Part 80--Scoop of Life--In good company

Part 80
March 12th 2011
Saturday
6:00 PM
Golf Links

Looks like there is an airconditioning unit in the back of the garage, running full throttle. The only kind of windows there are, are of the French kind, tall..... sliding....
There are two ways to enter, the doors by the front lawn, and one on the side. The one on the side is mahagony almost 12 feet tall, double... with brass knockers all over.... there is a huge silver Ganesha on the wall above the door, and on the sides hung..a bronze rope interspersed with carved ladies holding lamps in their palms.
They rang the chrome door bell, there was no response for a minute or two. Sudha's palms were sweaty under the huge bunch of roses she was holding, Sushil insisted on chocolates or mithai, Sudha dismissed the idea "Unko lagega hum milni karne aye hain"
A faint click.... a young man wearing cotton kurta and pyjamas opened the door, folded hands in a namaste, and smiled.... stepping aside..
The house was voluminous and smelled like fresh flowers.... completely still.......... the furniture gleamed, looked expensive, not a speck of dust.
Help:Andar chaliye....
They took baby steps hesitantly....
The living room could have seated at least 50 comfortably.......
There were over 5 sets of sofas placed in angles all over..........
An oldish woman sat reading a book, they could hear dogs at a distance
Sudha cleared her throat, and offers the flowers... "They look lovely. Thanks for bringing these"
Dadi stumps Sudha with impeccable English.....
The woman got up and smiled gloriously
"Tripathis?" she quizzed
Sudha's smile relaxed a lil
Sudha nodded Sushil stood still, until a older man walked out of a room, over 6 feet tall......... or even 6.5.....dressed in cotton trousers and a expensive check shirt......... he had a military moustache...... "Oh! thats where my boss's moustache comes from" Sushil surmised

Dadi:Please baithiye (as she waved to a help)
Dadaji: I am Krishan's Dad...
Sushil joined hands in a namaste
Dadi: Aap teacher hain?
Sudha:I teach Math at Gargi........
Dadi (sheepish) sorry, haan bola tha Krishan ne
They are all quiet until the help wheels a cart laden with food and drinks
Sudha is edgy wonders where the parents are
Dadaji: Krishan aur Pawan kaam se aate honge, meri baat hui 4 baje unhe yaha hona tha 5 baje, late ho gaye
Dadi (to the help) Auntyji ko bulao
Help:Jee Dadi
They hear a car pull up............
Sudha is leaning, she stiffens and moves to the edge of the sofa, her stomach muscles somersault..... in fear.........
Mridula: Good evening.... glad aap log aaye......
Sudha sucks her breath in... an almost 5' 10 slender stunningly beautiful woman steps down..........
Sushil looks at the woman admiringly.......... Mridula wore a dark pink saree and was dressed carefully.... a string of diamonds hung around her neck along with a Maharashtrian mangal sootra.......... Sudha wondered........
The help get the door.........
Sudha: Thanks for inviting us
Mri: Absolutely ( places a hand gently on Sudha's shoulder) please sit comfortably
Krishan walks in.... he is over 6 feet tall as well........ he grins at his wife adoringly
"hi!" she says warmly
Another tall man follows.... Dadi calls out "Pawan puttar"
The help serves the food.......
Krishan: Sushil (smiles and nods)
Sushil is nervous.... "Sir" he says
Krishan: Krishan is fine... we are outside the office... (firm)
Sushil: Mushkil hai.... Sir (embarrassed)
Sushil: This is Sudha
Sudha does a namaste......
Krishan responds with the same "Gargi... faculty?"
Sudha: Yes.. (smiles)
Krishan: DU exams kab se hain?
Sudha: 3rd week from today
Sudhil (butting in) she is part of the exam committee.....
Krishan is not greatly interested.....
Dadaji and Pawan talk about traffic
Krishan sits by his wife and makes a soft comment... she smiles....
Dadi: Hum aapki beti se mil chuke hain (like she is Aishwarya Rai)
A woman known for getting down to the brass tacks......
Sudha is shocked....she wastes no time
Dadi in Punjabi coaxing her daughter in law "Woh us din Max hospital mein Mrs Suri se milkar"
Mridula: She was there to see a coworker's mother
Pawan Dadaji and Sushil are talking about Pranab Mukherjee's 2011 budget
Dadi:Aaapki beti kitni sundar hai... ek dum pari
Mridula: She is very elegant (softly)
Sudha is pleased
Sudha: Dubli hai
Dadi: Haan bolti itna hai khaane ka time nahi milta hoga....
It really cracks up Sudha, she laughs losing her fear a lil
Sudha: Jee...
Dadi: Lambi bhi hai... kitni lambi hai beta?
Sudha: 5' 9 '' shaayad
Sushil: 5' 10" almost...... (with pride)
Dadi: aankhen to inni vaddi (points to a oval silver bowl on the polished table). Hamare Raghav ki aankhen bhi inni vaddi thi, but chashma utaarta hi nahi...(complains)
A door clicks open... and in walks the subject...........
In coarse cotton six pocket trousers and a watered down blue shirt........ crumpled and crushed in places....... his glasses have a grey rim today....... sould patch trimmed down..........
He smiles looking at the Tripathis
Sushil: Raghav!!!
Raghav: Sushilji (smiles)
Sudha nods sternly.........
Dadi notices that
Krishan: Did you take Outer Ring Road
Raghav nods... carelessly...
Mridula: Radhika ko nahi laaye?
Raghav looks at her parents........... his eyes wait.......... a glimmer of hope in them...... of being able to see her walk in........
Sudha: Radhu... ko kaam par jaana tha
Raghav texts.......
Krishan: Can we meet Radhika one of these days? (serious, thoughtful)
Sushil: Haan haan... kab milna chahenge?
Sudha places a hand gently on his wrist.........
M ridula: Agle weekend?
Krishan: Hmm... sure... (preoccupied)
Dadaji: Bache kidhar hain?
Mridula wonders...
Dadi: Ruchira to a movie....the other one... to get her nails done....
Sudha: You have daughters too?
Mridula: (joyous) TWO. they are chatty and lively....... Raghav is very quiet (smiles at her son with pride)
Dadi: Radhika will be in good company here...
Krishan looks at Sudha piercingly for a reaction just as Sushil leans back on the couch take a bite out of the pastry...