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Authors: Shobhan Bantwal

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BOOK: The Reluctant Matchmaker
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“No, we're not engaged. She's ... well ... It's a long story. I'll tell you some other time.”
He looked uncomfortable, making me wonder what was going on between him and the beanpole. A tiny spark of optimism went off in my brain, but died just as quickly. There were other women on that list. He'd go on to the next, and the next, until he found the right one. I'd never be in the running.
Just then Ajit returned to my side, and I made the introductions. The men shook hands, both seemingly cordial. If I'd been hoping for animosity or a hint of jealousy on Prajay's part, I saw none. Naturally Ajit had no reason to dislike Prajay.
“You look familiar, Ajit,” said Prajay with a puzzled look. “When Meena mentioned your name the other day, I told her it rang a bell. Have we met before?”
Ajit shook his head. “We may have. In our community that's not impossible. I wouldn't be surprised if we're related.” A second later, he snapped his fingers. “Wait. Did you by any chance attend any of the New England area summer camps in your high school days?”
“I was a youth counselor at one in Connecticut in my junior year in high school.” Prajay paused a moment. “I was trying to build up my resume for my college applications.”
“That's where we met. I attended the camp two years in a row.”
Prajay's brow creased. “You were a counselor?”
“Not a counselor, but a camper. I think you were our youth counselor during my first summer. I remember an exceptionally tall Konkani guy who taught us soccer. I couldn't remember the name, though.”
“Ah ... yes. That's why you look so familiar—but I couldn't place you. You were only a kid.” Prajay gave himself a moment to recall some facts. “You were the guy who played the guitar?”
“That's me. I played that for a couple of years. Then I moved on to drums. By the way, I think your parents and mine are acquaintances.”
Prajay laughed. “I bet they are. Like you said, we may even turn out to be distant cousins.” He ushered both of us toward the bar. “Let's all get something to drink, shall we?”
After I got a glass of chardonnay and Ajit got himself some shiraz, we found a table. I was hoping Prajay could join us, but he couldn't. As the co-host he had to mingle with all the guests. These were all his people; this was his world.
Pinky and her husband joined us, necessitating further introductions. While Ajit and I talked to them and several other people who wandered over to sit at our table, my eyes followed Prajay around the room. The crowd had swelled in the past twenty minutes, and it was harder to seek him out, despite his height.
Meanwhile, waiters were bringing around trays of hot and cold appetizers. The food was delicious. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I smelled the meat and vegetable
samosas
. Deep-fried turnovers.
Paul and Jeremy stopped at our table for a chat. As usual Jeremy looked like he had stepped out of a page from
GQ
. His suit fit him like a dream.
After the two guys moved away, Ajit whispered to me, “Do I detect a special relationship between those two guys?”
“Very special.” I didn't care to elaborate. I didn't want the others to think Ajit and I were whispering and behaving like lovesick adolescents.
Ajit, being an easygoing, friendly sort, got along well with the folks at our table. The good thing about working for a software company was that most everyone was young. We had plenty to talk about.
I must have been unusually quiet, because Ajit asked me, “Are you all right? You seem preoccupied.”
“I'm fine. I guess the wine is going to my head.”
“The wine or the host?” His eyes were looking directly into mine.
I stilled. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” He gestured toward the dance floor. “How about a little dancing? You can get rid of the wine buzz—dance it off.”
The DJ had just announced that the dance floor was open, and several couples were already shaking their bodies enthusiastically to
Bhangra
music. “Why not?” Ajit was right. Maybe I could dance some of that frustration off, if not the wine buzz.
Ajit took off his jacket and placed it on the back of his chair, then led me to the dance floor. I was in for a mild surprise. Come to think of it, not so mild. He turned out to be a great dancer, full of life. Other people were watching him with interest.
It was nice to have a spirited partner, but it also put the spotlight on me. I loved dancing, too, so it was a lot of fun. I unabashedly copied the bold but graceful moves Ajit was making.
I was discovering a lot of things about my date—first the guitar and drums, and now the skilled dancing. The guy had talent.
At one point, the rest of the dancers stopped and formed a circle around us, clapping to the sound of the latest Hindi movie song, pressing us to keep moving. For several minutes Ajit and I danced in sync. We made quite a team.
The mad, exotic, pulsating rhythm was both mind-numbing and exhilarating at the same time. I wasn't sure if it was the music, or the wine, or my super-talented partner that did it, but my body was on fire, almost on an erotic high. I felt like I could dance away the whole evening.
When it ended, Ajit stunned me by hoisting me up in his arms. He twirled me around once and put me back on my feet, leaving me breathless and giggling. Then he took my hand and forced me to take a low, theatrical bow alongside him. In the next instant he threw his arms around me and kissed my forehead, much to the crowd's delight. They whistled and stomped. The applause continued for several seconds.
Just like that, Ajit went from being my date to being the life of the party.
And when I finally found a moment to look around to check out our audience, I saw Prajay standing on the outer edge of the circle, arms folded across his middle, staring intensely at Ajit and me.
Chapter 30
A
midst a lot of cheering and compliments on our dance routine, Ajit and I pushed through the circle of spectators and walked back to our table. We were both out of breath. Ajit had sweat running down his face, and he grabbed several paper napkins to wipe it off.
Fortunately I didn't perspire as much, so a simple dabbing with a napkin was enough. Our table was empty, since our table-mates had been watching us dance and were now off somewhere.
I excused myself and hurried to the ladies' room to fix my face and hair. I saw Ajit heading toward the men's room.
A couple of other women were in the ladies' room, but I didn't know them very well, so I merely smiled and said hello. Just as I emerged from one of the stalls, I once again ran into Gargi. This time I knew she'd followed me.
“Fabulous dancing, Meena,” she commented wryly. “I didn't know you were a regular Aishwarya.” She was referring to the highly popular Bollywood movie star known for her exotic looks and dancing talent.
“Thanks.” I started rummaging through my purse for my lipstick.
“Your boyfriend is quite a dancer, too,” she said before disappearing into one of the stalls.
While Gargi took care of business, I quickly applied my lipstick, combed my hair, and rushed out. That woman set my teeth on edge, and I was in no mood to spar with her this evening. I had enough problems keeping my equilibrium around Prajay.
And what was that dark expression on Prajay's face earlier? I would have expected him to be smiling and clapping like the others while watching Ajit and me dancing.
We had made his party go from ho-hum to lively, and people were having a good time. Instead of being happy he'd looked like he was ticked off about something. Had he just received bad news? Or did he think our dancing was a bit too rowdy for a stuffy software company?
When I returned to the table I found Ajit back in his seat, his face dry and his hair neat. “Wasn't that a terrific workout?” he asked with a grin.
“I think I lost five pounds.” I sat down and gulped down half a glass of water.
The rest of the folks at our table returned one by one with fresh drinks and appetizers, all of them excitedly congratulating us on our performance.
Pinky gave my shoulder a playful smack. “Hey, girl, I didn't know you could dance like that.”
“I didn't know I could, either,” I said. “It's my partner who got me started.”
The dancing continued, and Ajit and I joined the crowd. We didn't do any repeats of the earlier exhibition dancing, but it was fun nonetheless. When the sumptuous buffet dinner was served, the DJ went back to playing slow, sentimental numbers.
Prajay and Nishant stopped by our table once to play the good hosts by inquiring about the quality of the food and drinks. They did some backslapping and general kidding with the guys. Prajay didn't say one word to me.
My heart ached, but I tried to keep a smile on my face by telling myself it was the holiday season. Time to be jolly. Ajit was turning out to be a popular guy, and that should have been enough to make me happy. Who wouldn't want to be seen with a guy all the other girls were eyeing with interest? And yet, I was hurting.
Thank goodness Archana hadn't shown. If she had, my heart would've been bleeding.
Sometime after dinner, I felt exhausted, and my ankle was beginning to feel a twinge or two, so I asked Ajit to find himself other dance partners. He was so full of bubbly energy that I didn't want to put a damper on it. “I had a sprained ankle not too long ago, and it's beginning to bother me a little. Why don't you ask one of those lovely girls to dance?” I suggested.
“Are you sure?” he said, eyeing my foot with genuine concern.
“I'm sure. Look at all those girls who've been casting melting glances at you.”
He laughed. “No one's ever melted from looking at me, but it sounds romantic.” Then he turned serious and whispered close to my ear, “I know it's none of my business, but what's going on with you and Prajay Nayak?”
“Nothing. Why?” I gave him my best puzzled look. The music and chatter were loud enough that people couldn't hear a word of our conversation.
“Your eyes have been following him all evening, except while we were dancing vigorously.”
My cheeks warmed. “Oh boy.”
“You have a serious crush on him or something?”
I shut my eyes and sighed. “Serious crush is an understatement. I'm in love with him. Big time.”
“So why did you want to start seeing me?” His expression was solemn, but he didn't seem perturbed.
“I don't stand a chance with him, Ajit. He's in love with the idea of finding a tall wife to suit him. I'm not stupid enough to hang around waiting for him to notice me.”
“So that's how
I
ended up here.” Again, he seemed amazingly unaffected by my explanation.
“I have to get on with my life. I'd like to get married someday, have a kid or two ... you know ... seek out my own Indian-American dream.”
“I see. But I noticed Prajay's expression when you and I were on the dance floor. He looked like he wanted to crush my skull.”
“I didn't notice,” I said quietly.
Ajit excused himself, got up from his chair, and approached a young woman sitting at the next table. In the next second he was leading her to the dance floor, and I watched them dance to the next two songs.
Wondering if I'd hurt his feelings after all, I nursed my glass of water and tried to carry on a conversation with the others at our table. The topic was something benign like new restaurants in the neighborhood, so it needed little attention.
When Ajit joined me later, he was perspiring all over again. He said, “I'm going to go wash my face. Meet me in the lobby in five minutes. I have something to discuss with you.”
I frowned at him. “You mean we're going to step outside for the clichéd breath of fresh air and then kiss under the stars?”
“No.” He grinned. “I promise not to make you swoon in my arms and kiss you under the midnight sky.”
“Good. In that case I don't need to get my coat.”
When I stepped into the lobby, Ajit was lounging comfortably on the sofa. The area was empty save for the two of us. I plopped beside him. “So what's this furtive rendezvous for?”
“I want to make a confession.”
I put a hand to my chest and gasped. “You're a serial killer!”
“Interesting thought, but no.”
“You work for the CIA and need to leave on a secret assignment right away?”
“I wish I had an exciting job like that,” he admitted with a chuckle. “What I want to tell you is that I sort of ... liked your cousin. The one I met at your house.”
“Amrita?” I recalled the way he'd stared at my cousin, then blinked rapidly. “Why didn't you say something earlier?”
“I thought it was horrible of me to come to New Jersey to take you out on a date and then declare interest in your cousin.”
“So why are you telling me now?”
“Because you seem to have your heart set on some other guy. I know you feel nothing for me, never have. Am I right?”
“I like you a lot. I think you're a great guy.”
His laugh was soft and husky. “But you're sorry because there's no chemistry between us, and we can be good friends ... yada, yada, yada.”
He'd read my mind like a poster. How embarrassing. I shrugged. “I'm glad you told me anyway. And you know what? I think Amrita kind of took a liking to you, too.”
The corners of his mouth tilted upward. “How'd you figure that?”
“Amrita and I are as close as sisters. She's a few years younger, but she doesn't usually blush and get tongue-tied like she did when she met you. I detected a definite undercurrent of awareness between you guys.”
He made a face. “So you wouldn't mind if I like ... asked her out or something?”
“Not at all.” The relief I felt was immense. All this time, Akka's words of caution and even Amrita's solemn advice about playing dangerous games had been bothering me. I was using Ajit as a pawn. Only now, he didn't seem to mind one bit. “So you want me to put in a good word for you with my cousin and her parents?”
“You'd do that for me when I've been such an asshole?”
“Are you kidding? I thought
I
was being a bitch by using you to make Prajay jealous. Although, when I decided to meet you I was sincerely hoping something would click. When my parents got married there was no such thing as compatibility or anything. And yet, look at them now. They're happy as clams.”
“So are my parents,” he said.
“I'd hoped that would happen with you and me, and I could forget Prajay and get on with my life.” Having said all that, I sighed and sank back against the backrest, feeling hopeless. “Only it didn't work. The two of us liked each other, but there was no spark. You like my cousin better than me. And Prajay was friendly with you but he ignored me.”
“You're wrong. I just figured it out. I think he watched us do that dance routine and assumed that you and I may be getting serious. He didn't like that, especially when I picked you up in my arms and kissed you. I believe that's why he was giving me dirty looks.”
My heart took a painful leap. “You think?”
He nodded. “You need some help in that department?”
“Serious help. But he's so damn stubborn about his stupid idea that I'm too tiny and delicate for his big and clumsy ways, I doubt anything's going to work. One way or the other he'll find a big woman, or he'll die trying.” I let out an unladylike groan. “If I sit around waiting for him to notice me, I'll be eighty years old and forced to chew my rice with false teeth.”
Ajit hooted with laughter. “I have an idea. A friend of mine owns an advertising agency in Los Angeles. I believe he's looking for someone with experience in advertising.”
I pursed my lips. “So ... what are you saying?”
“Maybe we should tell your Prajay that you're being considered for the job. That might open his eyes a bit.”
“That's lying.”
“Who said anything about lying? Give me a copy of your resume. I'll e-mail it to my friend right away, with a strong recommendation. Believe me, you'll at least get called for an interview.”
“You'd do that for me, a virtual stranger?”
“You're not a stranger anymore. We've had three dates so far, and I can tell you're bright and good at your job, or you wouldn't be working for a company like Rathnaya. Nishant was filling me in on the company's plans for the future. Very promising. So you could be a viable candidate for that job in LA.”
“How big is this agency?”
“It's not a tiny back-room operation. My friend Brian is smart and ambitious. He's got about a dozen employees, and he's expanding rapidly. His clients are upscale, including some from film and television. They do newspaper and glossy magazine ads, lots of Internet publicity. They're expanding into TV commercials. They also do some PR work for movie and rock stars.”
I shut my eyes and pictured an office in sunny LA, with movie executives walking in and out. The weather in California could beat East Coast weather hands down any day. It wasn't an unattractive prospect. I opened my eyes and gave Ajit my most grateful smile. “Can you get me a copy of the job posting, so I can tailor my resume to it?”
“No problem. Except, what are you going to do if they actually offer you the job?”
I hadn't thought of that remote possibility. Taking another job or even applying for one hadn't entered my mind. Until now. I was happy at Rathnaya. “I honestly doubt it'll come to that. I'm sure they'll be inundated with applications.”
“But very few come with solid references from a trusted friend,” he assured me.
“And you're a
trusted
friend?”
He nodded. “Brian knows I wouldn't recommend just anyone.”
This was happening so quickly, I had to catch my breath. California was the other side of the country. When I'd been away at college, I'd been close enough to visit my family often and spend my summers at home. The West Coast was too far. What if I hated it?
Surely my job at Rathnaya would be filled immediately after I left, and if I changed my mind about LA and wanted to come back east, I'd have nothing to come home to. It was a tough decision, but it was worth pondering, especially if it came with a higher salary.
“I'll give it some thought,” I said to Ajit.
BOOK: The Reluctant Matchmaker
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