Chapter 94

Back To You (I)

The music in the taxi was hideously loud.

Kirti bit her opposing tongue and stared outside through the rain streaked window.

That the Uber man had not canceled on her was a blessing enough. She couldn't be too demanding so she let the driver enjoy his song as her mind pulled up an image of a shirtless Sanjay Dutt cutting Kung Fu steps through the slashing rainfall.

Aakhir Tumhe Aana Hai...Zara Der Lagegi...Baarish Ka Bahana Hai...Zara Der Lagegi...

She had closed the windows to prevent the brutal bursts of rain from invading in and soaking her wet; the inside of the car if not quiet, it was relatively warm  so she couldn’t explain the shiver that was racking her bones or the goose pimples that had sprouted on her skin.

She hoped she had made the right decision.

‘We are here,’ The driver announced.

Too late for second guessing, she thought, pushing open the door and then towing her luggage inside the building.

Nishit slurped up the frothy top before sipping the mocha from his chipped but favourite mug. Leaning against the rails of his balcony, he looked at the downpour outside.

Unseeingly his eyes grazed over the taxi that stopped with a person getting out of it. From his twelfth floor, they appeared as two dots that the storm was trying to wash away. When the showers became too furious, he returned inside sliding close the glass door and drawing close the drapes.

The elevators opened and even before Kirti could haul her luggage out of the elevator, the door of Ms.Lokhande’s apartment was pulled open.

'YOU ARE HERE!’ The lady herself rushed out looking young with her hair coiled at the top of her head and fashionable in a fuchsia pink Georgette sari - Kirti accepted begrudgingly - ‘I don’t know how but I knew you'd be arriving anytime now. I could just feel you.'

‘Congratulations on the telepathic revival, then. Ms. Lokhande. Or did the chopper blades give it away? I had told the pilot it was a surprise but he wouldn't listen.' Kirti hefted the suitcase out before putting it down outside the flat that was to become her home for the next few months.

'The scene is incomplete without the aarti ki thali though.' She said.

'It can be recompensed,' Ahilya's smile was more intense than Delhi's summer sun.The joy radiating from Ahilya disconcerted Kirti. 'I...I am not here for you,' her gaze without her own volition traveled to the other similar door next to the one she was standing before. 'I am here for...'

Ahilya's eyes followed Kirti's as she replied, 'I know you are here for...' tugging Kirti's attention back to herself, '...Radha.'

'I think we should get this straight. It was not your under the table techniques or emotional coercion that got me here. I came by my own free will and will leave when I deem fit. I am not bound by any deal,' Kirti felt the need to underline the words after what had transpired between them the last week.

'That is even better. Unlike the earlier proposed six months, we are going to be together for a long...loonng time....'

'I don't make it a habit of waking people from their dreams so yeah...carry on!'

After one inadvertent look at the other door, Kirti stepped inside the house, the grinning-like-a-cretin woman following her.

Feeling much like a fish who had swam to unfamiliar waters, she was searching for familiar faces when Ahilya stepped forward making Kirti coil in disgust and awkwardness.

‘What are you doing?!’ Her voice clearly conveyed her horror.

‘Pulling you in a hug,’ Ahilya answered, unperturbed by Kirti’s rejection.

‘Ms.Lokhande, I would like it that you do not cross your limits. Especially, don’t get too cozy with me. Last week when we met I was feeling under the weather. Don't read too much into one momentary slip.'

‘Oh come on, luv.  Forgive me now. Forget the past. Ghar ka bhula agar ghar der se aaye toh use bhula nahi kehte.’

‘Oh I know this one. Usse  Ahilya kehte hai!'

‘Hahaha,’ Ahilya threw her head back and laughed. ‘I am so happy you grew up to be this woman. That you grew up to be YOU.’

A mother’s laughter should be dulcet, like a warm blanket falling over you on a cold night. But this woman’s laughter felt like a gooey worm crawling her skin. It was warm, fair enough but made her stomach sick.

‘Where’s Biplab?’ Kirti asked.

‘He hasn’t returned yet.’

Kirti’s eyes darted towards her own wrist. ‘It’s eleven in the night.’

Ahilya shrugged her shoulders. ‘Sometimes he’s as late as one.’

‘Radha and Dadi, where are they?’

‘They are sleeping. Why don’t you change first and have tea? I’ll make it for you.’ Ahilya offered.

‘No, take me to them.’

‘As you wish.’

Kirti followed as Ahilya led the way, all the while hoping that for one time at least she had made the right decision.

It was all because of that hurtful man! And...and Debbie. Oh how she wished she had turned down that getaway plan. Then none of this would have been happening.

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]