Part 72

Jan 2^nd 2012

9: 14 AM

Ritu has a Noon flight back to Delhi, both friends are in deep serious conversation at the breakfast table. 

R”To Sonali ko bolo pehle NURSING kar le phir baat karegi.

K:Hmmm

R:Mystery you need to be assertive with that chick.

K:I am, Bua, Dadi, Bai sabse zyaada main bolti hoon usko

D:Beta tumhe ek aur pancake?

K:Dadi mujhe poha chahiye (hesitant)

D:Ghar to tera hai wont you ask more demandingly

Khanak is embarrassed…

K:Umm.. I guess..

R:Iske kaano mein Dadi iphone mein ek recording daal do aap, timeless loop that will keep reminding her that..

K:Funny!

Kritik brought their bags down, Shaan was at work at 7, his goodbyes happened at the tennis court this morning, he said he would call Ritu after she got to the airport.

After dinner, and hanging out, Khanak had approached Shaan, “aaj main” she said…

Their eyes did all the talking…

Ritu had interrupted and said “Excuse me Gujral, aapki wife chahiye mujhe”

S had continued to stare…

R:Baat sun Mystery (hissing)

R had dragged her to the balcony to give her “advice”, “Last year to jinx ho gaya, you had separated on NY day already, this year, you should go sleep in yourown bed”

“Nahi” she said

“Listen to me you dork, subah jaldi uthenge dono and then we will hang out”

K knew that will not happen, it was already past midnite and her eyes and body were begging her to fall asleep

K:There is so much to talk abt

R:AND you are sleepy

K:I am not..

R:U are too

K clammed up, Ritu plucked a rose from the nearest bush “Here my love, sun, I promise”

K laughed

R pretended to respond to a text.. “See I cant keep thinking abt you, my miya is in ----“

K had smacked her

R:Ouch! Ab main jaaoon?

Khanak, yawning “JA”

Ofcourse, he cant have her sleeping immediately… though she was actually floating off… smiling to herself…

“Iam really sleepy Shantanu” she moaned

“I know” he agreed, pulling the covers off her body…..

“Did your friend abandon you?” he asked, sliding over her

“Its not what you think” bristling “Ouch” pushing him away

“Tell me then”, binding her arms and legs under his…….his lips everywhere

She didn’t… and he didnt insist to know……. He pestered her for other things………..and got them all………

“Only because you will let me sleep soon” she declared defensively..

“Ofcourse” he groaned, as her arms wrapped around him securely, and her body became pliant and inviting…..

It was past 2 when she actually began sleeping, so “Early morning balcony date with Ritu” did not happen……

R: Tu Bua ko bol, we’ll start looking in Gujarati matrimony first…

K looked defeated..

K:They have no clue, she has a romanticized version of Punjabi lifestyle

R:I mean tum log to vegetarian ho na?Religious…

K:Tell me about it! (embarrassed)

R: You married one so she wants to?

K:Who knows?

R:Is DADI OK?

K: She doesn’t know, this seed has been planted by Sonali, bus Bua main aur Bai jaante hain

Dadi can hear Nandu and Dadi talk in Punjabi

K:I have no idea what they are talking about, Sonali thinks it’s a joke! (insecure)

R:They are not talking about you Mystery, its about some Lohri tradition your Sasu Ma’s family followed.

K:Sonali thinks adjustment is a piece of cake

R:She is an infatuated fool

K:Pradyun ki shaadi karwaye us se (giggling)

R: She will marry him, Pradyun wont, as long as you are alive (mock tragic, backhand on her forehead)

K: U are complete mental

R: AB PLEASE Sonali mat bolna yeh baat

K:Ummm… nahi… (preoccupied)

Dadi:Khanak, poha khao beta!

Khanak begins to……….

R:They baby you so much, and you want a baby?

K:Kyon nahi? (arguing)Mujhe chahiye (adamant)

Nandu and Ritu hug and say goodbyes in Punjabi…

Madz does too, Khushboo is out for a baby and Mom class,

Khanak scarfs her food down, drinking her strawberry milk on the side……

K:I needed to marry a strawberry farmer (giggling)

Dadi overhears “Batati hoon tere miya ko sham ko”

K:No Dadi! (turning crimson)

Nandu:Yeh sharmati kitna hai?

R:Sab meri training, Maasi

R walks up to her friend and whispers in her ear “So did you guys do it again at nite?” “Record?  thrice in one day?”

“Shut up” says Khanak vehemently

Ritu :See maasi, I caused it again!! (rubs Khanak’s red cheeks)

They all laugh, seriously amused………..as a mortified Khanak looked on..

Khanak starts to think about Kaka, Aada and Sonali’s visit, going to Pune to meet the Trust Accountant, talking to Sonali’s HOD about choosing a specialty in 3^rd year………..and then Sonali’s wedding……..

It was as if she lived two separate lives……..the pinnacle of pleasure she experienced with her husband, the incessant caring his family displayed were divorced from the challenges she faced............ many of them insurmountable............all with her own family………all alone……..