Part 33

Part 33
Niyojan Nagar
10 PM ish

Bai was very happy when she returned from the temple and Aada told her Khanak had actually spoken with him, and he had “allowed” her to stay.

Bua wondered how she would be able to take so much time off, her husband… a bum… had recently quit a job Aada had recommended for him, Bua was not bright enough to pursue college after high school, she waited to be married… and they found Fa…

Found…. Because, he was  a permanent fixture in their lower middle class social curcuit…. Handsome, a good talker but good for nothing…. Aada had wanted Dadi to wait… for a couple years… so he could save more money and get her married to a better guy…

Bua was “in love”…. With a bum….

In the marriage of  over 20 years… he must have held over 20 jobs…

So Aada’s income sustained..his own family, his Mom and his sister’s……. Bua wanted to have 4 kids, but miscarried a couple times and it did not happen….

Bai would say “Destiny” “If they had all been girls, aada would have been brought to his knees in poverty”

Sonali was pampered… and coddled and protected…

Bua’s entitlement atitude grew as Khanak grew…

Having inherited her Aada’s nature… the complete calmness and sombre atitude… they did not hear a whimper from the child from when she was little… mature before her age…her “masti” days were infrequent……….

The widowhood did not help either…

But before that…the family did not expect her to fallin “love”.Bua incidentally was the one that protested the most………

Sooraj was from a higher caste… and so she assumed Khanak “wont fit in”

God had different plans also……….

Aada wondered many times, what brought them together… Khanak did not need to rebel… there was not a rule she disliked while growing up… there were no rules needed… for her

He was surprised when she brought Sooraj home one vacation…. Along with Ritu…

The home phone rang…

Aada jumped… pushing his thoughts away… and answered…

It was Khanak’s Dadi saas… she wanted to know why Khanak wouldn’t answer her cell phone…

Aada smiled…

Dadi: Ghar par hai?

A:Jee!

D: Main baat kar sakti hoon?

A:Abhi bulaata hoon

D:Mere potey ko yaad karti hai ya nahi?

A:Kiya ney aaj shaam ko baat cheet…Deekra khoob saras chhe (very good boy) (hapy)

Dadi is pleased she smiles “Thanks”

A: Usko bola tu Bai ke paas 3 hafta reh lena

Dadi is shocked….

A: Abhi bulaata hoon Khanak ko

He hollers in Gujarati…

Khanak comes running… Sonali and her were splashing water on each other while doing dishes in the aangan……..

She is dripping wet

Khanak:Hhhhh… hello

Dadi: How are you?

Khanak: Dadi… (smiles)

Dadi: You sound happy! (annoyed)

Khanak: Sonali and I were having a water fight………..

Dadi is not happy…

Khanak:Dadi?

Dadi: are you staying for 3 weeks? (direct)

Khanak’s insides lurch and careen to the ground…

K: Ummm

Dadi: Shaan ne bola?  (surprised)

K: He is mean (soft, angry, upset)

Dadi is quiet………

K:Aap theek hain (calm)

D:Hmmm

D:Are you having a good time..

K: Bai and Aada are very happy to see me

D:Tabhi 3 hafte rukne ka plan hai?

K:Umm..

D: Naye saal mein tum ghar nahi rahogi?

K:Wo

D:Pradyun aa raha hai for the next couple weeks…….he called wanting to talk with you, tum phone to uthaati nahi, usne tumhe cell phone par bhi kiya kayi baar...

Dadi had NO inkling of how her grandson felt about that guy...
The heated possessive gaze of her husband... scorched her.........

K:Achha…? Has his hair grown back? (smiling)
Prad had shaved his head as yet another prank........

D:Come see for your self……

Amogh coos , Dadi is holding him…

K: I miss Amogh SO MUCH Dadi…

D:I am finding him a new girlfreind… someone from Mumbai

Khanak smiles…

D:You are supposed to call me everyday… deal?

K:Jee! (sad)

A huge SUV races honking noisily on the street… it was not a Toureg…… but yet…

Garth Brooks’s song came to her mind…

The other day I saw a car like you used to drive
I got a funny feeling down deep inside
And for the briefest moment I felt a smile begin
Yes I do think about you every now and then