Chapter 8: Getting to Know you

"Pooja.. I am a little confused," Mandira spoke over the phone the next day, "I just got a call from Kabir Mittal's office telling me that we should pay a visit to his office by the end of the week. That we can sign the lease and contracts on the new premises he found for us"

"Ah yes, that would be right," Pooja replied

"But I thought he was only going to let us have them if you agreed to marry him, did you get him to change his mind?"

"Not exactly," Pooja trailed off with a certain reluctance, not sure how she was going to break the news to Mandira, "Actually I was the one who changed my mind"

"What?" Mandira demanded, wondering if she had heard right

"Well the more I thought about it, it seemed the right thing to do," Pooja told her

"What, marrying a man who you hardly know?"

" Well now I will have all the time to know him better," Pooja pointed out

"But last night you talked as if he was the last person you wanted to be with" Mandira pointed out in bewilderment.

"Well, like I said, I changed my mind"

Mandira paused, "You don't have to do this, I told you, we can find another way"

"I know, but there might not be another way, I can't let the Refuge close. What would happen to all those women that need us?" Pooja replied, "Trust me Mandira, I know what I am doing; everything will be ok," she then tried to reassure her

Mandira sighed heavily at the other end of the line, "I can't believe you are going to go through with this, are you sure? He didn't force you into changing your mind?" she then asked in concern

"No, that was not the reason, in fact he was expecting me to say no and was very apologetic," Pooja replied, "I guess I just realised that maybe it I was a bit hasty in rejecting his offer, the more I thought about it, the more it started to appeal to me"

"And does Kabir Mittal appeal to you?" Mandira then asked

"What kind of question is that?"

"Well c'mon Pooja, the man wants you to have his kids. You are going to be getting more than a little intimate with him. You do realise that don't you?" Mandira demanded

"Yes, of course I do, I am not stupid," Pooja replied

"Well how do you feel about it?"

"Well I haven't given it that much thought yet, to be honest," Pooja admitted uneasily

"Well I think you had better, just so you realise you know what exactly you are letting yourself in for. He is not going to be happy marrying you, then you suddenly finding you are physically turned off by each other?"

"Well he would hardly ask me to marry him and have his children if he didn't think he could share his bed with me," Pooja pointed out

"True I guess, but what about you? Would you be happy sharing his bed?"

"Well like you pointed out last night, he is not exactly unattractive," Pooja replied defensively, " Anyway, I'll jump that hurdle when I come to it"

"Just as long as you know what you are doing," Mandira said, still not convinced

"I do, and I am sure everything will be fine," Pooja told her, uncertain if he was trying to reassure her friend, or herself.

But any doubts or worries Pooja felt, were banished a few days later when she had the chance to show her friend the new premises Kabir had offered them. The expression on Mandira's face alone made it all seem worthwhile

"I know you told me it was good, but I never realised how good," Mandira confessed in awe

"Well now perhaps you will understand why the thought of turning this place down would not have been easy for me It was too good an opportunity to miss out on, when I think of what we can do" Pooja then said.

"I just can't believe it," Mandira replied, "That this place is going to be ours, Kabir Mittal doesn't do things half way does he?"

"I guess not," Pooja smiled, "But he can afford it I suppose"

"Well he is still getting the best of the bargain, having you for his wife," Mandira said, making Pooja's face heat up, "And I will tell him so, when I see him," she stated.

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Pooja wasn't sure how she would feel having to face Kabir again now knowing she had actually agreed to become his wife. His legal team had taken care of sorting out the new Refuge with Mandira and the other board members of the Haven. So by the end of the week the place was officially theirs to do as they liked.

She had still not seen or heard from him, and she wasn't sure whether to be pleased or annoyed. Now he had got what he wanted, did he intend to just ignore her till it suited him? she found herself wondering in irritation. If he expected her to phone him up or run after him, he had another thing coming.

Besides, she rationalised it wasn't like they were really a couple.. It was more like a business deal. She was just a tad anxious about the further details it would entail, now she had agreed to go along with it. Just wanting to know where she stood in the grand scheme of things.

But Kabir didn't keep her in the dark for too long. He turned up at the new Refuge one evening unexpectedly. She and Mandira and a few others were sorting things out for the big move.

He then pulled her aside so they could talk in private. Pooja suddenly felt a little nervous, not sure how she should behave around him. After all her last face to face conversation with him had not ended very pleasantly. Now she was contemplating being his wife sometime in the near future, it still seemed very unreal

"Sorry I haven't been in touch sooner," he apologised, "As you can imagine I have had a lot to sort out with our new turn of circumstances. And I guessed you would be busy with helping the Women's Refuge, getting moved into their new place so I have left it until now"

"Of course," Pooja replied as if she knew this all along.

"Anyway I dropped by tonight to see how things are going at your end, and also to let you know that I have arranged for us to spend next week in Rome for a break"

"P-Pardon?" Pooja blinked at him, not sure she had heard him right

He smiled patiently at her confused look, "Well I thought it would be a good idea for us to have some time together, away from it all, to get to know each other a little better. I don't intend for us to just marry straight away when we are practically strangers, that wouldn't do at all" he explained,

"I guess not," Pooja agreed, realising he was probably right.. But taking her to Rome, just the two of them? She had not really expected that. She had never travelled abroad, or been out of India, the idea had never occurred to her.

She didn't particularly want to go to Rome to get to know him better. Why couldn't they get to know each other better where they were?

"Well I don't know if I can make it, I mean Mandira is probably going to need me here with us moving and everything,"

"Mandira is fine with you going, I have already spoken with her earlier on the phone, she thinks it's a great idea," Kabir replied

"She does?" Pooja couldn't hide her surprise, and slight dismay that Mandira was already aware of all this, and hadn't said anything. But had still actually give her approval

"Well, I am not so sure I can get of work in such short notice," she then realised

"If they don't give you time off, just hand them in your notice. You are hardly going to be working there anyway, once you become my wife," Kabir pointed out easily

"I suppose I won't be," Pooja frowned in realisation, feeling like her whole world was being turned upside down inside the space of her ten minute conversation with Kabir

"Don't look so worried," Kabir told her seeing her expression, "I thought it would help us getting away, It will be somewhere we can unwind and relax, and get to know each other better. Where we can find out our likes and dislikes, as well as how we will deal with each other.. We will be staying at a nice hotel, and of course, we will be in separate rooms," he informed her, his brown eyes resting on her steadily to study her reaction.

She felt her cheeks redden, then lowered her eyes, "That's very considerate of you, thank you." she manage to reply

"So its settled then?" Kabir replied with a hint of satisfaction, "Good, I am glad we got that sorted, I will give you a call soon to let you know the rest of the details" he promised before leading her back to the others calling out cheerfully,

"OK girls, you can have her for a while again. But after next week I will be claiming her company exclusively to myself. So make the most of it now, while you got her"

"Too right we will," Mandira chuckled back.

Once Kabir was gone Pooja found herself surrounded by the other women, they all started talking excitedly about her trip to Rome, and how lucky she was.

Pooja forced herself to smile, but somehow she couldn't muster up the same enthusiasm as her friends for the forthcoming trip.

She was feeling nervous for what lay ahead. She would be in a strange city in a strange country, with Kabir Mittal who was also practically a stranger as well, and they would be more or less alone!