Part 212

Just tonite” he said softly to his wife, as Vithal left excitedly… Vaishali went in to bring water for them…she saw her husband already had a half empty one, under his chair..”I brought my water” he said…

“You should have brought your food too” she said uncompromisingly

Vithal returned with Pai, who was beaming…

“The owners want to sell… aap log le lo” he told Shaan confidently…

“Ritu jab aayegi Mumbai, dono friends idhar reh sakte hain” he sounded like he had some personal stake in such a situation…

The baby whined…. Khanak cooed… “I haven’t thought about it” Shaan smiled…

“I have “ said his wife in a whisper…

“I bet you have” he said, as Pai and Vithal talked about the existing owners in Marathi…

He gently extended his arm, letting his fingers touch his wife’s bangles….the baby smacked the male hand with a drooly hand…

“I want to buy it” she muttered…

“I don’t think so” he said coolly…

They set a stage for a long night of electric, contentious, semi erotic verbal sparring…

Vaishali came back and knew before her husband told her, Ritwik jumped up and down with joy “Mousi… Mousi, Mousi” he squealed…

She laughed… happy… it pissed him off to see her belong like that…

“Vaishali brought out clean set of sheets and and her best pillows…

Vithal asked about arranging “new beds”

“Uncle theek hai” Khanak admonished…

Her husband was on the phone, her loaner baby was gone… she was itching for a fight… he appeared like he was more than ready…

Twilight merged with night outside…. She felt all warm and fuzzy on the inside… Chembur did that to her…

The place where she found her bearing, the place where she began her new life… her best friend in the whole wide world beside her…

The scent of cologne broke her fantasy…”Dinner?” he asked putting the phone on hold…

“Nahi” she said bluntly…

He chuckled as he said into the phone “ She says no”

‘None for ME, I mean” she said smiling sugary sweet….”You shouldn’t decline, I bet the person would be heart broken”she jabbed..

Pai and Vithal went off looking for beds and such…

Vaishali was nursing the baby inside…

He reached for her and pulled a green gold thread off her nude waist… the new saree was shedding like crazy… the ends untrimmed…

He pulled it off, she reached for it, he pretended to hand it to her as he captured her fingers… still on the call..

“Not a chance” she said huskily letting him clutch her fingers…firm manly hand held soft slender one….he felt her rings…

He talked and talked…”she pulled on her hand wanting to go inside…

That’s sounds like a catastrophe, may be you should go to Ulwe” she poked with totally mock concern…her eyes wide…face flushed trying to free her hand…

“Khanak quit riling me” he said, muting the phone…

“Mera haath chhodiye” she admonished… irritated…

He held her trapped hand, and felt the saree border…”Oh Basil has talked to the guy 18 times… its no use, we’ll just let Rahat handle that”

“Me?” he said..

“I am at my wife’s friend’s””I always offer to give her a ride home”

“Only because you want to get laid at night” she could hear Nachiket’s loud taunt…

“Whatever that may be for” her husband laughed out loud…

She yanked her hand… smiled sweetly…”Not happening tonite sweetheart”his eyes on her lips as the word sweetheart formed on it his mind reeling under shock… reminding him of the various times she used endearment to coax him in bed…she continued boldly arms wrapped across her chest “or any other nite….Since I am not supposed to get pregnant, its dangerous to make love”as she turned around and walked away… 

“Damn!” he swore.. his mind racing trying to figure out a devious way to get his way…

Part 211

Vaishali had no inkling to what had transpired between the two, Khanak quickly slipped into the bedroom, she haltingly invited Shaan for a snack… he smiled with an effort… he wanted to get out of there are any cost, TAKE HER WITH HIM…

The place reminded him of things he didn’t care to be reminded about… the whole setting, her sobs over wanting to get pregnant…. He squirmed… he didn’t want a baby now or in the recent future….he wanted her… to be with her…..

He walked into the bedroom, she was tidying up her things…

“You should go” she said “Ill be a while”

“STAY HERE?”

“Mera matlab… u should go downstairs she said…

“I am not really hungry he said abruptly…

He lounged against the wall, looking at everything stacked along the walls, suitcases, bags, folded clothes, bags of things purchased in Mumbai… he wondered how many people were visiting… the place smelled like marigold and incense… reminding him of his wedding…

She looked lovely, bending down over her LV tote bag… he wondered how she packed so much, when she walked out of the room empty handed…

She turned around… and started to step out of the room…

“Can we go after we eat?” he asked…

Taking her out of there was an overwhelming urge for him right now….

She didn’t respond… just looked at him once…

They took the elevator… he wondered if the building even had stairs…

Vithal greeted them with smiles, the three women quickly vamoosed from the living room… there was a giant wrapped toy of some sort, looked like a doll house… or a bike… or both… she knew who must have brought that… the packaging was classy and expensive..

Vaishali opened a few folding chairs, a woman brought the baby, Khanak held her tight…

They placed two plastic stools in front of their chairs… and put two plates brimming with salty and sweet snacks… pre determined portions… not a buffet like affluent families served…

Khanak ate immediately, he picked and nibbled…

“I can hold her” he said softly…

“Nahi she said, hugging the child…

Vithal made small talk, declared he saw the Ulwe site when he was on the bus, the whole site was hidden with tarps… he said he couldn’t see the buildings…

“Aap site visit par aa jao kisi din… Pradeep la sakta hai aapko” he offered..trying not to sound charitable…

Khanak smiled… “Mere saath chaliye aap” she said… not revealing the emormous fight between the two…

Vaishali: Khanak is very happy (in Marathi)

Shaan smiled… superficially..

Vaishali:We miss her a lot… though she was the quiet one of the two, Ritu can talk continuously for 24 hours (in hindi)

Shaan smiled genuinely “Haan yeh dono best friends hain” (HOW did that happen kinda tone)

Vaishali: Hamey to iske aane ke 2 mahiney baad pata chala Ritu ki room mate hai… shaanta swabhav.

Vithal: Bus Pai Uncle aur humse baat karti yeh (as if she was some celebrity)

Shaan looked at her… her head bent… she was letting the baby play with his car keys…….

They brought chai when her plate was empty and his was half full…….

They brought more snacks…

Vaishali: The house is empty, u should… buy it (after a longish pause) (smiling) we want you to buy it so u will keep coming back

Shaan hated that comment… he didn’t want her anywhere near the apartment……

His heart did a somersault thinking about going back to those times, when she wouldn’t give him the time of day….. walk past him in Ajmera hallways as if he didn’t exist………he hadn’t heard her speak for weeks…….. nota  word…..

Until she befriended Paula……

Vaishali asked about her parents……..

Vithal asked about his work…..” I will try” Shaan said when Vithal insisted they come over for an over night stay

Vaishali:Aaj raj ko ruk jao oopar Khanak, Mousi, Bai, Bua, Vahini sab neeche soyengi aaj… saamne Purandare ka makaam bhi hai

Vaishali hinted that the young couple could have the apartment tonite if they wanted

Vithal:I can talk to Pai Uncle (proud)

Khanak’s heart filled up, just as her eyes began to… such love was priceless…

BUT…..

She was tethered to a stubborn, arrogant… rake now…….an addiction that swallowed her completely when she crashed into him outside the elevator that one afternoon……..

Her desire for motherhood was not getting any traction with him, yet she wanted to be with him…letting go was impossible….. she had spent all of last night thinking about him….. wondered if he thought about her………

Vaishali took the silence as affirmation………and nudged Vithal, he stood up ready to go tell Pai…..

Shaan waited for her to protest.. while she hoped he would say they couldn’t stay the night……

Part 210

“U should just go…” she didn’t say the word home…

“You are cleaning this apartment? WHY?”

“That’s what FAMILY does” “At events, not all of us can afford a contingent of cleaners” she hissed softly…

“That’s right Khanak keep taking those digs”

“Please take your kolhapuris off, yeh mer… ghar hai” she pointed…

He went out took them off and returned…

“I came to bring you home” “We should fight at home”

“I am tired… Shantanu” she said in a frustrated voice, “Tired of attending other people’s baby ceremonies” she blurted…

“This is about me not accompanying you last nite, don’t mix issues Khanak” he warned…

“It’s a big muddled mess” she said, smoothening her ruffled hair” leaning on the wall

“Its not, I told you I can make it for dinner around 10”

“Oh! Did you? I was upstairs feeding people, so didn’t notice, sorry there is no issue then”

He looked mighty guilty.. “I” “Khanak U know most of the things at Ulwe”

“Ulwe” that’s right” she smirked….

“I was hoping to make it”

“I will hope to make it too.. the rest of my life without a baby” she was crying…

The door was partially open, Vaishali came up with the baby, a lil startled at finding the husband and wife  inside the empty apartment...

"nashta?" she said smiling... almost ashamed of interrupting...

Part 209

“Why didn’t you return last nite?” he asked directly…

The lady searching in the kitchen paused to gawk…

“Tyaala aapalya pati aahe?” she asked suddenly as if that thought just struck her again…

“I told every one I planned to stay here” she told coldly

“Except me ofcourse” he said, unamused…

“Since you couldn’t go with me, I didn’t want to waste your time telling you what my plans were”

“Can we go home NOW?”he asked irritated…

“No I am not sure why you came” cool, looking out the window…

“Why are YOU cleaning up?”

“Why not?” she muttered…

The lady walked up to them again “to traas det aahe?” she asked, worried if he bothered her…

“All the time” Khanak muttered… looking up at him…

The woman mumbled… turned away and left…

“Are you getting any ideas?” he barked… as she began, stacking the boxes of sweets and snacks…

“I called Dadi today…(go away I am not returning with you)”

“Khanak we have to head home”

‘You should, you must be late… for some… meeting”

He walked up to hergrabbed and  flung a piece of towel she held wiping down …furniture “I told you I could give you a ride home last nite”

“Not good enough Shantanu” her voice trembled with rage…

Her eyes were big and moist… sparkly…

“Cant we fight at HOME”

“This is MY HOME” she reminded him…

“Not any more… don’t conveniently hop back into your mystery world, when things heat up in your married life” sulking

“My married life is DULL” hoarse..”the husband goes to bed with work and cheat on wife” she did air quotes…

She found herself backed up against the wall…

“Oh really?”

He turned around walked to the door, shut and bolted it…

Turned around…

“Really?’ “That’s all u can think about?”worried what Vaishali aunty might think...just as her heart began to inflate like a helium balloon... her chest tightening...

"Oh! No Khanak Gujral we are not having sex.... just not yet... anyway" as he approached...

Part 208

Kids paused to stare at him, and whispered in Marathi and giggled….. Khanak quickly pulled the tucked in folds out of her belly….

He didn’t say a word…she looked like a Maharashtrian housewife…gruhani as the TV channels referred to… HIS WIFE… she looked like she belonged in Chembur… amongst the cooker whistles and Marathi news and Ganpati prayers…

It irked him no end… she was gone one nite…. And he found her transformed….

“I am not going back” she said… before he could even say Hi!

An oldish woman entered the apartment and spoke to Khanak in chaste Marathi U tyānnā kan'yā kāhīhī pāṭhavilē cāra bŏksa prārthanā gōṣṭī samāviṣṭa (the boxes u sent downstairs didn’t contain the pooja things)

Khanak looked worried……….the woman turned to Shaan and asked authoritatively Āpaṇa mulagā kōṇa āhē? Āpaṇa kāya karāvē lāgēla (who are you son? What do u need?)

Mī mājhī patnī miḷaviṇyāsāṭhī ālē (I came to get my wife) he said firmly, eyes on Khanak words directed at the old lady…

Khanak blushed… startled… hearing Marathi from her husband for the first time ever…

“I was born and raised in Mumbai Mrs Gujral… did u forget it all in one nite?”he asked succinctly … as he entered boldly without taking his kolhas off… the old lady busied herself in opening and closing cartons… she went into the kitchen to look for further stuff…

Khanak backed until her back felt her favorite window sill…

“I am not going back with you” she said in English… her voice almost firm…her face flushed… at the vocal declaration from hubby… the kids had brought more gawkers they all stood by the door… teens and young adults… staring at the couple….while the guy checked his wife out in the inexpensive cotton saree… and the dull gold blouse he had seen a couple times…. Plunging neckline… bra strap like clasps at the back… almost sleeveless but not quite… as they readied for a war…

Part 207

Madz tried her best to smoothen ruffled feathers between her and Shaan… called to her loudly, when he called “He wants to talk with you beta”

All the guests stared openly at her English fluency… Khanak ignored her with a smile “I just texted him” she lied…

M:Check ur text hon(into the phone)

Khanak vanished…

“The NERVE” she fumed…

She literally had to KICK her out of the event at 1AM… she threw a childlike fit wanting her to return too “I will Ma… soon”she promised…

Spent the nite with Vaishali’s sisters and his sisters at Ritu and her apartment… jumpstarting memories of her widow days… she stayed up most of the night… guilt ridden as if she betrayed Sooraj……. As if Sooraj was still alive and she cheated on him with Shaan………the matel bore the agarbatti stains where his picture used to be…she felt it………went to her favorite window…….

Stared out at the street…busy even at 3:40 am… the baby cried downstairs… light was turned on… she smiled… imagining a frown on that angelic face… she wore a magenta lehanga in Maharshtra silk… with puffed sleeve blouse… and a kajal teeka….

Her insides churned… as she imagined holding her own…he/she would have Shaan’s creases and that cleft on the chin………..strong hands…….she blushed…closing her eyes…

They were apart even when they were together… yet they pined for each other… she wondered if he missed her in bed…

“Working” she said aloud… as she made her way back to her bed…in the bedroom…

Her phone now powered… glowed… as the battery was fully charged… it rested on the same spot where Sooraj’s photo used to be…

~~

4:18 PM

The evening after, she was dressed in the traditional gorgeous green Maharashtra cotsilk saree gifted by Aunty…the edges untrimmed, silk threads loose and wayward stuck all over…her hair tied in a high knot, she was sweaty and tired, but continued to clean up the now empty upstairs apartment… folding bedding, sweeping up the marigold flowers, her jasmine string was fresh and and fully blossomed…she returned to Chembur from work…unfazed…kids ran in and out…the baby cooed downstairs…everything was familiar, yet not…….

She moved a heavy coffee table to grab some dry flowers underneath… a pair of men’s feet… extremely fair…almost pink… in kolhapuris came into view near the open front door…she saw blue jeans….her heart popped into her mouth…before her eyes confirmed who it was…

They stood staring at each other

Part 206

Madhavi Gujral left in two or so hours, made a grand show abouttrying to convinceKhanak to return… Vitha reassured her many times…”Aapki bahu is safe …”Shaan will worry beta” she told loudly…

“He knows… he said I could stay and Dadi too” “Ma I don’t have to ask for permission” she gently reminded her MIL…

“Of course you don’t” Madz thought… “You do AS YOU PLEASE including tying my rake of a son in knots”…

“Let me call him” Madz began…

“Sure” Khanak shrugged carelessly, heading towards Aunty’s apartment…

Madhavi stood there dialing, he son did not answer…

She reluctantly gave the baby a gift of a gold chain… jaws dropped all around… Khanak squirmed… she was planning for a silver bowl and spoon, she had even brought it with her, but her MIL chose to wave her wealth…

It was in gross bad taste and inappropriate… they weren’t related to the Gujrals…the occasion did not warrant aRs 50,000 gold chain… but Madhavi had to insinuate herself… she would go to the extreme in the process…

Khanak wondered about her motive briefly… but decided to give it up… it was pointless… like her husband’s complete disregard for her feelings, her MIL’s nonchalance had no place in Khanak’s feelings…

Sonali called Madz finding her phone switched off… Madz acted like she didn’t know who it was at first… wondering HOW she got a hold of HER number…….

She silently blamed her own MIL for it…

She didn’t care for the girl… she suspected the girl had plans to become a Kapoor.. by ensnaring Pradyun.. she ditre foher at all…

But in order to earn Khanak’sconfidence she will have to appear like she CARED about EVERY Mistry or what ever Sonali’s last name was….

“my fave girl” Madz gushed… Khanak wondered who it was until the phone was handed to her…

Madhavi promised they would go to spa together and go to the arcade at Taj Mahal Hotel…

When the phone got handed to her she was startled it was her cousin…

“Dee ek week off hai, main ghar aaoon ya Bai se milne jaaoon?”

“go home” without a doubt Khanak’s mind yelled…. “Tickets dekhna padega she offered gently”

“To main ghar na aaoon?”

Quite unlike the mood she leftHill… acting like she was wronged… taking Dadi’s money” Khanak squirmed…

“Everybody is busy Sonu” she said softly

“Aap mujhse naraaz ho abhi bhi…. Dee aapko pata hai na… YOU are my favorite”

The favorite word sounding like FAV-REET…

The girl tried her best to climb the ladder….

Khanak leaned on the rental chair and smiled… “everyone has an agenda” she concluded

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PONGAL WISHES :-)

Hope you all had a fabulous Holiday as well

Part 205

He called his Mom IMMEDIATELY, upon findin er phone switched off….”Madhavi gushed and informed Vithal and his brother… she lied to reassure how her son will never miss a family appointment… Khanak seethed… she went upstairs… the elevator was noisy and creaky with paan stains all over… SHE looked out of place… in her Rs. 20,000 chiffon… and her sparkling Notandas diamonds….she stared at the graffiti on the steel walls… some she recognized…

Madhavi didn’t make any attempt to conceal her displeasure…. “Lift saaf hona chahiye” she muttered…

Khanak did not bristle… she looked away… she was too angry at her husband to worry about her mother in law’s slumming…

Vithal Uncle has pressed the number of HER FLOOR, her jaw dropped when she stepped out… her heart raced… as she saw Ritu and her apartment adorned with flowers… kids running in and out…. She smiled… forgetting her pains…

Vithal:Aapki bahu ka ghar hota tha yeh

Madhavi looked with more curiosity….

Khanak walked in, she wanted to text Ritu… but didn’t want to turn her phone on…

Vaishali Aunty was rearranging chairs…

No pretensions of any sorts… the baby was being held by her Mom…

She walked up to hug her…Tinē malā māhīta sarvāta śānta vyaktī āhē (she is the quietest person I know)

She gushed to Madz…

As if that were a honor like climbing Mt Everest or bungee jumping from the niagra.

Madz looked at her coolly

Vaishali, joined hands in prayer, and touched Mad’ feet…

Madz did a theatrical show of affection….hugged  though Khanak noticed… maybe because Vaishali smelled like jasmine…

The apartment did….

The baby was handed to Khanak… she was beautiful! BIG eyes much like Khanak… and dark curly hair…

Aunty’s Mom clipped a long string of jasmine in Khanak’s hair…

Madz took many pictures of her in an exaggerated way “Iske hubby ko bhejoongi main, she looks lovely”

“He is in a meeting” Khanak stopped her bluntly…

“Not busy enough to see his lovely wife’s picture beta”

She sent more than a couple….

~~~~~~

His phone buzzed… Shamim, Nachiket, Rahat and his Dad talked to two govt cronies…. Shaan gulped his whiskey… picked his phone up…THERE she was…. GORGEOUS…. Thick strings of jasmine lay over her shoulders… she wasn’t smiling…. Her mangal sootra half in half out of her blouse as usual………. The hidden pendant splendidly tucked inside her cleft…….he reminisced how it felt on his manly fingers,,,,,,,, tiny delicate..….Her eyes were stormy….as if she didn’t approve his Mom’s idea of taking pictures…he could almost SMELL those goddamn flowers on her skin…

He imagined her naked… with those flowers on her…the creamy skin glowing…..

“Go away” she would hiss… pushing him…When he would slide over her, to end a fight…her eyes would shut tight..she would hold her breath unwilling to inhale his scent lest it adds to her arousal………..

He would capture her lips, the audible moan signaling her plea to be left alone……

His scent would travel up her nostril……… just as his taste would toy with her taste buds…

The hormonal fog of heady physical attraction enveloping them was gloriously healthy………and seemed to only be getting more dense…….. rational thought had no room……. If they were alone

Shamim: Busy Gujral?

Shaan: Go away! (clenched teeth)

The babus, leaned back… smiling smugly at the offer that was just made…

He called her… hers was switched off…

~~

Khanak was pleased…. She was dying to let Ritu know… but HOW…

She approached Vithal Uncle and asked if she could call her friend… he was happy to oblige…

“RITZ guess where I am?”

“Apni hubby ki baahon mein?” she giggled…

“STINKER” said Khanak unhappy

“Hamare ghar mein…”

REALLY DID U MOVE OUT? WHAT HAPPENED?” Ritushrieked…

I didn’t… not yet any way she admitted honestly..

Kya matlab… whats going on Mystery?

“Vaishali aunty’s baby’s ceremony…

“Gujral bhi aaya?”

“NAHI” she hissed upset…

“Oh!”

They both were silent…

“Don’t do anything foolish Mystery” Ritu warned…

“I am staying here tonite” she countered recklessly…

Ritu switched the phone to her other ear to buy time… she had no idea what to say…

“Yaar”

“This is Vithal Uncle’s phone”

“I am caling Gujral”

“DON’T YOU DARE” Khanak threatened her

“Mom is here with me Khanak told her

“KYA?”

“Just what I said…

“WHY?”

“She wanted to… cover up for her bum of a son” Khanak’s voice was filled with angst…

In the living room Vaishali Aunty and her family feted Madhavi with food, snacks and drinks… Madhavi wondered how the poor could put on such a grand show of happiness……..

Part 204

Madhavi did actually go with Khanak She took forever to change into a salwar suit, on Khanak’s insistence… Khanaks boldness irkedMadhavi.. Khanak didn’t wear herboldness with pride she wasn’t cocy there was a certain calm demeanor that posed a threat to Madhavi…While the girl was completely disconnected with the family politics the family wealth the obvious affluence… she was very involved with what ever she cared about… her son topped the list… without saying a word to Shaan in their lounge, Khanak had made that impression on Madhavi… he couldn’t take his eyes off her, she was as aware of him as a teen was, of her first crush….

Madhavi realized if she wasnt in the room that moment... her daughter in law wouldnt have made it to Vaishali's

Her son would have just taken her to bed...

"Its the physical attraction thats explosive... there is no love underneath...those big eyes, and that..." Madhavi curtailed her train of thought as it ventured into areas she rather not...

It anoyed her that her son would have the permanent hots for a girl like Khanak...a week, a month, a year was OK... the guy acting like he was drugged or under a spell... around her....

"Maybe thats why he doesnt want a family?" a light bulb glowed in her brain... 1000 watts... MAYBE he is not sure of himself either... maybe he doesnt want a lower middle class Gujarati gene in his baby"

That thought almost caused her to gurgle with joy... she reached out and hugged Khanak... "I am SO HAPPY I am spending the evening with you beta"

Khanak smiled calmly... wondering what caused her MIL's sudden seizure of joy

On the ride to Chembur she said very little, except “Mujhe unke baby ko dekhna hai” her eyes lit up whenshe said baby… Sunil was worrying a week ago about Shaan’s plan for fatherhood…. Madhavi had another plum opportunity in that front… but she wouldn’t make her moves immediately or obviously…she would first gain Khanak’s trust… like her mother in law had instantaneously….

Madhavi seethed on the inside wondering how Janaki Gujral could instinctively adore such middle class drivel that Khanak brought home from her visits to Chembur or Ahmdbd…. Madhavi had attempted to ask Qs and be involved, but the mundane lower middle class life didn’t interest her one bit….

“I have never visited Chembur have I” Madhavi asked smugly, trying her best to lose her smugness…

“Its another place in Mumbai” retorted her bahu, carelessly…

“Arey YOU lived there beta” Madhavi, squeezed Khanak’s shoulders…

“I can give you a ride home” her husband’s olive branch flickered on her phone as Pradeep pulled into her complex… Mr Pai stood at the gate beaming, immediately ordering the new gate keeper to keep the doors wide open to allow the S class Merc to slide in…

Madhavi was on the phone… Vithal Uncle opened her door… Khanak jumped out before anyone could…

Vithal was overjoyed to see her MIL…”Mr Shaan nahi aaye?” he asked her softly in Marathi…

“He..” she began..

“He had meetings, he will be here before we leave” the mother lied on behalf of her son…

“I am staying her tonite” Khanak texted him back expressionless…and powered off her phone…