Chapter 32: chapter 32

Mowri   sat in the car as it went towards the market. Arnab   had got stuck in some work and had called her to tell her he would be late.But he had arranged a car for her to go and get whatever she needed. Mowri   sighed. She had wanted to go with him. Recently she had noticedshe wated to be around him more than she liked. She was learning so much from him but it was not just that, this strange link she sharedwith him pulled her towards him no matter how much she resisted. A lot of men would find thatflattering but if Arnab   came to know about it she was sure he would get uncomfortable.He was everything she had wanted in a husband.Kind, understanding, compassionate, inteligent, there was a bit of arrogance in himn too and it suited him but in all he was a great guy. And sometimes she could see his hang ups. Despite his confidence he sometimes seemed unsure.Why was that? Was it because of his first marriage? Could be. Sarla had told her he had been riddled with doubts and guilt after hismarriage broke. But for such a smart person she was confused to see how he didn't realize that she was a different person and this was a different situation. Even if it were the same situation which was not the case she would react differently. She took in a deep breath. What could she say? She herself had hang ups. She still couldn't bring herself to fully believe in him either. Not yet. But she was on her way. The more time she spent with him the faster she would reach destination Trustville.After he had left this morning she had found his comment thought provoking. She analyzed how she had lived her life in the past five years. Alone. Loneliness did that to you. Anger too.But she would have shattered if she hadn't letbanger find roots inside her. She hadn't been this way before. Always ignoring things when they happened treating them as life's trivial challenges and then when the biggest challenge came she failed, miserably unable to deal with the pain and shame. So she had created this shell around her a sort of boomerang effect where whoever shot things at her would receive it right back with the same intensity that they had thrown at her. Though her shel was not perfect.But it kept her safe. And now she was here with a man who seemed too good to be true. What was she supposed to do? Let go of her carefullycreated shell and open herself to see if she would get hurt again or this time round life had provided her with a shield that would protect her indefinitely while she came into her own. It was a tough decision. And it was all a matter of trustagain.She had then decided it was too much thinking and gone ahead and called Sarla and Rajesh to see how they were doing. And at the delight she heard in their voices she felt good. Then she had called Jay who complained about the hot weather in Bangalore and the work that had piled up in the past one week that he hadn't been there. She had called up beeji too to see how she was recovering from all the hustle bustle from last week. Reluctantly she had called her mother. Roop had been all gaga over how everything had gone so smoothly and that all the guests had finally left satisfied. She had asked how Mowri   was faring and she had replied she was fine. She didn't know how to talk to her mother anymore neither did her mother. They had become strangers. But she thought it was for the better.The car came to a stop. She got down and the driver told her he would wait in the parking lot on the other side. He even gave his number to her in case she needed help or didn't know which way to go. She thanked him and lookedaround her. Pathankot was not a big bustling city. She watched as people went about their business. Vendors, shopkeepers, book stalls, eating places. Yup a typical view of a market.She went to the grocery store with her list of items. He told her it would take a while before he got everything ready so she gave him someadvance and went towards the vegetable market.Not sure what Arnab   liked to eat she took a little of almost everything. For two people one really did not need a lot. She was not an enthusiastic cook but she liked to eat. Even in Delhi she would cook for herself most times. When she returned to the shop for her groceries she realized she had spent practically all her money. Damn. She hadn't spoken to Arnab   about how she could use money till she started earning again. It was important and she had talked about everything but that. So far she had used her own account.In Chandigarh she didn't need to take any money out because everything was provided for by her in laws or Arnab  . Certain times of course she hadn't known how to ask Arnab   for cash so she had used her own but she couldn't do that for a long time. She will have to ask him. Besides this was all for the house so ideally he should pay for it, but he would have had he been there. She carried the heavy load and started back for the parking lot. Money was not a big issue but they should be clear on certain things. As she walkedpast a chaat stall she bumped into a lady and she immediately apologized."I am sorry" Mowri   said."It is alright," the woman replied pleasantly, "themarket is too crowded today" she said with a smile.Mowri   looked at her. She wasn't all that old. And she was big and pregnant. She had a pretty face.About a couple of inches shorter than her and round because of the advanced stage of her pregnancy. She hada pleasant smile on her face."I  am really sorry I didn't see you were..." Mowri  said and was interrupted by her."Pregnant?" the other girl said and laughed, "It is probably not so much your fault but mine that we bumped. With this thing"' she said patting her belly, "l am half the time just out of balance," she said and laughed. Mowri   smiled. Normally people were rude or irritated if someone bumped into them she clearly was different."By the way my name is Jaswinder but you can call me Jassi," she said and extended her hand.Mowri   took her hand in hers and shook it gently.Jassi seemed to be a chatterbox considering how she introduced herself to a perfect stranger so easily. But she was educated too. Mowri   could see that. The way she talked, her mannerisms."Mowri  ," she replied."New here" Jassi asked."Yes, Mowri   said, "my husband works here," she said feeling comfortable with the other girl."Oh, is it?" Jassi said enthusiastically, "Wow mine too, she said, "he is with the army serving as a doctor in the army hospital at the Cantonment,"'she said."Well, Arnab   too,' Mowri   said, "only he is with the intelligence and strategic wing," she said."You are Arnab   Malhotra's wife?" Jassi said incredulously.That made Mowri   a little conscious. She wasn't sure how Jassi knew about Arnab   but apparently she did."Yes, Mowri   replied cautiously."Wow," Jassi said and then hugged her. Mowri   couldn't do anything with both her hands full ofbags. So she just stood there wondering whathad warranted such a display of emotion. "I am so sorry I couldn't come for your wedding what with me being pregnant and my husband being paranoid about me travelling anywhereat this stage," she said and rolled her eyes, "I have been meaning to meet you. I am so glad I met you here" she said and Mowri   smiled a little consciously. "So you are the girl who finally got him hooked huh she said humorously andMowri   raised an eyebrow, "dont get me wrong but both me and Harpreet, that is my husband by the way, have been trying to get him hooked up with someone but he was never interested," shesaid with a shrug, "but we were happy for him when he told us he was getting married only we couldn't make it" she said unhappily."You and Arnab   are friends" Mowri   asked."No, I met him when l got married five years ago." Jassi said, "he and Harpreet are great friends and they go back to their NDA days' she told her with a smile, "but it is such a relief. You know Arnab   had changed so much after his divorce but it was good in a way. Nisha   was such a bitch," she said makinga face as if she had just eatensomething bitter and then she clamped her hand on her mouth, "l am so sorry I shouldn't have saidthat," she said and apologized."That is okay" Mowri   said, "l don't know the woman so," she said and shrugged."Great" Jassi said smiling again, "just don't tell Harpreet, he will throw a fit over my manners in our vey first meeting," she said and winked,"what with my hormones and all he is anyway on a short leash these days," she told her.Mowri   smiled."Your first?" Mowri   asked."Yes," Jassi said proudly, "this could have been a second one but" she said and left it there, "so what are you doing this Friday?" she asked.Mowri   had heard the slight pain when she had mentioned that this could have been her second baby. Maybe she had lost her first pregnancy.She understood this was a touchy topic. So she answered her question."I have no clue but I guess nothing," Mowri   said."Great" Jassi said enthusiastically, "come over for dinner" she said, 'since we didnt come for your weding this would be a great opportunityto get to know each other," she said."I don't know" Mowri   said hesitantly, "| will ask Arnab  ' she said.She wasn't sure if she should accept this invitation or not. What if Arnab   had some otherplan? What if he didn't like her accepting thisinvitation without his permission? Why was she overthinking things? She wasn't like this. Hesitant about things or decisions."Oh, come on," Jassi said, "how long have you known Arnab  ?" she asked."About a month," Mowri   said tentatively."I have known him for over five years now" Jassi said. "he is a sweetheart and he never says no to me" she said proudly, "I am like the sister he never had so trust me you just have to tell him I invited you guys over and he would understand you had no chance to say no," she said lightly, "I am a buly he knows that," she said and smiled broadly. Mowri   was not sure but she took the girl on her word."Okay" Mowri   said, "do you want me to get something," she asked."Are you kidding me," Jassi said, "Harpreet will kill me,' she said in mock fea, "and don't go on my condition either I am fit as a fiddle," she said and laughed.Mowri   realized she was a nice girl. And she really couldn't say no to her not with that smile she had on her face."Okay" Mowri   said."Good now give me your number and I will let you know the time etc." she said and took out her cellphone.Mowri   gave her number and Jassi hugged her again before she left saying bye.This was the first time Mowri   had made a friend this fast. Usually she took her time. But then Jassi had an infectious personality. Mowri   smiled as she watched her walk away actually walk Would be a bad word, waddle away. She walked like a penguin. Mowri   sighed as she turned in the opposite direction. She went towards the parking lot and found her car. The driver helped her with her bags and they went back towards the house.For some strange reason she had a feeling Jassi was not going to leave her alone. How right she was going to be she would find out pretty soon.************