chapter 19

Chapter 19The truth is outHe quickly jumped off the bed and left her, still groggy with desire, staring at his back as he went into the living room and closed the door behind him. Dear God, what was he going to do, how would he face her in the morning! He had never thought that he would ever behave with such singular lack of self-control.Ishiqa splashed cool water on her face and changed into nightclothes. She chucked the dress into her bag unceremoniously. Her conscience cried out to her, and she relived every moment she had just spent in Ved’s arms with a strange mixture of ecstasy and agony. She still felt her breasts tingle and her lips swollen thanks to his kisses. Ved did not return to the bedroom and she did not call him this time. She lay silently, unable to wipe out the image of them together, till finally she drifted off to sleep. She woke up when she heard Ved call out her name. It was morning and time to return to reality. She dressed in a hurry and they left for the airport.Neither spoke to the other except when strictly necessary. Once they had landed in India and exited the airport, Ved directed the driver to take them straight to the hospital. On reaching the hospital, they ran up to meet granny in a private ward. Neither had spoken during the journey.“My son is here!” granny said joyfully as she saw Ved walking in. “Hi granny, you gave us quite a scare! You look pretty okay to me,” he smiled, hugging her affectionately. “That is what I told the doctor, but he just won’t let me out of this place. I want to go home,” she said petulantly like a child. Her grandson laughed and pinched her wrinkled cheek softly. “You stay here for now and let me see what we can do to fulfil your wish.” Ved stood up, but stopped when he felt his granny grab his wrist. “Ved, where is Ishiqa? Didn’t she come with you?” He was nonplussed for a second, realising how much granny was getting attached to Ishiqa, then smiled reassuringly. “Yes granny, she is fine. The doctor did not allow her in… you know the ‘only one visitor is allowed inside’ routine… I will send her in now, don’t worry…” He called out to Ishiqa, “Granny wants to meet you.” Without a word, without even glancing at him, Ishiqa walked past him into the private ward. He could sense her anger and sighed before turning to go to the doctor’s cabin. “Ishiqa darling, how are you my beautiful child? I hope you enjoyed the trip?” granny beamed, trying to raise herself to an upright position. “Yes granny, we had a frolicking time. Everything there was breathtaking, granny.” Ishiqa tried to be enthusiastic. Granny smiled. “Really? It feels great to know that you both enjoyed so much.” Ishiqa gave a watery smile. “Is something wrong, Ishiqa?” Ishiqa quickly shook her head, amazed at how observant the old lady was, and answered, “No, granny you take rest. I will go look for Ved.” She turned as she heard the ward door open and in walked the doctor and Ved. “Mrs. Kashyap you are allowed to go home, yes?” the doctor said with a twinkle in his eyes. “I have given further instructions to your grandson here, and no getting stressed, okay?’’ “Oh great! Stress! Now he tells me!” Granny rolled her eyes. Once the old lady was home and settled, Ved asked everyone to stop fussing and clear the room. He sat down holding her hand in his. “Granny, the doctor said your blood pressure was low, which could have been because you were worried about something. It could have led to complications if Anita had not given you first aid at home. What is worrying you granny? Please, you have to tell me, and tell me the truth,” he pleaded with tears in his eyes. Granny looked straight into his eyes, not batting her eyelids even once, her expression pained. “Ved, you have been hiding something from me and I am very upset by the way you have misled me. You let me believe that that sweet girl and you were a couple. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought that you would hurt me so! You broke my trust. Why did you do this, Ved?” Ved looked up at his grandmother’s crestfallen face and felt a tremor in his heart. Ishiqa had been warning him of this moment, and seeing his granny hurt, he felt remorseful. He tried to absolve himself of the responsibility by reminding the elder woman, “Granny, that’s not fair! Remember, I told you precisely that - that Ishiqa and I had nothing to do with each other. But you just wouldn’t listen. You were getting so stubborn, I worried it would affect your heart, and so I gave in… It was only to see you happy.” “Do not give me excuses. At what cost, Ved? Do you even have any idea what that innocent girl must be going through at this moment? Do not tell me she agreed readily the moment you let her know about your plan! I am sure you must have forced her into this, because she does not seem the type who will compromise herself just for money. I hope you haven’t...”  He stopped her midway, “No granny, nothing like what you have in mind has happened.” Suddenly reminded of the previous night, he shut his eyes tightly for a second. What must she be thinking of him! She would never forgive him. And how had granny discovered the truth? ‘Some silly friend of Ishiqa’s must have come to the house looking for her and spilled to truth to granny’ thought Ved slightly irritated. “Send Ishiqa back to her house and let her live her life, you have no right to spoil her dreams further if already you haven’t. The girl is in love with you, Ved. Haven’t you ever noticed the way she looks at you and glows whenever you look back? Why are you torturing her like this?” granny admonished.This came as a surprise to Ved. Could his grandmother’s old eyes see what he could not? No, they only fought most of the time… But last night? It had been special… She had been ready to give herself to him. He had got to know her over the last few days and he knew that a girl like her would not shed her inhibitions in front of a man she did not love. His heart sang out in hope. Maybe…No, he could not let her leave - the memories of her smile, her childlike chatter, the fragrance of her perfume would not let him live in peace; he needed her…he knew that now. She was the key to his happiness. He impulsively said aloud, “I will really marry her” and watched granny’s expression change from dismay to pleasure. “Do you really mean that? God bless you, we will have the official engagement day after tomorrow.” She clicked her fingers with joy. Ved hugged her and left her abruptly.