Chapter 34: chapter 34

CHAPTER-13GOWRIThe whole school is decorated beautifully for the trustee’s visit. Students in various costumes walk around. This is an important event for the school. I walk in awe as I see all the adornments on the school.“There you are Gowri,” calls Renu madam coming toward me.“Good Morning,” I greet her.She is dressed in a yellow silk saree on behalf of the occasion. Her hair is tied in a neat bun. She is wearing pretty jewellery matching her outfit. She looks a lot younger than her original age.“Gowri, you look pretty awful today,” she criticizes my simple clothes.I give her a shrug and don’t allow her criticism to consume my mind. I am in my normal work outfit which is a cotton kurta and palazzo pants along with a shawl. I am wearing my usual accessories and absolutely no makeup. Yes, when compared to the other female staff I am very much underdressed but I am not that enthusiastic to meet the school trustee.“Well, today is a special occasion and you must have groomed yourself up nicely to impress the trustee,” she advises me.“But why should I dress up for him?”“Stupid girl. You have to impress him to get married to him.”I am about to argue but a little girl interrupts us. She is dressed in a white frock and is of the reception party that is awaiting the arrival of the trustee at the entrance of the school. The girl points her hands frantically toward the gate and tells, “He came soon.”Renu madam mutters, “I already knew it.”Her confused eyes turn warm and cheerful as she looks towards the gate. A car enters the building. I freeze.AM I  HALLUCINATING?Even in the distance, I could identify the car and its driver so easily.Shiva.What is he doing here? The band for the chief guest starts playing. The realization comes in late. He is the school’s trustee. A huge grin breaks out on my face and I bite my lip to keep myself from laughing about the situation.Renu madam wants me to marry my husband for the second time. How clueless she is?I rack my brain for any instances of me mentioning this school name to Shiva. Alas, not even in one instance did I tell him this school name nor did he ask about it. I was vague in the description of my problem with Jay that it never occurred to me to mention the name of the school.I am not sure how Shiva would react to me being here. The best thing I could do is act like I don’t know him. The special program for the trustee starts and I try to be far away from him as much as possible. I don’t want to get in his sight so soon.🍀🍀🍀🍀Half an hour later, the programs are all over and I have successfully hidden myself out of Shiva's sight. But I am not that lucky because as soon as the school starts to disperse to their respective classes, Renu madam calls my name on the mike. Half the school hears the urgency in her voice and I get funny and curious looks from students and staff.I slowly walk backstage knowing full well what is about to happen.Sure enough, she is standing there with Shiva.  I try my best to avoid eye contact with Shiva and keep a neutral face. But the curiosity gets the better of me I look at him to see what his reaction is seeing me there. Our eyes meet. His eyes neither show surprise nor anger. He is trying hard to suppress a smile just like me. I suddenly feel like a teen girl who is doing something secretly. His eyes get a playful gleam.“This is…?” he asks pointing to me but looking at Renu madam who is watching us like hawk.“She is Gowri. The woman who does counselling for the students and staff.”“Oh,” he tells as if he has a vague remembrance of hearing about me. “Nice meeting you, Miss. Gowri,” he extends his hand towards me.His emphasis on ‘Miss’ doesn’t escape my attention. I smile back and shake his hand. “It is my pleasure to meet you,” I tell in a pleasant tone. Shiva raises his eyebrow in question.Renu madam is thoroughly enjoying our exchange. If only she knew our relationship.“I will leave you both for a moment. I have got urgent work to do,” Renu madam tells and walks away without waiting for an answer.The Cupid Is Doing Her Work!“So, I never knew that you were the counsellor of this school,” Shiva comments in a low tone.“I never knew you were the trustee of this school either,” I tell in an accusatory tone.He starts walking and I am surprised at his slow pace. We both stroll in silence. Students greet him with wide eyes and bright smiles. He is an important member of the school. Shiva greets them back with a genuine smile.“You have come here the previous years?” Shiva asks with a hint of amusement in his voice.I nod.“Then why haven't I seen you here before?”“It is because I usually stay only one week for counselling in schools. Usually, I do counselling when the exams are near. But this year...,” I trail off not wanting to finish the sentence.“But isn't it somewhat dramatic that we must meet this year?”“Yeah, it is really surprising. I have heard about you but I never gave second thoughts to it.”“I guess this is what we call ‘Destiny’,” he says with a chuckle doing air quotes.“Renu madam is trying to set us up for marriage,” I tell him when we reach the far corner of the school.  “I know. She has been doing that ever since my first year here.”“You have met other girls? How many did she try to set you up with?” I ask trying to sound casual and indifferent. But Shiva's teasing smile tells me that I failed to hide my curiosity.“Are you upset that I had met other girls?” he asks in an innocent and surprised tone but his eyes gleam with that playful look.Yes, I am. But I will not say it out loud because I have some dignity.“What? Why should I be upset? It is not like you are my husband.”“Excuse me,” he tells raising his eyebrow.“Well, yes you are my husband but didn’t we promise that we are friends and not more than that. Then why should I be upset if you meet other girls? It is your life. Your choices and dec-”I lose balance mid-sentence. I trip and fall but in a quick motion, Shiva catches my hand and pulls me up before I fall again.“Gowri, you are clumsy. Where do you look when you are walking?” he asks in a severe tone. “I am not clumsy. I just missed a step,” I argue back getting angry for losing my balance for the second time in a week. He shakes his head in disbelief and bends down to inspect my injured ankle.“If you keep straining your ankle, then you may permanently injure your leg. I already warned you to be careful,” he chides me in a bitter tone.“Come on Shiva,” I argue annoyed at how bossy he sounds. “You don’t have to act as if you care about me. I know you are doing this to keep your guilt at bay. But you don’t have to be nice to me.” Shiva gets up and looks at me with a startled expression that lasts for a second before he turns away and walks without another word. I don’t follow him.  I start towards the counsellor room concluding that whatever friendship I had with Shiva was over now that I called out with his act of caring and being nice. “Gowri, wait a minute,” a familiar voice calls.I don't stop but he runs over to me and blocks my way.  With no other way, I stop and look at him with a glare. As usual, his perfume smell makes me want to cover my nose.“Do you already know the trustee?” he asks to my utter astonishment. I keep my face neutral and give a shrug and continue my walk but he is not yet done.“The way you both were talking now didn’t seem like this is your first meeting,” he comments.Oh no! If I am not being careful then we will get caught.“What has that got to do with you?” I ask in a not-so-kind tone. If he is surprised by my tone he hides it well.“I just want to know everything about you, ” he tries his ways again.“Look here Jay,” I stop and turn to face him. “I already told you many times that I am not into you. I am already someone else's wife.”He only smiles,  “Tell me your husband’s name?”That is where the trouble is. I can’t tell his name or anything about him even if he in is the same place as I am.“If you want, believe it or don't. I just don't care,” I tell in a casual tone and start walking again.“I choose not to believe,” he tells catching up with me. Then in a low tone, he adds, “Don’t fall for the trustee. He isn’t a good man.”That gets me looking at his face with curiosity. He seems to enjoy the sudden attention I am paying to him.“The trustee is not what he looks. He is a womanizer. He acts like he is sweet and caring but he is a monster-filled with lust.”I am angry with Shiva. But even in my anger, I refuse to believe Jay's words. Because I have been living with that man for the past two months and not even once did he cross his limits though he has every right to.“Stop spreading rumours,” I tell in a final tone.“It is the truth. He is a man who uses woman fo-”“Jay, stop it,” I interrupt his lies. “Whatever he is you don’t have any right to judge him or speak badly about him when he isn’t around. Let him be whatever and my relationship with him is none of your business.”I stomp away to the room in anger and confusion.🍀🍀🍀🍀