Chapter 50: chapter 50

Mowri woke up to a bright sunny day. She watched as Arnab  slept in. She was surprised but she guessed he was tired after yesterday evening. The party hadn't ended till midnight. Besides he had been made to dance with her, not to mention he had stopped to help after the party got over which had been late into the night. She had wanted to help but he had asked her to get some sleep. She had thought of waiting up but the moment her head had touched the pillow she had fallen asleep. She had a vague idea about the time he had come in about three in the morning. Plus he had been up since five the previous morning and the office work and the drive. She watched him as he slept. Funny how she had never noticed how peaceful he looked when he slept. Maybe because they both were early risers. She smiled then got up quietly and went to get ready. She was sure another pre-engagement party was to take place this evening and as more people would arrive every hand would be needed to help out. She decided to let Arnab  rest a bit morebefore she brought his tea.After she had taken a bath and changed she crept out of the room because she knew Arnab  was a light sleeper. Then went down the stairs to the kitchen. The servants had already begun preparations for morning tea. For the meals there were already a separate group of people who were taking care of breakfast, lunch and dinner. She supervised before her mother arrived. Mowri greeted her mother and heard her mother respond hesitantly. Mowri sighed and taking two cups of tea left. She had almost reached her room when she met Simrit on the stairs. She was still in her night clothes yawning away."Up quite early aren't you?" she commented as she saw her all ready.Mowri refused to answer and moved to the side to walk past her."Taking tea for your dear husband," Simrit snickered, "I never knew you to be so devoted," she taunted.Mowri gritted her teeth. She remembered it was Kulraj's event and she should not let Simrit affect her so. She kept going."Marriage did really good for you," Simrit called out and Mowri paused, "you should have gotten married to the first person after your engagement broke," she said sarcastically.Mowri turned and smiled coldly."At least marriage did something good for me whether it is soon or late time will tell," she said and smiled sarcastically, "unfortunately for you it didn't do anything except make you worse," she said, "I think you should never have gotten married at least you were tolerable before but now," she said and shook her head as if pitying her and smiling went off towards her room.She had seen the fury in Simrit's eyes before she had turned and walked off. She knew for sure Simrit wouldn't let this end here. She had seen the determination in the set of her jaw. Oh, it seemed it was going to be a long day. She entered her room and found Arnab  was already up and dressed. He was still in his way to wear his sandals."Good morning," she said with a smile. Her small meeting with Simrit forgotten. For the past few days Arnab  had become more important than anything else. And she wanted to savor these moments without delving too deep in to her feelings for now."Good morning," Arnab  replied with a smile."You missed a great opportunity," Mowri said as she went to put the tray on the table."Opportunity?" Arnab  asked confused."Yup," Mowri said lightly, "a great opportunity of being pampered with tea in bed," she said and smiled mischievously, "now you will just have to do with tea in the room and take it yourself too," she said as she took a cup for herself and sat in the chair.Arnab  smiled. He liked this lighter side of Mowri. Her little teases, her mischievous smiles, the twinkle in her eyes. He had been concerned last evening what with Varun and Simrit around but then he had relaxed as he realized she didn't want to give in to any of their provocations. She seemed happy and that much elusive quality of patience seemed to be very much present yesterday. The fact that she could take jokes when handed out and give them back hadn't escaped his notice. Nisha had never been the one to take any jokes and the jokes she played on others were well...they couldn't really be classified as something that one could laugh about."Actually for that I should have slept a little longer," he said, "by the way why didn't you wake me?" he asked."Because you looked so cute as you slept," Mowri said as she sipped her tea and at the raised eyebrow at the adjective she had used to describe him she said, "you know ugly but tolerable," she said and at the winced look on his face laughed out loud."That is something no one ever said to me," he said acting hurt."Yeah, well truth hurts besides there is always a first time," she said still laughing knowing fully well he didn't take her teases seriously."Well I had one of those moments yesterday Mowri," Arnab  said slowly wondering if he was doing the right thing by saying what was on his mind but then they were friends she should be able to understand, "when you showed restraint in the face of blatant hostility," he said and watched her.She looked at him then looked away. She had understood what he had meant. But he couldn't tell if she was upset about it or not because he couldn't see her face clearly."I am not critiquing you Mowri," Arnab  explained, "I was kind of proud and surprised," he said and then gave a faint smile as he came and stood right before her forcing her to look up, "I was proud you showed that kind of restraint when the other person was clearly trying to goad you into saying or doing something wrong and I was surprised because you have never done that before," he told her gently."Lately I have begun doing things I don't normally do," she said sullenly, "I guess being with you is a bad influence," she murmured.Arnab  laughed at her reply and then cupping her face in the palm of his hands kissed her forehead."You are really cute you know that," he said playfully, "and I don't mean the dictionary version," he said in mock sternness then as he unconsciously stroked her cheek, "I am beginning to think you are for real Mowri don't make me believe otherwise," he said.Mowri didn't know what to make of his last sentence. Her heart was beating so loud it had practically deafened her to all he was saying. His nearness playing havoc. That kiss he had placed on her forehead had seemed more brotherly and though her mind had protested wanting a proper kiss fit for his wife her heart had softened and turned all gooey. He was so adorable she wanted to eat him alive if she could. Not literally but what she meant was that though it was only a short time that they had known each other Mowri had started feeling that they belonged together. That they were supposed to do right by each other. Which only meant one thing that she was perilously close to losing her heart and she was not sure if that would be the best thing to do. Because she still wasn't sure as to where she stood with him in regards to Nisha. And that dampened her spirits.After that little scene they chitchatted a bit more finishing their morning tea then went down together and had breakfast with everyone. Slowly as the morning progressed everyone started pitching in for the preparations for the evening. Where Varun had taken the initiative of getting arrangements for the dhol player Arnab  had been given responsibility to get the flowers the workers needed for decoration. Though Mowri had wanted to go with him she was supposed to help her mother and aunt with the guests and get the presents in order. Simrit had of course taken charge of just creating scenes and finding faults with everything the others did.Speaking of which Mowri was controlling her temper with her bare teeth by noon. Simrit hadn't let any opportunity pass her by. If there were none available she constructed them. She had made sure she was always around Mowri passing comments, unwanted sarcasm, even casting snide and rude remarks. Mowri kept reminding herself about Kulraj and kept thinking about Arnab  and what he had told her this morning. He had been proud of her yesterday and she wanted to maintain that pride she also hoped he would arrive sooner and get her out of this situation.They were now in a room where the presents were being wrapped and when Mowri got up to get more gift wraps Simrit deliberately bumped into her causing the entire packet to fall. Mowri straightened and saw her snicker."Now look what you did," Simrit said, "marriage has made you clumsier than ever," she said and snickered.The challenge in Simrit's eyes could not be ignored and Mowri was done taking her nonsense. To hell with what anybody would think even Arnab  for that matter, he and his pride in her could take a backseat because she knew Simrit wouldn't give up till she gave her a fitting reply. And after all she had said and done in the past twenty four hours or so Mowri was done with her. Though she decided to keep it low with so many people around she was sure Simrit would just try and act smart and that was it. This would get over quickly after all the elders of the family were present too.What she didn't know was that Simrit was in a dangerous mood today. She wasn't going to pretend anymore. In order to throw Mowri off balance she would go to the lengths of unmasking herself. Her jealousies and insecurities were many to keep them contained anymore. And then it began.**************