Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 21

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 21

John had returned to the room having dealt with Mr. Kushal Ahuja. Nice guy…after both the cars had taken off they could hardly discuss anything about them anymore and he sure didn't make a big deal about it. 

Leo: “He is back?”

John: “No.”

Davi: “Why are you back if he isn’t?”

Aaji: “Let him explain!”

Leo: “YOU were supposed to take care of him!”

Aaji: “Leo! Does your brother EVER let anyone take care of him?! John?”

John: “He hit a car and took off.”

Aaji: “ WHAT?! AND YOU LET HIM GO?”

Leo: “Aaji, does he EVER let anyone stop him.”

Aaji looked at Leo with daggers: “Leo!”

Davi: “Stop it, you two! Where did he go? What was he planning? More important, is anybody hurt?”

John: “No one is hurt and there is barely a scratch on the car. However, the car he hit took off after him.”

Davi: “Excuse me?”

John: “As I got out of the car to address the issue, somebody from the front passenger seat of the other car got out too. But before we could even address each other, Sir took off followed by the other car.”

Leo: “Was he in a hurry to get somewhere?”

John: “Yes. He had asked me to get him the directions to go to the Governor’s residence. He has them in the car…”

Aaji: “At this hour?! This boy is crazy!”

John: “I have tried calling him using my other phone but he doesn’t answer.”

Leo: “Your other phone?”

John: “He has my other phone. The one with directions on them.”

Davi: “Did you call that number?”

John: “No luck. That one is going straight to voicemail. Because I was with him, I don’t receive calls.”

Leo:  “What? Don’t you have a life?”

John: “Not really. Never when I am with him!”

Davi: “Guys! The question is do we go out to look for him or sit tight and wait for him to show up.”

Leo grabbed an apple and bit into it: “He is a big boy. He can find his way home.”

Aaji: “Call him!”

Davi: “I did! He doesn’t pick up!”

Aaji: “Use mine! He always answers my call!”

Naina: “Phone, please! Let me just call…”

Gael: “Shhhhhh!”

Naina: “Not until you let me borrow your phone!”

She lunged for the phone in his hand which was giving out some directions.

Gael quickly flicked through the directions, swiftly memorized them and switching the phone off, threw it somewhere in the back of the car.

Naina: “Whaaaa…”

But she didn’t waste time contemplating on what was lost; they both looked to the front where another phone beeped.

That was his phone. No way! Before she could grab it, he lunged for it and turned it off. He then threw it in the back with the other.

Gael: “Sorry, I would have let you borrow my phone but I don’t know where it is.” 

Naina: “WHAT is your problem!?”

Davi: “He cut the call.”

Aaji: “You used my phone?”

Davi: “Yes. And now it is switched off!”

Aaji: “He didn’t answer my call?”

Naina: “YOUR phone was ringing!”

Gael: “It doesn’t matter. Whoever it is, can wait. Now shut up or else I will make you.”

Naina looked at him and was just about to scoff when she saw the expression in his steel grey eyes. There was no denying that if she pushed it, he would definitely shut her up.

She made the wise decision.

She wanted to ask him where he was going…then she wanted to ask him what was this said errand that was oh so important and THEN she wanted to ask him why they were about to enter the Governor’s residence colony at this hour but she kept quiet. She would rather live to see another day.  

When he finally stopped the car in front of the residence, she gave him a look which was sure to get him to talk.

Gael: “Out with it!”

Naina: “Had you told me AN HOUR ago you wanted to come to the Governor’s residence, I would have got us here in 10 minutes!”

Gael: “Save it.”

Gael had thought he had memorized the directions right but he had learned that Mahatma Gandhi was not the only Mahatma AND going from one end of the bay to the other in Mumbai was not as simple as he had presumed. BUT he had made it.

He opened the door just as Naina opened hers.

Naina: “So, who did you kill?”

Gael: “Huh?”

Naina: “It’s not the Governor’s visiting hours now…what’s the problem…oh come on! You can tell me!”

Gael: “YOU are sitting in the car.”

Naina: “Hey! That’s not fair! After…”

But before she could even complete the sentence or try to comprehend what was happening, she was back on the seat handcuffed to the steering wheel!

Naina: “What..where..how…why do you have handcuffs!?”

Gael: “Shhhhh!”

Naina: “We are at the Governor’s residence! You cant have me handcuffed…”

Gael: “He knows I am Brazilian.”

Naina: “What is THAT supposed to mean!?”

Gael: “We are known for our weird fetishes.”

And even before she could think of a retort, he walked away.

Naina was steaming furious. How dare he!? AND she was worried what her Dadi would say! On top of that she had left Kuku’s car stranded. She was sure it would be the very same car he would have planned to use to come see Jaya tomorrow…NOT tomorrow, TODAY!

Naina: “How do you always find yourself in such situations!? Its all your fault! Kuku could have handled it all! Did you HAVE to go after the car?”

Naina: “Who am I kidding?!”

Naina really loved whatever extra time she got to spend with this mysterious man. There was something about him. Even though she had been held at gun point or handcuffed BY HIM, she felt extremely safe, protected, valued and cherished when she was with him, not that she didn’t feel like that when she was with her family and friends but there was something different when she was with him, something especially special!

She just wanted to put her head on his shoulder and go to sleep. She felt comfortable enough that when she would open her eyes, she would be home and everything would be alright.

Gael walked back to the car, his work complete. He had tried to deny the drink the governor had offered but sometimes you just have to participate in the social niceties. He had disrupted the Governor’s night for which he had graciously gifted him, but to do what he had asked as soon as the office hours open tomorrow was no simple feat. Hence, he accepted the offer of a drink and chugged it down as fast as he could. The Governor had wanted to entertain him for longer but fortunately he was able to wiggle himself out.

All the while, only one person was in his thoughts, Naina. Even though he had only been gone for a maximum of 30 minutes, he rushed back to the car only to find her resting her head on the dashboard with her hands stretched to her right, handcuffed to the steering wheel. Her fair wrists had turned pink already because of the bruises caused by the handcuffs. He was to be blamed.

Her fringe was sideswept and had fallen across her face tenderly kissing her cheeks as she snored lightly.

Gael couldn’t hold himself back. He reached forward and tenderly tucked her loose hair behind her ear. Naina slightly stirred in her sleep and Gael swiftly pulled back, scared that his rough touch had broken her sleep too.

But she pushed her hair back in her sleep with her elbow and went back to snoring lightly.

Gael chuckled because it seemed that she slept like a rock. He unlocked the cuffs but before he let go, he kissed her bruises tenderly trying to apologize for the discomfort he had already caused her. He then slowly laid her on the seat and put on her seat belt. He was right. Naina didn’t even stir.

Since he didn’t know where she stayed, he took her home with him.

Leo: “Oh My God! You brought her home!”

Gael: “What else was I supposed to do?”

Aaji: “Naina?”

Gael: “Wait a minute, how do you know her?”

Leo: “How do YOU know her? Why…how…I will be damned.”

Davi: “What’s happening? Is she okay?”

Gael: “She is asleep.”

Aaji: “Then you three boys quit shouting!”

Gael: “She can sleep through an earthquake…”

Leo: “And snore through it too…”

Gael: “It’s cute.”

Davi: “I will be damned.”

Aaji: “So Breno won the bet.”

Leo: “I will be damned!”

Gael: “Your soul belongs to me for the next two weeks, boy.”

Leo: “It doesn’t matter, as long as her heart belongs to me by the end of these two weeks.”

Gael: “Excuse me?”

Davi: “Maybe we should tuck her in?”

Aaji: “Which room do you think…”

Gael and Leo: “My room!”

Gael glared at Leo but then Leo always loved playing with fire!

Aaji: “My room would do…”

Naina shifted in her sleep and wrapped her arms around Gael’s neck comfortably resting her head on his heart. She sighed in her sleep and smiled.

Gael: “My room and I will take the couch.”

There was that tone again. Nobody dared object that!

Gael walked to his room carrying Naina along with him. As soon as he was inside the room, Leo turned and hugged Aaji.

Leo: “My first love will always remain incomplete Aaji, my first love will always remain incomplete.”

Davi burst out laughing and smacked Leo’s back: “I am telling you, you will capture Bollywood overnight!”

Aaji: “Are you okay?”

Leo: “I will be. But this is between us. As far as irmão is concerned, given time he will probably get down to confessing his emotions when hell freezes over. I am going to play him till he gets his act right.”

Aaji: “Oh! I am sooo proud of you! I love you!”

Leo smiled and winked at her: “Who needs anybody else?”

Aaji: “You are such a rogue!”

Davi: “But you are right. This is probably the best way to get him thinking with his heart and not his brain…”

Leo: “You think he really…”

Aaji: “Oh yes he does! Unbeknownst to him, Naina has already made a huge space in his heart. I just need to spend some more time with Naina to see what’s going on in her heart.”

Davi: “I think we should also fill him in on what happened with your house.”

Leo: “Wait, what did I miss already?!”

Gael gently placed her on the bed but he couldn’t leave her side yet. He knelt before her, her hands held in his and drank in her exotic beauty.

There was something about Indian women; there was something about Miss Naina Malhotra.

Aaji: “She is beautiful, isn’t she?”

Gael instantly snapped out of the trance and stepped back.

Gael: “I…Uh...I was just…yes, she is beautiful.”

Aaji: “Now stop being a pervert and let her sleep in peace!”

Gael: “What?!”

Aaji: “Out of the room, now!”

Gael rolled his eyes and grabbed a pillow on his way out of the room.

Aaji smiled and sat down next to Naina. She gently stroked her cheek and kissed her on her forehead.

Aaji: “You are perfect, perfect for him! I don’t know how but I am absolutely delighted by how you find yourself in his arms all the time! It’s about time you both realize that this is beyond coincidence. THIS is destiny!”

She switched off the lights and left the room closing the door behind her.

Gael, Leo and Davi were sitting in the living room and stood up when Aaji entered the living room.

Aaji: “Now does her Dadi know where she is? How did you two end up like this?”

Gael: “You will be happy to know that you will have your house tomorrow. Not just your flat  but the entire god damned area…”

Leo: “WHAT?”

Now that Leo knew just what that meant, he couldn’t hold it back.

Davi was shocked too! How the hell had his brother managed THAT in a matter of few hours! His brother really was one hell of a magician!

Gael: “What do you mean ‘WHAT?’?”

Aaji looked at Leo and shook her head.

Aaji: “That’s not important. You didn’t answer my question.”

Gael: “Oh now that’s not important? Just a few hours ago you were freaking out that I didn’t give importance to the one thing you asked…”

Aaji: “Breno, that girl has a family! This is not Rio and girls dont roam about at this ungodly hour with strangers! Her grandmother must be worried!”

Gael: “Relax! Contrary to popular opinion, I do understand propriety! John has gone to inform and bring her friend up here, with whom she was out and about in the night let me tell you that too. Her friend can decide what he wants to do with her. What he tells her Dadi is his calling; he was the one who took her out of the house late in the night in the first place.”

Gael’s cell phone buzzed. He had to answer it. Too bad he wouldn’t get the chance to meet the Cuckoo bird. It was probably for the better because he didn’t understand why all of a sudden he had the urge to turn that bird into a hot pile of bird turd!

Gael: “This is Naina’s cell phone and her car keys. The hotel staff already brought the car back. Give these to her friend when he comes over.”

Aaji: “Why don’t you…”

Gael: “I have a life.”

Aaji raised her eyebrow but stopped herself from smiling. She knew all of her boys so well. That was pure and simple jealousy.

Aaji: “Fine. What is his name?”

Gael: “Bird turd.”

Gael answered his phone and walked away.

Leo: “Wow…wow…wow! Did you see that?”

There was a knock on the door.

Aaji: “Leo and Davi, why don’t you go inside. There is no need for anybody else to know that you two are in this country.”