Spark & Spice Forever: Chapter 3: TimeOut

 

Paris club was a magnanimous club constructed during the medieval era to encourage sports and cultural activities by the kith and kin of the Dukes and the Duchesses of France. Over the years, it was taken over by the rich and famous, who met there to discuss the fine intricacies of art and politics.

It was said that governments formed and fell down at the conference rooms of the club, new sports talents discovered and concerts were often hosted there to keep the high and mighty entertained.

Dadu often visited Paris Club in the evenings to meet his fellow business veterans and retired officials of the armed forces to share experiences of life over a few drinks and play a game of chess or snooker with them.

It wasn’t new to Virat. And it was near the office too. After disconnecting Dadu’s call, Virat was at the Paris club within the next 15 minutes.

Niyati found Virat strolling along the foyer when she stepped out of her car. He looked suave in a cream shirt and grey suit. Niyati was always amazed at how dapper he looked even after a hectic day at work. That, he waited before going inside was profoundly endearing.

His eyes crinkled a bit as he flashed a warm smile towards her. Niyati returned his smile with her own bright grin and approached him for a quick hug.

“Did you come back after reaching home?” Niyati asked.

Virat curled his arm around her and gave her a soft squeeze. “Nah! I had just started from the office when Dadu called.”

He instructed the driver to leave the premises and go back home as they would be driving home together.

“Any idea why Dadu called us here?” Niyati asked.

Virat made a pout of his mouth and nodded to refuse.

“Maybe he is arranging a party for Dadi?” She speculated.

This time Virat laughed, “Party? Here? Dadi will block him everywhere if she hasn’t already.”

Niyati used her tote bag to slightly hit his arm, “Shut up! Dadi will never block him.”

“I hope not. I don’t have time for drama.” Virat took out his phone and checked messages while they took the stairs to reach the lounge and then towards the section where the elderly played chess.

Niyati observed the club and décor and moved swiftly, keeping pace with Virat. Virat, checking his phone constantly, never bothered her. She knew how he was glued to his phone at all times to check messages from his staff, about everything happening at the office, read emails from investors and collaborators, kept track of the share market, especially the shares of the Malhotra group and monitor every minor thing at business. Most of his work happened through his laptop and his phone was his mini-laptop when he was not in the office.

Niyati was aware of Virat’s style of working and she was not only used to it but she appreciated it too. She gave a glance at him and his phone and a goofy grin appeared on her face. Coincidentally, Virat happened to look at her at the same moment and caught her glance and grin.

“What?” He spread his hand sideways as if annoyed at being teased.

“Nothing!” Her grin was replaced by her laughter, this time. Her eyes twinkled.

“Come on!” He stood in one place and insisted. His eyes fixed on her face and his demeanour very certain he wasn’t going to move an inch unless she shared why she was laughing.

She giggled. “Your phone and obsession with CCTV cameras reminded me of my cabin. I miss sitting in front of camera no. 6.”

Mortified, Virat rolled his eyes and turned away before he started walking quickly. “Gaahh!”

Niyati quickly followed him, laughing more. “Don’t you miss it? Mr. Official stalker?”

“What will you take to shut up?” He pressed the key to the elevator at the end of the long meticulously decorated corridor.

“Ah! I miss those days. You would end up at my desk, fuming, darting daggers from your eyes.” She gloated proudly, as they entered the elevator.

Virat couldn’t stop a subtle, embarrassed smile on his lips. He looked away and tapped his feet on the steel floor of the elevator, looking at the digital screen mentioning the floor number. They stepped out on the third floor and started walking.

“Stop giggling. We are here to meet Dadu. He shouldn’t think that we are not serious.” He reminded her.

“Oh, yes! I am very serious about his issue. I will do my best to help him and Dadi.” Niyati cleared her throat and spoke in a serious tone.

Virat gave a long look to her, threw a huge bout of air from his mouth, and decided not to speak anything. He kept walking. She followed.

When they reached the Seniors Hall, they scanned the arena where several men in their sixties, seventies and eighties were playing chess, board games, and having a drink with discussions about polity and economy.

Holding a glass of wine in his hand, Dadu arrived from nowhere and tapped on Virat’s shoulder. “Hey! Son!”

“Dadu!” Virat bent to touch his feet, as always. Niyati followed. Dadu patted their backs and brushed off their attempts at greetings.

“Chuck the formalities, you two. It’s okayyy! Come…come…come…” Dadu walked them towards a corner to lead them into a small corridor at the end. He appeared cheerful and excited to take them somewhere.

Virat was surprised to see Dadu walking like he was in the air. He looked at Niyati and raised his brows. She twisted her lips in a sign that she was as clueless as him. They kept walking behind Dadu. He took them to a beautiful, huge, glass door and fished out keys from his silk trousers to open it.

Then, he held Virat’s hand and brought both of them inside.

Inside the door was a grand hall with chic decorations in a blend of contemporary and medieval. The embroidered drapes in cream and gold satin, the wooden furniture, the tall French windows and the high ceiling with beautiful, giant chandeliers.

Virat opened his mouth in awe and walked around the space. Niyati touched the drapes and walked over the fur carpet, soaking in the soft feel of the fabric.

“Dadu, what is this?” Virat asked.

“It’s a newly furnished and renovated reading room-turned-conference hall of the club. There was an old store room at this part of the club. I suggested that it can be turned to a reading room and also a conference hall. The club thought it was a great idea but lacked funds. So…”

“So, you funded it?” Virat knew his Dadu too well.

“Of course, son! And Malhotra group has a contract with the club. I funded the renovation and got the possession for first six months. Solely. It’s ours. We can also extend the ownership by paying every six months.”

Virat flared his eyes in disbelief. He spread his hands in the air, “But whyyy??? Why do we need this space? We have a palatial mansion. And for parties and conferences, we hire the best places in the town. Then, why this expenditure?”

Niyati was not only confused. But speechless too. The room was exquisite, but Virat was right. It was unnecessary.

“Mansion? You mean, home?” Dadu asked, “Did you see what Gayatri did that day? There’s no peace there. You can’t even sit and read there, properly. Somebody will come and disturb you. Maya has her own set of issues. Yash will never grow up. I find peace whenever I come to club…”

“So, you decided to live here??” Virat took a deep breath.

“No…no… I’m not living here. I will just extend my stay. The Seniors Hall is impersonal. You can’t have your own staff there. I can arrange all my books in this corner… I can sit here and read, do office work, read papers and documents… just the peaceful stuff.”

“But Dadu, we have an office for that.” Virat tried to reason with him.

“Ahhhh!! You don’t understand, son! I don’t need an office. I need a homely environment, but not home. Something which is like the club but has a homely touch. I like the club so much. That is why I thought I can stay here for more with my own customised facilities.”

Virat looked at Dadu as if he was speaking in Greek. The entire arrangement was beyond his understanding. He pushed his hair behind, using his fingers and let his hands rest on his neck.

Dadu continued, beaming in joy, “I received the keys today. I was so excited that I wanted to share it with you. Both of you are very dear to me. You are the only people I intend to show it… at least for now.”

“Dadi doesn’t know about it?” Virat huffed.

“Of course, not! And she shouldn’t. It’s like a ‘timeout from marriage’… you must be aware of this system. You are the new generation, after all!” Dadu laughed.

Virat was not aware of any such system, but he didn’t know what to say anymore. Niyati stayed glued to where she was, not sure what to say.

“Do you like it Niyati?”

Niyati smiled, “It’s beautiful, Dadu.”

“Both of you can come here and sit with me whenever you want some peace. Okay?” Dadu said.

Virat almost coughed.

Niyati asked, “But Dadu…”

“Well, I’m an independent, successful man! I need my space. In fact, I deserve my space, my time.”

“Don’t you think Dadi needs your time too?” Niyati murmured.

“Oh, yes! I agree. I have never lagged behind in my duties as a good husband. I have worked hard for years and provided everything to my family, my children, grandchildren… I’ve given time to Gayatri. So, to make her feel good, I have booked a table for dinner at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. She would be happy!” Dadu declared with his face glowing in pride.

………………………………..

“Dinner table? Like, seriously?!!” Niyati grumbled on their way back home.

Virat was baffled too. He didn’t speak much after leaving the Club, still processing Dadu’s words and actions. He quietly drove his car, with Niyati by his side.

“Dinner table???” She turned towards him to speak. Her irritation and anger spilt over in her words. “This is so disrespectful. Do men think that women will be happy if they take them for dinner?”

Virat cleared his throat and let his eyes stay on the road ahead. He was glad he didn’t go ahead with his plan to invite Niyati for a dinner date. What was I thinking? He wondered.

“Tch! Women don’t need dinners.” Niyati continued.

“Ehh! They don’t?” Virat looked at her and asked in a low, unsure voice.

“We can afford a fancy dinner on our own. Or, we can go with our besties. Dadu needs to understand that this is no solution. Dinner for Dadi and a ‘timeout’ for him… this is so wrong.”

“Yeahhhh!” Virat drew in a deep breath, “Dadu was always this weird. But I never knew he would actually do something like this.”

“I thought he would do something to make sure Dadi doesn’t get more annoyed with him. But he is going all out to ensure she gets upset.”

Virat shrugged. “Anyway…what can we do about it?”

“Let me think,” Niyati murmured, thinking deeply.

Virat immediately corrected her, “Oh, hello! Please stay away from this chaos. It’s not our problem.”

“But…” Niyati’s voice dipped low, unsure of how to react to this.

But Virat didn’t let her think more or counter him. He was sure and very firm. “No! Absolutely not. Don’t interfere in this issue or things will become bad to worse.”

“Hmm!” She nodded reluctantly. Her eyes and subtle nod defied the sound she made.

Virat knew her too well. He smirked, “It didn’t sound convincing enough.”

“Why don’t we do this… we sit together and talk about it. Maybe we decide to help?” She asked.

Virat gave her a wide fake smile, and stressed on each word, “Why don’t we do this… let’s go home, eat food, and have a good sleep. Maybe tomorrow brings a better perception that it’s none of our business.”

She sighed and reclined on the passenger seat, “You are tired, right?”

“It was a hectic day.”

She pressed her lips inwards and squeezed her eyes. “I’m sorry! I tend to get carried away.”

Virat grinned at her cute attempt to apologise. “But I don’t get carried away by you, anymore. I know, this ‘sorry’ is just for tonight, because I’m tired. I’m sure you will bring this issue tomorrow again.”

Niyati grinned too, hiding the blush on her cheeks. “You read me so well.”

Virat didn’t reply for a long moment. Then, he drew in a deep breath and murmured in a low, husky voice.

“You are my favourite subject.”

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