Part 31
Saturday
8 PM ish
Dec 22nd
Niyojan Nagar
She had showered after helping Bai cook dinner, roti
shaak, kheer again.. a different one… dal… karhi…
She wore mauve harem pants and a skinny pink tee… Bai had
looked at it disapprovingly when she stepped out of the bathroom… “They are all
home” she had said…
Khanak had looked away not heeding her advice…
Her inflexible self reared its head every now and then….
She applied some moisturizer… inhaled her hands and had
walked over to the balcony………aada joined her.. Dadi, Bai and the relatives had
all gone to the temple.
Sonali was modeling clothes Khanak had bought for her…. Downstairs
Kaka’s highschool friend had a fancy internet café in
Navrangpura.. called “friendzhub” (“very hip name” Khanak smiled), Aada
suggested he would take her there so she could hook up… on Sunday
Aada: I know his friend (Kaka’s) is doing well now
Khanak: The one that Kaka keeps talking about?
Aada: haan wahi
Father and daughter were standing in the balcony
chatting…….
Khanak: Aada hum shaam ko jaayen?
Aada: Mujhe tere Kaka se baat karke phone number to lene
de?
Aada: Monday ki subah tu chali jaana Mumbai waapis,
promotion bhi mila hai… Ram is a good man… you should not annoy him
Khanak nodded reluctantly… sad, upset… but agreed with Aada…
Aada:You can come back next month, only if you bring your
var!
Khanak wrapped her arms around herself… rubbing… looking
away…
Aada: Tera Shaan tujhe miss karega nahi?
“Nahi” Khanak thought in her mind…
Aada: Mr Chauhan aa gaye shaayad main milkar aata hoon
(Sia’s Dad next door) there was a leaking pipe in Chauhan’s aangan… that was
seeping into Aada’s kitchen wall..
Aada paused at the entrance to her room “Call karo usko,
poocho aaj kya kiya… baat karo beta… tumhe kitna yaad karta hoga… aisa chup
chup rahogi kaisa chalega?”
Khanak: Hmmm! (nervously nodding)
She stood in the
balcony of her room staring out…
looked up at the terrace… smiled and walked up the steps……….. Ahemedabad
doesn’t look too bad at all at night, she smiled… noisy and crowded… but it
glittered any way… there was a gentle breeze blowing…
She paced the terrace leisurely…. Scanned her phone…. No calls…
no texts…. Not a whimper…. ALL day
She went to her Contacts…….. scrolled………GA….. GU… only
two last names in her Gs…
Gujral… the first name was recorded only with a S……
She clutched the phone tighter when her hand trembled
involuntarily……
Walked to the rail… and leaned…. Stared down… Aada was
talking to the neighbor……..
She let her thumb tap the number… gently… once
Stared at the glowing… S Gujral… calling…
Quickly took it to her ear
“Gujral” he answered, on second ring.… deep… firm, but
preoccupied…
And she gasped…
Khanak:Umm… its me (she offered)
He heard the noise and traffic… she heard music and and
drums…
S:Where are you?
K: Ummm… at home……
He knew what she meant by “home” it infuriated him, more
than he already was… with her
K:And you?
S: At Sin.. (flat)
“By yourself?” she wanted to ask…
“Don’t you dare!” he would have responded
K: I…(pause)
“You havent
bothered to call or think about me or enquire or… worry… or miss me …. Or check
on me…” formed in her mind… but stuck in her throat
He waited…
K:Aaapse…
S:Did you call to tell me you were in Ahmedabad now? (24
hours after getting there?)
That blistering Q, riled her…
K:No… actually to tell you I will BE HERE for the next
week..
Pause…
They would have given each other the pleasure of
destroying their respective phones in rage, if only they had been face to face…
But… being 1000 kms apart from each other… all they could
do was provoke the other…some more..
S:only a week? (biting)
K: you heard wrong… I meant 3! (husky, accusing, almost
in tears)
He disconnected…
When Aada was done talking, she would go downstairs…
later and would tell him she actually spoke with her husband and he had "let" her
stay for 3 weeks… and so she would like to go everyday to Navrangpura during
the day to log on to work……….
And so the war intensified…
OMG! So they FINALLY talked! But! Ghoosshhh..! 3 WEEKS?? Seriously Khanak???
ReplyDeleteI read the convo holding my breath, hoping KUCH tho accha bolenge! But ofcourse..She'd never be guilty nor sorry..and he will continue being rude!
But I'm glad she called! :D
Jitni bhi gussa ho, She'll never stop wondering if he has 'someone' with him! :P And that thrills him to no end! :D
Its always like, more than half of the things She ever feels..remains in her thoughts! And he is always clear about what he feels! Sighh!
'He wanted to be her everything..! He wanted her to depend on him..as much as he depended on herself!' Sighhh! I remember these lines..! About how Shaan felt, about what he wanted! And he is not wrong!
“Time does not bring relief; you all have lied
Who told me time would ease me of my pain!
I miss him in the weeping of the rain;
I want him at the shrinking of the tide;
The old snows melt from every mountain-side,
And last year's leaves are smoke in every lane;
But last year's bitter loving must remain
Heaped on my heart, and my old thoughts abide!
There are a hundred places where I fear
To go,--so with his memory they brim!
And entering with relief some quiet place
Where never fell his foot or shone his face
I say, 'There is no memory of him here!'
And so stand stricken, so remembering him!”
Sighhhhh!!
Ohmygosh!
ReplyDeleteWhat did they just do?! It was obvious...irritation, anger and missing each other will split the fire out eventually! Aabbb kyaaa?
Khanak cannot stay for a WEEK and on top of that she adds the three :O :O
Sheeshhh...she needs to be reminded of her work priority, her dad was right she is just promoted.
Hahaha!
This reminds me of Pune, changed circumstances yet the unchanged conclusion between the both and then he ended up calling her....If someone coax Khanak into it she sooner or later she’ll agree...this guy is in his own league if it doesn’t go his way he becomes detached...stops calling like Khanak said ‘he doesn’t care’ still he does but the ego takes the beating...
I agree it was her mistake totally towards the money default BUT she did try to make the amends...But now it’s his turn to CALL back! Lol!
I don’t expect a ‘sorry’ from either as both have their own way of adjusting...and this couple don’t do the ‘ILU or ‘sorry’ always unique in its own way.
Inn duno ka kuch nahi ho sakta...Sighhh!
Jaldi Jaldi update...this is getting exciting Aditee :)
He has to call back! But I doubt if He will! :(
Delete^^I know! He should call :(
DeleteWarna...I'm sure she will rebel!
By the way lovely analysis...I like the way she wanted to ask about who he is partying with...somethings still make her insecure! I'm sure if he is partying when she is in Mumbai, she won't pay much attention...I want to see the green monster in her!
Ofcourse she'll make it a point to question him later, when she gets back! ;) I cant wait! :D
DeleteDid you read the Poem?? Its yet again Edna's! :D My most fav! :D
1 becomes three.. finally she called, and he riled her up!! too much..
ReplyDeleteWoooow!!! That was awesome!!! Intriguing and unpredictable!!! Loved how Khanak's Aada persuaded/requested her to call "her Shaan"!!! gosh, how you are incorporating many small small intricate part ( like leakage of water)in one update!!! Fabulous!!! It gives more charm and realism!!!
ReplyDeleteSo she did save his no. unlike before!!! and nice touch on her nervous while calling him!!!
Why they both pushing each other every time??? But we such love that..LOL:D it open up new things!!! Awww!!! She got riled up!!!
What she is gonna be here for 3 weeks??? LOL:D what will he do??? Poor ShaNak..:( want to be together yet distancing themself!!!
How it'll be if he comes on Sunday itself to Gujarat and take her home!!! That not gonna happen though..
Will she bump into Suraj parent while in Gujarat??? can you explore this angle too if possible!!!
Looking forward and thanks for writing..:)
what what what 3 WEEKS seriously khanak r u mad? u urself dont want the stay that much days do u? ofcourse no OMG i was so ecited when she called knew that she will first call but it turned out like this OH GOD ye dono ka kya hoga lets c aditee how u will make her to go mumbai before 3 WEEKS or it would be fantastic if MONDAY or if he comes to get her or it could be none of the above sighhhhhhhhh lets c waiting :)
ReplyDeleteYeh dhono kabhi nahi sudgrenge..Oh GOD!!!!
ReplyDeletethese two nah, crazy! She should make work her reason for returning, she probably just said three weeks to irriate him, by then she should know if she is pregnant or not
ReplyDelete