He talked on the phone,
she busied herself, going up and down with Vaishali Aunty, she looked in her
bags for something “What do you need?” he asked…
“Kuch bhi nahi” she
responded characteristically in Hindi… but continued to search…
“Khanak” he prodded…
“I need change” she said…
He reached for his
wallet…
“I” she began and
stopped (Don’t need your money” would have followed had he not given her a
scathing look)
Who neeche halwai ko Rs.
367 dene hai, Vithal Uncle is not here” she looked visibly ashamed…
“I have Rs. 500 bills
only” she said, waving a wad from her purse”
He quietly counted 10
Rs. 100 bills and handed it to her…
She dragged her feet…
He took a step towards
her………
“I “ she said…
“You can look for those
lost words when u pay off the guy” he offered succinctly…
“Don’t worry I am going
to expect you to return it” he said… not amused… but in her ear…
“Hmppfhhhh” she grunted….
“Every dime you take from me Mrs Gujral” he said placing the money in her hand….
They stood close….touching….
“I am on a call… I cant
fight or make love” he warned….
She stepped back and hit
a carton on her back… he steadied her… arm around her waist…
Ritwik walked in with a “Mausi”
saw her in a clinch and giggled “Mauseeeeee
kinvā Mausa yēśūcē chumbana ghētalē” (Mausi just
kissed Mausa) he roared into a big laughter… his friends stood and stared…
“You WISH” Shaan muttered at the lil 11 year old…
She smiled… biting her lower lip… walking away…
“You got your hug” she offered…
“If you can call it that” he argued….
She turned away walking out of the room….the
dark green and gold Maharashtra silk glowed in the twilight radiance of the one
lone light bulb in the ceiling….
The whole feel had a very middle class air to it….
She fitted in… he didn’t….
She returned… after 30 or so minutes… he was in
the bathroom…
“Khanak is that you?’ he asked…
She began to say yes… but stopped giggling….
Ran outside nabbed Ritwik and brought him in…
“Khanak said her husband… as the water flowed
into the blue nhew bucket…
“Ya” she whispered to Ritwik… coached him to say
it…
“Ya” he responded giggling…
“I don’t have soap… do you have any?” he
demanded…
"Why didnt YOU bring any?" Khanak demanded in her own voice
"I shower at the Oberoi gym... I have never needed soap" YOU know that"
"I wish I knew I was marrying a man that didnt use soap" she argued....
"Hysterical" he said furious... "Now can I get that goddamn soap Mrs Gujral?" he yelled...
She shut the kids ears... after the word goddamn was said...
“Hmmm” she coached Ritwik
“Hmmm” Riwtik said outside the bathroom door…
unable to contain his laughter…
But confused nevertheless
“Khanak” he pleaded…
“Shhhh”she ordered Ritwik… finger on her lips………..
“Where the hell are you?” he demanded as Ritwik
giggled openly…
She fetched her lavender mint Forest Essentials
from her bag… and handed it to the kid…
Her husband opened the door in frustration,
towel around his waist SOAKING WET…Ritwik stood there with a hand on his mouth…………
shaking uncontrollably…”Mausa sabooon” he said…
She leaned on the bedroom door, adjacent to the
bathroom and laughed holding her stomach………as her husband realized…
Loved it!!! ❤ Shaan giving Khanak cash and saying she can pay it later..;)
ReplyDeleteThe whole play of him in bathroom and Khanak and Ritwik playing was damn good..Poor Shaan..Didn't realize at all..
Gosh..These two are always intriguing!!!
Looking forward and thank you for writing an awesome update!!! ❤
hehehehehe! lol! it was very adorable to see shaan struggle with the chembur atmosphere lol! :)) :))
ReplyDeleteloved them so much when bth were flirting hayyye it was like seeing the happy and open khanak after a long time again warna woh chup ho jaati hai wen soemthing is troubling her :((
awwww! i like the ritwik and khanak team it was too cute now khanak is going to use these moments to annoy her hubby lol! :P :P
nw he will smell of forest essentials like khanak :P :P
thank you so much aditee it was so fun having shaan in chembur :))
wow this is hilarous! Khanak got him really good
ReplyDeleteEnjoying the spunky and energized khanak!
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying their soft flirting and the bright atmosphere Chembur has created.
The soap banter was HILOURIOUS! Their comebacks are just to amusing!
Khanak is too adorable, the way she closed Ritwiks ears! She surely will be a disciplined Mom…these small nuances tell you so much her sometimes!
I am enjoying the slow burn of suffering Shantanu is experiencing in Chembur! I want it more ;)
hahahhaaaa now we are back to playing sweet childeish games yayayyaaa
ReplyDeletelove to see khanak like this mischievous ;)
hahahaaa aww shan ko pata hi nahi that ritwik is there in the room
he will use HER soap WOW khushboo sungne layak hogi hehehehee ;)
sometimes khanak can and SHOULD take money from shan
arre 500 1000 kya badi baat hai yaar itna pride is too much cant blame shan wen he gets irritated upon her wen she do like this its natural :P
awesome update soon :)
the brat getting some taste buds of middle class......amazingly written aditi.....delightful to read the playful khanak.....the chembur stay is very enjoyable to read now....will like more of it........will all be waiting :-)
ReplyDeleteshe is going to pay back heavily to Shan.. waiting..
ReplyDeleteAdi superb updat
ReplyDeleteLoved how Shantanu gave money to Khanak and said she can pay back him later
Loved the whole part where Shantanu in bathroom and Khanak teaming up with Ritwik and playing games with Shantanu.
Shantanu now smells like forest essentials like khanak