Chapter 60

56. Too Many Fish

‘What’s wrong with you? Why are the curtains drawn? Windows closed? It feels so suffocating here!’

Ragini was ambling towards the huge windows when she stumbled upon a book - a few books.

‘Careful,’ Nishit prevented her fall before bending down to pick up the scattered books. On the floor. On the sofa.

‘Your dome of books would have killed me! Imagine the kind of public scrutiny your uncle would have to go through. A widower twice over! They would call him Apshaguna or maybe a wife eater.’ She looked at him accusingly.

‘Nobody got killed by books, Mami.’

‘One can never be too sure, Chiku. I could start a trend! At least have the sense to feel sheepish or guilty!’

‘Uffho,’ he whispered, closing off open books. Pulling out a marker from between the pages of one of the books. A pen from another.

‘What? Does the nickname still bother you?’

‘Why are you here?’ He asked, moving away to gently place all the books back in their respective positions.

‘What were you doing cutting off from the world? Your phone was off. I called your office. They said you were on a week-long leave. I even got Prasanna to call Mithila. She said she had no clue. You weren’t even answering the house bell! Who does that, Nishit?’

‘That should have been your cue. If you are done appeasing your curiosity, you can leave.’

‘Hah! Look at the disrespectful tone! Is that the way to talk to your mother-like-aunt? Come let me box your ears. Come,’ she moved closer to him to catch hold of his ears, but her eyes instead focused on his ill-treated eyes.

‘What’s wrong with your eyes? Have you been pulling all-nighters Nishit? Reading too much? Focusing on screen?’ A frown lining her forehead, she pinned him under her direct gaze.

He sidestepped her to pick a few more books. She caught hold of his arm and pulled him to sit on the couch.

‘What happened? Are you okay? At least I am happy it is books you were surrounded in and not drinks and drugs. But you don’t look good. Something about a paper? Did your paper get rejected again? Or are you writing a new economic paper and were simply busy.’

‘Not writing any paper. I just wanted some time off.’ He replied, leaning back into the furniture and throwing an arm over his eyes.

Ragini looked at him pensively. 

‘What is it? Got into an argument with Di - Jijaji? But since they are out for more than a week now. Can’t be the reason. Argument with a sibling? Prasanna? Tejas? Was Sana involved somehow?’

He sat up hissing, ‘Don’t take their names in front of me! EVER!’

Ragini was taken aback by the loathing in his voice.

‘Whose names? Prasanna’s?’

‘Mami, why are you being like this! I am all okay. You have seen it with your own eyes. Now you can leave.’ He pulled a cushion from behind his back and laying it against the arm of the couch, laid down with his feet still planted on the floor.

‘Or is it a girl problem? Break up?’

The still silence indicated that she was on the right track.

‘But you aren’t the kind to be dispirited over such things?’

‘Why? What kind of a person am I?’ He sat up once again, his expression serious.

‘Hmm?’ Sitting under his direct stare, she added, ‘You must not get dumped or rejected no? It must be the other way round. Who or why would anyone dump you? If they do, it must be because you must want them to.’

‘You have a very high opinion of me.’

She shrugged. ‘You are a good catch in these parts of town or so I have heard.’

‘I was rejected!’ 

‘Hmm?’ Ragini was speechless.

‘I proposed marriage to a girl.’

‘Marriage? Ohkay’ All Ragini could think of was her sister-in-law’s reaction to this piece of information.

‘She rejected it.’

‘Ohkay. Go on.’

He looked at her quizzically.

‘What? I am sure this isn’t the end of the story?’

'Yes, she went away to sign marriage documents with another person. Right in front of my eyes.’

Ragini’s lips parted open but no words left her mouth.

‘That was cruel! You sure she doesn’t have berries for eyes or cabbage for the heart? Who in their right mind would choose someone else over you? Who??’

‘Apparently she. Seems I am not that big a catch after all,’ He said looking at his interlocked fingers.

‘Are you alright, Nishit?’

‘Who? Me? Absolutely fine! In fact, I respected her decision and made peace with it. Was just there being a friend but then she goes on and says, let’s not see each other again.’

‘Ouch. What an obnoxious girl! I tell you good riddance! You two wouldn’t have suited each other.’

‘Methinks the same. It was anyway impulsive - spur-of-the-moment question. Glad she declined. ’ he echoed.

‘She doesn’t deserve even a second of your thoughts. No more pining or cutting off from the world for undeserving women like her!’

‘Sorry? Do you think all of this was for her benefit? No, I really needed to get some reading done.’

‘Good for you. You will find other women. Easily.’

‘Right. Too many fish and all that.’

‘Yes, cheer up.’

‘I am cheered up.’

‘What was that song? Yes,

Ladkiyon ka roothna, apne dil ka tootna, 

Sochna sochna baalon ko nochna kyun? 

Jisse pyaar tha kabhi uski shaadi ho gayi, jaane do 

Choti si baat ko dil mein lagao kyun, jaane do 

Itni se baat pe aasmaan hilao kyun, jaane do ‘’

He smiled at her feebly.

‘Mr. Nishit Aggarwal, so final question. You’ve moved on from her?’

‘A thing of the past. Done and dusted!’ He confirmed getting up from the couch.

‘That’s like my Nishit. Now let me go and open the windows. Uff, how long since you saw the sun? Did you at least feed your fishes?’

He turned around to see his aunt assessing the fishbowl, dipping her finger into the bowl, causing ripples in the placid water.

‘Be careful, Mami. They might bite you.’

‘Bite me? A fish?’

She received no response.

‘I am going to cook something for you. Go and change. We will watch a nice movie then.’

‘No!’ She heard his response. 

‘What?’ She had her head inside the fridge checking for supplies.

‘I said I am not watching any movie.’

‘Web series?’

Nothing of that sort either,’ came his gruff reply. 

‘Why?’ She stood up straight, her eyes narrowing at him and her hands on her hips.

‘I have developed an aversion for the film fraternity.'

‘Oh? Because of how they have double standards and don’t speak up for the right things? Right call. Too bad I love my entertainment too much to boycott these industry people.’

‘Hmm,’ he nodded his head noncommittally. 

‘Fine go and get ready soon. We will eat and then you’re going to go and get your Atmaram.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7JRWs9dvVo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSrmtJZqZVg

[MEMBERSONLY]