Spark & Spice Forever: Chapter 1

Thank you for responding to my question. After much contemplation, I am posting the first chapter of Spark & Spice Forever. It’s Book 3 of Spark & Spice series of books. 

Disclaimer: Read it only if you have already read Book 2 of Spark & Spice already posted here, once. Don’t read it if you have only read Book 1 as it will have spoilers of Book 2.

From next update onwards, the chapters will be a posted as a private post as I don’t want to keep it unattended online. My followers will be able to read it. You don’t need to have a wordpress account to read it. I will give password to whoever is reading it 😀

I will update on every Sunday night.
These are unedited, raw drafts. Kindly avoid the proof-check errors. And bring bloopers to my notice 🙈😅

Also – Please read them here and please don’t copy or try to download it. I sincerely request. 

Loads of love 💖

M.

……………………………………….

 

Spark & Spice Forever – Chapter 1

 

‘Bet for Dadi to have the last word?’

Niyati scribbled the question on a blank page in her journal, keeping a straight face to look busy, pretending to take notes from the latest issue of a French design magazine. Without lifting her eyelids, she discreetly slid the journal towards Virat, sitting across the table with his back towards Dadu and Dadi. He threw a glance at Niyati’s question and instead of writing on it, he replied to her with a stern stare, he was known for.

Niyati appeared unfazed and pulled the journal back to her. Virat cursed the moment he had decided to bring his file to the study room, hoping to spend a relaxed time with Niyati and Dadu. However, things went down pretty soon.

A few minutes ago, Dadu had been keenly reading a document spread on his desk when Dadi had stormed inside the study room and caught him unawares. The peaceful silence of the corner room soon faded into the clatter of her complaints. Dadi demanded Dadu should accompany her to the charity function organised by the NGO she supported. But Dadu wished to be left alone in peace.

“Listen, I can’t go all over the city from one function to another. I wish to attend the award ceremony in the evening. Virat has been nominated for the ‘Business Icon of the Year’ award… I can’t miss it for anything,” Dadu declared.

“I’m going there too.” Dadi was non-chalant.

“So?”

“So?”

Dadu shrugged. “So, we are not young anymore.”

“What do you mean by that?” Dadi was annoyed.

“I mean, let me live in some peace, Gayatri…I like to do things at my pace.”

“Your pace?” Dadi roared like a tigress, “Oh, really? Do you ever realise how I’ve struggled all my life to match with your so-called pace and to roam around the world with you? You travelled for business, attended meetings, networked with people… you were always on your toes. And you wanted me to accompany you. Now, all of a sudden, your pace has spiralled down and once again, you want me to abide by it. Why is it always about you, Gajendra?”.

Niyati lowered her neck further to stifle the smile on her lips. She had never seen Dadi mince her words to express what she wanted. She might have had her emotional and weak moments but she had her bouts of aggression too. So strongly, that she had no qualms about making a scene even before their grandkids. She had had enough. Audience didn’t affect her anymore.

Dadu stood up, lightly making a hand gesture to remind Dadi of the presence of two witnesses in the room. He kept a hand on her shoulder and escorted her out of the room, saying, “Come on, I’ve always done everything for you. Doesn’t it mean, it always actually about you?”

Niyati couldn’t stop giggling after Dadu and Dadi left the room. Virat shut his file with a snap sound and clicked his tongue. “Gawd! What was that?”

“Normal husband-wife quarrel.” Niyati shrugged.

“Don’t you think their fights are increasing these days? I either see them bickering on a silly issue or so upset that they don’t talk for days. It wasn’t like that previously.”

Niyati carefully closed her journal and stood up. She turned around the table to join him and with a faint smile, she said, “I miss fighting with you.”

This time, Virat chuckled too. “So, who is stopping you? Go ahead.”

She sighed and smiled again. “Virat, I’m serious. I miss those days.”

“Which days?” Virat asked casually, collecting his file, phone, pen and airpods.

“The initial few years…when we met… when we got married. We were so…” She was at a loss of words, trying to explain her feelings to him.

Virat squeezed his eyes slightly to request her for a moment as he had a call on his phone and he had to receive it. Niyati rolled her eyes and stood still while Virat talked to his assistant from the office and informed him to send the mails he had dictated previously.

“Yeah? What were you saying?” He disconnected the call and appeared to be interested in Niyati’s discussion. Sometimes, he did it so unintentionally that Niyati couldn’t stop smiling at his efforts to behave like a good husband.

“Nothing.” She grinned and walked away, out of the room.

“No, seriously. Go on, I was listening.” He made a pout of his lips.

Niyati sighed and grinned more, “No.”

“We fight… we do fight, right?”

“No, we don’t.” Niyati made a helpless face, still grinning to prove her point.

“Oh! So, that must be good?” He didn’t want to accept there was something Niyati expected from him and he didn’t do. He followed her as she walked out of the study room into the corridor on the ground floor of Malhotra mansion.

Niyati looked sideways, through the large French windows, towards the plush lawn in front of the foyer and asked, “Virat, don’t you think we’ve become too comfortable with each other? We gel so seamlessly, that we keep agreeing with each other… on almost everything.”

He folded his hands and looked at her as if she was talking from space. “Well! Is that a problem?”

“Isn’t it?” She asked, innocently fluttering her eyes.

“How?” He stood facing her, leaning by the other edge of the tall window, waiting for her to elaborate more.

“Do we agree because we are on the same page? Or we agree to avoid any conflict? Is it possible that we’ve become more of a habit to each other? Maybe we don’t want to hurt each other, so we agree? Or maybe at the end of the day, we are left with no energy to fight or create disharmony in our room?”

Virat stood blank-faced. Only Niyati could knock him out of his wits for something he hadn’t even given a thought. Ever. Not even in his weirdest dreams. He only knew one thing – that he loved her and that was his eternal truth. He never liked fighting with her or being the reason for her tears. He loved to make her happy and see her smile.

Speechless, he stared at her face for a long moment, and nodded. Before he could say something in reply, Maya spotted them standing in the corridor. She approached them.

“Virat, Niyati… aren’t you going to get ready? We have to attend the award ceremony… remember?”

How could they forget?! How could anyone forget it? Virat Malhotra was nominated the Business Icon of the year by the Businessmen Guild of France.

“Chachi…We were about to… you know, going to get ready.” Virat informed her.

Maya was visibly excited. “I’ve promised a huge party to my friends from the business circles. You know how it is… it’s a big deal to win this award… I’m so sure you will get the award this year.”

Virat flashed a dry smile at her and replied in a casual tone, “I know, Chachi. An insider has informed me that I’m getting the award. To be honest, it isn’t really a big deal. It’s all about politics and right connections. Actually, the guild wants Dadu and our group to invest in some of the joint ventures. Plus, they want Dadu to be the next Chairman of the guild…so…”

Maya’s smile vanished as if someone stole a balloon from a little kid. With her hands twisted, she asked, “What! They’ve told you already?”

This time, Virat laughed. “Come on, Chachi. Don’t tell me, you don’t know about it. It is always like that. They nominate people and inform the winners so that winners don’t skip the function. Instead, they are asked to come prepared with a speech. Or else, the event might turn out to be a flop show. In fact, I’m glad they didn’t ask for money. A lot of organisers do that. And wannabes give it too.”

“Gosh!” Maya waved her hand in the air as if dismissing too much information she never wanted. She walked away, saying, “Never mind! let’s reach the venue on time and meet people in the best of our attires.”

Virat laughed again and nodded to agree.

Niyati clicked her tongue, “Virat, you are so hopeless, do you know that?”

“Mmm…maybe coz you keep telling me that all the time. But what did I do now?”

“Why did you break someone’s bubble like that? How hard was it to go with the flow?”

He twisted his lips before saying, “Sorry. Did you want me to speak a lie?”

“Of course, not! But you could have kept her excitement intact and stayed quiet… you don’t need to tell everyone that you know the results.”

Virat chuckled and shrugged. “Alright, next time onwards, I will play along.”

Niyati threw a heavy bout of air from her lips and pointed her index finger towards him. “See, look at you. This was exactly what I was telling you. Once again, you agree to everything so easily. You just don’t fight. You keep agreeing with everything.”

Virat couldn’t stop laughing. Niyati folded her arms and nodded hopelessly. She knew, she didn’t make much sense to him. Nor to herself. But that was how it was. And she never failed to share her deepest thoughts with Virat, whether they made sense or not, whether they made her look silly.

Virat left Niyati, with her musings and doubts, before he turned around to take stairs to their room on the first floor, skipping alternate steps. Niyati sighed and leaned her back to rest at the window pane. Unable to decide if she should be irked by his nonchalance or feel comforted in his composure.

He looked calm and peaceful. She was happy too. So, everything must be fine, she convinced herself.

***

The dazzling award function was hosted at Les affaires, the grand new auditorium constructed at the outskirts of Paris, famously reserved for business conferences and fashion shows. The huge space inside the central boasted of plush seating, rich upholstery, fine carpeting, and beautiful lights on the walls with marble statues at all corners. The interiors served as a perfect blend of contemporary and medieval European architecture.

Virat stood up when his name was announced, putting no efforts to look surprised, even after Niyati’s suggestion. He walked authoritatively and took the stairs to the podium. A month ago, he had rejected the prospect of receiving this award but Dadu convinced him to do it. His team said that it was a PR exercise and would reflect well on the image of Malhotra group. Virat had to accept it as a promotional strategy. It was win-win for both the guild and Malhotra group. Finally, Virat reached the venue on time and accepted the award gracefully but he couldn’t fake being over-the-moon about it. He didn’t even give an elaborate speech. He simply smiled and spoke one sentence.

‘My sincere thanks to my family, friends, and the employees of our company for always being there with me.’

Sitting in the audience in the front row, Niyati grinned. She had guessed what his attitude on stage would be. And he had lived up to it. He did exactly what she had expected from him.

Maya, Yash, Dadu and Dadi, Samir and Arpita clapped the loudest, though. They were always so proud of him. Awards and rewards were only a bonus. Dressed in black tuxedo and chic, designer shoes, Virat looked dapper as he walked down the stage and went straight to Dadu and Dadi to give them his trophy. They hugged him.

The rest of the function followed smoothly, with a few speeches by senior members of the guild, announcements of events and dates, and declaring the committee members for the next year. Dadu was being nominated as the Chairman. He was selected unopposed. The ceremony was followed by dinner.

“Sorry, I couldn’t act to look surprised… and excited!” Virat turned the key of his new Maybach.

“I’m glad you didn’t do it. That would have looked just like you said – an act!” Niyati replied, tapping the sequined clutch-bag in her lap. Her knee length, ash-blue gown with cowl-neck hugged her at all the right places. It was designed for this function and delivered in the late evening. Virat didn’t compliment her throughout the evening and Niyati wondered whether the effort was worth it. She could have worn any old dress she had and he would have hardly bothered. She was sure he didn’t even look at her properly.

“What are you thinking?” Virat asked as he started driving the car.

“Hmm? Nothing.” She murmured and looked outside the window.

Roads in Paris had always fascinated her. Since the day she reached here for the first time. Well illuminated. Studded with the heavy rush of vehicles. People commuting on foot at the sidewalk. Well lit statues and crossroads. Even late at night.

Virat had no idea what Niyati was thinking. He had his own issue. “Do you think I should have prepared a big speech?”

She replied instinctively, “No. It would have been so unlike you.”

He rolled his eyes wondering what she meant by that. He kept driving and she observed the road before closing her eyes unintentionally. She had been working day and night on a new project and was mostly tired these days. She dozed off to sleep and woke up only after they reached the foyer.

“Sorry!” Niyati stifled a yawn, “I didn’t realise when I fell asleep.”

“Don’t bother! I’m glad you slept.” Virat stepped down the car and hurled the key towards an attendant to park the car.

By the time, Virat ended a phone call, Niyati had already changed and crashed on the bed. Deep in sleep. Virat spread the duvet over her and adjusted the temperature of the room heater. Soon, he changed too and retired to sleep on the other side of the bed.

***

“Niyati, can you please come to my cabin?”

Surprised, Niyati stared at the phone for a few seconds. For the past few months, the files she needed to go through or sign, would reach her desk. She had her own cabin now, her personal assistants and staff at designing. She was heading the couture segment. Virat didn’t usually call her to her cabin.

She wondered what made him do this today. When she entered Virat’s cabin, she found him waiting for her with a tray before him. The tray had 2 mugs and a tea-pot.

She sat before him, looking at him for answers to the questions she didn’t ask but had in her mind. He smiled. “You woke up early and left the home before breakfast. So, I thought, we’ll have tea together.”

“Woh…” she stretched her right hand far and above, before she replied, “I wanted to polish the final look of the new collection.”

“I guessed that.” He replied.

“I didn’t want to wake you up.” Niyati poured tea for herself and Virat, and looked at her phone screen while taking a sip.

Virat observed her closely and said, “You know… I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday.”

“Hmm?” Niyati raised her eyes, trying to remember what she had said.

“That… we don’t fight these days… we don’t even argue about anything. We keep agreeing or don’t talk at all.”

Niyati kept her phone on the table, happy to know he was trying to see her point. Though, again he was agreeing with her.

“What?” He shrugged when he saw her frowning.

“I mean… I don’t know if it is good that you see my point or bad that you agree once again, without any discussion.”

Virat tapped his fingers on the table, waiting for her to speak more. He knew, she was going to do that.

Niyati continued, “I mean… we work together, we are at office for most of the day and we are together at home, as well. By the time, we are alone, we are either too tired to argue, or too instinctive about each other’s likes or dislikes. We understand what the other is trying to say, so we keep agreeing with each other.”

“I’m trying to understand what’s weird in this?” Virat asked.

“Okay… tell me, when was the last time, we fought? Do you remember?”

He nodded his head disbelievingly, “No. I don’t see any point in contradicting you because I like your designs and business inputs…I really like them. And you manage things at home, so well. Our thoughts match. Similarly, I believe that you say ‘yes’ to everything I suggest because… maybe because it made sense to you? Isn’t so?”

She shrugged, wondering aloud. “I don’t know.”

“Now, what does that mean?”

“That means we are just becoming a habit to each other. That’s it!” she spread her hands in the air.

“Is that a bad thing?” He asked gravely, looking into her eyes, leaning ahead on his table.

“First step of drifting apart.” She declared.

“Shut up!” He confidently dismissed her claim. “That’s a crap theory.”

“Virat, I think we have started taking each other for granted.” She spoke confidently too.

“No! Are you nuts. Unbelievable!” Virat spoke louder, almost to convince himself. He couldn’t believe what she was trying to insinuate.

“Okay, you tell me – in the past 4 years of our relationship, haven’t you felt dull or bored, even once? Don’t you feel something is missing in our relationship? Something which was there previously but just fizzled off somewhere?”

He twisted his lips, thinking deeply. “Okay…maybe…”

“We have become like any other couple – we have accepted each other as a casual part of our lives…we are simply headed towards a stage of our marriage where a couple gets bored of each other around 5 years of their marriage.”

Virat hated to hear that but he didn’t want any of what Niyati had said to come true. He had to accept that they weren’t the same as before. “Mmm…I agree, we are definitely not like what we used to be. But…”

“But?” Niyati raised her brow.

“I don’t know. You seem to know more. Tell me what did we lose.”

“The spark in our conversations. The spice in our relationship.”