Chapter 67

Prisoner of her own making

He wouldn’t let her carry anything, he walked down with them, loaded the trunk, buckled the kid and did their handshake routine and bent down at her window with a smile

She had refused to eat or drink, so he had packed the savory and sweet dips he had made

“Being mean to each other is going to make the next 8 years painful Mrunalini” he whispered laughing under his breath

“So the dips are a peace offering?” she demanded, gripping the steering, he was too close for comfort, the effortless lift, almost twirl and plant was going to be her night time replay fantasy tonight

He burst out laughing

She amused him she realized, turning red

“If you put it that way it sounds like a very mediocre thing”

“You can do caviar next time” she offered, spreading her hands

“I don’t eat meat, it will have to be something vegetarian”

“Umm”

“Let’s meet for coffee and you can tell me” he offered guilelessly

Her antennae went up

“This is not so I can abduct the child and shove him into a speeding van and disappear” he said calmly

“OK” she nodded, her shoulders slumping

He could literally hear her breathe

“You have to start trusting me”

“Says the devil before heart surgery” she thought

“Say bye Dhru”

He was buried in his book with his air pods in his ears

“Bye bud” he tapped

The boy smiled widely and waved

“See you at Mendy’s at the anniversary”

He didn’t see a nod or affirmation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lynn and Mendy showed up mid week to invite

“They have predicted rains so its at the same boring community center”

“Its NOT boring dude, we have lots of couples games” Lynn was irritated

“Sorry sorry” Mendy was sheepish

“You can bring a date” Lynn said haughtily

“Thanks” Mrunalini nodded

Jaidrith peeked from behind the curtains

He was too shy

“Come say Hi! Dhru”

Lynn surveyed the flat with envy

“U have a ghost na, are you thinking of selling?”

“Umm” Mrunalini was shocked

“Lynn… I” mendy tried to say SOME thing to change the topic

“Gomes Aunty said nothing, but you know its how spirits interact and connect, may be you know something about your personality is bringing them out”

“Chu prey, tere ko kaise maloom, tu psychic hei kya rey?” mendy laughed at his wife

“No man, I am seriously telling you, I have a friend at work who does this, she can come by and take a look”

“Oh… I think”

“If u just want to sell it and move that would be fine too, I could not stay even ONE second”

Saying so Lynn proceeded to take a look at how her kitchen was the large storage annex was how the bedroom was how the tiny hallway was

Mrunalini was gifted she had decorated it on a budget but it looked like it was 

Professional

“You like these?” Lynn touched hand spun baskets placed at various places holding knick knacks”

“Yeah do you like them also”

“I HATE Chembur” Jaidrith supplied to her thru the curtains

“Sshhhh” Mrunal warned grabbing him and cuddling him

Mendy tried to involve him in play

“Your toilet is creepy” Lynn announced

“Atty killed the ghost” Jaidrith informed loudly

Lynn turned around aghast

“He DID?” in disbelief

“Umm…. It does not rattle any more neither do we hear the whistling sounds”

“Tu psychic, ghost, medium pe chali gayi… ITEM hai tu sahi mein”

Lynn was furious with her husband

Mrunalini brought out, two sugar free artisan sodas and cut up some fruit in what looked like expensive china

“You also buy into all this organic, custom made garbage?” Lynn looked at the empty cans

“He has allergies”

“She KNOWS” mendy sighed irritated

Mendy continued to entertain Jaidrith

“Sab tera tara junk food khaayega kya?”

“I have to work for a living” Lynn lashed back

“Yeh single parent hai” Mendy laughed pausing and panting

“Ek second haa?”

Lynn pretended to get a call, opened the door went down to the staircase landing

And did not return

“Sorry rey” Mendy apologized as he played with Jai

“Oh no” “Are the kids OK?”

“Uska Mum aaya hai”

He rolled his eyes

“Nice”

Mendy paused

“Aapka parents kidhar ko hai?”

“Mumbai”

Jaidrith was begging for 30 minutes of video game time

She nodded to get him out of the room

“I am not in touch”

“Oh?”

“My Dad is dating my best friend, my Mum remarried and had a kid a few years ago”

Mrunal looked like she was freed from prison

Mendy looked like he was just told he was being sent to prison