Chapter 22 Did I Win?

The car stopped at the driveway to the cottage bangalow, as Kshitija came sprinting to greet them. Her twin brother, Rishit, followed.

"Vandita... my moon... my star... finally!" Kshitija hugged her as she welcomed them inside.

Rishit shook hands with Awnirudh as they followed the trail of the two chirping ladies.

"I have read and heard a lot about you. It's great to have you here Sir." Rishit greeted Awnirudh.

"Not Sir, I'm not knighted you see. " Awnirudh winked.

Kshitija had planned an elaborate morning tea and Awnirudh couldn't help but appreciate her extensive arrangements open heartedly.

"Lovely Elevenses Ms. Sinha. Delicious London buns... Reminded me of Chelsea Bun House." Awnirudh remarked.

"Only for you Barrister Roy Chowdhury, or shall I say Awnirudh Babu.." Kshitija extended a flirtatious smile at him.

"I would prefer the former, Ms. Sinha." Awnirudh laughed.

"What's an Elevances?" Vandita asked Awnirudh innocently.

But before he could answer, Kshitija intervened.

"My dear silly girl, always the naive one.. Elevenses is the tea that we have in the morning." She laughed sarcastically.

"Ahh.. there.. Ms. Sinha, it's not 'We'. It's what the Britishers do. I'd still prefer a cold Aampanna in a Kulhar made by Vandita any day." He winked at Vandita playfully as he pointed his words to Kshitija.

"Whatever... But given a choice, I would choose pastries over payesh." Kshitija blurted.

"And, you would also prefer the British to rule over us for another 100 years I guess." Vandita asked sharply, and it made Kshitija flinch her face.

"I studied in a convent and sang Long live the Queen every morning. I won't complaint." She just shrugged looking at her old dear friend.

"And I sang Vande Mataram to myself during those same assemblies Kshi" Vandita remarked.

Rishit, who was quietly sipping his tea and enjoying the banter, finally decided to turn towards Vandita,

"Vandita Madam, let my sister be the fool that she is.. You are not naive, and that's what I... I mean, we like about you.. Your heart is truly rooted to the ground..." He paused to give Vandita the time to internalize his words of praise, and then he opened his mouth to speak.

"Now let's get to the pool table, shall we?" He proposed to the group.

"I'm not an expert in this English game Rishit Babu, but I'll watch."

Vandita had quietly got up from her chair and walked towards the lawn where the pool table was placed.

"Barrister Roy Chowdhury, let's pair up and be a team." Kshitija held both of Awnirudh's hands as she drew him out of the room.

The pool game started. It was evident from Kshitija's behaviour that she wanted to be close to Awnirudh. She touched him casually on numerous occasions as Vandita stood there watching. To Vandita, it seemed that Awnirudh didn't mind her ministrations at all. What crossed her more was when Awnirudh followed Kshitija's request and mentored a shot standing behind her, guiding her with his expert touch.

Vandita couldn't take it anymore. Although, she had promised herself to not loose her composer at any cost, but this... this incensed her completely.

"Rishit Babu, will you accompany me outside, it's a little suffocating here." She had addressed Rishit keeping her eyes on Awnirudh.

"Surely, your wish is my command." Rishit bowed down, extending his hand to Vandita.

Vandita looked at Awnirudh, one glance, before holding Rishit's hand, and that one glance, was enough to paralyze him as he drop his cue stick on the table.

"It's indeed a little suffocating here." Awnirudh spoke in a low voice eyeing Vandita's trail, "let's go outside, shall we."

Rishit and Kshitija were wonderful hosts. They persuaded their guests to stay over for lunch and more.

In a normal scenario, Awnirudh would have avoided such social rendezvous. But, this was different. He was getting to spend time with his Vandita. She was smiling and talking without inhibitions, and that was enough for him to tolerate the unrestrained approaches from her friend Kshitija.

Awnirudh had just kept his eyes on the prize!

But, the recent developments in the garden, where the group was strolling in the evening, left his mind demented.

Rishit had been ministering to Vandita since morning. He even had the audacity of holding her hand as well. He had also tucked a stand of Vandita's hair when she got down for the hammock swing.

'How dare he..!' Awnirudh had growled inside.

In his mind, he had already killed Rishit a hundred times, but outside, his social senses kept him restrained with only a frail cord.

Amidst Kshitija's constant banter,

Awnirudh overheard Rishit asking Vandita, " Now that you are an adult, apart from working on women education, have you thought of what to do with life?"

"Life as in?" Vandita had replied sloppily.

"You know.. life... Falling in love... Marriage... All those finer sentiments of life." Rishit asked as he overtook her to cross her path.

"Haven't thought really. Plus my marriage is not legally revoked yet." Vandita tried to evade him.

" Your marriage? I thought the groom had died on the same day and you were rescued!" Rishit looked visibly surprised.

Vandita, however, was quiet. She looked forlorn.

But before she could explain her thoughts, Awnirudh intruded their conversation.

"I married her Rishit... in the same alter... Vandita is my wife."

His voice was grim.