Part 12

Following the scrumptious dinner, Arnav went home a much happier man. May be it was the wine, or the warm hospitality of Mrs. Silvio or just the food that he found to be ridiculously delicious, he was in a much happier place by the end of it. Even though Arnav and Khushi did not meet that night, the higher powers had established a link of sorts; maybe some other day he would also find out who had prepared the food for him but for now, he felt content. May be there was truth in the words; the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

The rest of the week was busy work wise for both of them. Neither of them got too much time to contemplate about what was missing in their lives, it was all about work. By the end of the week Khushi was more or less convinced that she wanted to work at Mama’s Kitchen and had even managed to impress Mrs. Silvio with her dedication to work and the desire to learn. The hardest thing for her had been going back to her previous work place and handing in the papers. The Manager had not been too pleased obviously but Khushi had never felt as good walking away from a place as she had walking out of there. Good riddance, she knew she didn’t want any more negative people in her life.

Back in Delhi, Anjali had finally introduced Ved to Nani, on his insistence. Initially Nani had been apprehensive, upon recognizing Ved as the same doctor who had treated Anjali out of her depression following her divorce with Shyam but slowly she had warmed up to him. Not that she had any choices either. It was good but they all knew, getting through to Arnav would be the hardest. Nani to her credit had flatly refused to talk about their situation with Arnav. She was happy that Anjali had finally found someone who truly cared for her but she knew this would be an uphill battle for both. And she loved both Arnav and Anjali equally; she wasn’t going to take sides.

Arnav meanwhile had sealed an all important deal following his meeting with designer Natasha Vaid on Thursday; it was a big step-up for AR Designs to have Natasha on board as designer. And contrary to Lavanya’s claims and concern, Natasha had been a consummate professional much to his surprise. To celebrate this new partnership, Arnav had invited Natasha and her team of three for dinner on Saturday night; Mrs. Silvio’s invitation to him on Monday had been timely in that regard.

So come Saturday evening the stage was set, and by the time Mrs. Silvio and Khushi finally emerged from the kitchen to take their spots at the back of the room satisfied that the food preparation was on course, the guests had already taken seat. Khushi had been looking forward to this event all week long, even though she had no idea how it went, she found the concept intriguing.

And Raul’s starting words were no less intriguing.

“Sight, swirl, sniff, sip and always remember to spit especially if you don't want to get tipsy in the end”  Raul avoided looking at Khushi purposely as he spoke and she knew. He went on as she watched.

“Remember there is no right or wrong, everyone has their own taste” Raul shot a brief glance at Khushi who was standing at the back end of the room, she did not miss the extra emphasis on the word, own taste. She remained unaffected by his charms but could see it was already working on the others present there. They had a bet, and Khushi could see the determination etched in his words, he wanted to win. When they had agreed to place the bet, she had no inkling of her loss but now a minute into the start of the wine tasting event, doubts had begun to creep in. “Who ever loses has to agree to whatever the other asks of…”

“What does he want me to do?” she wondered, “I can charm any random woman…” he had boasted earlier and now he was all out trying to prove his claim.

He is a good actor Khushi thought to herself, as she watched him charm everyone, age no barrier. But his attention was mainly focused on one particular woman seated on the edge of the table, had he zeroed in on this unsuspecting person already? Khushi wondered, What have I got myself into she thought as Raul took a few steps towards the head of the table, and picked up the spotless, shiny wine-glass, “But there are basics we cannot forget, remember, this is a slow process and it takes its own time” This was his domain, anyone could see that in the swagger, the words and the confidence with which he carried himself.

Raul looked at Khushi, briefly with a hint of challenge in his gaze; she felt – something stir. Why am I here?  may be it wasn't a god idea- she sighed but it was too late now- and besides its work, she reminded herself so she had to sit it through it even though, all this wine and alcohol was not her thing. But if she wished to work in this kitchen, she would have to understand its intricacies; and that being an Italian kitchen, learning about wines was a must! But it did make her uncomfortable slightly; this world was so alien to hers, to everything she had grown up learning…the culture and even the people, it was unnerving slightly…would she ever fit in here, did she really want to? Sometimes she missed the simplicity of making tangled jalebis at home.

Raul closed his eyes, and inhaled slowly, while amused onlookers looked around the table curiously. He opened his eyes calmly a moment later, stared back at the confused faces, “no no… I am not about to teach any breathing technique here! You'll have to pay separately for that one” His words induced a warm round of laughter.

“Remember it is imperative that you do not rush this process, let it linger, savor it for what it is, only then can you appreciate its true flavor. Observe this glass in my hand, and see how it's shaped, and then he ran his finger sensuously across the outer sides of the wine glass, as he went on, treat it like you would treat the woman you love. With care, only then you will appreciate it” He shot another slow and meaningful glance at the unsuspecting Natasha, “observe how the glass rim bends inwards, this will help you funnel the aromas and also prevent spill when you swirl” He broke their eye-lock with his words.

By now, Natasha was shifting uneasily on her chair. Was he talking to her or everyone? His words seemed like they were meant for her. The way he had caressed the glass, his words and actions seemed like an open invitation. This man was openly flirting with her in a room full of people; normally she wouldn’t mind but with her new found business associate by her side, it wasn’t the most ideal situation to be caught up in!

“And one last thing before we begin, that I must demonstrate for far too many people get this wrong. May I?” He extended his hand towards her, startling her in the process.

“ummm..?”  She didn't know what he was talking about.

“Your glass”, he signaled to it and sat down on the empty chair besides her and held up her hand in the air. She had been holding on to the glass. Slowly he moved his fingers above hers, and lowered them to the stem. His hand on hers, as if there was no one else there. His warmth spread quickly through her, her fragrance intoxicating his senses…this had the potential to be more than just a mere bet.

“And this is perfect” his words brought her back to her senses. She looked at his face, closer than it had been. “Remember never hold it by the bowl, always by the stem – since the heat of your hand will quickly warm the liquid” He inched closer to the flushed face, and spoke for all to hear, “Treat it like you would the most precious thing. May I?”  He placed the glass on the table and got up, not before planting a kiss on the back of her palm. She was definitely brought out of her thoughts, rather embarrassingly as everyone enjoyed a hearty laugh at her expense. It had been a long time since Natasha Vaid had been rendered so helpless by a mere stranger; this Italian had certainly got her attention. And Arnav’s too, who found this all too amusing; for a change he was glad to be out of the spotlight. This night had not gone exactly to script but he was enjoying every minute of it, as were Natasha’s friends.

“So shall we begin?” Raul waited for Natasha’s nod.

“You don’t know him from before do you?” Arnav asked a clearly embarrassed Natasha who gave him an emphatic no in response.

“Incorrigible flirt!” An older German lady who had been observing them for a while remarked. Raul chuckled, “Blame the company” he replied as he shot a quick glance at a visibly embarrassed Natasha.

“Remember what I told you at the start, the mantra is Sight, swirl, sniff, and sip and” looking at her, he said the last word with an extra emphasis, “spit! Unless you…”

“Want to get tipsy!” The old woman replied… “Not at all if you will be there” She winked back.

“I'm flattered Maam, but my duty ends here when the tasting is done. Let's begin shall we. Bring out the wines” And soon enough four men brought out the wines and placed them on the table.

“It's always good to start with the lighter flavors and make your way up the heavier denser ones. In many ways, it's like failing in love you know; at first you test the waters and then plunge…deep.” His eyes locked with Natasha as he poured the wine for her. It was all very amusing to Arnav who had been keenly observing Raul and his tricks, and how he had warmed up to Natasha.

“Cough, cough!” The old woman interjected again, and if I didn't know anything, “I'd say you are falling for her young man!”

Raul smiled.

“So is this charming young man single?” Another added.

At the back of the room, Mrs. Silvio turned towards Khushi and whispered, “What will I do with this boy who refuses to grow up?” Khushi smiled back, she was more worried about losing that bet now, what exactly did he have in mind?

“Let's get back to the wines, shall we…” Raul steered the conversation away from him.

Mrs. Silvio smiled at her son’s response, it was so like him.

“Now tilt the glass away from you, best against a light source…” as he lifted the glass against the source of light on the opposite wall, “what color is it? Depending upon the type of wine you are tasting, and I see we have a mixture here, look against the white of the table cloth, is it maroon, brick or even brownish. Is it paler, straw colored, golden or light green in appearance?” Her eyes are green he realized…reflexively he turned towards Natasha; she was deeply engrossed in her glass to notice him staring at her.

“Well?” He asked her.

“Well what?” Natasha replied.

“The color….” He spoke softly she noticed.

“Deep…deep brick like…this has a richness that only age brings. Is it?” She asked innocently, she too knew a thing or two about wines.

He smiled, “That one is one of our oldest and the very best we have to offer. And you are right, old wine like love only grows better with time…I see we might have a wine connoisseur here” he narrowed his eyes at her appreciatively.

She was beautiful he noticed, “Why was she here?”

“And then you sip!” The lady was about to take a sip when he stopped her.

“No, no, no!  You must not skip swirl, and sniff before you sip!”  He got up in a flash holding his glass; he walked over to the front of the table. Let me explain, “the purpose of the swirl is to aerate the wine, in preparation for you to sniff it's aroma, like this- he tipped the glass up and stuck his nose above the glass and inhaled” Others followed suit.

Khushi couldn’t have been more amused by Raul’s antics as she watched him weave his magic around the unsuspecting guest, who she had to admit was beautiful and polished beyond words, almost like those models she had seen on television. Raul was full on flirting with this beautiful woman, and she actually felt bad for the man who sat next to her, with his back facing hers, “He wouldn’t be enjoying this at all…may be that explains why he is so quiet”

And then the tables turned swiftly, when Raul offered Khushi a glass of wine out of the blue, effectively drawing all the attention on her, almost challenging her to come out of the shadows. She gave him a nervous smile as all the heads slowly turned towards her, one by one, curious to get a glimpse of the stranger in the shadows, “Say hello to Mama and our new Chef, Khushi folks…without them this event would not have been the same”

He walked over to them picking up two glasses of Rossette Wine along the way and offered one to each confidently, Khushi who had no intention to drink but accepted the offer without creating a scene was busy trying to figure out how to get out of this one, when she heard it – that voice…as the last head turned and that quiet man suddenly had a face,…and a voice –that stunned her! Suddenly, it was just two of them in the room… because she didn’t hear anything but his voice or see anyone but him.

“Khushi…” his voice was soft belying torrent of emotions on his face, and in that split second, she had no idea what strange emotion overtook her senses that she felt the overwhelming need to trample over his new found joy; so she did what she would have never done otherwise, chugged down the drink in one swift motion, all the while his eye bore down hers in sheer shock. She could see he was just as shocked as she was to see him… and it gave her a strange satisfaction to read that flicker of disapproval on his face as he watched her drink. It felt like sweet victory to see that glimpse of initial joy turn into the disproving glare. There was no escaping him anymore but she wouldn’t die wondering!