His Monsoon Bride

He stopped humming and felt a migraine coming on. As he pressed the buzzer for his secretary to get him an aspirin a voiced boomed on his intercom. ‘Sir, your twelve o’clock is here.’

It was Manoj Piramal and his daughter Amrita, and suddenly Mehtab felt his anger melting away. Today his strategy of bagging the Piramal empire and marrying Amrita would come to fruition. He couldn’t think of a better business proposal—Piramal needed someone to rebuild the company, which was a challenge Mehtab was looking forward to, but in return Mehtab would also get a wife. A wife who would bring with her the sophistication that came with old money.

Amrita had it all—class, intelligence, wit and, though Mehtab had not expected it, beauty. She was gorgeous and when he remembered their kiss last night, he couldn’t help but feel his pulse quicken. Unlike the stick-thin women who usually graced his bed, Amrita had curves in all the right places, and it made her seem so much more feminine and delicate. Her outfit suited her perfectly and the yellow kurta brought out her hazel eyes and high cheekbones. Her straight black hair and the sexy fringe caught him off guard. He had wanted to kiss those lips the moment he walked in.

She was much more interesting than he had expected. The way she had indulged in that witty repartee with him—he couldn’t wait to meet her again. He just needed Manoj Piramal to accept his offer and couldn’t help but wonder if the old man was really desperate enough to broker away his daughter’s hand in marriage to save his crumbling empire. Mehtab could sense that he was. He realised maybe he would even do the same if the tables were turned. But he had to hold his horses, because Amrita didn’t seem like the I-will-go-along-with-anything kind of woman. If her demeanor had revealed anything to him yesterday, it was the fact that she was super smart, and even though she had kissed him, getting married to him was a totally different ball game. Would she fly off the handle? He knew he would have to tread very carefully today.

Amrita looked at Mehtab’s face as she entered his office and she was instantly reminded of their kiss, which had left her feeling woozy for a long time after. She had never felt so blown away before, but then she hadn’t ever been kissed like that. He was an intensely handsome man, with his chiselled jaw line, broad shoulders and that sinful smile, which she thought was the sexiest thing of all. The fact that he had kissed her had pleased her, and made her feel special. Even at work today, he looked perfect, as if he had walked out of an advert for a designer suit. His black suit and white shirt looked even better as he wore no tie, and he appeared casual yet so sexy. Amrita had taken extra care while getting dressed this morning—she wore a pale blue sheer kurta and jeans and had jazzed it up with a pair of leopard-print high heels. Her hazel eyes were shining thanks to the blue kajal. She wanted to look good for him, strange as that made her feel.

‘Mehtab, thanks for meeting us today,’ she heard her father say.

Mehtab shook Piramal’s hand warmly and said, ‘Sir, the pleasure is all mine. Thanks for coming in. I know this is a tough time and it can’t be easy for you to consider my proposition, but I am glad you are thinking about it.’

He quickly stole a glance at Amrita and noticed the look of surprise on her face. So, obviously, Amrita knew nothing about what was going to happen today. He could feel her curious glare.

‘What is this proposition?’ she asked, sitting down next to her father on the plush sofa, which looked out on the entire ocean.

Mehtab addressed her father. ‘Sir, I want to marry Amrita.’

Piramal was quiet and he saw Amrita sitting with her hands tightly pressed in her lap. Finally he spoke, ‘I thought you were going to say that.’

And that was when Amrita erupted. ‘How did you know that? Have you talked about this behind my back? Is this why he was there yesterday? Is this why you …?’ She looked at Mehtab with anger.

He remained silent and just stared at Piramal, who looked at his daughter and said, ‘No, we haven’t talked about this. But I had a feeling he would ask after I saw him with you yesterday. And if he hadn’t, I would have asked him. Once he marries you, he can be on the board of Piramal Industries where he can really help me return the company to its former glory. That was your offer, wasn’t it, Mehtab?’

‘Yes, sir. You got that right. But, Amrita, I do plan to keep you happy,’ Mehtab said softly.

‘Happy? How can you keep me happy when all this sounds like a business strategy? Who is thinking about me here and what I want? I don’t even love you,’ she screamed and stormed out.

Mehtab sat back on his chair and watched Piramal go after his daughter. He hadn’t expected Amrita to blow up like this. He had expected her to be a bit angry but then accept the proposal as any other society girl would. Had he misread her? Was she going to say no?

Manoj followed his daughter out and found her waiting for the lift. Angry tears were rolling down her face now.

‘Amrita, I am sorry. I am. But there is no other way. If this doesn’t happen, beta, we will have to sell the house, and then the company piece by piece. And to build a company from scratch is not easy. I can’t do it this time around. I don’t have the energy or youth on my side.’

‘But, Papa, I don’t even love him.’

‘Sometimes love can be cultivated, beta. He is a wealthy man and I am sure he will give you everything you would have ever wanted, even more than what I have given you. Please, Amrita, try and understand this,’ said Piramal, leaning back on the table in the lobby and taking a deep breath.

‘Understand what, Papa? I can’t just get married and expect to live happily ever after with a man who I don’t even know. Isn’t that like an arranged marriage? You and Ma had a love marriage—could you have ever agreed to this?’

‘Our love led to many other problems. But don’t compare us to you. I know what I am asking is unreasonable, but the creditors have come calling and if I don’t raise capital in a month, they will auction away everything I own. And they have informed me of this with threats that I have often heard in my line of work but never took seriously because I was the king. But now, if I don’t pay them, they will make me pay with my life.’

‘Papa, why didn’t you tell me before? How can they do that? We will call the police.’

Piramal’s face was white. ‘No, we can’t do that. I do owe them money. But you are right, I shouldn’t get scared and I shouldn’t be doing this. I just got so seduced by the feeling that I would be the richest man in India again. I wanted my company to shine again. And I forgot about my daughter’s happiness. I will go and tell Mehtab this is all off. I can’t do this to you,’ he said, and turned around and started walking.

His shoulders slumped and his footsteps were slow and tired. It was the walk of a man who had lost everything, and Amrita couldn’t do this to him. Her mind was in turmoil. So that was why Mehtab had kissed her last night? It had nothing to do with him being attracted to her. It was all a ploy to make her agree to this ridiculous idea. She suddenly felt like a fool for thinking that a man like him might be genuinely interested in her. She didn’t want to marry a man who used her. But then she saw the sorry, retreating figure of her father and felt immense sadness. Her father needed this. If she said no, he would lose all that he had worked so hard for.

She remembered him tucking her into bed every night, no matter how busy he used to be. He had always been there for her—from the time she failed in her Maths exam, to the time she won the school prize for best dancer. He had stayed awake with her when she studied at night, and, to date, he read every article she wrote and then got it laminated to put in his collection. Was she going to break his heart? She knew what she had to do. She caught up with her father and put her hand in his. ‘Papa, I will do what you want. Just don’t ask me why.’

Amrita took a deep breath and re-entered the lion’s den. Before her nerve failed her she announced, ‘Mehtab, I accept your proposal.’ And then she added, ‘But I have one condition.’

‘Anything you want,’ she heard Mehtab say.

She put on a defiant but calm expression. ‘I will continue to work after I get married, and the less you interfere in my work, the better.’

She worked? Mehtab thought, surprised. He had taken her to be a spoilt brat living off Daddy’s money. What was this work? But he knew better than to ask that question now. Instead he said, ‘Of course. You are free to live life as you want.’

‘Well, then, I agree.’

Mehtab saw her bottom lip quivering. He knew this was not what she wanted, and it was far from an ideal situation, but it had to be done. Amrita would understand in time.

Piramal looked at his daughter with love. ‘Thanks for saving me, Amrita. I am sure that Mehtab will make you happy. Won’t you?’ He looked at Mehtab with eyes that pleaded he do so.

‘Of course,’ he said, and he meant to keep her happy. He might not be able to be the Romeo to her Juliet, but he would give her all that she wanted. She didn’t realise how much this marriage could enhance his image and his career—the family man who had a perfect wife and a perfect business. He wanted to be admired and looked up to in all areas of his life and Amrita was going to make that happen.

Piramal heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I know this is not an easy situation but I am sure you will work it out.’ He looked at Amrita, who was sitting quietly, and he knew she had done this for him. ‘Amrita, should we leave?’ As she nodded and managed to flash Mehtab a half-smile, which he knew was just her being polite, Piramal said, ‘Mehtab, come to our house for dinner today. We need to celebrate. And also plan the engagement party. Amrita, would that be okay?’

Amrita wished her father would stop asking her questions. She couldn’t even think straight right now. She had agreed to marry Mehtab, and now she had to go through with this. Why was this happening to her? But she couldn’t lose control or else Mehtab would treat her like any other grasping woman. So she looked up and said as calmly as she could, ‘Yes, Mehtab, do come. Do you like kheer for dessert? I make it well.’

‘I love kheer,’ he replied without smiling.

‘See you at dinner, then,’ she said, and walked out of his office with her father. Mehtab found himself thinking there had to be a better way of doing this, but he couldn’t think of one. Well, Amrita would just have to live with it. There were worse things that could happen to a woman. But despite the success of the meeting, he wasn’t happy. And he found that disturbing. Was this woman going to make him feel bad about how he ran his life? No, he was stronger than that.

He had to be stronger. He looked out at the sea and thought of how the evening would turn out to be.

That evening, Amrita sat in front of her mirror and adjusted her pink cotton dress and fiddled with the diamond pendant around her neck. She was strangely nervous. Of course this marriage was a sham, but she still couldn’t stop herself from getting all weak-kneed at the mere thought of seeing Mehtab again. But despite her body’s traitorous reaction, she still hoped he wouldn’t turn up and that this was all a dream. It was all right to be physically attracted to someone, but marry him to save a company? It seemed like a plot out of a movie. This couldn’t be her life? She felt helpless.

Meera was brushing her hair and saying, ‘He is very good-looking, though. So at least you won’t be bored of him physically.’

‘Meera!’ Amrita snapped, but the older woman just ignored her tone.

‘Why are you shocked, Amrita? You are a young girl. Don’t you want to marry a gorgeous guy? I am just being honest.’ Meera giggled. But then she saw Amrita’s sad face and sat next to her. ‘I know this is not what you thought your marriage would be like. But life isn’t always fair. I fell in love once and he married someone else, even though he told me he loved me. Sometimes, love isn’t enough. Maybe you could try and be friends with Mehtab, see his positive side?’

‘But, Meera, it’s as if I have no choice. I can’t say anything. I feel like a puppet.’

‘I know, darling, but you are a strong girl. And if you really don’t want to do it, you can stop it even now.’

‘No, Meera, Father would die.’

‘Yes, you have to understand his side of this. It’s killing him knowing he is doing this to you. But he has no choice as well. Once you leave, he will be all alone. And so will I. I never had children, Amrita, but you made up for everything. You really did. I will always be there for you.’

‘I know, Meera. I love you too. This would have been doubly hard if you hadn’t been here,’ said Amrita, and as she hugged her nanny she felt some of her worries flying away.

Her worries returned as soon as she entered the living room. Her palms were sweaty and she hid them behind her back. Mehtab was already there, having a drink with her father. He looked relaxed in a blue tee over chinos and she could feel a wave of desire sweeping over her. She sat down in front of him and her father suddenly got up.

‘I have a few important calls to make. Why don’t you both chat and I will see you at dinner? Maybe you can decide when we should announce your engagement?’