Chapter 20

Mrs Gomes’ paramour 

It took him a few seconds to gather his composure, he ran down with soaking wet hair tripping over the cookie trays, towel hanging around his neck only wearing  his sweat pants

He stopped in front of her

“The man is not wearing a SHIRT” Jaidrith exclaimed in amusement looking up to see if his mother was amused.

“I can SEE that Dru” she mumbled nervously wondering what to do

“Mrinalini?” he gasped

“Umm.. I had to drop off the dishes”

She dragged her son and ran as fast as she could

He tried to keep up, bare bodied he was afraid he was going to get chased down and beaten up by the onlookers in the society

He changed his mind  and returned home and found his phone frantically wedged between the couch cushion

He texted Lynn

“I FOUND HER”

“Who?”

“The woman I went looking dropped off some dishes”

“Who?”

Lynn was totally confused

He texted Mendy

“I just saw her walk by, she was at ur door”

“Who?”

“Mrinalini” he was shaking

He had not expected to see her

He wore a teeshirt over his head, neck around the back, he took it off angrily and wore it back again

“Stop drinking?” Mendy texted back

“I SWEAR to GOD”

He took pictures of the trays and containers, and brought them into the kitchen and texted pics to both husband and wife

“He loves Mrs GOMES?” Lynn texted Mendy

She called Aatreya

“Kisko dekha toone?”

“The girl I was with 10 years ago returned the bakeware”

“The girl… the woman… that bought Mrs Gomes?” “USNE ghar liya kya? Or was she a guest? I recall Mrs Gomes telling me she was moving over the weekend”

“SHE DID?” his heart was racing

Mendy was calling him too

He hung up on Lynn and answered Mendy’s call

The Mendonzas were fully invested in this bizarre real life story

“She has a 8? 9? Year old… he looks exactly like ME” Aatreya’s voice was hoarse with emotion

“Stop it” Mendy growled

“I am not sh---g u”

“Mannnn” Mendy groaned

Silence

“Mendy?”

“Kya bol raha hai rey?”

“She literally ran away”

“whoa”

“YES”

“Mrs Gomes said she sold the flat to a Mrunalini Ghatge, and her 9 year old son… Jai something, unko samjha nai” Lynn texted Aatreya

“What is the flat number? Where is this place”

“Atty please rey” Lynn restrained him

“I promise I wont…”

“Wait kar le, u can go with Mendy”

Aatreya honored that request

Mendy came home early he was as baffled as everyone else

He walked with Aatty to Abhay society, told the guard he wanted to go to Mrs Gomes

“Who jo naya madam hai waha par?”

The men lingered making up their minds

“Just be polite” Mendy muttered

He loved his friend, Aatreya was the most reasonable even keeled friend he had, he had nothing to worry but this situation was so out of the galaxy

Aatreya knocked on the door, and then found the bell

The door was freshly painted and decorated with mango leaves interspersed with marigold

The door and entry way smelled like incense

After 6 or so knocks Jaidrith opened the door

“HEY you look like ME” Jaidrith muttered in shock

“I thought so too” he nodded going down on his knees

“Why do you look like ME?”

“Umm… let’s ask your Mom?”

He looked confused

Mrunalini was in the bathroom, she ran out like there was an abductor

“DRU nakko” she yelled

“Hi” Aatreya Rao leaned on the doorjamb hands in his pockets

She was wearing jeans and a skinny tee

Her blue eyes luminous

“Jaidrith go inside” she shouted

“He looks like ME Aai”

“No he does not” she shouted, grabbing him

Atreya extended his hand politely for a greeting

Mrunalini smelled his cologne

“DRU” she held his left hand and yanked him back

“Do u live in that house?”

“No I don’t” Aatreya turned to look at the door and smiled and shook his head

The living room had a giant pile of pillows, the mango leaf streamers and 10s of darts all over the walls and multiple dart guns

“Hi” Mrunalini shut the door behind her and ensure Aatreya stepped out “What do u want?”

“Hello… did u hear what your son said?” Aatreya was amused that she was going to fight this

“He is MINE” she said almost tearing up

“We can do it my way or…. Your way… Mrinalini Ghatge” he sighed hands back in his pocket as it was HER turn to lose all color