Part 8 – The Lovers

Karan and Mervin were cousins but the urge to succeed at any cost, made each different from the other. Karan was grounded, kind and sincere. He was a self made man. In contrast Mervin wanted to enjoy the fruits of success without any effort and hard work. He always pushed Karan to take him into his company. But aware of his intentions, Karan kept him away from his business. Mervin and Karan’s fathers never got along as their principles were poles apart inspite of being siblings. Mervin’s father had made good money and had left quite a huge property for him. But the wealth diminished slowly owing to Mervin’s lavish lifestyle.
This made Mervin to to enter Karan’s business by hook or crook.

“Good morning aunty.”

Mervin’s call early morning surprised Mrs.Valenti.
“Good morning son. First of all let me thank you for informing me about Samiksha. She is such a sweet girl.”
“Yes, may be. But I wonder how a girl can make such an important place for herself in business, that too in a short span of time. Don’t you find this strange. I mean, she is in relationship with Karan too, if I am not mistaken.”

“Yes, your guess is right. But your opinion about Samiksha is wrong. She is a woman with self respect. She has reached heights only due to her ability. Hard work does pay off. Am I right?”
Her sarcastic remark hit Mervin in the right spot.

“Well, I was just trying to help. See you soon.”
Mervin was disappointed by the trust Mrs.Valenti developed in Samiksha.
As a result, he started thinking on his next move.

Samiksha was relaxing on a lazy Sunday. Mrs. Samuel was busy cooking a delicious lunch for her daughter. The phone’s ring interrupted Samiksha’s rest.
“Hello, who is this?”
“This is Rose. Karan’s mom.”
Mrs.Samuel was taken aback by the voice on the phone.
“This is Samiksha’s mom. May I ask your name again please? I could not hear it properly.”
“Rose, Mrs. Rose Valenti”.
Her voice and her name sounded familiar to Mrs. Samuel. She was trying hard to recollect.
“May I speak to Samiksha, Mrs. .”
“Maria.”.
On the other line, even Mrs. Valenti was doubtful about the voice she just heard.
Samiksha took the phone and continued.

“Hello aunty. Hope all is fine over there?”
“Yes dear. Just spoke to your mom. Felt good talking to her. Rather I thought we have met before.”

“Thats great.

Quite a possibility. You were here in Mumbai before few years right. Karan told me. Probably you met her then.”
“Yes, may be.Well, I called specially to invite you.”
“Invite?”
“Yes. Karan is coming here day after tomorrow. Right?”
“Yup, his trip to Bangalore is fixed for day after tomorrow.”
“Rather why don’t you come here along with him? I would be very happy to see you here.”
“I will let you know aunty. Even I would be happy if we meet again.”

Samiksha told her mom about her invitation.
She agreed, but was trying to recollect the voice heard some time ago.
May be she was overthinking, she concluded.

“Hello sir.”
Karan looked at Samiksha’s glowing mood matching her face on Monday morning, and wondered what might be the reason.
“I have been invited to Bangalore by a very, very special person.”
Samiksha said and slowly sat on hands of his chair. First of all he was excited seeing her forgetting inhibitions of the see through glass of his cabin.
He gripped her by waist and gave an intense look.

“Ms. Samiksha, I am loving this bold make over of yours. Seems like the people out are no more embarassing you? Or has Karan Valenti transfered his naughty traits to you?”
His giggle after the talks proved his naughty mood.

“I guess, you have explicitly transmitted the traits, Mr. Valenti”.
She encircled her arms around his neck, and said
“Particularly, I am accompanying you to Bangalore.”

There was

an unusual joy in her talks.
As he tried to figure out her mood, there was a knock on the door.
Consequently, she got up and Aarun entered the cabin.
“Here are your tickets to Bangalore.”
He handed over two tickets to Karan, leaving Samiksha little confused as she had informed him about her accompanying him just now.

“Have a nice time both of you. Give my love to aunty ok. See you. Need to rush.”

“So you had already planned to take me with you then?”
She asked with her hands on her waist.
“I feel like getting interrogated by Mrs. Karan right now.”
He laughed at her pose and she tried to hit him with fist.
He caught her hands and looked at her happily.
“Madam, you will be in all of my journesy now onwards. That is by default now.”

Their plane landed in Bangalore at around 10 am in morning. It was August and hence weather was unpredictable. Therefore they rushed towards their home.
“So glad to see you Sami.”
She gave her a warm embrace and was happy.
“I am left out in this duo meet I guess”, Karan said.
She hugged her son and said, “You are the reason for our bonding Karan. Thanks for gifting me with such a wonderful daughter.”

Samiksha made lunch along with Karan’s mom and they savoured it in the midst of jokes and discussions.

Karan and Samiksha

attended the meeting in evening. It was in Karnataka’s village, where he was going to start a new industrial construction work. It was proposed by a resident millionaire. And the meeting was about the final agreement for the same.

Credit : Google Images

After the meeting, they had some breakfast and then proceeded back to home. Meanwhile it was already dark. Weather forecast prediction was of heavy rains. Eventually Mrs. Valenti had told them to return back soon.

On their way to home, it started raining heavily, along with thundering and lightening. The intensity of the rainfall increased and soon the roads were full of water. With this in mind, Karan had to slow down his car’s speed. First of all, the view of road was not visible and Karan found it risky to drive in such a situation, when Samiksha was with him.

Credit : Google Images

Without delay, he stopped his car near a hotel. They came out and ran inside the hotel building. Both were drenched and Samiksha had already started sneezing. The manager gave them the room keys and they went quickly upstairs. Karan called his mom and informed about their whereabouts.

The room had one bed and a washroom and was big enough to accomodate two people. It was the need of the hour or else Karan would take Samiksha to better hotel room, matching to his standards..

She was shivering

a bit in drenched clothes. Karan was woried for Samiksha. In due time, he managed to get a pair of dress from their luggage bag.
“Its ok Karan. I will manage.”
She sneezed.

Now Karan caught her hand and made her sit down.
“Don’t be stupid. Take this. Go to the washroom and change. Go.”
He pushed her towards the washroom. She went inside, hesitating.
Karan removed his coat, tie and shirt. He kept them on the edges of the bed and chair. He rubbed his palms to get some heat. The room was dim lighted. Window doors were restless due to the wild breeze.
The hustling of the leaves of trees nearby was accompanied with sound of the blowing wind.

Karan was trying to call at his home but could not, because now there was no network at all due to the rains.

Samiksha opened the washroom door and peeped to see where he was.
“Thank God you changed. Come.”

Stepping out of the washroom, Samiksha came towards the bed where Karan was seated. Her walk was slow and hesitant. Karan, who was just a passive admirer of her divine features till now, got up from the bed.
And Samiksha stopped.

There was

an awkward silence in that small room. Their breaths were audible in that place along with the thudding of their hearts.
Karan was mesmerised by samiksha’s untouched beauty coupled with the graceful poise, the magnetic aura and purity.

Credits : https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=zindagi+ki+mehek

He could not take eyes off her. She was very nervous because of the situation they got caught in.
“Samiksha, sit. Be comfortable ok. I know we are stuck in a situation, we had not even imagined. But don’t worry, hopefully rains will subside a bit by morning and we can go back ok. I have informed mom about our whereabouts when network was available.”

Samiksha was touched by his chivalrous, courteous behaviour. She sat on the bed and nervously played with a corner part of the towel she wore. She finally gathered courage and looked at him.
“You are also completely wet. There is one more towel. Please dry yourself.”

Karan refused and replied,
“No ways. I am fine.”
He moved his fingers in the wet hair. Water was still dripping from the hair and her favourite part of Karan’s face, beard.

She stole glances and watched his features which appeared very sensual in the dim light. He looked like a Greek God to her.
“Sit”, she told him finally.
He smiled, and aware of her nervousness, continued standing, rubbing his palms on each other.
“Oh God. There is no source of heat here. Hope you are fine?”
“Yes, I am. Dont worry.”

She could no longer

see him standing like that in wet clothes and she got up and brought another towel from the washroom.
“Now please sit.”
“But.”
“Sit, I said”, she said in a commanding tone.
And as a result he realised future Mrs. Karan was active in her now.
She made him sit on the bed and wiped his wet hair with the towel.

She caressed his face with her tender fingers.

The moment was very special and pure. Their love was the witness of this pure and deep bond they shared.
“Samiksha.”
“Hmm.”
“What is your heartbeat telling to me?”
She searched for words and likewise replied,
“That we need to sleep now. Good night.”
She smiled. He got up from the bed and sat on a chair nearby. “You sleep on the bed ok Princess.”

She was once again thankful to God and her Universe for sending this gentleman in her life.