Where the Secret Lies (19 page)

 
‘Anjali, if I tell you, the surprise will be
spoilt,’ Mohan patted Anjali’s hand.

The preparations of his visit
began. Upon strict orders, the servants cleaned the haveli in meticulous
precision. They polished the silverware to high degree shine and made the
brassware gleam. Tehzeeb bought new household items for the guest room where Rajesh
would be staying.

Watching all this around her, Anjali
sensed this man was not anyone but someone with status. Her curiosity burned
within.

Everyone waited for the arrival of Rajesh. Mohan had gone to
greet him at the station whilst the rest of the family gathered in the living
room. The children played in silence and the mothers watched over them.

‘Tehzeeb, you will not keep me
in suspense, will you? Tell me, who is Rajesh?’ Anjali found herself asking
Tehzeeb.

Tehzeeb’s eyes brightened. ‘Bhai
Saab is a great man, didi. He is kind and considerate. What can I tell

 
you...well, we owed
the government a substantial amount of money.
 
Mohan ji did not have work and we struggled to pay the landowner his
rent. Bhai Saab stepped in and paid the debt for us, he did not ask any
questions.

‘Our families disowned Mohan ji
and I when we married. I am Muslim and he is a Hindu – you can probably imagine
the difficulties we had to face. My father and mother cut me away as did Mohan
ji’s family. We were alone until Mohan ji met Bhai Saab.’

 
‘Tehzeeb, what did you do when you lost Mohan
ji?’ Anjali hardly understood why she asked Tehzeeb this but her curiosity
overtook her dislike of her, if only temporary.

 
‘I couldn’t find Mohan ji; I was scared. I assumed
him dead...a family found us hiding in someone’s house. They gave the children
and I food and clothes, they invited us to stay with them. A little later, we
went back to Bombay but our home was destroyed. We went back to the kind
family,’ Tehzeeb laughed with no ring of happiness. ‘I have lived in Lucknow
all this time and Mohan ji was just here...

‘I filed a missing person’s
report with Mohan ji’s details. The officer assured me they would let me know
if they find him, but did not promise anything.’

Selfish and unkind as it was,
Anjali thanked God to have brought Mohan to her. Without him...she cringed to
think what might have happened if he had not saved her...

 
‘He rescued me,’ she told Tehzeeb. ‘If it
wasn’t for him, I would be dead.’

Silence followed except for the
ticking of the grandfather clock. The children suddenly shrieked making them
jump.

‘Uncle is here!’

The children ran to the door. Tehzeeb wiped her eyes and put
a smile on her face. Smoothing down her clothes and hair, Tehzeeb made her way
to the hall.

‘Welcome Bhai Saab,’ Anjali
heard Tehzeeb’s delighted voice.

Anjali tried to hear the
conversation over the din of the children.

‘Children, let him come inside,’
laughed Mohan.

Then Anjali heard his voice,
loud and confident.

‘Where is your lovely second
wife, Mohan? I must meet her!’

He was the first one to enter
the living room; behind him followed Mohan, looking proud, then Tehzeeb. The
children settled at various points in the room.

Mohan went to stand next to
Anjali. Her heart began to pound as Rajesh stared at her. The intensity of his
eyes...Rajesh came forward and took her hand, kissing it. Anjali snatched her
hand back.

‘It is the fashion of these rich
people,’ grinned Mohan.

‘I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t
offend you,’ said Rajesh in a deep tone.

‘No, not at all,’ Anjali could
not help but stare. This was Rajesh Rathod, the infamous film star!

‘Surprised?’ said Mohan.

Everyone laughed when Anjali
failed to answer.
 

‘Come Rajesh, we have a lot to
talk about,’ Mohan directed Rajesh to his private drinking room.

There was music and chatter
during dinner and Anjali listened intently but did not say a word. Rajesh did
not take his eyes off her.

‘I have told you many times didi; the cleaning must be completed
by nine. What will Bhai Saab say?’

 
Tehzeeb had become
infuriating since her “Bhai Saab” arrived. She took over the supervision of the
haveli, the cleaning and even what will be served for breakfast, lunch, and
dinner!

‘How long is Rajesh staying here,
Tehzeeb? I would very much like to know!’ Anjali shouted one day when she could
no longer stand this sudden authority.

‘As long as he wants,’ Tehzeeb
smacked the cushions back into shape.

‘This is my house, Tehzeeb. Don’t
override my running of the haveli,’ Anjali said fervently.

Rajesh became a constant
nuisance to Anjali, which didn’t help. Why was he still here? Did he not have
film work to do?

 
‘This haveli is my house also didi.
 
We are equals in everything,’ Tehzeeb did a
quick count of the cushions.

‘There are two missing,’ she
said.

‘Does it matter?’ Anjali folded
her arms.

‘Damini, Chottu, Chirag, Ali!’
Tehzeeb called the servants. ‘There are two cushions missing. Go and check all
the rooms.’

‘Ji Bari Memsahib (Yes elder
Memsahib),’ the servants chorused.

‘What is all this arguing?’
Rajesh said, standing very close to Anjali. She moved a fraction away.

 
‘It is nothing,’ snapped Anjali and stormed
out.

Anjali rocked in her chair and closed her eyes. She tried to
focus on the good things – her children, Mohan and her wealth. Life had been
simple before Tehzeeb entered their lives and now...Rajesh. Yes, he had a charismatic
persona with the perfect face and physique. He was a successful actor but it did
not give him the right to seduce her. This was wrong!

Anjali was attracted to Rajesh and she abhorred it. She did
not love him; she loved Mohan. He was everything to her. She just wished she
could stop feeling this draw towards their new guest.

‘Can I come in?’ Rajesh knocked
on the door.

‘If you must,’ Anjali brushed
her long, black hair, sitting at her dressing table. She looked at Mohan
through the mirror.

Rajesh took a chair and sat next
to her. He too, stared at her through the mirror.

 
‘We haven’t spoken,’ he said.

Anjali watched him with guarded
eyes.

‘You live in a strange family setting,
do you agree?’ he asked.

 
‘What do you mean?’

‘Well...’ Rajesh turned towards
her and took her hands, caressing them. Anjali’s heart fluttered.

‘Tehzeeb is Mohan’s first wife,’
he said. ‘Surely you must be envious or threatened?’

‘It is none of your business.’

‘Oh I know but I feel sorry for
you Anjali ji. How can you see your husband in the arms of another woman?’ He
came closer. ‘You must love him a lot to let him do this to you.’

Anjali found herself sexually
aroused by this man.

‘Rajesh ji –’

‘Rajesh, just Rajesh to you.’

Anjali gulped. ‘What are you
doing here? What do you want from me?’

‘I have to admit I am quite taken
by you. You are lovely, sensual, and irresistible...I need you for I am
lonely...’

‘I’m sorry but I cannot help
you.’

 
‘Oh but you can,’ Rajesh gazed deep into her
eyes.

Anjali dropped her eyes. Heat on
her cheeks and lips dry – she licked them subconsciously.

Rajesh took her face in his
hands and kissed her with a passion she had not seen in a long while. A hand
travelled under her sari cupping her breast. He began to fondle her, his need
very strong against her body. Anjali struggled against his weight and finally pushed
him off.
 
She slapped him hard across the
face.

Rajesh sat back in his chair and
wiped his mouth, grinning.

‘Well it is up to you, but you
like me as much as I like you. You will come to me,’ Rajesh left her in more
turmoil.

Why did he do this to her? Why did she like his kisses and
his touch? This was wrong, all wrong. Anjali paced the room wringing her hands.
She stopped when she heard a loud crashing sound.

‘Ma!’

That was Kajol’s voice! Anjali
ran down the stairs to find her daughter in tears. Kajol was sitting on the
last step nursing her elbow. Tears stained her face.

 
‘What happened?’

‘Ma, I’m hurt. She pushed me!’
Kajol pointed to Zakira, Tehzeeb’s daughter.

‘It wasn’t my fault. She
slipped!’ the child cried.

‘You are a liar!’ Anjali slapped
Zakira. ‘How dare you tell such lies? My daughter is hurt!’

‘What is all this shouting
about?’ boomed Mohan’s voice as he came to the distressing scene.

‘Kajol was pushed down the stairs
by that little –’ began Anjali.

‘I don’t want to hear it from
you,’ Mohan shot Anjali a dark look. He turned to Zakira. ‘What happened beta?’

Zakira, beside herself, could
hardly speak. She looked fearfully at Anjali. Tehzeeb and Rajesh arrived.

‘It’s alright. Chotti Ma (Little
Mother) will not say anything. Tell me what happened,’ Mohan coaxed Zakira.

Tehzeeb took her daughter and
soothed her. ‘Tell us what happened beta?’

‘We were playing and then Kajol
slipped. She fell down the stairs,’ Zakira hiccupped. ‘Chotti Ma came and when
I told her what happened, she didn’t believe me. She called me a liar and
slapped me,’ she buried her face in her mother’s waist.

Tehzeeb’s eyes flashed. ‘She is
only a child! How dare you!’

‘She is lying!’ Anjali retorted.

‘I didn’t expect this of you,
Anjali,’ disgust was evident on Mohan’s face. ‘What have you become?’

He took Zakira into his arms and
soothed her tearful face. He followed Tehzeeb away from Anjali. Kajol followed
too.

‘I’m sorry Zakira. It was my
fault. I’m sorry Ma slapped you.’

Anjali heard Kajol’s voice loud
and clear, her tears streamed. Rajesh leaned against the banister post. His
expression said it all.

Mohan did not talk to Anjali during the next few days and he
had begun to spend the nights with Tehzeeb more frequently.

Rajesh took advantage of the
change, and took Mohan’s place in Anjali’s bed. They made love most nights. Anjali
used Rajesh to punish Mohan; she was not ashamed nor did she feel guilty. Every
time she closed her eyes, she saw Tehzeeb and Mohan...and her blood boiled.

ARIANNA

TWENTY-FIVE

 
‘Did one of these two
contact you?’ Arianna asked Jai, looking at Tianna and Khushboo.

‘Ari, you were in shreds when
Nikhil left you. Nothing we could do or say would calm you,’ Khushboo said.

‘And you were beginning to get
on my nerves,’ Tianna piped from inside her magazine.

 
‘Was I that bad?’

‘No, worse,’ said Tianna. ‘We had
to do something. Khushboo asked me to email Jai but I had his number.

‘Where did –’ asked Arianna.

‘I took it from your phone,’
replied Tianna. ‘So I called, I knew he would come.’

Arianna turned to Jai. ‘I can’t
believe you jumped on a plane for me.’

‘Ti, this is getting personal
and a little awkward. Let’s give them some space; I think they will be having a
long conversation,’ Khushboo hopped off the stool.

Tianna took her magazine and
blew Arianna and Jai a kiss before leaving. Jai laughed although Arianna showed
her annoyance by scowling.

‘Let’s go outside, it is so
beautiful,’ suggested Jai. ‘I want to see a little of Lucknow before I have to go
home.’

Arianna took Jai on a scenic stroll into the woodland. Jai
held Arianna’s hand who smiled in return, relieved to feel a friend hold her
hand and not a love struck boy.

The skies blue, the sun high and bright, Arianna began liking
the world again. Jai’s presence made her happy and Nikhil began to seem a
distant memory.

‘You still can’t believe I am
here, can you?’ Jai said as they settled on a grassy patch near a small
waterfall.

‘No, but I am glad you
came...Jai, I am sorry for leaving you as I did, it was not nice.’

‘I cannot lie and say I was not
hurt Ari. It did hurt, a lot.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Arianna said again,
wincing.

Jai gave her a teddy bear hug. ‘
I
should say sorry for putting you
through it. I am sorry and I have come to terms with it. You are my oldest
friend and I love you as my best friend.
 
I would do anything for you. And Ari, I also
have something to tell you.’

‘Oh?’

‘I have met someone,’ Jai
grinned.

 
‘You have?’ She play punched him on the arm.

‘Hey! That hurt!’ However, Jai
was laughing.

‘You deserved that, and Jai, how
could you considering you “loved” me,’ Arianna cocked her head.

 
‘Let’s just say I was infatuated by you but I
soon came to my senses when you rejected me.’

Arianna punched him on the arm
again, this time a little harder.

‘Well, for what it’s worth I am
truly pleased and happy for you,’ she said.

Jai watched the waterfall.
Arianna could see he was enjoying it all – the sun, the cool water particles that
floated towards them from the waterfall and the lush greenery around them.

 
‘This is the life; it sure beats the weather
back home,’ he said.

‘It is beautiful,’ agreed Arianna.

‘Ari...’

‘Yes Jai?’

‘Did you ever...love Nikhil?’

‘I felt close to him, I thought
we knew each other and I trusted him. I don’t know if it was love...he was a
charmer me and I fell. I never thought he would deceive me.’