Vodka on the rocks

Abhisaaram Agyaatvasam

"Ye Saree Ka dukaan meko pehchana kaisa nhi?"

Raghav lamented while looking at the wooden ceiling of the storeroom they had been so graciously granted as he jerked his legs crossed over the sofa he was reclining on lazily. Rama, who was unpacking glanced at his boss exasperated and sighed inaudibly.

What has he landed himself into?

"Madam must have been taken in by your new incarnation sir. Venkateshwara knows, even I was not able to recognize you the first time I saw you."

Raghav snorted arrogantly as the picture of his lovely wife flashed in front of his eyes. Somewhere it stung that she felt uncomfortable in his presence. Obviously, logically he should be pleased that he had hid himself so well that even Pallavi couldn't recognize him but when has love followed logic? The thought that his beloved Saree ka dukaan would even feel remotely uneasy in his presence, hidden or not made him feel slightly ill to be frank. Then he berated himself mentally for mulling over such inconsequential things at a time so crucial.

Yes, he just needed her fragrance to identify her presence but then as his Amma had so eloquently declared he was quite crazy when it came to her. Sometimes he himself was taken aback by the fierce amount of possessiveness and magnitude of love he felt for that slight creature. It would take a mild fluttering of her gorgeous eyelashes and he would be lost to her. Lost in her eyes, in her love, in her world. He had gone complete nuts. Playing dress up to stay close to his wife and keep an eye on that creep ex husband of hers forgetting his work.

Good going Raghav Rao.. give it few more months and you'll be elligible for the mental asylum in Agra.. sorry they extended it to Ranchi last I heard... hmmm

While Raghav was busy contemplating his descent into madness a crisp and firm knock on the door brought him back to reality. He jumped up and wore his shirt and jacket hastily, wearing his mask and eye patch to cover his face and managing to button up only the last three buttons of his shirt. Rama opened the door and got shocked seeing the woman standing in front, arms crossed against her chest.

"P..Ahh.. madam aap.?"

Raghav squinted and breathed a sigh of relief. It was Pallavi. But she looked furious. He was confused. What happened suddenly? Here she was feeling uncomfortable with him and now here she is glaring at her like Goddess Durga herself in the middle of the night. Pallavi entered the room like a lazy panther striding towards its unaware prey and looked around disinterestedly.

His own analogy wasn't lost on Raghav. He wasn't sure whether she had come here to give him an ultimatum or had she recognized him finally. But she spoke removing all his doubts with her quiet words.

"Rama! Get the hell out of here!"

Rama who was standing like an imbecile unable to figure out what to do or say jerked at that. He had never seen the madam, speak like that to anyone. He saw his boss looked slightly shocked as well and literally jumped six feet in the air before running out with Pallavi's next words.

"Will you go or do you want a front row seat to what's going to happen right now?"

Raghav felt his heart jump up to his throat and his saliva dried out like a drop of evaporating water in a summer desert. He looked at his wife approaching him like a huntress and swallowed audibly. He wanted to say something desperately. But somehow his tongue and his brain refused to comply.

They say your eyes can make love as good as your hands. Raghav Rao will never question that belief ever again.

"Tum pehchaan gaya mereko..?"

He finally managed to speak through the mask as she stood almost indecently close to him and he could feel his head spin at the jasmine and sandalwood fragrance of her body wash. She caught his face suddenly startling him and leaned forward speaking through the lowered curtain of her lashes.