and to the world. Beta Rohan care to speak?

While he kept on with his charade on stage, his eyes meandered across from me to his son to her and they all exchanged a look that seemed so sinister, that I trembled from within. Something was terribly off! But what? Before I could comprehend came that fools voice and my life didn't remain the same after that.

Rohan: the past few months have been eventful for me, coming back from US I tried my hand at my dad's firm succeeded faltered at times but learnt a great deal and in all of this one person remained constant with me, she saw me through the tough times especially through the failures that I encountered, when almost I gave up , she held my hand to see me through to bolster my confidence and then while we were in the process of learning all of this we learnt quite a bit about each other and that's when the cupid struck and today in the presence of all you dignitaries I am about to ask her to be mine. So Sunaina will you marry me?

He knelt down in front of her while the hall burst out in jubilation with people whistling and hooting for the new couple. I felt the ground slip beneath my feet. I could see her nodding her head furiously while she dabbed at her eyes at the tears of joy that spilled out and I stood like a statue. In the meantime Raghav came by and she stood close by me and whispered

Raghav: she was never the one for you.

They behaved like I never existed, she kept smiling at him while he held her up in his arms and twirled her around. My mother tried smiling for the benefit of her new family but she kept looking at me checking me through the corner of her eyes. I stood there transfixed, I could feel my naanu's hand go around me and he gave me that squeeze but I was numb. Shattered, my heart fell to pieces. How could she? This was the reason she avoided me in the last few months. She was involved with this fool. I knew about the internship but now it felt like a sham. I had never approved of her interning at the Somanis but then she wouldn't budge. So this was the reason. After the announcement of Sunaina and Rohan's engagement, it all moved in a blur for me though the Somani's had been shocked especially the snake! She had planned to marry that fool for all the moolah but then it all got transferred my way. Naanu moved up the podium and made the announcement that I was to take over from him. I moved in a daze while the press zoomed in on their cameras on my face while they went click click with and barelling in with their vollowy of questions. After the initial few questions that I dodged naanu's way, I took charge. No, this cant happen to me I thought, a woman cant make me feel so helpless and stunned. Forget woman no person on this planet is capable of doing so and hence then on I faced the press and answered their queries with finesse. Next I moved to the bar and got sloshed to my benefit, the night was tough and the ring in my pocket felt like a rock that burdened my soul.

So that's the story, that is the reason why I lost faith in love and stayed at bay from women in general

When I finished, I still had my back to her. We are at the farmhouse for our honeymoon, we had been sitting in the lounge while dusk had set in. we played a game of chess and I found out that she is one hell of a player my Naina. And while I teased her for the same she shot this question at me. About sunaina. The animosity is quite palpable ans I knew nothing missed Naina's eyes, she had been observant of the entire thing and I had been waiting for this question as well. And I wanted all the walls between us to diminish this honeymoon. I wanted her to know me inside out and hence I poured my heart out. The story that remained hidden from the world till date, she knew all about it now.

I stood at the window while silence prevailed in the air, I could feel the cool breeze on my face when a soft pair of arms splayed across my back to hold me tight. I could feel my shirt go wet, is she crying? I turned around at once, and I saw the tears that fell from her eyes. My Naina she is divine, she felt the pain of others and that made her cry! I took her in my arms at once and pulled her closer to me closest rather till even the air wouldn't pass between us when she sniffled something to me

Naina: how did you pull yourself through

I chuckled at her query, puller her closer I whispered

Sameer: I didn't have to since I realized I was never in love, it was only when I saw you I understood what love is. The way my heart would beat and the mere thought of seeing you with someone else made me want to tear his head off that's when I knew you are always forever meant to be mine.

With that I bent down to capture her lips with mine. I could feel the electricity, the sparks that flew at once when our lips met. She kept her eyes closed while she opened her herself up for me to explore. She felt soft like a feather, leaning on to me tiptoeing to reach my frame, while I smiled at her innocence. The kiss started as soft slowly started getting passionate and fierce, my hands moved at its own accord, shamelessly roaming along her curves while she gasped in surprise I took this opportunity to invade her mouth further. Our tongues entangled in a fierce but sweet battle. It felt like I couldn't get enough of her. The kiss continued till eternity while I slowly backed her to the wall, she seemed so soft and her softness drove me crazy. Soon my mouth left hers while it started exploring other soft spots. I kissed her along the jaw moving towards her slim neck while she trembled and gasped in my arms. I felt her pliant body surrender to my slow torture while I explored her nape leaving feather light cases. I discarded her dupatta throwing it away in the farthest of corners while I picked her up moving her towards our bedroom. While I laid her down on the bed, I saw her cheeks turn red in shyness while I slowly unbuttoned my shirt. She wouldn't look at me, rather I saw her looking at the bed side lamp going red with each ticking second. I came upon her startling her all at once.

Sameer: sweetheart am half naked already don't you think you too should shed some of the layers

She wouldn't say anything, rather she preferred to nod against my suggestion.

Sameer: c'mon my love, let me ravish you, cherish you, love you, make you mine

Naina: I am scared Sameer

Sameer : do you trust me?

Naina: yes

Sameer: then just trust me

With that I descended to disrobe her, with every article that came off she shied a little more going red as a tomato while I marveled at her beauty. She is perfect in every way. I kept losing myself in all of her. My mouth descended upon her mounds and curves leaving feather light kisses while she writhed and moaned in pleasure. Exploring her was a delight. I kept murmuring sweet nothings in her ears while I kissed her soft spots breathing in her being. Her shy touches along my form drove me mad. Her touches seemed innocent, tender, soft just like her being. The fact that this woman is mine to love and cherish made me wild. The soft touches soon were replaced by fervent hungry ones, I nipped her in places marking her my own while she offered herself selflessly leaning towards me all the more. We were meshed together in a war of love where it felt like I was the waves of the ocean who had found her shore in her and it felt like I was crashing into her soaking each other in a kind of love we had never known before. When it was time for the ultimate union, I looked into her eyes, and I gave her a tender kiss.

Sameer: baby it might hurt a bit but I promise I will be gentle

Naina: you can never hurt me

This confidence of hers in me made my heart swell, I looked into her orbs while we became one, I could see the lone tear that made way due to the friction and I kissed them away fusing our mouth together. The journey that began there on led us to a path of pleasure, she moved with me hand in hand, while I held on to her guiding her on this new found path. We loved each other to no end while the sweet nothing evaded us. We both drove towards it with equal fervor until we were drenched in the ecstasy never known before. She is mine and am all hers, ours is a forever.

Sameer

A morning like this, I had never in my wildest dreams envisioned, that I would marry, that I would wake up with an angel in my arms. She looked so pure, so divine, yet I could see the remnants of my love that I had left on her skin here and there. She unleashed a side of me which I had never known before. And I can never get enough of her and even yesterday I couldn't stop myself from taking her not once but twice. She looked tired yet so peaceful.

Sameer: hey lazy bones..

Naina: mmmm soney do naaa

Sameer: sona hi thaa toh honeymoon pe kyun aaye phir

Naina: abhi nahi please..main thak gayi hoon

Sameer: thik hain toh phir tumhara wedding gift ramdhari ko de aata hoon

The word gift always does the trick and this time I had my wife's full attention

Naina: what gift? You already did give me the gift right during the muh dikhai function

Sameer: yes I did but what about the Maheshwari tradition and that is yet to be fulfilled

Naina: what tradition?

Sameer: you would soon know my love but before that we need to shower

With that I almost picked her up in my arms while she very smartly escaped from my grasp giggling away.

Naina: maine kahan na, main thak gayi hoon, nahan k aati hoon

Sameer: let me give you some company

Naina: no way, you stay where you are till am back and then you can shower

Sameer: Naina...

I groaned in misery

Naina: Sameer haven't you heard of that saying, you have to wait for good things in life, so wait for that shower of yours, not today but someday, it's a promise

This woman is gonna be the death of me. She has her ways to render me speechless. Did she just promise me what I think she did.

Sameer

We were at the grounds, the farmhouse is stretched across acres of land, we were walking hand in hand, today she wore a white suit with simple diamond drops that naanu had gifted her. I was regaling her with stories of my childhood.

I remember as a kid I would often wander and lose my way and then naanu would send somebody out to get me. I chuckled at my own thoughts, those were the days. I would climb up the jamun tree to get the fruits since I had heard the doctor say that these had medicinal value that could be beneficial to my naanu. Once I fed him almost a kg in my bid to make him grow strong and he had ended up in the hospital with a bad case of food poisoning. My mother had been so mad at me, Naina, hearing all of it couldn't control her laughter, I could see the tears of joy that adorned her eyes and she looked so precious at the moment. And then the story when a girl had asked me out for a coffee date when I was in the 8th standard. I could suddenly see that her mood turned sombre and somewhere now she looked closely as if watching for any blush or smile. But then when I narrated the entire incident she burst out into peals of laughter. So you see this girl in my school Shefali happened to be a senior, just a year up, she was the hottest chick in the school and boys swooned after her but I was never really effected but I guess she had her sights set on me and hence one day after school while I was on my way out, she called out to me, when I turned I saw her coming towards me with a rose in hand. When she gave me the rose I was a little taken aback as I was not anticipating it but then she asked me what I was doing that evening. Like a fool I narrated her the entire routine, which included studies, sports, dinner and the bedtime. She had laughed at my innocence then but I found it to be dumb and the next thing I know, she asked me if I was free for a cup of coffee? Well usually the boys in my class would have taken the hint and jumped at the offer but I did the unthinkable. I asked her why? Yes I simply asked why? It was her turn to be stunned, next she was wriggling her hands gesturing with her eyes while I stood there squinting at her clumsiness and then I even went a step ahead and gave her a piece of advice, I told her that she didn't quite look well and that she needed to visit the doctor. She was left speechless, and then something red flashed across her eyes and next she gave me tight slap and the next day I was the laughing stock for the entire school and this went on for over a year. Sameer the guy who got slapped by Shefali.

Sameer: stop laughing will you?

Naina: why should i? it is funny

Sameer: yay a, yeh S naam waali ladkiyon mein hi problem hain

Naina: acha aur ladkon mein problem nahi hain

Sameer: what do you mean?

Naina: acha, you don't know, tell me which guy asks why when asked for a date

I smiled

Sameer: how would I know she was asking me out on one

Naina: wasn't it obvious?

Sameer: no and waise bhi kuch khaas pasand nahi thi mujhe yeh school k saare ladkon ki dream girl thi meri nahi

Naina: acha toh aapki dream girl kaun thi?

Sameer: meri dream girl?

Naina: haan

Sameer: meri dream girl meri biwi hain

Naina: acha

Sameer: ji haan koi shaq?

Naina: hmm who gift dekhne k baad bataongi

Sameer: thik hain toh chaliye aapka gift aapko dikhaate hain

Naina: aur kitni der chalna hoga, kitna chal liye , yeh gift paane k liye kaafi mehnat lag rahi already

Sameer: its worth it darling just wait and watch

With that I led her down a narrow path and then towards the cottage, that housed her gift now. She looked at me perplexed.

Naina: yeh cottage gift hain?

Sameer: no it inside

Naina: whats inside?

Sameer: you ask too many questions

Naina: you never give straight answer, hence

I simply moved ahead and opened the doors and led her, rather pushed her inside, and then I had rendered her speechless

Sorry for the delay, hope its worth it will wait for your review