Bewitched

Chapter 5

I changed and got into my bed and wanted to face time with Robin. I missed him, wanted him beside me.

I saw that he was still composing. His hair looked ruffled. He must have been really too busy to miss me. But he smiled when he saw me. My mood lit up a bit at that moment only.

” Hey !!! How are you love?? How was your exibition? I am sure you sold every single design of yours. ” he said with love in his eyes.

” It was a great exibition… Very successful. But missed you a lot, Robin. ”

” I know, I also wanted to be there besides you… But you know that I was very busy or I would have been there with you. But atleast your… best friend was with you… Right?? ”

” Robin !! How many times do I have to tell you that you don’t have to feel jealous of Manyata. She is just my best friend. I love her as I should love my best friend. And as it is… ”

” But you once thought about getting married to her… and don’t bother to deny that, you told that to me yourself. ”

” For God’s sake Robin, that was atleast a month ago… You are still stuck to that…I told you why I did that. She had to get married to someone to please her parents and so do I. It would have been just a cover. I don’t have such feeling for her. I like you…”

” I don’t know… I am not feeling good… Why do you need a cover at all? Listen Mohit, you have got to understand that what we have between us is not forbidden… It is called love… It is even legal now.For God’s sake don’t make sound like a sin. ”

” Of course… It is love… I know it is not a sin… But I have to consider the emotions of my family too. They would never accept it. ”

” Why ?? Atleast try to tell them… They would understand. ”

” No they won’t. My mom is making me go crazy… She wants me to get married and have kids. ”

” Wow!! And you are planning to do just that… Aren’t you?? ”

” No I am not… Robin please yaar… You could tell your parents about it because they are very open minded and they have a progressive thinking. They don’t think that it is a sin but still even they are not very comfortable with us spending our lives together openly. ”

” But you have to tell them someday… We can’t go on like this. ”

” ButRobin, my parents are different. They will not be able to tolerate it. ”

” Listen Mohit, I love you a lot. I want you in my life but I hate it when you can’t accept it. It’s better you get married to your best friend Manyata only. ” he said in a condescending way.

” Hold on… I am not getting married to her. I am notin love with her…And anyways she is happily married now with a very hot and handsome man. Her husband is hot as hell and they are head over heels in love with eachother. They are leaving for their honeymoon first thing in the morning. ”

” Oh !! So you are already missing her. Feeling low that she is out of reach now?? ”

” Have you gone mad, Robin? Please listen to what you are saying. Or please pay heed to what I am saying. I love you not her or anyone else… But I can’t tell my parents. ”

” Ok fine… I understand it’s just I get annoyed at times. On top of that I have so much work load. Sorry, I snapped at you.” he said with a cute pout.

” Awwww… So all is well between us… ? ”

” It is, but tell me one thing are you attracted to Manyata’s husband?? ”

” Oh my God!!Well, yes momentarily, I was.But he is my best friend’s husband and I love you…. Will you stop it now… ”

” Ok… But stay away from him. ”

” I like it when you get jealous over me. But what about you?? Are you dating someone there?? ”

” Yeah, just a few casual dates, but nothing serious, so chill… ”

He said he also missed me a lot and that he would have to stay in mumbai for another week.

I felt so bad and decided that if I could take out some time, I would go and be with him in mumbai. But it seemed impossible as I had lots and lots of requests from my guests and clients.

So I was a bit upset as I had to wait for another week to be with him.

It was almost a week since the exhibition. I have been able to dodge my mom’s every attempt to throw Ms Khanna and me in a situation together.

She sent me countless messages reminding me that I had to take Tanvi on a dinner date.

I didn’t like the girl at all even to spend a few hours with her and my mom wanted me to spend my life with her.

She called at my office and even Harry but I was out of reach by any channel.

Finally she got annoyed with me and gave up with me. I was happy but my happiness was short lived as my dad called me home and I had to go.

I reached home and saw that mum and dad were having tea in the living room.

Chapter 7

Mohit’s POV

” Hi, dad!! Mom !! ” I said to them.

” Who has called him here and why?? He doesn’t care for me. He doesn’t have any time for me. Tell him to go, I don’t want to see him. ” she said looking away from me.

” Mom !!! You are overreacting. ”

” Of course, I am overreacting… I send at least 75 messages and called at least 30 times and still, my only son never bothered to call back or come,I am overreacting. ”

” Mom I was really busy… ”

” Right… Go and do whatever you were doing. Don’t worry about me. Go and spend your life the way you want. How does that matter if your mom felt humiliated when her friend asked her every day that when are you taking her daughter on an outing? ”

” Mom I didn’t like the girl at all. ”

” Why?? She is so beautiful, smart,educated, cultured, belongs to a good family… ”

” But I don’t like her… I hope that also matters if I have to select someone to spend my whole life with?? ”

” At least meet her once… You talked to her for merely 5 minutes and already decided that you don’t like her?? ”

” Exactly my point mum… I didn’t want to spend more than 5 minutes with her. Why waste time in meeting her?? ”

” But you don’t even know her… ”

” I don’t even want to know her, Mum.”

” Enough!!! I have had enough of this nonsense… both of you please shut up. Mohit what is the matter?? Do you like someone else?? ”

” Umm Yeah… ” I said and my mum got very excited all of a sudden.

“What?? Is it?? Then why didn’t you tell me?? Who is she?? Tell me I will go and talk to her and her family. ”

” No mum… Please it’s not like that… I need more time. ”

” Why ?? If you like her, propose to her and get married. What are you waiting for ?? ”

” Mom… I can’t get married to h..her. please give me some time. I need time to sort out things. It is a bit complicated. ”

” But you are almost 27… ”

” Just 27 mum not 47… I want at least two years and I don’t want you to bother me till then. ”

” Are you out of your mind… You would be 29 by then. ”

“So what mum?? ”

” I don’t want to wait that long. ”

” I can’t help it.I am in love with someone but it is complicated. I can’t get married just now… I won’t marry anyone else..”

” Is it that Rathore girl, the photographer?? ”

” No mom, she is just a friend and she is happily married. Leave her out of it. ”

” But 2 years is too long, at least tell me who is she?? ”

” No mum… ”

” See it doesn’t matter to us if she is poor or rich or of she is from another caste or religion. We don’t mind, as long as the girl is good… ”

” Mom, please… Give me some time… Or forget about it. ”

” Mohit !!! ”

” No mum… ”

” Will you both please shut up?? Ok, Mohit, you get your two years, but if you don’t sort out your complicated situation by that, then I won’t listen.After these two years, if you are not settled down, you would have to marry the girl we choose for you. Is this arrangement ok with you?“Dad said looking into my eyes.

I had no other option but to say yes, at least my family would leave me alone for 2 years. 2 long years of peace…

I nodded and we had a truce… They would not bother me for 2 long years now.

I felt so relieved and free I called Robin and we planned and went for a small holiday in France. Those days were so carefree and beautiful.

Two and a half year later…

Mohit’s POV

It has been almost 2 years and 7 months since that fateful day when my dad had called me home.

2 years which looked like a very long happy period at that point, seemed to fly away at a supersonic speed.

Robin and I went on at least 6 romantic and carefree trips to the various countries of the world as we both were creative people and could do our work from any part of the world. He kept composing his music and I kept designing the dresses during our long holidays.

In fact, as we both were happy, it reflected in our work as well and my designs and his music both came out to be even better.

We got even more work and we both got very busy. Manu was taking care of my office in my absence as she still shared the workspace with me. Even Sahil felt that hat it was safer if she kept working here with me.

But then 6 months back she got pregnant and as she was carrying twins, she had to take things easy… So now I couldn’t go out that easily.

And as my 2 years were over, my family was again after me k ke anything.

I said that I had to go out for my work and operated from Mumbai for almost the first 2 months. Robin was giving music in a few films so he was in Mumbai most of the times.

But then as Manu took the maternity break, I had to be here. Since then my mom has arranged many meetings with various girls. My sister has been trying to pair me up with her younger friends or the younger sisters of her friends.

I had been trying every trick to avoid them. I could easily write a book on how to say no to a marriage alliance. And if I ever get it published, I was sure that it would be the best sellers of the century.

So I managed to escape for around7 months after those 2 careful years.