Jan 6 2012
Friday
7:14 PM
Chembur
Shear Madness
She waited for her turn,
at her hair salon. It was her favorite until “the Hill way of life” took
over. She was almost done reading her book, the last 80 or so pages……… she knew
some but not all the people……. The owner was a woman in her 30s from South
Mumbai, smart talented…
She employed 6 girls, the salon was quite “posh” by Chembur
standards, and was always OVER booked……..
She tried calling Pradeep the call wouldn’t go through…… she
had taken an auto to Ritwik’s Mom’s…….. Aunty had fed her typical Maharashtrian
supper…….. lots of food, despite being 4 months pregnant…. It was a “surprise”
she had said embarrassed……. Vithal Uncle wouldn’t even look at her, there was
significant middle class shame associated with announcing pregnancy to the
world,especially when the world assumes you are “too old to do it”. Ritu had
told her about the good news, she wanted to vist ever since. She had brought, a
huge carton of dry fruits and a basket of fruits, along with roses, her Worli
florist was the best…..
Aunty had said “Whatever Ritu brought is leftover”
“You can eat this after that” Khanak advised her.
Her Mom was visiting…….
She went back to the phone…texted her husband
“Busy?” she asked
“Hey” he said with a smiley
“I” she began and stopped and wondered, what if Pradeep
showed up
“Khanak?” he prodded
“Mujhe ride chahiye” she wrote bluntly, upset for some
reason…
“where are you?”
“Chembur” she wrote
He phone rang the next moment…
Her heart lurched…
“What are you doing in Chembur?” he demanded”
“I had a hair appointment”
“ON A WEEK NITE?”
“This place is always full”
“What happened to the place Bhabhi goes to?”
“I am here now” she said short.. sulking
“8?” he asked short and sulking
“9 baje” she said
“You know there is a Shiv Sena Rally around that area!”
“Ohhh”
Silence
“Ill come get you”
“If you are in such a kind mood, I should ask you for a
(baby)” softly… teasing… swallowing the last word
“Khanak!” stopping her
It bothered her that he didn’t care to even be persuaded………..
“Vaishali aunty is pregnant”
“WHO?” incredulous
“Ritwik’s Mom” somber
It took him a few moments to reconnect.
“Its going to take me an hour to get there, I am in Ulwe” completely
ignoring her
“Main Pradeep ko keh doongi”
“Stay put”
“I”
“I don’t want to talk about having a baby over the PHONE
Khanak”
“You don’t want tohave any … remember?” sad
“I do.. apparently you seem to forget it”
Pause
“I will let Pradeep know not to go”
“Who phone nahi utha raha hai” accusing
He smiled for some odd reason, it amused him to see her
annoyed….
“Hes probably shaking in his shoes in fear” huskily
“Not funny”
“What are you wearing?”
“Nothing!” biting
Pause
“Go away”
They both linger…. Their second interaction for the day… he
left for work after 5, woke her before he got out of bed……… she went back to
sleep………… later… waking only at 8…
She yawned…
“Skip it Khanak”
“I am sleepy”
“Get one over the weekend”
“Umm… ummm…….I don’t get my full nite’s sleep”
“We went to bed at midnite”
“I went to sleep at 8 jab main chembur mein thi”
"Amogh's bed time is 8" mocking
"Amogh's bed time is 8" mocking
“And then you woke me at THREE” she interrupted his smirk.
“It was FIVE AM”
“FORTY TWO minutes”
she complained… ignoring his correction, as she relished his touch mentally………
He laughed out loud………..
“Are you next in line?”
“Nahi”
Pause
“Third… shaayad??…”
He smiled.. she was unsure of most things… but was certain
about somethings…..
She was done at 9:22, he waited impatiently as he got there at 8:45……. Texting and
calling………he paid cash, as she picked up her laptop bag and lunch thermos , she
wore a sea green salwar and crimson kurta, and a crimson bindi… rubies sparkled
in her ears… her wedding rings intact…
Mrs Kumar (the owner): 840 including the shampoo
He paid her a Rs1000 bill……
She handed him Rs 160, he went looking for the girl that
cut, and handed her the huge tip much to Khanak’s chagrin……
“Tchh” she said…
He took her laptop bag…
Mrs Kumar: She didn’t tell me her driver was so handsome
Khanak looked at her startled
Shaan:She doesn’t… usually
Mrs Kumar laughed
Mrs Kumar:AND he carries her bags
Khanak: Funny! (soft)
Mrs Kumar:Come back soon dear
Khanak:Jee..
Mrs Kumar: What do you do to get her to talk
Shaan: Madden her
Khanak turned crimson
The girls that cut hair gawked…
Khanak was quiet
Shaan: Chalien?
She nodded…
Mrs Kumar watched them leave, the guy opened the front
passenger door on the Toureg… helped her with her dupatta.. her newly groomed
silky sheath of hair forming a curtain…. As she fought its thickness
He said something about the length of it, she took his hand
gently as if telling him “Not so much… I only cut this much”
His hand wrapped itself around her fingers….. snug…. As Mrs
Kumar’s phone rang
“
YAYYYY! Chembur bas Ritu ki kami thi! I have a connection with Chembur personally, wherever I read or hear it lightens me up!
ReplyDeleteI knew it!!
He doesn’t even wish to talk about it; he is firm about what he wants...par kab thak! Surely Khanak will lose her patience SOON
Indeed a miracle is in need :’(
Sigh!
Their phone conversations are sassy, smart and crackling... effortlessly amazing Aditeee!
I love his authority over her...the concealed protective side shows without making it apparent
Khanak ko choro it leaves me in a trancelike state!
You are mind-blowing writing the subtleness behind their gestures...ending beats the phone conversations for me. There is something appealing about non-verbal hand gestures and eyes; this Shantanu is what dreams are made off!
I always wanted to raid Paula place or Ritu,right now it is Mrs Kumars and just observe them as no one in real life is a dreamy as this couple <3
Update soooon Aditee and thank you :)
Hey Sonam! :D
DeleteJust read your review! Beautifully penned down! :)
Thrilled to read it all, what I've been missing! :D
Heyyy Shama :)
DeleteHow was your vacation?
Hope you've had a blast!
Envy you for reading Casa at one instance! What a joy :D
Awesome aditee:))
ReplyDeleteStill now he doesn't want to cut her hair..LOL!
Talk over the phone was lovely:D
He agrees that he needs one, we have to be happy with that for now:p
waiting for next aditee..
update soon:))))
loved the update Aditee so cute and sweet, liked how he told her to stay put until he came
ReplyDeleteLoved it!!! Khanak's connection with Chembur is always memorable..And she tries to keep in touch with it in one or more ways..Shaan wants a baby but not now..hmmm..Now only ShaNak are in a amicable situation hope they don't argue over it again and again..
ReplyDeleteLooking forward and thanks for writing an awesome and cute update..:)
the end was kind of magical Aditee!! it was an awesome update.........both of them expressing themselves and being together.............loving them this way!!
ReplyDeleteloved it
ReplyDeletenow also he gets irritated whenever she goes to chembur how possesive and demanding i love him :)
loved the last conv
hmm so he wants baby but not so soon thats good he can take his time and khanak should also understand i hope they dont fight over it
update soon :)
God! I've been missing so lot of things! :(
ReplyDeleteShall read them all, and get bak to you Aditee! :D
lovely.. these 2 were cute..
ReplyDeleteAditee...Update soon :(
ReplyDeleteIt's official I'm addicted to Casa
Update soon Aditee!!!
ReplyDelete