Ahmedabad-Mansa
They say in an a 30 year old bus, as it bobbed on a bumpy
road, all the windows were open, the morning breeze tempted Khanak to doze off…
her husband left the balcony door open on his way to a tennis or squash game at
Oberoi some morning and he would return to the bedside to check… she would
snuggle and bury her head…. He would lean over and nuzzle “Tennis?” “No! make
love” she would respond…. He would burst out laughing… she would JUST want to
sleep more… they both knew that…
“Fine then” he would say, guiding her hand to his Polo tee…
“Shantanu”…
He would make out despite the wail of protests… and just
when she would be acquiescing, his buddy would interrupt with a not so friendly
beep on the phone…
He would leave her…she would hang on to his tee for a few
seconds… and demand she be made love to this instant…………..his turn to beg….
Dheeraj and her ex-FIL sat in the front seat, the Registrar’s
clerk and the property dealer behind them… Khanak sat by the window, her Dad on
the aisle….
Her Dad was reading his scripture book…. Khanak had left all
her gadgets at home…. She looked out of place anyway in that dusty crowded bus….
Her simple cotton outfit and those sparkly diamonds were drawing enough
attention….
They were not out of the city yet… newer developments were
crowding the city on all sides… she stared up at high rises… flowers grew on
pots nailed to balcony rails… “wonder if they have good neighbors downstairs”
she thought………..
Shantanu and her went to theBandra nursery a month or so ago…
she found the HUGE hanging geraniums… so many colors orange, purple, maroon…
pink… fire red… he had felt the fire red… “Not funny” she had declared huskily
to which he had chuckled…
“Not at all” he had whispered in her ear, lingering longer
than necessary…
They were sparring over her temper…
“R 2250” said the sales assistant…
She had looked startled…
“Salman Khanak buys here, so what did you think?” her
husband asked her blandly
The sales lady nodded… and began to
“That’s fine” Shaan stopped her, he had no desire to know
anything about movie stars…
“Very expensive Shantanu” she muttered softly
He nodded to the girl, asking her to run the order…
“Ummm… umm.. Dadi wanted some Thyme for the kitchen garden”
Shaan looked annoyed, they wandered and wandered… and she
finally made him buy the thyme and they left…
A day after, while returning from work, she went and bought the
geranium hanging baskets…
He had noticed it as soon as he stepped into the room…
“It was too expensive” she said
“You wanted to spend your money?”
“Mera matlab… not your money” she agreed looking up at him…
7:40 AM
Mangal Kunj
Malabar Hill
Hari Lal served his second omelette, as he looked famished…
“Just coffee Hari Lal” he barked
“Shaan quit being boorish” his Dad walked in… “Aap jao beta,
yeh khud bana lenge inko agar bhook lagegi”
HL gave his toothy smile and walked inside to grab Saheb’s
fave coffee mug…
Shaan checked his voice mail…
“How is work?”
“Good… we are actually breaking ground for the 5th
block this weekend- ….. ish” Shaan responded doubtfully…
“Aur Esteem?” Sunil lowered his voice
“They are dead for now” Shaan answered smugly
Sunil turned to look at Shaan’s room…
“She is not home” he said
furious/jealous/upset/sulking/angry
“Itni subah chali gayi?”
Dadi: No beta…
Dadi served her son’s breakfast
Shaan ate his bacon…
Sunil:Ma isko kam se kam SUBAH bacon our beef khilana band
karen aap
Dadi:Let him eat what he wants beta
Sunil:Are you on his side on this now? Whats going on?
“She went to Ahmedabad” Dadi said quietly
“Understandable!” Sunil said with controlled anger…
“You ache for our separation don’t you?” Shaan asked
bitterly
“Ache for her happiness” Sunil ack joyfully…
“Sunil, give it a rest… he is ticked”
“Oh! Dad married Mom… Dadi.. he didn’t have to deal with ego
the size of Gujarat” Shaan mocked…
“Yes you are very docile Shaan Gujral” his Dad responded in
Punjabi
“Some land deal beta” Dadi explained…
“Land DEAL?” Sunil looked confused..
“Who… I mean…”
“Land her EX-HUSBAND bequeathed to her” Shaan’s tone displayed
his enormous grief…
Sunil was quiet… he suddenly realized his son was mighty
jealous…
“Dheeraj ne usey phone kiye pichhle hafte, he wanted her to
go sign so they could sell” Dadi explained in Punjabi
“She was on a plane the next day” Shaan bit out in Punjabi
as well…
“And you are now jealous of a dead man?” Sunil stared at his
son… as Shaan gulped burning hot coffee without flinching…
aditeee hope u r better now!
ReplyDeletejust so loved this update especially knowing about shaans halaat!
loved the mini flashbacks! too adorableeeeeeee :D
both just need a us or we btw them not her or him :))
sunil line ditto!! i liked shaan line of ego size of gujrat made be laugh! but becharra cannot help it either his too obsessed with his wife
i wish shaantanu is abit less angry after she comes seeing how much she misses him there is no denying he is her now :D :D
Awwwww love sunil
ReplyDeletehe defo is jealous hahahahahah
x
Sunil hit it on target... perfect...
ReplyDeletelovely :)
ReplyDeletethe flashbacks were sooo good loved it
aww khanak is missing him and so is he
if he is not jealous of a dead man then he is so not shan
and i like sunil's dialogue here
plzz update soon
Wonderful, beautiful, delightful..!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the long awaiting update aditee:D
Loved khanak's journey! Me too loved the flashbacks:D
And finally the guy! Missed him..
Sunil is just right! Shaan doesn't have to get so much jealous of sooraj.. I do know that, what khanak thinks bothers him a lot.. And the fact that she loved sooraj, makes him furious till day!
I seriously loved the tennis part:D they both are so good together!
Desperately wanting to know shaan's reaction when she returns back..
continue as soon as possible:))
Take care:)
Missed CASA SO SO much!!
ReplyDeleteAditee, hope you are fit and fine!
LOVED the last couple updates!
I just feel both need to talk…not endless convos of everlasting love and comforting each other! But sometimes its nice just to call for reassurance! Hopefully Shaan does that…because his the one feeling insecure whereas I think Khanak is more secure regardless of the other issues between them.
I adore Sunil as he is a GREAT dad and FIL! He knows where to yank his sons chain…Can we have a bit about from the guys perspective regarding Khanak? Pleasee
LOVED the pink blue…another issue probating between them
Thanks a ton Aditee and take care :D
Awww.... Lovely update....
ReplyDeleteShz thr bt nt compltly... Shanak messy mornings....
D flash back.... D money issue....
Shan angry/jealous missing her.... Wats mine is mine bt cnt change d past.... Fighting in air...
Upadte soon....
brilliant update Aditee!! loved reading about my favourite couple.........both of them missing each other!! Khanak's thoughts and jealous Shaan, both were amazing!! looking forward for the next one!!
ReplyDeleteLoved it a lot!!! :) Khanak reminiscing her lovely moments with her husband Shaan!!! <3
ReplyDeleteIt really selfish on Sooraj's father and his brother Dheeraj part to just get her for signing!!! But good she is missing Shaan and thinking about everything all the time!!!
Awww..She brought geraniums with her money!!!
Poor Shaan showing his frustration/anger on Hari Lal..Hari Lal plays an important role all the time!!!
Finally Sunil got to know!!! Awww..Shaan is so jealous of Sooraj even now!!!
Looking forward and thanks for writing an amazing and lovely update!!! :)
Superb update aditi.......
ReplyDeleteLoved it....
Aww shaan jealous of suraj who is no more.......
poor shaan he loves khanak so much that he is feeling insecure of suraj's Love.....
Hope sunil will make shaan understand that there is no need to feel jealous of him....
aww khanak missing shaan and dreaming about the past.........
Loved the update...
waiting for the next...
Sunil stroke the right cord.. Jealous of a dead man.. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteAwaiting the next part..