The Unexpected Swipe

Chapter 29

(January 6)

Mahesh Kapoor sat with Akash Singh Raizada in his cabin, going over the particulars of the New York expansion. In a few months, PK was supposed to compete with Saks and Bergdorfs.

It wasn't lost on Mahesh that the process would go on much smoothly if the two heads of PK across the continents were actually on talking terms. He looked over at Akash when his phone vibrated, splashing the picture of his wife candidly ballooning her cheeks.

Main teri aankhoon mein rehta hoon
tujhe pata na chale
tere har pal mein guzra hoon
tujhe pata na chale

Mahesh bit the comment reaching his tongue. They had themselves made this situation worse than it had to be. He wasn't going to intervene. He picked the phone and saw Akash get up.

Kare to phir kya kare
Tere bin kaise jiye
Ankoon mein pyar liye
Bolo kahan kahan phire?

"Where are you going?" Mahesh paused before hitting the answer button.

"Just.... washroom." Akash mumbled.

"Sit back down."

Khafa to hum bhi hain tum bhi ho
Humein pata na chale
Judayi ka mujhey ghum bhi hai
Koi aesi khata na kare..

Mahesh wondered what good deed he had done to give him this opportunity. It was a video call. Slyly lowering the volume, he received the call and switched to the back camera.

Kare to phir kya kare
Tere bin kaise jiye
Ankhoon mein pyar liye
Bolo kahan kahan phire?

Payal's face was wanton first, before the shock hitting her full force. Akash's shrugging shoulders, the lost look on his face, the intense look in his eyes as he stared at the phone, Payal cataloged every bit of it. And Mahesh cataloged his daughter.

Sajni paas bulao na
Ki dil aaj tuta hai aaj tuta hai
Sajan maan jao na
Ke woh aaj rutha hai aaj rutha hai
Koi use manae na
Jaane jaan..
Dil tujhey hi chahe na
Hooooo....

"Are you speaking, Payal?" Mahesh asked, innocently.

There was a slight eyebrow raise, then a blush as Payal realised she'd been had. She cut the call.

"Funny, the call dropped." Mahesh looked at Akash.

"Is Payal okay?"

"Should be, I think she called accidentally. I couldn't see her, anyway." He dismissed his phone as he received a text.

You are incorrigible.

(February 13)

Main Chala Akele Raston Pe Aise Jaise
Mere Peeche Koi Bhi Na
Badhta Main Gaya Aise Jaise
Mujhe Koi Bhi Na Rok Saka

NK sat waiting for his fiance. They had decided they wouldn't celebrate Valentine's Day before marriage, but sitting in a half decorated cafe alone, on Valentine's eve didn't help. Why did Mira want to meet on such short notice, anyway?

Presently, Mira Raichand swaggered in, holding herself upright. It was unusual, NK noticed. Mira was a confident woman. A princess in her own right. She didn't have to show she was reserved by how she held herself.

"NK, hi." She smiled tightly.

"Hey, nice spot." NK tried to tease.

"Yeah, I thought, whatever! It's not like it's Valentine's day." She rolled her eyes.