Part 158

“Happy Holi Khanak” Shaan appears grinning, in a white V neck vest like tee, and a crushed cotton tan knee length shorts…. All DRY…

“This doesn’t count! Holi’s been over for a while” she said calmly draining water from her hair, pretending to check time on her bare wrist……….

He approached confidently, reached out and felt the gold dripping off her skin…

“Gold?” she asked carelessly…

“Its “Organic” he chuckled doing air quotes mockingly…

They circled each other… primitively…

“I am here to look for Dadi’s Krishnaji bracelet”

“Is that what she said, she lost?” he asked laughing openly…

“I should have known” she muttered…

“Amen” he said…

Watched her shiver… but didn’t offer his tee or a towel… she continued.. her teeth slowly beginning to chatter..

She started to speak, nervously… “Ujju said you play a mean Holi so I had to get you”

He didn’t say a word…

“I did” she continued…

He leaned on the sauna’s back wall…. She could see the steam swirling inside… through the glass door…

“Shantan” she began…

“If this about going to Mansa or to Ahmedabad, it’s a “No” Khanak”

She stared, startled…

“I am hoping we can make love” he said, as if he just asked her “Do you need a ride to work?” or “What time is Bai and Aada’s flight back” something as mundane and trivial…

Her jaw dropped as he approached, hands tucked in his pocket….She took a step back tripped on a wrought iron chair… and fell back as his arm snaked out…

Part 157

8:09 PM,

Khanak dried her hair as she sneezed away… gold flecks glistened in her skin, it sparkled under the giant vanity lights… she was quiet, as she rummaged through “her” cabinets for a hair accessory.. found a orange velvet like string with bells on each edge… she braided her still damp hair with it… her magenta kurta had an orange trim, it was full sleeved… she reached for it, looked at herself once before she slid it off the hanger… there were red welts on her neck and on her arm, there was on her left breast…………

She wore her kurta in a hurry… found a orange crystal like bindi… shut the lights out, rubbing lotion on her sore spots… it singed…

She walked back to the bedroom, he lay sleeping on the bed… face down..her gorgeous green saree a crumpled mess on the floor, leaking gold color………..

She didn’t know where the blouse was, both were soaked in the gold sparkling dye he had used………..

She had gotten off the elevator, the Gujrals apartment was also at the penthouse level, but the common terrace area could also be accessed through an elevator, Gujrals had their private terrace, accessible through a spiral staircase, all bedrooms had an exterior door leading to the corridor to the terrace………..

There was NOBODY… no cleaning crew… no servants… the place looked spotlessly clean……… like no Holi was ever celebrated…………

She wandered, the afternoon breeze teasing her green pallu and wet hair……….. smiling, she walked to the 15 foot rails………. Peeking down…….. started looking for the bracelet………… spends over 20 mins poring over every nook and crany, disappointed she punches 912 on the intercom, Dadi answers, she tells her she cant find it, Dadi asks her to search harder…

Khanak is tired, but agrees quietly….

Hangs up the phone, the overhead misting tubes, suddenly start spraying a gold liquid… she tries to scamper under an awning…. She is soaked in gold water…

“Happy Holi Khanak” Shaan appears grinning, in a white V neck vest like tee, and a crushed cotton tan knee length shorts…. All DRY…

Part 156

There was color in his ear…

Nar:She is wily.

Shaan didn’t respond, just watched Khanak take refuge beside him…

“My husband” Khanak said….

Nar didn’t let the look of disappointment be too obvious…

Shaan let his elation show though…

S:Khanak… Nar..

Nar:Khanak? WHAT  alovely name!

Khanak stared with a “Really? IN FRONT of my husband?” look

S grinned

Nar:I haven’t seen her before..

S:You were shooting for “Pravaha Prem” when we got married, the courtship lasted a few weeks

Khanak shifted uncomfortably… the familiar banging in her chest reminding her…

N:Sunil mentioned…

S:Khanak he is the most famous face of Marathi cinema..

Khanak looked like she didn’t care

S:She is a Gujarati…

Nar was very curious… “How do you fit into the Punjabi world?”

Khanak:Ummm

N:Does she not talk?

Khanak didn’t respond..

S:Mostly very lil… (smug)

N:Punjabis are hearty and boisterous, I feel for you

S:Thanks! (winking)

K:I have to go…

N:I should have you guys over for dinner sometime, I am in between projects now…

Shaan nodded politely

His wife tugged on his arm…

The men shook hands

Khanak smiled a half smile… and they proceeded towards the stairs…

“Aap chal nahi rahe the”

S:Why the rush?

K:I…

S:He is an out of work actor Khanak…

K:I am not a producer.. I don’t care (shivering, as she imagined those creepy eyes)

Her husband laughed out loud…

They were accosted by Ujju and Sonali half way through..”Dadi wanted to know what kind of dal bhabhi wanted”

His arm went around his wife’s waist… snug and firm… Khanak squirmed…

S:Is it lunch time already…

Ujju:And bhabhee won………… yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Khanak smiled, as she walked the corridor… he gently let go of her… as they entered the house, professional cleaning crews were heading up through the service elevators to clean the terrace, booze and food lay strewn all over…

Chachi clapped.. “Jeet gayi tum?”

Madz:Kis baat par?

Chachi: She spent 5 hours running away from him…

The women crowded around her to congratulate…………

Shaan: I couldn’t get to her… I gave up after a point

K:Ha! I am the winner! (proud)

Shaan smiled indulgently……..

Madz rolled her eyes “Kids these days.. we would crave to be caught” (blushing)

Chachi: And then whatever followed would be glorious (blushing as well)

Madz:They don’t know the joy of Holi..

Khanak blushed… at such brazen talk… chalked it up to the two Punjabi women being drunk…………

Shaan was on the phone… he signaled his wife.. she handed him his fave snack from the coffee table……

Amogh leapt into her arms.. Khanak giggled “It feels like Ive just cleared the IAS exams”

Shaan turned to look at her once as he proceeded to go up to take a shower

The cacophony continued… Bai and Aada readied for their cleansing bath… HL brought her chai and snack……….. they treated her like a princess…

There were two extra helper girls today, rubbing and scrubbing oil on people… helping them get the color off…

By the time she showered and stepped down, wearing a beautiful emerald green chiffon saree, a designer gift from MIL, it was past 3… the crowd and noises continued in the huge living room……….

Sonali stuck to her like glue… feeling her saree, her hair…………..”Can I wear it for College Day dee?”

“Hmm” she nodded

“Aaj aap pehan lo to main lekar jaaoon?”

Bai:Abs not! Its her MIL’s gift..

Sonali:Then I will ask Jeeju to buy me one..

Bai looked at her unpleasantly……..

Dadi: Puttar do me a favor?

Khanak eager and willing”Jee Dadi?”

Khanak’s eyes and skin sparkled… the rich oils and the nice massage the spa girl put her through ………… showed…….. she looked gorgeous…

“Dadi: Oopar agar who cleaning crew hai to will you please go check, if they found my Krishna charm bracelet?

Khanak:Oh! No! Meri wajah se? I know I ambushed you…

D:Silly girl… not you…the clasp was really loose

Sunil:Ma where is the Hindi?

Dadi:Ooops! Mera matlab… ughhh.. forget it Sunil, I need more lessons, please go check beta…

Punjabi music and conversation mixed and rolled…

Khanak took the elevator up…

Dadi quietly opened her palm to reveal the gold bracelet that had baby Krishna figurines hanging in various shapes and forms, she winked at Sunil “The crew is long gone, and here is my bracelet”

Sunil’s jaw dropped… as he looked up at the ceiling…imagining Khanak's plight in the empty terrace........... as her husband waited for her

Part 155

She hid behind a tall white marble pillar, her heart was racing, Ujju signaled… Akshay walked by, looking for Khushboo, Khanak and Ujju ambushed him, Khanak with orange and Ujju with purple

Akshay: NICE! (laughing out loud)

Khanak:We told you we would eventually get you…

Akshay:Dadi ko pakda ki nahi? (wiping off the juicy water from all over his face, his hair plastered on thick)

Ujju: Bhai, Dadee is hiding… we managed to dunk her arm in purple but that’s about it…

Akshay shook his head… and laughed…

Sunil: Beta, Dad coming through… (warning, as he stepped into the terrace)

Khanak showered him with multicolored sparkly water from a lawn hose “Yeh Hindi bhoolne ke liye… aur YEH, Holi hai…” she giggled as she sprayed him with dry pink color…

Sunil coughed and choked and ran… bumping into a tall man with a goatee… in spotless white kurta pajama, holding a drink in his hand…

Sunil: Nar! Happy Holi…

Narasimh Date an out of work Marathi actor stared at Khanak… nodding at his neighbor…

Khanak turned away, a lil uncomfortable, people mingled… Punjabi bhangra mixed with Bollywod Holi tunes…. Her parents sat in a corner watching everything in awe… HL served them fresh lemonade and bite size mithai… Chacha Chachi couldn’t make it… they didn’t speak any Punjabi so they just watched… Sonali stood flirting with a neighbor’s son… Mistrys exchanged a worried look…

Dadi: Aap log bhi khelen

Bai:Oh! No! We.. don’t… much.. at all

Ambika: Khelenge to time ka pata nahi chalega… dekho to, 1:30 baj gaya aur abhi khatam nahi ho raha

Ujju screamed…

Dadi: Music se oopar inki awaaz

Khanak:Whhhat? (their hiding spot was by the staircase doors) (hissing)

Ujju:I hear Bhai’s voice… Deee its Shaan Bhayya. (squealed)

Khanak grinned… “Awesome!” (like HE would say )

Ujju giggled…

And then it was…..

Ujju attacked him with the blue powdery one… Khanak had vanished….. he knew she was around.. he was on the phone… he searched… there were over 100 spread out all over…

A group of 8-14 year olds, attacked him, pushing him towards the sunken hot tub… now doubling up as Holi pool… it was PINK…”I am on the phone” he yelled…

One grabbed the phone and shut it… the rest dunked him………..

He knew who masterminded it… she laughed silently from a corner

“We are the champions Dee” one idiot gave it all away…

Khanak scowled, slamming her palm on her forehead “Ughhhhh.. silly goose!” she cursed…

Narsimh:Who me?

Khanak was startled “Oh! No!” I mean”

“Narsimh: Your plan huh!

Khanak:Jee!

Narasimh: Hi! I am Nar! (as if it was SRK or something)

Khanak looked confused, he rattled off 5 Marathi movie names… Khanak looked more confused.. “I don’t watch Marathi movies much”

Nar:We should go to one! (bold!)

Nar said after a pause ‘MINE!” laughed like he loved his own lame pick up line

Her husband… had found her…

“Happy Holi” he said toweling himself, his white kurta now a messy multi color…

There was color in his ear…

Nar:She is wily.

Shaan didn’t respond, just watched Khanak take refuge beside him…

“My husband” Khanak said….nervously, almost reaching out and holding his arm, but not quite...

Nar didn’t let the look of disappointment be too obvious…

Shaan let his elation show though…by firmly gripping her hand....

Hi! All
I am sorry I havent been able to update in 4 days now... I am caught up with some work and home commitments.

MOST POSITIVELY will update tonite
THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!
I want you all to know how much it means to me that you guys wait for every update eagerly

I think about not being able to update.... EVERY MOMENT :-(
I am sorry!

See you all tonite

Thanks
Aditee

Part 154

Music blared loudly through the sound system, all over the building, the terrace was transformed with white tents, white curtains to block the view of passers by below, kiosks of food and liquor everwhere, there was flowers, colors….

Sonali and Ujjwala giggled and chased a bunch of guys across the concrete…

Ambika: Go beta…

Khanak smiled and stood by her.

Ambika:When I was your age, there would be a competition for the most number of guys touching us to smear color! (proud)

Khanak giggled…

Ambika:I won two years in a row, 17!

Madhavi: That’s a lot!

Women from the building crowded around Madhavi and gushed what great parties she threw… Madhavi soaked it all in appearing careless outwardly…

Dadi: Sunil ne ashirwad diya puttar…

Khanak:Not sure where he is Dadi…

Aada and Sunil walked by, laughing about something, Sunil held a glass of bhang in his hand… pink and cold….

Khanak:Who made the bhang?

Mrs Kapoor:Your MIL wont tell us…

Khanak: I haven’t tasted it…

Madhavi waved “Give her a glass and kick her outta here” “Go beta “hang out”

More women crowded Madhavi

Sunil: MEri favorite beti yahan oldies ke beech mein

Khanak smiled shyly crushing her dupatta…

Sunil:Kapde bhi nahi bheege KYA chakkar hai?

Aada: She doesn’t play much (in broken Hindi)

Sunil:That was when she was YOUR beti, now she MY BETI…

Bai appeared in an old cotton saree already Stained  all over

Khanak:BAI? (shocked)

Bai ranted… “Your brother in law and bhabhi”

Khanak smiled…

Sunil, picked up handful of orange sprayed all over Khanak, Khanak stood with her eyes shut as orange mist gobbled her…

Her husband clicked away… a series of clicks… of the smile forming slowly on his wife’s face…

Part 153

Khanak and Shaan sat side by side……. Criss cross…….. her hands were joined in prayer…head bent… he just gazed, some familyand friends were aroud… the house was filled wth noise and laughter….

Dadi:Yh lo beta arti,

Dadi handed her a silver bowl.. with a silver lamp in it… she rotated it 5 times…

Dadi:Shaan HOLD her hand beta

S:As you say Dadi…

He gripped her wrist.. his white chikan kurta contrasting with her pale pink…

She set it down and he continued to hold…

Dadi smiled “How obedient!” she laughed…

Ambika: He is very good about such things

Madhavi rolled her eyes

Bai walked in, with a respectful look

Khanak squirmed… trying to free her wrist.. “Bai” she said..

S:I think Ive met her before (chuckled)

K:Please? (she begged)

Dadi:Khanak phool chadao puttar

She picked up a handful of home grown red roses and offered, with his hand hold hers……

Bai said something in Gujarati

Dadi:Aap apne damaad ko sikhao Gujarati

Shaan smiled at her

Bai looked terrified…

Madhavi:He hardly speaks any Punjabi

Khanak looked at her MIL “Oh! Boy! You have NO clue” look

Dadi offered the teeka thali to Shaan… he let go of her wrist, the caress with his thumb the stroke… she missed it already……

D:Put teeka on her… her first Holi…

Khanak didn’t lift her face, he dipped his index finger in the dark pink sindoor and smeared all over her parting…

“That’s too much” she muttered…

Dadi:Khanak! Beta, lift your face…

K:Nahi!

Shaan chuckled…

Madhavi: I am going to be 100 and yet unable to figure these two out…..

Bai scolded Khanak

Ujju:Bhabheee everyone is in the terrace, LETS GO…….

Khanak jumped up, her dupatta sliding off… a magenta gurjari… silk….

Her topaz on her ring finger sparkled as she pulled it off the floor, her husband… stood up behind her…

Ambika:So who gets who first today…

K:I am going to be dry (firm)

Ambika giggled, in Punjabi she continued “A Gujral bahu offering SUCH challenge, what will you do now Shaan?”

He did not respond, just watched her run away…..

Part 152

Part 152

Her cell phone rang, her hair was still wet… there were multiple wet towels on the bed…. She had spent the nite with Bai and Aada… he didn’t ask, she didn’t tell…

She pulled the towels off, furious, pressed the service bell… HL showed up in a second with a toothy smile…. He grabbed the laundry basket, the wet towels and old newspapers… she stopped… shocked… about how familiar she was with using help now… things she always took care of by herself… were all being delegated…

Punjabi jokes and laughter resonated… the house was filling up

HL: Bhabhiji nashta

K:Main thodi der mein aati hoon? Aap sabko khilao, aur khud bhi kha lena…

She grabbed the billowing green curtains… they changed every month… she wondered WHERE they were being stored… linen/laundry/storage room….

Her phone rang again… “MUBARAKAN JEE” her friend squealed…

“I am not pregnant” she huffed, and sulked…

“Why aren’t you getting the good stuff?”

“Shut up!” Khanak hissed

“Cell phone hai meri jaan” Ritu countered…

“Happy Holi you dork”

“Remember last Holi?”

“I do… u panjus love your Holi don’t ya”

“Kyon ghar par tamasha hai kya?”

“Tamasha? It’s a “bloody circus” as someone would say”

“OHO! SOMEONE… Keda someone… someone kitthe?”

“No idea”

“Was he upset you went?”

“Very” Khanak was very sad

“Tum lade”

“Hmmm”

“Kitna?”

“Enough not to get any good stuff” blunt

“OUCH!” ritu whined

“Bus mauka hai, tu shuru ho ja, aaj bhigokar kar le masti”

Khanak smiled… “Her friend was her biggest champion…….

Khanak and her chatted like there was no tomorrow, Ujju sneaked into the room and wanted to chat also… Sonali was in town… she appeared in a black salwar and a sleeveless tee… Khanak stared… Sonali’s hair was oiled… she acted like she belonged in the house….

“Dee aapke paas calamine lotion hai”

“I am on the phone” Khanak whispered

“Kaun?Jeeju?’ she asked

“Khanak shook her head…

Sonali hummed and walked into the the bath area, admiring the huge posters adorning the walls.. Khanak followed to collect more dirty laundry…. To give to HL……

“KITNA saare things hai aapke paas…. Dee” she gushed…

Feeling and opening and smelling every jar and bottle…..

 His things lay mingled with hers… two of his razors hung on a scented candle jar “to dry”

She hated dripping wet razors… she was finicky… she drove him NUTS… in every which way…

Sonali spoke… BAD English but insisted she would speak it anyway…

“STOP ignoring me Mysetery”

Khanak whispered “ Hey shes looking at my things!”

You mean “Gujral’s back?”

Khanak giggled heartily “NO! And… hes NOT… she stopped she couldn’t bring herself to say it

“Kick her out”

“It would be rude”

“That’s what has brought you to this mess” Ritu scolded sternly

“They take your money, your things, your time”

“Where is Ritu and how come Shaan’s spirit got into you”

Not funny Mystery”

“So Mystery are you going to make out soaked in colors?”

“I am not going to let him lay a finger on me today” Khanak spoke out the challenge aloud… losing her breath towards the end… as a smile formed on her face