Malaal- Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16:

The two women; Hetal and Kokila looked at her in shock.

“Rashi dikra!”, Hetal said with tears in her eyes and stepped in to hug her. Rashi stepped backward. Hetal looked at her in shock.

“Umm, I have alcohol on me. Surely you don’t want to touch me like this.”, Rashi said and laughed. Kokila hadn’t said a word. She just kept on looking at Rashi. Confused, between feelings of love for her old spoilt Rashi, and concern for this new conflicted Rashi.

“Have a good day.”, Rashi said as she turned with all her effort to leave. She closed her eyes and kept on screaming in her head, “They are no one. You don’t know them Rashi. Don’t turn around.”

Suddenly Kokila grabbed her hand, controlling the tears in her eyes with much effort. Rashi looked at her questioningly.

“After so many years, you won’t even talk to your family?”, she asked.

“I don’t have a family.”, Rashi said with hatred in her eyes. Kokila, without leaving Rashi’s hand, looked at Hetal.

“Rashi dikra what are you sayi-“, Hetal was saying when she was cut off by Rashi.

“You really won’t leave without a talk isn’t it? Okay then, come inside.”, she said with a poisonous voice and pointed towards the bar. Hetal and Kokila looked at each other in shock.

“But Rashi-“, Kokila said softly, but Rashi was already unevenly walking towards the bar. She entered the bar and sat on a table. Hetal and Kokila hesitantly entered the bar and sat across Rashi. Rashi leaned back a bit and looked at them confidently. 

Kokila couldn’t ignore the huge beer mugs going around in trays, young people cracking jokes, some sitting quietly, some asleep with heads on the table. A guy came and high fived Rashi.

“Alone today? Ishan ain’t here?”, he asked in a jolly way.

“Nah, he had his engagements you know.”, Rashi said and they both laughed. The guy left to take his place.

“Rashi. What is all this? Where had you been all this time? And what have you made of yourself?”, Kokila asked concerned. Rashi rolled her eyes to prevent tears rolling out of them.

“This is my life. Umm, why do you care about where I had been all this time? And what I have made of myself, is definitely none of your business, isn’t it.”, she replied, not angrily, not rudely but as a matter of factly.

“Rashi-“, Hetal tried to say, when Rashi raised her hand and said, “Hey KK, get me a chilled beer mug please.”

“Rashi!”, Kokila shouted and banged her fist on the table. But to her shock, before she could say another word, Rashi stood up and leaned a bit on the table.

“Enough Kokila Modi! Stay in your limits here. This is not your house, and I am not your daughter in law, this is my place and you...”, she said as she pointed at her, “You should keep your voice low here, got it?”

She paused and gave a look to both Hetal and Kokila, then looked away.

“I think it’s enough talk now, isn’t it? Go and enjoy your lives now, and do not, ever, try to be around me again.”, Rashi declared in a normal tone and walked away with an irritated expression.

Kokila sat there expressionless, Hetal too couldn’t believe what had just happened. 

Tears rolled down her eyes. “What has happened to our Rashi?”, she questioned. She turned to Kokila. 

“Kokila, listen to me, handle yourself-“,

“Motabhabhi, don’t worry about me, we don’t have time for such things. Our Jigar hasn’t lived even a day for last two and a half years, and if my instinct is right, even Rashi couldn’t have. If I am right, we will have to bring these two lives together. We have to do something Motabhabi.”, she said, expressionless.

Hetal nodded with determination. They had come to Ahmedabad to attend a wedding, and had to leave the next day. But now, they would stay, leaving only when Rashi would by their side.

“Excuse me son!”, Kokila called the guy who had earlier talked to Rashi. He slowly came to them.

“Yes Aunty.”, he asked.

“Would you please tell me more about Rashi? You are her friend isn’t it?”, she asked in a soft voice. 

“Yeah, aren’t you from Ahmedabad, because many people know her here. She’s famous.”, he replied. Hetal and Kokila looked at each other.

“No, we aren’t from here. She’s famous for?”, she asked.

“She’s one of the top designers based here, pretty famous in other states of North India too, the company she represents has outlets in the U.S, U.K, and many more countries. People in high profile parties die to meet her, but she spends her evenings here. Humble, isn’t it?”, he said and smiled.

Kokila and Hetal nodded in awe. Kokila, although in a mix of so many emotions, felt proud of Rashi. 

“Humble indeed.”, she replied and got up. She and Hetal walked away slowly, wondering how much had Rashi really changed. 

“Motabhabi, I hope it won’t be too difficult.”, Kokila asked. For the first time in her life, she was underconfident. Such was the hatred, the disgust, the disrespect in Rashi’s eyes for them. 

“Jigar gave her a big scar Kokila, it would be hard to erase it. If we can.”, Hetal replied, still in shock.

“We will.”, Kokila said, and swallowed her fear with much effort.

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