As Akash and Mahat Pawar talked more, Varsha felt more apprehensive. She has heard about the nature of this Mahat Pawar from Ira after their last encounter in the shopping mall. She knows that it is impossible to avoid people in the business world but she does not wish Akash to talk more with this person. As her anxiousness grew, her hold on Akash"s arm tightened.Akash thought that Varsha could also see the hostility from this Mahat Pawar and that is why she has such reaction. He felt tender in his heart feeling her anxiousness. His expression softened and he turned toward her and patted her hand to calm her. Varsha looked toward him and felt a bit relaxed due to his gesture.
This action of Akash could not be hidden from Mahat Pawar. He has heard that Akash does not care about his wife and he has confirmed it by various sources. He has confirmed this thing from the eldest uncle of Akash and he has also got his sister to ask from cousin brother Arpit of Akash who is her boyfriend. That tender expression of Akash made him rethink all the plans he had in his mind.
Mahat Pawar looked toward Varsha who is clinging at the arm of Akash and for a moment he felt like his soul leaving his body. Otherworldly. This is the word which came in his mind. She is wearing a saree and adorned with beautiful jewellery. With her natural beauty and the innocent face, she looks outstanding. This type of beauty invokes the protective feeling in your heart and not perverted thoughts. He suddenly felt envious of Akash. Even his friends have infatuated looks on their faces.
Mahat Pawar calmed himself and smiled and asked "And who is this beautiful lady? I have heard that Mr Akash got married. I believe you must be Ms Varsha. h.e.l.lo." After that, he extended his hand to handshake with Varsha.
Varsha looked at the extended hand and then looked toward her husband. Akash looked toward her and smiled in a.s.surance. Varsha released her hold on the arm of Akash and then looked toward Mahat Patel and joined her palms in her front and said "Namaste. My name is Varsha Patel. As I am married, you can call me Mrs Varsha or Mrs Patel."
Akash felt stunned for a moment. Mahat Pawar also got startled and then took back his hand awkwardly. The friend Ravi Shinde of Mahat Patel got furious and his other friend Naveen Jagtap did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Secretary of the ministry of commerce is also in an awkward position about how to feel about this. He looked toward Akash and tried to show that he did not notice the thing and said calmly while extending his hand "I have heard a lot about Patel Family of Restaurant business. Meeting you made me think that the future belongs to youngsters. Haha."
Akash extended his hand and shook it with the secretary and said politely "It is nice to meet you too. This event by the ministry of commerce and industry is certainly unprecedented."
After shaking the hand with Akash secretary looked toward Varsha and he thought for a moment. But before he could decide what to do Varsha said again by joining her palms "Namaste! I am the daughter-in-law of the Patel family."
Secretary of Ministry of commerce laughed and replied to her in the same gesture and said "Haha. Good. Patel family has found a daughter-in-law who follows the tradition." He tries his best to defuse the embarra.s.sing situation of Mahat Patel. He again laughed awkwardly and then excused himself to meet some other people.
After the secretary is gone, Ravi Shinde looked toward Varsha and hissed "You intentionally insulted our friend."
His girlfriend also got a chance to make an appearance and grunted from the side "She certainly is trying to show off her superiority."
Varsha looked toward this girl with a pity. This girl is acting like an idiot. What type of superiority could there be among different type of businesses? This type of ranting will only make her appear pathetic. She looked at the girl with a ridiculous gaze and wanted to say something but she got interrupted by another laughter from the side.
Everyone turned their gazes to see that business graduate girl who was ridiculed by Mahat Pawar and his group laughing. Seeing their gazes she stopped and said: "She does not wish to shake the hand and likes to do Namaste in greeting, what is so wrong about that?"
Mahat Pawar is already a bit discontent by the previous behaviour of this girl and now she has made her debut again on the scene. He looked at the board and read the name of the girl and said "Ms Swati Sarkar. Your obstinate nature will not help you in the field of business."
That girl whose name is Swati looked at him and said: "Now we are talking about nature Mr Pawar? Then let me tell you that your frivolous nature will not earn you respect in the eyes of every girl."
Varsha looked at this girl and seeing her expression that this girl has more to say. She did not wish to make her feel all the pressure as she is also responsible in this situation.
Before anyone could say anything, Varsha looked at that girl named Swati and asked "Swati, you have mentioned that Mr Pawar made a frivolous comment toward me. I really did not think so." She smiled mysteriously at that girl after asking her question.
Akash looked at Varsha and thought that his idiot wife is putting that girl Swati in a trap by her naivety. Even the friends of Mahat Pawar looked at Swati with ridicule in their gazes.
Swati understood that Varsha is giving her the chance to speak more. She smiled at her and said "Mr Pawar called you Ms Varsha and asked to shake hand. How does it feel? Is he not disrespecting your marriage by calling you Ms when you are here with your husband? Someone should advise him not to look at every girl in the same way."
Ravi Shinde, the friend of Mahat Pawar looked at this girl and said with ridicule in his tone "For others, I don"t know but he certainly did not look at you that way." He tried to imply that she is not attractive enough.
Swati laughed and said "Haha. I am grateful for that but it also means he might have thought that way for Mrs Patel."
Varsha looked toward Swati and acted cluelessly and said innocently "Now that you mention it, I remember that Mr Pawar called me Ms Varsha and that is why I corrected him." then she looked toward her husband and blinked her eyes naively and said "But husband! I really did not know that he might be thinking that way."
Akash now understood that this girl has been acting till now and she has totally defeated her opponents. And her innocent act of being wronged and unaware made him almost pinch her cheeks. "Too cute" only this thought came in his mind. If he looked a bit more on her pouting expression, he won"t be able to hold his laughter. So, he turned his head toward Mahat Pawar and his friends.
Seeing the gaze of Akash, Mahat Pawar raised his hand and said calmly "Ms, No, Mrs Varsha! You should not read too much in my unintentional words. I know the matter was a bit embarra.s.sing for me but It was also my mistake of not being aware of how to interact with someone." In his heart, he sneered, "You think I do not understand your play? Let me take care of this situation and later I will let you know what happens to those who offend me."
Varsha looked toward smiling Swati and laughed in her heart. This girl is everything she is not. Swati is tenacious, courageous and vocal and they are so in sync while acting. She suddenly felt like they are predestined friends. This thought made her somewhat happy.
After this she looked toward her husband and seeing a tactic approval in his gaze, she turned toward Mahat Pawar and said "Okay. If you say so then I won"t read too much into it. But I would like being called a Mrs and not Ms."
After this, Ravi Shinde, the friend of Mahat Pawar snickered while looking at Swati and said "You girl! You jumped in the middle and tried to create a misunderstanding between us and Mr and Mrs Patel."
Varsha goes ahead hurriedly and said "No, no. Please do not blame her. Actually, she helped me understand and also helped us talk through this and solve the misunderstanding. Due to this fact, I believe we should not blame anyone in this matter."
After this Varsha made a serious face and looked toward Swati and said in a stern voice "But you have really stirred the situation a bit."
"I am sorry." Swati looked a bit embarra.s.sed and said making everyone surprised. This obstinate girl who was arguing everyone suddenly said sorry.
Varsha looked at this girl and smiled and said "Okay. Then as compensation, you have to solve some of the questions of mine. As we are from restaurant business family and you have also done some research for a food-related business, how about we talk about some new things you have discovered?"
Swati smiled and replied promptly "Why not? Sure."
Varsha walked in front of the stall of Swati and pulled the chair to sit. But she thought about something and then turned toward the group of Mahat Pawar and said: "Sorry for taking all of your time in such a petty matter. This event is so big and so many stalls to visit, please do not mind me."
The gesture of Varsha left no room for anyone to stay there. Mahat Pawar and his group left the stall of Swati discontentedly.
Akash smiled and came to Varsha who has already taken her seat in front of Swati. He looked at her cute expression and felt happy thinking that his wife knows that socialites are people with a facade. But he also has an issue that is how to make his wife adjust to this party without being in the centre of criticism.
After Varsha seated herself, Swati asked with a smile: "So, what questions you have?"
Varsha looked innocently toward her and asked: "Did I say I wanted to ask something?" And both girls laughed together startling some nearby people.
Akash saw this and smiled. He came beside Varsha and said "It seems you have made a new friend. How about I go say h.e.l.lo to some people and later we can go to the lawn for some food." Then he looked toward Swati and said: "Please accompany her if she wants to go somewhere." And Swati nodded at him.
But when he saw the unwilling expression of Varsha, he smiled and said "Don"t think too much. Okay? And you were holding my arm so tight, I also need to relax it." Making Varsha laugh with embarra.s.sment and then she answered shyly "Okay."
Akash smiled and then walked toward a certain group of people. Varsha looked at him and saw that one person from the group welcomed Akash and he joined them. Varsha turned and smiled at her new friend who is smiling at her impishly.