Sunlight has filled the room and I could feel it probing my eyelids. There are no more excuses to sleep more. I wish I could just lift the blanket, cover my face and pretend it is not morning yet. There is no one to force me to get up so maybe I can just adjust the cushion and tried to snuggle inside the blanket. A few more minutes of sleep may actually brighten the day for me. The clock struck ten. Kamala had come and finished her work already, I could smell Dettol on the floor, and Aloo Subji in the air. I have a vague memory of opening the door for her.
Reluctantly I got up and fished my mobile from the Sofa, nothing relevant other than few messages in the common groups, a couple of messages from Maahi and a missed call from an unknown number. My Inbox is more interesting, few more assignments from Rahul and deadline reminder from Katherine, Rahul's Editor-in-Cheif. Working as a freelance writer comes with its own perks. You don't have to see people, is one of them. Timely payments if you have a good client, is another one. This month would go smoothly and I don't have to dig up Abbu's money this month too.
I looked up at Abbu's photo on the wall and mouthed a silent 'Good morning. I love you'. Tomorrow it will be six months since he left me. Today is not the day to mope around. It is the day, I go out and buy some groceries and books. I tiptoed to the bedroom to avoid dirtying the mopped floor. The folded clothes on the bed make me really happy. All these are indications of a good day ahead and then the mobile rings. That instrument never brings good news.
"Maahi"
"Zoya, come on get up. Were you sleeping? it's already noon." Maahi screamed from the other end. Why did I pick up the phone?
"Maahi, I am up. I was taking a shower. What's the matter?"
"You told me you will go come to Leela with me today! I even ditched Sanjay on a Saturday for you! You idiot!" A scary image of Maahi looking in the mirror and screaming at me on the phone while making her hair appeared in my mind. I am always her back-up plan and her screaming is not enough to give me a pang of guilt at this moment. All I can do now is to try to soothe her and repair the damage.
"Maahi, listen dear. I have to..." Of course, she wouldn't let me finish. My hand itched to cut the call and save the two thousand plus bucks that are going to cost me at Leela today. Well, she should refund the money, unlike last time.
"Zoya, You could have told me that you are busy!"
"Maahi, I just have to get the groceries. I can do it tomorrow. Let's get ready and go now. When do you have to meet him?" I have no other choice than to go with her!. Why did I even sign up Maahi and her photoshoots? If she wanted to meet the PR, she could have picked Roshni or Shruthi.
I picked up the nicely folded towel from the bed and rushed to the bathroom. Maahi would call the least attractive and most shabbily dressed person from the lot and unfortunately, that is me. Why would she call Roshni, who looks like a runaway model from Paris or Shruthi, who would give a run for the money to all the Bollywood heroines if she gets a chance to act? I, the most boring looking writer, err aspiring writer on earth, did a quick bath. Imagining the world famous whining of Maahi in my ear all the time helped me reduce the bath time significantly.
What should I wear? There was nothing much to select from. A few pastel colors Salwars are the only option I guess. Abbu's gaudy Salwars are there only to keep his memory alive, not to wear. Among shabby jeans, a loose Capri, and a few tops, there is nothing that I can carry off comfortably. I guess a simple salwar, elegant enough for Leela and shabby enough not to be noticed by the PR agent would be perfect. The mobile alarm went off reminding me of the assignments pending for today. Four articles to be submitted and she has already be done with three. The last one is for Rahul's own entertainment portal and I have not even started it.
It took me exactly fifteen minutes to get ready, lock the doors, stuff two slices of wheat bread into my mouth and be in front of the lift. The housing owners recently modified the home owner's lift and made it an all mirror thing. I could have done the makeup there, anyway who cares! It is not like I have to go to a beauty contest or something. I have seen Maahi spending at least a lakh a month on beauty parlors and cosmetics to keep Sanjay on the check. Well, I don't think Sanjay cares for such things per say, he comes across as a very simple guy. But Maahi doesn't want to take chances. Such a pity I would say. See, having no boyfriends and being an introvert has its own perks.
The parking lot was almost empty and few kids were playing near the entrance. Taking an auto would be a lot faster or my active would do fine. But since we are going to Leela, I assume Maahi would want me to get an Uber. I booked an Uber and walked towards the gate to wait for the Driver. The watchman stood up from his chair seeing me walking towards him and sat down realizing that I came to wait there for Uber.
"Good Morning Madam".
"Good Morning Govind."
The funny-faced watchman is extra polite today but I am in no mood to be benevolent and give him a tip like Abbu. That practice ended with Abbu. Now I am a single woman who toils to meet the ends. That expression itself gave me a headache. Maybe I can just sell the apartment and move to a less expensive place. Or maybe I can keep a roommate to increase the flow of money. The apartment is too luxurious to maintain for a girl who earns by freelance content writing. It hurts my ego to dig into Abbu's savings. Maybe it is time to get a real job.
The small television near the watchman started blaring breaking news and forced me to listen to the sudden broadcast. The spoiled superstar Aditya Hooda is in news again. That brat has again broken up with his ninth or is it tenth girlfriend and this time, the break up is not so neat. The girlfriend has allegedly complained to her friends about abuse from the hands of the superstar and Media is running to get a whiff of even the slightest hint of it. Today Rahul may ask me to write an article or two about it on his Entertainment portal, and the idea of digging Aditya Hooda's past present and future is really dispiriting. Luckily the Uber driven turned in on time-saving me from further catching up the so-called news flash.
In forty minutes, I reached the new park mall which is just 4 kilometer from home. I could have taken my active. The Uber driver turned out to be a nut job. Having read about few abuse stories of car drivers, I was alert till my fingertips and kept my hand firmly on my phone. Why the hell did he drive with one hand? My mind weaved horrible stories about the other hand which he casually placed on his lap. Only after the first twenty minutes, I realized, the Poor guy was holding an open Gutka packet and was trying to put it in his mouth all the while. He was successful only after the first twenty minutes. Anyway, no harm in being an alert woman in the heart of Mumbai.
Maahi picked me up in another five minutes. Sanjay has lovingly loaned his BMW for us to reach Leela. This is gonna be a huge break for Maahi and she wouldn't keep her mouth shut about it. What am I doing in here? Most of the time, the palatial place invoked a feeling of alienation in me. It somehow accentuates all the flaws in me. It made me feel ugly. The security guards, receptionists, waiters who guided us to our table, everyone seemed like a part of a big budget movie and I look like an out of place b grade movie side character. This would be the last time, I visit this place.
"Zoya, look at this!"
Maahi babbled something looking at the alcohol menu. In a bid to fit in, Maahi has a habit of talking animatedly. I picked up the menu awkwardly trying my level best not to look at the right side of the menu. Even the right side is making me itch my nose, they have modified it from last time. Last time when I came here with Maahi, I predecided the items the night before looking at the online menu available in one sight. I did put up an impressive act in front of Maahi, selecting 'hard to pronounce' salads with ease. But this time, they changed the menu!
"Maahi, I will have Chicken Caesar salad. I am so full from yesterday's biriyani."
The night before I had ordered a Family packet biriyani, just because I was missing Abbu. At this rate, I may have to hit the gym soon. Kamala had made Chapathi and Aloo Subji today. Somehow the thought of Chapathi, Aloo, and the curry point chicken curry made me even more hungry.
"Maybe a Tiramisu too" Coffee is an actual savior and with sugar its double bonanza.
Her flamboyant agent showed up soon. People who value their time in lakhs are often very punctual.
"Hello, Maahi madam" He acknowledged me with a node, thankfully. An awkward introduction is worse than a blatant dismissal. This time, Agent seems to be genuinely interested in Maahi and her work. All thanks to Sanjay who is doing good in the Telly space. Maahi is eyeing to get this commercial desperately and is playing hard to up the value and it seems to be working. There were few articles about Maahi and Sanjay in a few web portals and her news value is on the rise ever since. The duo kept on ignoring me while I counted the total chairs in the restaurant.
The waiter placed the order carefully on the table and I am the only one interested in the food. Maahi and Agent seem to have hit a rough patch in their negotiation. The agent is shaking his head vigorously looking at the phone. But just the way he sat fixedly on the chair, moved the deal in Maahi's favor. It is actually a courtesy meet anyway. Her PR has already done the deal and its just an appraisal meeting sort of I guess.
The Caesar salad looks fresh and is in need of attention. I see no point in waiting for them to start. I am used to being invisible around Maahi. Ever since the four met in fifth grade, they have been inseparable. And out of the four, only I turned out to be the color-less one. Maahi, Roshni, and Shruthi ended up in front of the camera and I ended up in front of a Computer. But they never left me alone, owing to my willingness to do anything for them. Recently I have felt more of cold vibes from Roshni and Shruthi. But Maahi keeps me close. My simpleton looks are more comfortable to Maahi than others, also an occasional boosting of Maahi's career via Rahul's entertainment portal doesn't hurt either.
"awww"
An unintended word left my mouth and the duo looked at me in surprise. The ranch spilled a bit on my dupatta and the noise was that of 'me-berating-me', which I regret now.
"Let me wash it off and come. Excuse me"
Without looking for an answer, I rushed to the washroom at the end of the lawn. The lawn outside looks extraordinarily shining. I want to check if it is artificial. So walking towards the restroom near the lawn gives me more time to be away from them. The bathrooms near the lawn are not so extravagant as the inside one. Still, I spent a few not-so-precious minutes looking at the lights and the big mirror.
"Mirror, mirror, who is the fairest of all! Meee"
I can't help thinking about the days when I cried in bathrooms of almost all the Malls near the house. The days after Abbu dies, when all the relatives left, it was just Maahi who took me under her wings. Though her therapy for grieving a parent's death was insane shopping, I felt slightly better with her. Maahi's chip on the shoulder attitude made me really comfortable those days and I duly rewarded her with two back to back articles in the portal with Rahul's approval.
"Friends with benefits..." I chuckled imagining Maahi as my girlfriend and the shock Sanjay will have if he ever see us in that way! I am too weird.LOL
Some idiot had parked a cycle in front of the restroom and what a bad time for my dupatta to get stuck on the handle. What a weird cycle it is with so many parts! With a strong pull, I got back my dupatta, albeit as a torn one. Another Salwar goes to Kamala, without the dupatta. Maybe I should shop more of Jeans and top. Well, my waist size is on the rise since last few months. Is it depression easting!?
"Gym Zoya Gym" Another point added on my mental checklist.
"Hello, excuse me!" A voice is yelling from behind and why is he yelling? Can't he see that this restaurant is anything but noisy? Why would he want to attract attention on himself?
"Hey, you!!!" My eyes caught the blur of a man moving aside me and in a minute he is standing in front me, towering over me.
"You!!!! I am talking to you!. Can't you see the cycle? You pushed it down" Who is he? Obviously, he is drunk, I can guess from the stinking smell. Why would a person pick a fight with a lady at the Leela over a fallen cycle unless he is drunk? Isn't it a little beneath their stature or that man could be another Zoya accompanying a Maahi of his own. Once the initial panic wave rushed over me, I could see the man clearly. Oh, My...What am I seeing? Isn't it Aditya Hooda? The superstar?
Nothing made sense, A minute before I was happy and singing Mirror Mirror and now a drunk superstar is picking up a fight with me over the fallen cycle. It is close to impossible. Why would he get a cycle to the lawn? The camera equipment lying on the far side of the lawn answered that question. They are planning to shoot something, Maybe an interview. But with this drunken star?
Maybe Aditya Hooda might not have understood the hazed and apologetic expression on her face. He came close with a breath smelling like methanol gum. His eyes tried hard to focus on me and the unsteadiness in his stance didn't help either. I looked around for his bodyguards. Strangely no one was around. The excitement of seeing a superstar has evaporated and now all I see is a drunken man trying to block my way. He is out of his senses, better to duck him and move away.
Anticipating my move, Aditya moved forward and grabbed my hand. That hurt like hell. His grip is vicious. Can't he see he is hurting a woman?
"You dropped my imported cycle and now you are escaping? Where is the bodyguard? Call the cops, now?"
Police? Is he crazy? My hand really hurts now.
"I didn't do anything. I just touched the cycle and it fell down. I am sorry"
"Were you trying to steal? Why did you touch it? You slum girl!" It hurts, it hurts more than anything. Now the noise has invited the attention of few patrons at the restaurant.
"No, leave me" words stuttered out of my mouth. The insult has given me enough reason to cry and the tears rolled down to my cheeks.
"Sir, please" It took all the perseverance in me to mutter a sorry to tackle the situation.
"Sorry" Aditya Hooda tightened the grip on my hand again.
I could see few gentlemen in coats running towards us. They took the superstar aside, leaving a sobbing me with a receptionist who reluctantly offered me her handkerchief.
"Sorry Madam, he is drunk. He is a little agitated with the news and all. He s a regular patron and I can assure you he is not like this always." As if I care, how he is on a daily basis.
That's enough of mortification today. I should just pick my bag and leave. Maahi was eagerly waiting for me when I reached our table. She obviously missed the commotion on the other side of the restaurant.
"Zoya, Guess who is gonna be the face of AirPure water filter? Meee"
Luckily I just had to murmur a simple congratulations to her. She got busy with her phone. The agent was nowhere to be seen. I wondered whether to finish of the Salad or whine unnecessarily about my ceremonial meeting with Aditya Hooda, the drunk superstar. Once the effect of humiliation reduced, my wrist throbbed in pain. I would never again come back to Leela again, to any star hotel for that matter. It is no place for a commoner. Tears threatened to fall down again when I started thinking about the slum girl insult.
"Let's go Maahi. I am not feeling good." I can't stand here anymore. This is not a place for me. Maahi engrossed in her own world forgot to see tears which started to flow again from my eyes. People are not interested in sob stories anymore. I don't want Maahi to know my sob story. I don't want to dull her enthusiasm today. All I need is a good sleep and tomorrow I should be fine.
***
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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