Love Always Complicated Part 7

 

The flight was scheduled for the evening, so Ram and Priya checked out of the hotel at noon as they had to be at the airport 4 hours before their flight took off to get all the formalities done. And once they were through the formalities, they just talked and joked as they waited for their flight call. When the announcement for their flight was made, they made their way to the plane. Ram entered the plane and the first thing he saw was the smiling face of the air hostess, with the smile he hated the most.

When Priya entered after Ram, he pulled her close to him, "Ram, what are you… ", she said, surprised at the sudden gesture.
"Just bear with me for a moment," Ram whispered to her.
"Why?", she asked, almost annoyed at proximity.
"I just hate when they smile," Ram told her
She looked back at the air hostess and said, "God, they're being paid for smiling at you guys."
"Yes, but they are not", Ram said, nodding his head towards the other lady passengers. Priya looked at them they were smiling at Ram and giving Priya death glares and she understood what he meant, "Boy, if staring can kill then I would be dead long ago. They're so going to kill me because of you", she said, acting a little horrified.

Ram thought himself to be lucky because they had the seats at the back of the plane. At least no one could look at them now. The glares that all the ladies' passengers were giving Priya had gotten her a little nervous. Every time an air hostess came to offer magazines, drinks or chocolate she would bury herself in the book which she was pretending to read.

"So how long are you going to pretend to read that stuff," Ram asked finally.
"I am not pretending", she said, not looking away from the book.
"Then why are you reading the same page from the last 30 minutes," Ram asked, checking his watch.
"Okay, I'll close it. Fine", Priya said, closing the book.
"Good, now what", Ram asked, looking at her beautiful face.
She rest her head on the back of her seat and closed her eyes, "I don't know but I am feeling tired", she said closing her eyes.
"You can always take a nap", Ram suggested, he could red tiredness on her face.

Priya opened one of her eyes and looked at him, "you know I might just do that", she said and adjusted her seat and then asked the air hostess to get her a blanket and a pillow who was too reluctant to get her those, "Oh my God look she's handing pillows and blanket to all of them but she's completely forgotten about me, I'll sleep without those", Priya said after a while and closed her eyes, going into the sleep.

Ram then called the hostess and asked for a pillow and blanket, which she immediately brought, and he took them and put the pillow under Priya's head and covered her with the blanket. When almost all the passengers were sound asleep, the lights were turned off and Ram had no option but to sleep himself. He instead of asking for his own blanket pulled the blanket which was covering Priya and let sleep take over him.

"Ram wake up", Ram woke up when he felt Priya's warm hands on his.
"What happened, are we going to crash?", he asked jokingly.
"No, I don't think so, if pilot knows how to land the plane," Priya joked with him as well, "but we're going to land and your fan girl wants you to be safe so just put on the seat belts."
"What?", Ram asked her, confused.
"We are about to land, put of seat belts," she said urgently.
"Oh", Ram said, finally getting it and put on his seat belt.

The plane landed safely and Ram with Priya made his way to the airport from the runway. They collected their luggage and used a trolley instead of carrying it all by themselves.

"Hey Ram", somebody shouted at them and Ram looked in the direction and Priya turned too.

"Who told them I was coming", Ram said, a little bewildered.
"Who are they?", Priya asked as she watched a group of people hurried towards them.
"My friends, they all have come here. I can't believe it they even brought those two too," Ram said recognizing each of their faces.
"Those two too?", Priya repeated, puzzled, all this time whenever they talked Ram never mention his any of his friends in London.

"At least he's not there", Ram sighed in relief.
"Who?", Priya asked.

Then suddenly someone grabbed Ram from behind and hugged him tight, "Rajat", Ram called annoyed.
"Hey this is no way to meet your best friend," Rajat said pouting.
"I thought you didn't come, Rajat," Ram said.
"How could have I not come? Look, they even brought those two," he said, pointing in the crowd.
"Yes, I can see that", Ram said and saw that Rajat noticed Priya.
"So are you college friends?", Rajat asked her.
"No", Priya said, looking at Ram a little bewildered.
"Flight friends?", Rajat tried to guess again.
"No", Priya said again.
"Airport friends," Rajat asked again. And Priya again replied negative then he asked, "So Ram is helping you carry your, luggage right. Good boy Ram, you never disappoint a lady."

"No," said Ram, "And before you make any more assumptions, I would like you meet Priya, Priya Sharma and Priya this is Rajat Kapur."

"They call me his best friend", Rajat said to Priya, "who is she?", Rajat asked Ram.
"Well, she's my fiancee", Ram said,, and this was the first time he had used this relation.
"What?!", Rajat almost yelled out in surprise, "Lady, don't you Wanna smack him or something? He just made things about you."
"No, why would I? He's telling the truth," Priya stated the obvious.

The others finally made it up to them, "Hey guys look Ram got this girl to play prank on us. You paid her, didn't you? This not a good joke buddy," Rajat said.

"Look Who's Talking," Soumya said.
"No, guys seriously, he says that he's engaged," Rajat told them.
"What?!", they all screamed in chorus making Ram slap his face and Priya looked at him concerned.

"You don't believe me look, look at this," Ram said holding his hand up to show his ring, "and its pair is in her hand, see," he said showing them Priya's ring, "So we conclude I am engaged and she's my fiancee."

Everyone's mouth fell open when they saw the pair of rings on their fingers, "So you were telling the truth", Rajat said, recovering from the shock before everyone else.
"From the beginning", Ram said sighing, he then introduced everyone to Priya, "Lets go home, its very late", Ram said to no in particular after they were done with introductions. He looked at his watch.
"And when did you care its late", Jessica said. Ram said nothing and nodded Priya to follow him and she silently followed him, not wanting herself to be the reason for his anger.

"Hey Ram, wait", Rajat called as Ram was about to hail a cab.

"What now Rajat, didn't you guys make a good enough scene back at airport; that you came here wanting more," Ram said, annoyed.
"Hey buddy, I just want to drop you guys home, that's it. I am not against your engagement, I am happy but I won't deny that it was kinda sudden, so it hard to believe it but believe me I have no problem," Rajat said.
"Okay let's go then", Ram said a little more relaxed now.

Rajat led them to his car. Ram and Rajat loaded their luggage in the car's trunk. Then Rajat took the driver's seat, Ram took the side seat, and Priya sat in the back seat of the car. They silently drove to what was Ram's apartment's building. Both the men unloaded the luggage from the trunk.

"Do you need help to get those up?", Rajat asked.
"No, we'll manage," Ram said, shaking his head, "You should better get home now."
"Ram, tomorrow you are coming to office right?", Rajat asked, getting in the car.
"Yes", Ram answered.
"Okay, I'll pick you up then", Rajat said, being friendly.
"There's no need Rajat I have my car," Ram declined his offer, "And I just want to drive alone tomorrow, I guess."
"Okay as you wish", Rajat said and drove.

"You should have agreed", Priya said, picking two of the four suitcases.
"If I would have gone with him, he would have asked loads of questions whose answers either I don't know or don't want to answer," Ram said, picking the rest of the suitcases and leading her into the building.

Ram sat the suitcases down and unlocked the door to his apartment and then lifted his luggage and entered his apartment, switching on the lights.
"Welcome to my home", Ram said, standing in the middle of what looked like a living room as Priya entered his apartment and closed the door behind her.
"This not a home. It's called a house," she said.
"What do you mean?", Ram asked, confused.
"Look around, some businesses men you are. One thing for sure, you know how to keep your cover," Priya replied, sounding unimpressed.
Priya looked around his almost empty apartment, "I am not getting what you're saying", Ram said, shrugging.
"Nothing, you won't get it", Priya said, sighing."Sorry to not meet your expectations  ma'am", Ram said with a little sarcasm in his tone.
"Yes I thought like every other bachelor you would have a messed up place but it looks like you hardly visit this place to mess it up," Priya said, running her hand over the dust prone coffee table.
"Well, I haven't visited this place for over a week now," Ram reminded her.
"Yes but this is not one week's dust," Priya said blowing some to his face, and he coughed, "But anyway I am tired so if you could show me where I would sleep, then I'll be very glad."
"There", Ram pointed to the only bedroom in the apartment and she lifted one of her suitcase and headed off in the direction and Ram slumped on the couch turning on the TV.

Priya returned after half an hour and Ram noticed her presence, "I thought you were going to sleep", he said, not taking his eyes off the TV.

"Yes, but I noticed that there's only one bedroom here", Priya said, leaning on the door frame which separated bedroom and living room.
"So?", Ram asked, not meeting her eyes.
"So where are you sleeping?", Priya asked,, and he heard her move closer.
"You shouldn't concern yourself with that," Ram said.
"And why shouldn't I?", Priya said, moving in front of him, and he finally looked at her. It looked like she had a bath and he could smell her sweet and fresh scent, "Ram, are you going to tell me what's wrong?", Priya asked, crossing her arms.
"What do you mean", Ram acted dumb.
"You know what I mean", Priya said now feeling a little annoyed about his round talks.
"No I don't", Ram said, acting totally oblivious.
"That's it, I am going to sleep. Do whatever you like", Priya said in frustration giving up and started towards the bedroom, when she reached the door she turned to look at him and added, " If you don't Wanna tell me don't tell me at least don't play dumb", Priya slammed the bedroom door.

Ram turned off the TV sighing and walked towards the bedroom door. He knocked on the door, but no response came, so he entered. Priya was on the bed reading a book, "What?", she asked when he entered the room.

"I need to use the bathroom", Ram said, walking towards his closet and Priya's eyes followed him. He went to bathroom, had a shower and then got ready for sleep. When he made his way back to the living room to sleep on the couch, he saw that the couch had been converted into cozy looking bed, the way as it did when he stayed at his Dadi's house.

Ram walked back to the bedroom and saw that Priya was still reading and totally ignoring him. He walked up to her and downed her book with his hand and she looked at him, "I am sorry", Ram apologized.
"What do you mean?", Priya asked, pulling a serious expression.
"You know what I mean," Ram said.
"No, I don't", Priya said and shook her head.
"Why are you behaving like me?", Ram asked, getting the point that she was repeating exactly what he said a couple of moments ago.
"You shouldn't concern yourself with that", she said, pulling up her book. At this Ram tackled her down on the bed and crawled up on her, "Ah… Ram get off me", Priya said furiously.

"First say you forgive me," Ram said.
"Ram, you're heavy and it hurts," Priya tried to avoid it.
"No, I am not putting my weight on you, just pinning you down. So do you forgive me?", Ram asked her again.
"Okay, okay I forgive you for whatever", Priya said and Ram got off her."God you don't know how to behave with ladies", Priya said sitting up and he let out a laugh and she hit his arm with her book.
"That hurts", Ram said, rubbing his arm.
"Just sleep", Priya tried to push off the bed, but she failed miserably.

"I thought you wanted to know what's wrong," Ram said seriously.
"Not if you don't Wanna tell me", she said casually, not looking up from her book.
"It's about my friends," Ram told her.
"Big surprise," Priya said sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "What makes you so mad at them; they looked like a nice bunch of people. I mean, they all came to receive you at the airport, that was very sweet of them."
"That was very sweet of them," Ram mocked her tone and she looked at him in disbelief, "What about the drama they put on there?"

Priya let out a laugh, "Ram, they are bit surprised, that's all," she told him.

"Can I not get engaged? They totally behaved the way I expected them to," Ram said, speaking out his frustration.
"So was it great or bad?", Priya asked him, confused.
"I just wanted them to accept and understand it but they totally blew it," Ram told her.
"Oh why do you have to be, so complicated," Priya said and hugged him, "It'll be alright, give them some time."
"How come you understand me when you only know me for a 7 days," Ram couldn't help but say as they pulled away from the hug, "They know me like for 7 years!"
Priya looked at him warmly, "Its not like they don't understand you, its more like they care for you and like I said give them sometime alright?", she said.
"Yes, thanks!", Ram said with a nod.

"Now I guess you should sleep or you'd be late for office tomorrow," Priya reminded.
"Yes, I totally forgot about it", Ram said sarcastically and got up to leave.
"Ram", Priya called out to him as he reached the door, "Can you get the lights?"
"Sure", Ram replied, flicking the switch that was next to the door.
"Thanks", Priya said as he moved again, "Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes?", Ram stopped again to listen to her.
"Good night and sweet dreams!", Priya wished him.
"Same to you", he wished her back and although he couldn't make it out I the dark but he knew she was smiling at him, so he smiled as well before moving to the couch to sleep.

"Ram? Rammmmm, wake up", Priya said, trying to wake Ram up.
"What no", Ram mumbled, pulling the covers over his head.
"Get up or you would be late", Priya said gently pulling the covers off his face, making sure not to cause a rude awakening.
"Okay, okay, I get it", Ram said, waking up.
"Now go get ready while I make something for breakfast", Priya said,, and he looked at her. It seemed she was up for a while and had her bath.

Ram sat up as she moved to the small kitchen of his apartment. He waited until he was finally awake before moving to shower and get ready for his work. When he walked to the living room to have his breakfast, all he found was Priya sitting on the couch watching TV, without a care in the world.

"I thought you were making breakfast", Ram said. He didn't care about the breakfast, but he was curious to know what made Priya, not make breakfast.
"I would have but I found nothing", she told him casually and there was something very odd about her tone.
"What do you mean", Ram asked her confused.
"Your kitchen is for namesake, there's nothing in there except a fridge which is stuffed with ice, cold drinks, beers. I didn't even find plates in there," Priya told him.
"There are plates in there, I know", Ram said walked to the kitchen and started searching for plates which he knew were there somewhere.

"Leave it Ram it's not there I know I searched, and all I found was this," Priya held up two pieces of plate, "and that too when I was tidying up the living room, it was between the piles of businesses magazines", she said and let out a laughing, that she might have been holding in for a while.
"Okay, I get it, lets go to a cafe or something, then I'll drop you to store and you can shop for groceries there," Ram said, opening the door of his apartment.
"Then how am I getting back, this is London, not India," Priya said as they walked the corridor, "I know nothing from nothing here."
"Yes, now that's a problem," Ram said, thinking for a bit, "Leave it now I am hungry."

They both made their way to the parking lot and Ram made his way to his car and Priya took a seat by his side.
"Now I can say that you're a businessman", Priya said, looking at interior of his black luxury car.
"Thank you", Ram said, smiling and putting on his shades at the same time and then drove to one of the finest cafe.

After having breakfast Ram dropped Priya back to the apartment, "So what do you want to have for dinner?", Priya asked, getting off the car.
"I won't be eating, I am so exhausted after work, All I Wanna Do is sleep," Ram told her.
"Okay, I'll make myself something," Priya said, shrugging.
"And where you think you'll get the ingredients," Ram asked.
"Yes, you're right. I totally forgot. I'll just walk across the street to that diner," Priya said, pointing at it.
"Okay, you do that. Now, I should go or Vikram will get angry, bye take care," Ram said to her.
"You too and try to come early okay. I don't Wanna get bored here," Priya said, waving at him as he drove off smiling.

After a late afternoon and evening movie, Priya fetched something for dinner. She looked at her watch it was 9:00 pm. 'Better get something before I starve', she thought as she turned off the TV. She walked towards the diner and ordered herself a meal. After having her dinner and paying the bill, she walked back to the apartment.

She was at the front of the apartment building when a man jumped out of nowhere, "Give me all the money you got", he said.
Priya did what she was told and gave him all the money she had, which was more than a $1000. "Give me that necklace too", he asked, and she did that too. He snatched the chain out of her hands and started examining it for its authenticity, "and give that too", he said, pointing at her ring.
"Its stuck, it won't come off", Priya said, trying to get the ring off.
"Give it to me", he said and grabbed her hand to get the ring.

But somebody grabbed the thug's hand as he took hold of Priya's hand. Both the thug and Priya looked up to see that it was Ram, and Priya was relieved seeing her fiance there. The thug glared at him and Ram as though he had a neutral expression, but somehow Priya sensed he wasn't in a very good mood. The thug looked and smirked at him.

"Come every time I am having fun, don't you", the thug said, sounding a little irritated about Ram's intervention. Ram didn't reply but just kept making his grip tighter and tighter on the thug's hand, which made him let go of Priya. Ram stepped in front of her and threw a punch at him and he literally flew and fell on his back. He got up and charged at Ram again but Ram dodged it easily and the momentum of the guy made him eat the dust again, "You bastard", the thug yelled and charged with a rod which he picked up from the ground. Ram caught it just in time as the thug tried to hit Ram on his head. Ram got a firm grip on the rod and pulled the rod off his grip with an incredible force. The lines on the thug's faced as he saw he was at a disadvantage and he made a run for his life.

Ram threw away the rod and move to pick up Priya's purse and her chain, which the thug had dropped when Ram suddenly came and ruined his plan of robbing Priya. He handed her the purse and chain and then walked inside the building quietly. Priya wanted to thank him, but she kept her silence as well. They got in the apartment, with Ram leading the way.

"What were you trying to do there?" Ram asked, barely keeping the anger away from his voice and as Priya closed the door.
"Trying to not get robbed, I guess," Priya said, sensing his anger.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you would have been in if I wouldn't have come there," Ram said and words came harsher than he wanted them to be, "he only wanted money and if you would have given him that, this wouldn't be happening."
"I gave him all the money I had. I even gave him the necklace my mom gave me, but then he…", Priya was saying.
"You should have given him whatever he asked for or things would have gone pretty nasty around, he might have abducted you or maybe more, you know? Are you getting me?", Ram said, shouting at her.
"He asked for this," she screamed as well, pointing at the ring on her finger, "you seem to know him just go give it to him and give the one that's in your hand as well because they don't have any meaning without each other," Priya shouted pulling the ring of her finger and throwing it at him.

Priya stormed away to the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Ram realized his mistake,, but it was too late to apologize. He was so mad when he returned from office and he took it all out on Priya. It was all because he was yet again been assigned to his friends, who kept asking him a lot of questions about his engagement. And then there was Jessica, who kept cursing Priya now and then whenever anybody mentioned her. Ram was so fed up of all this that many times through the day he wanted to tell his friends to stop their non-stop babbling about 'Ram this' and 'Ram that' and wanted to slap Jessica in face. She was always bitchy about everybody, and that was the reason he broke up with her. She always suspected he was ignoring her or meeting some other girl behind her back when he actually was in a meeting or on a business tour. She didn't even like him talking or joking with other female. Her possessiveness kind of annoyed Ram more and more, and he broke up with her eventually, which led to a big fight, not to mention the scene she created at the office.

Ram bent down and picked up ring Priya threw at him just a couple of minutes ago. He looked at the ring and thought about their relationship, which was more complex than his work and his life. He knocked on the bedroom door when no answer came, he walked inside and saw that Priya was already in bed sleeping perhaps or cursing him for shouting at her. He walked towards her. He wanted to tell her he was sorry but a sorry wouldn't make up for him, so he just stared at her for a couple of minutes her eyes were close but he could tell she was not sleeping. He placed the ring on the side table and walked towards the wardrobe and got himself some clothes and made his way to the bathroom for a hot shower.

When Ram got back Priya was still pretending to be asleep, 'What else would she being doing? Waiting for you to get herself more hurt or waiting to tell you she couldn't live with you anymore and she's heading back to India', Ram shook his head and kicked the painful thought away. He made his way to the couch on which he would sleep and was surprised to find that, it had again been converted to the comfortable bed as it was being converted this past ten days, 'Does she care about me that much', Ram thought as he made himself comfortable on the couch.