Part 85

Mangal Kunj

10:40 PM

January 9^th Monday

The enthusiasam hadn’t waned one bit, a neighbor stopped by, Poker plans were made, Aada was appalled and tried not to show it,with Sunil wanting to take a breakl after his hectic Taiwan trip, and their Sao Paolo trip coming in 3 weeks, nobody was in the mood to grudge the father son anything…

Madz asked HL to set up the cards table, Fa gambled…. A lot… despite Aada’s STRONG disapproval. Khanak once brought a deck of cards home from a friend’s during summer and actually saw her father’s temper for the very first time.

Sunil instructed HL to bring the “poker chest”, it contained, loosely stacked rupee bills of various denomination, Ada was sure it must contain atleast Rs 5 lakhs

Dadi reassured him gently placing an hand on Aada’s elbow “Mistryji its all for fun” she said in Hindi…

Aada looked worried…

Khanak handed the baby to Maria, her husband was texting and talking, she didn’t know if he was going to play, she hoped he would… it would help her sleep… but she wanted to tell him she didn’t need Shiv’s help. She decided not to text it…

Sonali: Ek game dekhoon?

K:No!

Fa: You are little (hugging his daughter, grinning at Khanak slimyly for agreeing with her)

K:Not so little (angry)

Sonali:Jeeju khelenge?

K:I don’t know…

As he walked towards her, Ray leaned on her shoulder “I am so tired Bhabhee”

K:Dadiii

D:Yes beta?

K:Yeh kab nikal rahe hain?

D: 1 AM? Not sure

R:The flight’s at FIVE, I am taking a nap in Bhabhee’s room

S:Dee main bhi?

D:Sunil says 3:00

K:oh!

Fa didn’t make any pretensions of waiting for an invite, almost sprinted tro the table, the alchohol tempted him too, but Aada would butcher him… he knew

Aada: He needs to show restraint (softly to Khanak’s ears only)

Dadi understanding Aada’s predicament “They will use the money in the chest as play money Mistryji”

A:OH! So much?

D: He can borrow from that

A:Oh! No… he shouldn’t he…

K:Dadi… I.. (I cant let him borrow form Dad)

Dadi looked at her sternly “Relax beta, he doesn’t owe anything”

Shaan:One game Khanak?

K:Umm mmm

S:What are you girls plg to do?

K:Sleep (smiling sweetly)

His eyes told her “Don’t you dare”

K:I… I have to be @ work… kal

D:are you going to the airport beta?

S:Bhayya is still jet lagged… so probably

Gujral men were chivalrous and over protective, there was no way Nandu Maasi and Ray would be sent with Prad … the “twerp”… the last bit added by Shaan ofcourse…

D:So youll play? Kitno ko snack chahiye?

S:Don’t worry, let HL go to bed (gracious)

D:Don’t be silly, one of them can take the morning off…

S sends his glass for refill… crowds his wife..

“Nahi” she says firmly… just like how it usually was in bed… at first

He really wanted to shake her, he knew she was spoling for a fight…

They did that privately in public

D:Soney do beta usko…

Something about that plea from Dadi made her blush furiously… she fidgeted with Ray’s phone, staring at her toes…

S:One game wont kill her (smug)

Their bodies were touching, every pore of hers that was in contact with his pulsed…

Ray:I am going to bed Dadeee

Sonali:Main kya karoon?

Khanak felt the faint nudge on her waist “No” she declined…

Dadi: Ab lado (softly, walking away)

Aada was stalking Fa…

K:Aada please go to bed..

Fa had a hundred rupee wad in front… among the chips… 
Shantanu and her played strip poker on the boat… he taught her… he didn’t teach her fully… and he changed the rules every time they played…. She lost….. every time….

The chips reminded her of the deck and the sun… and her husband’s eyes and hands….

Aada ofcourse would never find out…

Shaan: Let me go change Dad, BRB…(as his phone rang)

Sunil:You need to check who calls him so late beta!

K:Hmmm

Sunil:iska phone band nahi hota (winks at her)

Aada looks worried

Sunil:Main apni beti se mazaak kar raha hoon Mistryji, baithiye lets chat…

K:aada please go to bed

A:Nahi Sir.. main sota hoon

S:Aaap mujhe Sunil kahen

The three men from the building guffawed with Akshay over something, the Punjabi was loud, the visual was opulent… Aada didn’t fit in it anyway….

A:Sunil.. JJEE, Gujral ji

K stalks her Dad while scolding Sonali

Pradyun appears, ready to play, Madz and Maasi were deep into it already

Khanak chats with her Dad as they do the stairs

A:Different world…

K:Hmmm

A:Do you fit in beta(softly)

K: I.. I try to (my husband leaves me with no choice)

Sonali calls from downstairs “Dee ek game dekhoon?”

K:NAHI! (angry, but extremely soft)

Sonali walks up

K:Aada you go to bed… will see u in a min (chaste Gujarati drowned in the rowdy Punjabi banter from downstairs)

She went in to their room…

K:Shantanu… (plea)

Walked into his closet, he was on the phone, pushing hangers one after the other, not making a selection…

K:shantanu…

He turned around and gazed… she hoisted herself on the two foot low bench lining the wall, that was usually used for wearing shoes…

Hands on her hips “Shantanu” she hissed…

Reached for his phone… he grasped her hand and yanked her as she held his phone, stepping back as she lunged… but continued to speak

K:Waaa… Sha… (he grabbed her waist as she steadied herself by placing her left hand on his shoulder… clutching his tee like a child)

K:Shantanu… I don’t need a financial planner

He hung up with a “Call you right back”

K panted and struggled as he threw his phone down

K:I am not meeting him…

She struggled expending all her physical energy within moments…

K:You cant make me (provoking)

S: I will..