Chapter 33

Raj and I went out after leaving his parent's home.

It took a weight from us when we left. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag habang pansin ko naman ang paggaan din ng expression ng mukha ni Raj. It wasn't as stiffed before we arrived there. Nagkausap din sila ng stepmom niya so I think that lessen the stress going on between them. Ayokong magsimula ng usapan. Pansin naman kay Raj na ayaw niyang pag-usapan iyong nangyari kanina.

"You should call your parents as soon as we get home," sabi ni Raj sa akin.

Mabilis naman akong tumango. "Ah, yes. I will do that. . ." Tatahimik pa sana ako, pero gusto ring tumalak ng bibig ko. Hindi ako mapakali. Gusto kong sabihin kung anong mga tumatakbo sa isipan ko ngayon. Sasabog lang ako kung hindi ko sasabihin sa kanya. "Raj, I just want to say I'm sorry for eveyrthing I've done to you."

"No, no. It's okay, Kash."

I shook my head as I was against what he said. "No, no. It's not okay. I felt like most of the things that happened out here were because of my impulsive decision. I really thought coming to Mumbai was a bad thing since everything was fine for you until I came along. . ."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Kash."

"I'm trying not to be, but what's happening right now I felt like it was all because of me," pag-amin ko. 

"Hey, hey. No, it's not all because of you," he said, reaching for my hand and squeezing it softly. "I was the one who put you in this situation so it was my fault. You told me before you already got a job offer from some company, but then I pitched you a deal where you can get more from it. I didn't want to do it, but my life is so suck and I put you in this drama. Things could've been done differently. Now we're on this road together. Technically and legally, you're my wife now so I'll do my best to support you. We'll get through this together, alright?"

I nodded. "Alright. I trust you. Always have been."

He smiled at me. "Thank you. Now, eat your dinner. I don't want any leftovers on your plate."

I smiled and a little giggle slipped out. "I will, sir. . ."

Nagpatuloy lang kami sa pagkain ni Raj. At this time, we were having a good time and talked about what we did in Vegas. Naikwento niya rin sa akin ang iba pang napag-usapan nila ni Devin na hindi niya nabanggit sa akin habang nando'n pa kami. Devin told Raj that he believed Cely could be pregnant again and she wasn't just telling anyone else until she was ready. I literally gasped when he said that as I felt like she was. I would keep that as a secret for now dahil ayokong mapahamak ang ibang tao sa kakagawan ko.

Bukod pa ro'n ay nagbabalak daw na bumisita sila ulit sa Mumbai at kapag nagkataon ay sila naman ang ililibot namin. Raj laughed at the thought na kung mag-stay sila sa bahay niya ay baka manliit lang sila dahil hindi katulad sa mansion nila sa Vegas na halos isang mall na ang kalaki no'n. Parang hindi na magkikita ang bawat taong nakatira do'n.

It would be much fun if they would be able to come and visit us soon, but Raj and I hope they can do that once everything is good out here. Hindi kasi mapapanatag ang isip namin kung may mga sitwasyon kaming iniintindi. Baka hindi lang namin matuon ang atensyon namin sa mga bisita at masayang lamang ang pagpunta nila. Hindi biro ang twenty hours of flight papunta't pabalik. Pagod na pagod ang katawan ko ngayon kaya sinabi ni Raj sa akin na hindi muna kami papasok sa trabaho bukas since they knew we wouldn't be coming back so soon, but here we are.

It would still be a question for me on how long Raj and I would be in this situation where I have to be his wife. Agreeing with Raj to do this with him also benefit in me some way, pero kung magpapatuloy ang sitwasyon na hindi ko na alam kung saan ako lulugar ay hindi ko na sigurado kung magtitino pa ang utak ko.

"Raj," pagtawag ko sa kanyang pansin. "What should I say to my parents about our marriage? I've already had a gut feeling they would be mad at me for entering this situation."

"Say that it was because of me," he said. "You were just trying to help me. You can go into detail so they know the truth. Do you want me to talk with them?"

"Ah, I think I can do it," sabi ko pa kahit na hndi naman ako sigurado. "I'm just scared they would be mad at me for doing this."

"Just tell them the truth," he advised. "We had a deal and that was why we got into this situation. Our marriage won't be permanent if that's one of the reasons they would be mad at you. I can talk to them."

"I'll let you know once we talked," sabi ko na lamang sa kanya.

Saglit lang din naman ay natapos na rin kaming kumain. Gusto na rin naming magpahinga. Sa hinaba-haba ng biyahe naming dalawa, we only wanted to get back to our beds and have a good rest. Sabay kaming lumabas ni Raj ng restaurant at saka kami tumungo sa sasakyan. I was looking around dahil baka bigla na namang sumulpot si Pavan. He always surprised us in our vulnerable position so whatever he was trying to do, hindi na niya mauulit 'yon.

Raj's drive back to his house was quiet and fast. Ipinaalalahanan niya muli ako na kausapin ko ang parents ko bago kami maghiwalay at tumungo sa sarili naming kwarto. As soon as I got in my room, I took my time preparing myself. I took a shower, changed into my comfortable sleeping nightwear, and asked Areesha if I could get some tea. I waited for her to give it to me until there was nothing I could do.

I grabbed my phone. Sa ganitong oras na gising pa naman sila. It was nine in the evening back in Manila at madaling araw na rito sa Mumbai. Hindi ako makatulog dahil inaalala ko ito, pero sinunod ko na lamang ang sinabi ni Raj sa akin at saka ko sila tinawagan.

It only took a few rings before they answered the video call.

"Kashmir! My daughter! How are you?" bungad ni papa sa akin.

Napahugot ako nang malalim na hininga. "I'm good, pa. We're back na sa Mumbai."

"Oh! You're in Mumbai already? You were in Vegas just a few hours ago. . ." taka pa nitong tanong.

"We went home right after Raj's father called him about our marriage," diretsahan ko nang sinabi dahil alam ko na mapupunta rin ang usapan namin kaya inunahan ko na. "Before you would say anything, please let me explain first. Hindi ko ito ginawa for fun o kung sa anumang kalokohan. It was to help Raj for some reason and doing that ay tinulungan niya rin ako."

"Okay, okay. Tell me exactly what happened."

Napahugot ako nang malalim na hininag. Pinigilan kong maluha dahil ayokong makita nila akong mahina. Ito rin naman ang inaalala ko no'n na darating sa punto na malalaman nila ang totoo sa mga pinaggagawa ko rito sa Mumbai.

"When I came here, I had a hard time in looking for a job. Halos failed lagi ako. Gusto ko na sanang bumalik sa Pilipinas, pero inisip ko kung anong sacrifice ang binigay niyo para lang makapunta ako rito. When I met Raj again, we made a deal. He would refer me to a job at the company he works at in exchange of getting married to him."

"That's a stupid deal, Kashmir," he commented. As I expected he would say that to me.

"But we were only pretending for the first time. He had to do it because he didn't want his father to arrange himself getting married to someone he didn't even love. The marriage was the breaking point of his relationship with his father. He doesn't want him to control his life anymore because of what happened in the past because guess what, Raj is a Carrington."

"Who?" he questioned.

"Ah, never mind, but his mom is a part of a wealthy family in Las Vegas," simple kong paliwanag. "But when he found out that our marriage was fake through you, Raj and I got married in Vegas for real because he knew once we got back in Mumbai, his father would continue in arranging for him to marry the daughter of Gaandi."

Hindi nagsalita si papa sa mga sinabi ko. Hindi ko rin sigurado kung naintindihan niya ang sinabi ko dahil ang sunod na lang niyang ginawa ay pinatayan ako nito ng tawag. Natulala na lamang ako habang iniisip na nagalit nga siya sa akin. I tried to expain it to him, pero hahayaan ko na lang muna siguro hanggang sa lumipas ang sitwasyong ito. For now, I need to know how Raj can get out of this situation so we would be able to fly to Vegas again and file for our divorce.

***