Is Love Enough ??

Chapter 28

She shouldn't be here.

Last night after dinner when everyone had retired to their respective rooms and Kirti had been on her way up she had received a phone call. She hadn't recognized the number but had still picked it up. But when she found the identity of the caller she had been stunned. She hadn't known how to respond. Nor how to answer the questions. In her dazed state of mind, she had agreed to whatever had been suggested. It had taken her several minutes before she had been able to calm herself down and reach her room. Maan had been waiting for her. With his keen observation powers Kirti had suspected he would pick up her inner chaos. She had so wanted to talk to him. Tell him about the call. But she couldn't. He had looked so relaxed and at peace. She hadn't had the heart to say anything. Then deciding she would talk to him in the morning she had kept quiet. But in the last few days this was the second time where she had hesitated to tell him all. It was not good. Of course, it had been out of consideration for him because she knew he would get agitated and mad as hell if he knew who had called her but it was still not healthy for their relationship. And that had made her restless. She hadn't been able to sleep properly despite the fact that Maan was there with her. Then even in the morning she had choked at the thought of telling him anything. She had left just saying she was going out. He hadn't asked where she was headed to or why. He never did anyway. If he had noticed she had been preoccupied, he hadn't pointed out. All the way to the Club she had wondered if it was even wise what she was doing. Maan would throw a fit if he found out. Wrong, not 'if' but when he found out. Why? Why hadn't she told him? Because someone had requested her not to. Damn. It wasn't right. But she couldn't do anything about it, could she?

It was still early and there wasn't much traffic on the roads. As she had arrived she had looked at the building. Chandigarh's Carrington club hadn't changed at all. The who is who of Chandigarh graced the membership list. It was exclusive and highly expensive. She had walked up the steps and turned right towards the Club's restaurant. How many parties had she attended here? She couldn't even recall. Several. As she walked past the open doors of the restaurant she immediately noticed the change in décor. And despite the early hour there were a few people around having breakfast. They had a twenty-four hour running restaurant. And it was part sports club and part social gathering place. She had glanced at her wrist watch and had sighed with relief. She was right on time. As she had looked around she had felt strange.

She shouldn't be here. Not without Maan. Or without his knowledge. Maybe she could call Mrs. Khanna and cancel this meeting. Give her some excuse about a last minute delay or some kind of work. After all she was here to attend a wedding and there was always some or the other work that needed done urgently. She debated the thought. Just before she could convince herself to abandon the whole idea of this meeting and go back a man approached her.

"Miss Singh," he inquired politely.

"Yes," Kirti said in response.

"Mrs. Khanna is waiting," he told her with a polished smile, "this way please," he told her and turned around to walk towards the doors that led to the outside patio which had outdoor seating.

With a sigh Kirti followed reluctantly. Maybe it was too late to back out now. She will just have to go through this. What had she been thinking when she had said yes? Well, the problem was she hadn't been thinking at all. Had she had her wits about her she would have declined Mrs. Khanna's invitation to meet her here that too without Maan's knowledge. But she hadn't. Or she couldn't. After all, Mrs. Rupal Khanna was Maan's mother. And the woman had been polite and sincere in her request to want to meet her. But she didn't know the woman all that much. Agreed, she knew Maan's family but even during visits apart from polite hellos and how are you's there hadn't been much interaction. Hell, she didn't even know Isha very well, Maan's younger sister and they were almost the same age. Why had Maan's mother asked her to come alone and not tell Maan? She had pondered over that question too. Then came up with her own answer, possibly because Maan wouldn't have let her come, since he himself hadn't spoken to his mother in so many months. The woman did call, occasionally of course, but Maan didn't respond even to that. Anytime Kirti had asked him to revert his mother's calls he had strictly told her to not interfere. That was one area Maan didn't discuss with her nor did he allow any intervention. His dealings with his family members were off limits for everyone and that included her. She understood his reasons. She knew his reasons. But still it mattered. The thing was since he didn't interfere with her affairs with her family, he expected the same courtesy reciprocated. Was that why she had been thinking those anxious thoughts? That she felt he still hid a part of himself. And she wanted him completely. As she stepped on to the patio she saw a few patrons seated on the comfortable seats enjoying their morning breakfast and coffees. She walked past them towards the other end of the long wrap around patio, and that was when she saw her. Mrs. Rupal Khanna. Seated on a small table next to the railing overlooking the Tennis courts below. As Kirti neared she felt a strange nervousness. An awkwardness fill her up. What was she going to say to the woman? How was she going to address her? The way she had always addressed her as 'aunty'? Or now, that she was in a relationship with her son, living with him, as a... mother? Or the more formal affair of calling her 'Mrs. Khanna'? Oh man! She shouldn't have come, period.

"Mrs. Khanna," Kirti heard the man say in the same polished polite manner, "your guest has arrived," he said.

"Thank you, Malik," Rupal Khanna said with a smile.

The man nodded, turned around and left.

That was when Kirti looked at the woman seated before her. She hadn't changed from the last time Kirti had seen her. Even in her early fifties the woman was beautiful. She still retained her slenderness. She had applied light makeup which suited her age, the choice of her clothes and the time of the day. Her luxurious hair was a dark shade of brown with streaks of maroon in them tied in a bun at the nape of her neck. A single string pearl necklace graced her neck with single pearl studs in her ears and matching bracelet watch on her left wrist. She wore a pale peach embroidered kurta. Perfect combination of sophistication and poise, Kirti was in awe of the woman. No matter what her personal equations were with her husband or her son or her daughter or with people in general, Mrs. Rupal Khanna was the epitome of class and dignity. Kirti had also taken quick notice of the accessories placed on the table. The black clutch boasted the label of PRADA, while the sunglasses wore the label of Versace. Kirti recalled always seeing the latest and the biggest names in brands as part of Mrs. Khanna's personal style. But as her eyes met the older lady's she saw amu****t and curiosity lurking in the depths. On the outside of course, Mrs. Khanna wore a polite smile.

"Good morning Kirti," she said in her cultured tone, "won't you take a seat?" she said and with a regal hand gesture invited her to sit on the chair opposite to hers.

Kirti nodded and forced a smile on her face.

"Good morning..." she said and paused uncertainly then added, "aunty," awkwardly and sat down, placing her bag on the other chair.

Rupal smiled at Kirti. Though that smile was more mocking than warm. Maybe the uncertainty in her voice was not lost on the woman.

And Kirti could only think of one thing. What had she gotten herself into here even as she geared up for this very odd and awkward meeting.

Would Rupal Khanna be able to do what Kamal, Kirti's mother couldn't achieve? Or will she face some demons of her own? It was only wait and watch for now.

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