Lies

BETWEEN THEM
Part 49

He was hesitant...

It was evening, and a gloomy one at that... Bangalore evenings were always silly... They seemed to cooperate a lot with his moods... instead of cheering him up, today it was all adding to the general idea of futility.....

Of course, Krish could not expect her to welcome him in with cheer....

Not after his downright cheap dismissal of her yesterday....


He was into the lift... and with growing doubt he pressed the button....

Up to the twentieth floor.... He was in the open circular common corridor there between the two houses.... The one to his right was hers....

He stopped.... Someone was leaning over the rails there... looking down....

The man turned... He must have been Krish's age.. somewhere in his mid twenties...Handsome in a scholarly way, tall and of wheatish complexion......

Krish ignored him and went up to the door.... It was locked... She wasn't back yet....


"You waiting for Shriya? Me too"

Krish stared.... Could the guy be her brother? Not that she had one....

"Yes...."

"I think she will be here in a few minutes.... It's about time anyway"

"You are her cousin?"

The man laughed... A deep throaty sound....

"No man.... Am a friend of her's... Supposed to be...."

"So am I"

"No... You see... Well.... Let me tell you... But you must keep it to yourself"

This sounded plain kiddish..... Krish suppressed a laugh.... He nodded, a smile spreading on his face....

"I am a nephew of Mr. Eashwar Iyer.... Know him?"

"No..."

"He is a partner of the firm"

"Oh.... You mean he is a lawyer"

"Yes.... obviously.... I am one too"

"Fine... And you are here to meet her"

"That is because he wants me to marry her......., " he laughed...


The smile froze on Krish's lips....

"Am here to meet her for that.... You know... Just introduce myself and talk to her.... If I like her and she likes me...."

"Actually we are going to be engaged"

The man stood still... "What?"

"Yes."

"We did not know this... I mean... It's embarrassing"

"Well... Now you know... So it's good right?"

"Er, Yes.... Sorry... And congrats... I guess I will apologize to Shriya tomorrow"

"You don't need to.... And thanks"

"I guess I will leave"

"You never gave me your name"

"Oh... sorry... I am Rajeev... And you are?"

"Krish"

"Fine... Krish... nice meeting you.... see you again sometime man"


Krish watched the lift close behind Rajeev...

If anything, what he had just done was plain crazy... and evil....


He wanted to leave the place... He could meet Shriya tomorrow....

Not today, with guilt and trickery writ bold on his face...


His car left the place a long time before Shriya entered her flat, tired after a particularly hectic day.... A sense of permanent sadness adorning her.....