Part 64

December 31^st 2011

Mangal Kunj

12:30 PM ish

She sat in a sun spot in meditating pose with her tall chai mug in her hands, wrapped snugly around the mug… her brace was off, he was in the balcony, blocking some of her sun, she flipped through the newspaper, she loved the sun, he knew that, she spent most of her waking times on the deck of Serendipity while on their honeymoon…

She selected things to nibble after much deliberation but didn’t finish it… he was on the phone, they didn’t make eye contact… he just tried to block as much sunshine as he could, to annoy her…

Ritu was off to the bank to transfer some accounts…. Pradyun was on “the road” trying to meet up a couple of “internship opportunities” for summer. Ray was still asleep, Nandu maasi and Madz were planning for the NY eve party. Dadi had gone off to Duggals….

She wasn’t reading, but wasn’t eating either, it frustrated him for some reason, the poha was still steaming hot, he noticed…

There was 3 other covered bowls…

She yanked a blue throw from a couch and cuddled… poured more chai, and snuggled… her voice was hoarse and raspy, her nose clogged… and pink…

Her phone rang… “Bai” she squealed

Later sheepishly explained what had happened to her voice…

Looked at him in horror… and spoke in rapid fire Gujarati, his conference call went on and on…

She listened… and started to eat ravenously…

“Jee” she said many times…

Shook her head… “Farvari mein aavi jao” she invited, looked up at him

“Don’t you dare make any plans” his eyes threatened

“Hu” she said for “me”

He could feel his blood pressure rise…

He walked in… bent down, picked up her  mug, as she watched startled, sipping “No! Khanak, you are not going, in Feb”

Saying so he went back to his call, with her mug in hand…

She ignored that order and chatted noisily with her Dad, he sat on the couch opposite her as she pulled the curtains apart bringing more sunshine in…….

She coughed as she sat down… Hari Lal knocked, brought her more food in a ginormous tray… “Dadi ne bola” he says…

She opens the lids and finds strawberries “Yeh kaun laaya?” asks eagerly

“Shaan bhaiyya”

“Ummm” she says… as he chuckles…

The call to family ends… she feels the berries but doesn’t eat…

Her phone beeps a text…

HL is gone “I want my mug” she says..

He hangs up on his call saying “Come get it Ms hungover!” as he stretches… knocking a couple of petite Swarovski  figurines (she picked up at honeymoon) on to magazines on the coffee table…

“WHAT did you tell Aada?” flaring up… she jumps up hands on her hips, accusing, runs to catch the sliding figurines….

“You were so drunk you started undressing me” he says unfazed, as her face takes on a devastated expression…as the magazine tips over one figurine between his legs on to the furry rug underneath…