Chapter 27

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"Do you think I have not thought this through?" he asks, sounding annoyed.

"But..but.. marriage? for real?" I stutter in panic.

"This is the best option you have to live here. I am not thrilled about it either. As I said it is a temporary arrangement. We will sign the divorce papers in a few months as well. In this way you do not have to worry about being thrown out," he reasons.

"No! I can't do that.. This is ridiculous. Fake a marriage?" Even the thought of it is absurd.

Wait a minute! inner voice speaks.

This would be an answer to my prayers. Isn't it what I have been wishing for ever since I moved in here? That I hope to find a way to stay? Jeet just granted my wish. I would be able to live here peacefully without constantly worrying about getting caught. A temporary marriage till everyone believes we are married and then quietly divorce, and none would be the wiser. The society members anyhow believe that my husband is away on business. This would be the perfect solution.

I finally would have a place of my own, at least for the next few years. The more I think about it, the more the plan seems to make sense. My excitement at seeing an end to my problem is rising. Jeet is offering me a way out. Oh my god!! Oh my god!! Yes!! Jeet is so sweet.. He would actually do all this for ME?

"Do you?" I ask in hesitation, "do you really believe this is the best option?"

"Well.. yes, as long as it is for a short while and no one other that you, me and my lawyer know about it."

Without thinking, I jump up and embrace Jeet. I hug him tightly expressing my appreciation and happiness.

Once my initial euphoria died down, I realize that Jeet is standing stock-still, making no move, hands down by his sides. My excitement immediately drains away.

How could I be so stupid and reckless. He looks thoroughly uncomfortable and I quickly put some distance between us.

But I cannot stop smiling, "Thank you! You are right. This would be perfect. But are you sure about this? I mean, this is perfect for me, but what about you?"

"Yes, well that's exactly why we will need to divorce as soon as possible. I want to help you, but I cannot be married to you."

I nod my head. "I understand, and I highly appreciate all that you are doing." I want to hug him again, but instead bite down my lower lip, to control that urge.

Jeet shuffles uneasily on his feet, "Umm, yup! well, let's go, else we shall miss our appointment." He hastily walks out of the house, while I lock up and hurry behind him.

"Where is your Range Rover?" I ask, as we head to the court by cab.

"It's back where it belongs," Jeet responds in a clipped tone looking out the window.

"You mean it's not yours?"

Jeet keeps his face turned away from me. I don't know what to infer from his silence.

"Oh, by the way I noticed you have an American accent. How come?" I change the subject. Besides, I am curious to know more about him. Jeet again shifts uncomfortably. "I did my studies in the US. Picked it up there. I am trying to drop it," he says stiffly, still looking outside.

I see a popular South Indian restaurant ahead and I suggest we stop there to grab a bite.

"You want to stop here?" he asks, turning to look at me. "I was thinking of going to Eats Real Bistro."

I balk at his suggestion. I have heard of Eats Real and seen pictures of celebrities visiting that place. It is well known as a popular watering hole for the rich and famous.

"Are you nuts? That place is for posh people and.." I whisper conspiratorially, "it's very expensive."

Jeet gives out a short, amused laugh. "Really? But I heard their food is good."

"Possibly, but the cost of one meal there, would probably equal my entire monthly groceries expense and besides," I point out, "Look at us. We would stick out like a sore thumb among that Gucci and Versace wearing crowd." I said, indicating at my plain light blue salwar kameez bought from a small local store and well-worn sandals I had picked up for 200 Rupees from the roadside vendor at Hill Road.

"You don't need to feel inferior to any of them," he says seriously, his eyes suddenly ablaze with fervour, "Even without wearing expensive brands, you still have more class than them." My heart leaps when he looks at me like that, like I am the only one he has eyes for. I feel my face flush with embarrassment. He clears his throat, "But you are right. We should go with your suggestion. Let's keep the Eats Real plan for another time." Inner voice mentally rolls her eyes, 'yeah right! like that will ever happen.'

We make our way to tiny restaurant and grab a corner table at the far end. I order a cheese dosa and a glass of lemonade, while Jeet settles for a plate of idli and mineral water.

I dig in as soon as the steaming plates of food are placed before us.

"Mmmmm," I moan softly as I take in a mouthful of the dosa. It is delicious, the flavours of the crispy buttery and slightly sweet dosa and the savouriness of the cheese blend together beautifully to create an explosion of flavors in my mouth. I see Jeet has a bemused expression as he watches me eat.

"This is amazingly delicious," I point to my plate, "Here have some," I tear out a big piece out of the dosa and hold out my hand to feed him. He takes the bite and gives out an appreciative moan too.

He nods his head. "That is really good."

"I told you so!" I say before wolfing down more of the food.

When I look up, Jeet still has the amused look on his face.

"What?"

"It's a delight to see you enjoy your food as much as you do."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean girls .. and guys these days are so caught up with all these fad diets and latest trends that they seem to have forgotten how to merely enjoy simple pleasures in life. Whenever they eat, they either crib about the calories or need social media validation. But you.. you are not pretentious like that."

"Thanks," I look down in embarrassment. "I don't know what people you are talking about, but it's not only me. Everyone I know are the same. We don't need to impress anybody." 'Not that there is anyone to impress,' inner voice grumbles.

"We should hurry as we have to be in court soon." We quickly finish our meal and reach our destination with a few minutes to spare.

"There you are. About time!" remarks a man in a suit, holding a briefcase as he briskly walks towards us.

"Tarana, this is Rajiv, my friend and lawyer. Rajiv, Tarana." Jeet makes the introductions.

"Nice to meet you," Rajiv extends his hand to me and I shake it. I cannot help but notice that he gives me a furtive once over, before pointedly looking at Jeet. Jeet pretends as if he didn't notice. I am certain they just had a non-verbal communication, I hazard a guess, about me. I would love to know what just went on.

"Let's have a seat here," he leads us towards the lawyers' lounge and guides us to an empty table.

Once we are seated, Rajiv asks for my passport photos and other documents that Jeet had asked me to bring along, which I hand over to him.

He fills in some forms and sticks my photo to one side and Jeet's on the other side.

Once he finishes filling the details, he slides the form to me along with two additional set of documents. Here, read this and you need to initial all pages and sign it here, he flips the pages to the end of the document.

"What are these?" I point to the two sets of identical documents.

"It is the non-disclosure agreement," Rajiv states, looking at Jeet.

Looking at my confused expression, he further explains, "Basically it is a contract between you two stating that this marriage is a temporary arrangement and a strictly confidential affair. You both will be contractually and legally forbidden to discuss, speak about or reveal anything about this marriage to any third person. Also, you both will make no claims over each other's assets."

What? "Really is this all required?" I look at the papers. "I mean I can assure you that I won't tell anyone. It's not like I would blackmail him into remaining married to me or something." I chuckle at my own preposterous idea.

Jeet and Rajiv both look at each other before Jeet speaks up.

"Why are you behaving as if it is the first time you heard the term? You know last night I asked you if it would be OK if we sign an NDA," he gestures in the general direction of my forehead and neck, "You said you did not mind.. You were OK with it. Have you changed your mind?"

"What? I don't understand."

"Tarana! I had the agreement prepared today after we discussed it last night. I meant it when I said I don't want anyone knowing. This stays strictly between us!!" He sounds exasperated.

Is that what he was saying when I was absorbed staring at his sexy eyes?

"I.. I .. guess I was not thinking clearly when I agreed," I try to cover up my lack of attention last night. "But why do we need an agreement? I can promise you that I won't tell anyone. And I believe you, when you say you won't tell anyone either. Can't we just shake hands on it?"

Jeet looks positively pissed.

"Look, I told you last night, it's better for both of us this way and, I want to make sure that you won't go blabbering about this to anyone."

Blabbering?!

You've got to be kidding me!!