Part 34

Part 34

Mangal Kunj

Dec 23^rd Sunday

9:19 AM

HL knocked on the door as he shaved… he stopped, rinsed his razor, wiped off foam from his left cheek grabbed his striped monster towel… and walked up to the door… the lounge/sitting area in his bedroom cut be shut out completely from the area where the bed was… basically, all bedrooms were its own suites…. A living and a bed room with bath and his and her walk in closets……….

The balcony door was open, as he was taking calls a few minutes ago.. he opened the door, and the guy flashed his sparkly ones…

“Bhabhiji ke”

Handed him a bunch of still in envelopes… catalogs

He nodded taking those…

Flipped through, Bodens, Victoria’s Secret, Sur La Table, J Crew… Cotton On, Garnet Hill………

His eyes fell on the name and address…….. “Mrs Khanak Gujral” it said………

He usually grabbed the VS catalog while they lay in bed…… and picked his favorities…….. “I” have to wear them, not YOU! That one looks like its made of pins and needles” she would vehemently shake her head…………….

She would shoot down every one of his picks……

“I like where you are going with this” he would say winking……. (not ordering any, would mean, not wearing any…)

She would smack him… soundly.

She would pick something pink, lacy, girlie, unbelievably feminine…………. Or mauve… or neon green……….. he would get online on his ipad and order “I would need to test the hooks” he would demand…

“Fly there and test the ones on the mannequins” she would quip…

He used an address their Beacon Hill property mgmt. agent would manage, and she would later ship it to India………He had some random package delivered to him almost every week, either his photography or astronomy equipment……….. she would worry about her packages hoping they should make it to his room……… safe…unnoticed…..

She would eaglerly unwrap the box after work……..

“I am all eyes, you could model these for me” he would offer…

“Thanks but may be later” she would say…

She would model them anyway………… in a few………..

He would choose his favorite of all the ones that were delivered… and she would wear it for him again………….. and again……. That nite…….

He set the catalogs on the stack where her mail lay…in a hand crafted basket, Ambika Chachi had filled with make up for her…

Atleast 6 bank statements were in there already……..

He picked those up gently, set the catalogs underneath and almost flung the statements on top……… walking back into the bathroom…….furious

Completed his shave, picked a pair of cargo shorts and a navy umass tee, his fave, no fuss clothing……. Strappy Velcro sandals……..

Turned off the music system…….. threw the remote back on to the coffee table… and saw his wife’s Airtel USB modem peeking from under one of his Outdoor Trail, Hikes magazine………..

He smiled, slamming the door as he walked out……..