Part 7:
Sumo was tapping Rimmi on the back and walking around with her in the hall when the banging on the door started.
"COME OUT! COME OUT, DAMN YOU! I know you are IN THERE. I...(hiccup) I DEMAND ANSWERS!!! SHRAVAN!!! SHRAAAVVAAANNN!!!"
Rimmi got up, wide awake now: Wha...what happen...?
Sumo tapped vigorously and said nervously as she peeped out the window: Nothing beta, go to sleep.
Rimmi: It's a ghost!
The banging got louder. And louder.
Sumo anxiously: No beta, not a ghost, just people outside.
Rimmi held her doll up, her bottom lip trembling: Simmi's sc-ared!
Sumo quickly went up the stairs and handed over Rimmi to a confused and sleepy Preeta.
Sumo: Issko sula de. Mein abhi ayi.
Sumo went ran over and knocked on Shravan's door.
Shravan, who was working on this case, quickly opened the door: Mistress Tiwari! What a pleasant surprise!!!
Sumo angrily hissed: Aditi is outside, completely off her rockers drunk. Go and take care of it before she wakes everyone up and makes a scene.
Shravan quickly donned a shirt and rushed downstairs: What...the...hell?
Sumo ran after him to keep up pace: I TOLD you, I TOLD you NOT to bring your problems here. She scared my Rimmi.
Shravan hastily: Sorry.
Shravan quickly got out the front door and pulled Aditi along. As Sumo watched from inside, he and a screeching Aditi went to the other end of the front lawn, far enough away not to bother the sleeping residents.
Shravan looked back warily midway through the conversation. Startling, Sumo closed the door behind him without locking and made her way up to her room.
Half an hour passed. Sumo prepared for bed, though she could think of only one thing...man.
Shravan knocked on her door and whispered: Sumo...Sumooo...
Sumo opened the door.
Shravan: I am so sorry, I need to talk to you.
Sumo walked down with him to the kitchen, seething.
Shravan: Look, I am really sorry about what just happened. I am so embarrassed. That woman is completely nuts. She is bitter about the engagement being called off.
Sumo held her hand up, silencing him.
Sumo: Of course, usiki galati thi, hein na? Woh lardki joh thehri! Or tum theihre...God. You were completely innocent, as always. You break up your second...as far as I know anyway...engagement with yet another unsuspecting woman who made the mistake of liking you and of course it is all HER fault. Now this one was not gold-digging right, her dad owns half the country west of Delhi, what is her fault now?
Shravan flailed for an explanation.
Sumo snapped: It was a rhetorical question!
Shravan: I know I wronged her by canceling the engagement out of the blue, but I didn't love her.
Sumo scoffed and said deliberately: As if you know what that even means!
Shravan took an involuntary step back: How could you say that!?
Sumo switched topics: Listen Shravan, while we are on the topic of women. I have told you before and I will repeat it again. Don't color me with the same brush! Every woman is NOT interested in you or in hopping onto your bed. What you did earlier (she blushed thinking of the kisses), if that happens again, I will have you out of this house before you even know what hit you. You will NOT use me like other women, don't even think about it. This might be fun and games for you, but it isn't for ME!
Shravan blinked back tears: I didn't know you thought so lowly of me. But of course, it is not your fault...I am to blame...Mera hi galati hai.
Sumo: I don't care for your convoluted explanations. I am your BOSS here, Shravan Malhotra, you signed the dotted lines without my permission and signed up for that. Iss liye, aapne HADDTH mein reihna!
Shravan was looking down, biting his bottom lips: So that is how you saw it.
Sumo: Why would I see it any other way, Mr. Malhotra? A staff here is all I know you as...nothing more!
Her chilling words stayed with him all the way to early morning when the Eid's Azan prayers started.
Shravan struggled to keep up his cheerful attitude now. He had come here with so much resolve, to win her at any cost, he had never bargained on her thinking of his affection as harassment. How could his Sumo see him that way?
Of course, you did this in your efforts to hurt her during the wedding, Shravan, his memories reminded him. You did this to yourself. You ruined your own image in an effort to lash out at her.
He was still in deep thought when seated at the breakfast table with all the kids. Today was Eid, so the teachers and kids sat together to start the celebrations over traditional semai, shahi tukray, sweetmeats, and much much more. A feast was prepared by the PCT women for the children of all faiths who were being taught to value each others' religious holidays.
The girl who always carried around her doll, sleepily crept up to his elbow and beckoned him down with her hand.
Shravan crouched down within earshot.
The girl: Simmi wants a piece.
Shravan could help but break into a smile: Does she? She wants a piece of this shahi tukra?
She nodded. Her eyes huge with expectation.
Shravan picked her up and sat her on his lap: But I thought your mom said you had to have some moghlai paratha first - before sweets!
She protested: Oh, it's not for meee. It's Simmi here (she held up her battered doll as proof). She was scared last night, that's why.
Shravan hugged her and turned her around to the table: I am sorry, darling, that was my fault. Now...how about we play a game, every 3 small pieces of mohlai paratha gets Simmi one piece of sweet, yummy Shahi Tukray? Okay?
The little girl weighed her options seriously and then finally agreed.
Sumo walked into the hall with more shemai to see the sight before her. In the corner of the room, Shravan was laughing and playing with Rimmi on his lap. He let Rimmi feed him (mostly around his mouth) with her hand when she let him pretend to feed the doll and then her.
It grabbed Sumo's heart in a vice. Shravan with a minuscule girl on his lap was too much.
But appearances can be deceiving, Sumo reminded herself. He was arrogant and a raving misogynist. He cared very little for those same little girls when they were all grown up.
Snigdha quickly held up the bowl: Didi! Yeh toh girne wala tha. Mein aapke help kar doon?
Sumo, flustered: Haan, thank you Snigdha, Eid Mubarak beta.
Snigdha beamed: Eid Mubarak, Didi!
She was about to leave to serve the shemai when Sumo held her back.
Sumo: Yeh suit tujhpe bohot jach rahi hai, Snigdha.
Snigdha smiled: Thank you, Didi. This is the best present ever.
Sumo cupped her chin and air kissed her. She then looked to see that the teachers were taken care of and at least two were seated in each kids' table.
She avoided Shravan and he definitely did not miss that.
Shravan walked up behind her when Sumo was by the buffet.
Shravan forced himself to speak: Kalke haar baat ke liye, I am sorry again.
Sumo did not look around.
Shravan: Aaj se mein tumse door rahoonga.
Sumo: Issi mein saab ke bhalai hai.
Shravan: Meri galati thi Sumo, sorry kehne aya tha. Soocha tha saab pehle ki tarah kardunga, lekin...
Sumo turned around abruptly: Lekin ek aarsha beit geye. Tumhare liye shayed yeh 4 aal tha, lekin mere liye 4 saal, 6 mehine, 21 din aur 12 ghante. Mere liye aab waqt bohot aahiste chalta hai. Mein woh Suman nehi rahi. You don't know how far I fell and how hard I worked to get up again, if you did, you would know how time passes. And you wouldn't mess around here.
Shravan shamefaced: Preeti told me, at the award show.
Sumo: Good. Then, you know that this exercise of yours is futile.
Shravan looked up and met her straight now: What are you saying?
Sumo gravely: That is it time for you to leave me to my own devices. I have found my place. I have nothing to give you. Waise bhi, I have nothing that The Shravan Malhotra would want, right? So please pack your things and leave by this evening.
Shravan smiled slowly: I am not going to give you up again, Suman Tiwari, the sooner you accept this, the better. You can push me away as many times as you want, I will be right here. I will take any zulm, any accusation, any humiliation from you. Do your best. (Pause) But I am not leaving.
Sumo erupted: LISTEN...!
Marie walked in: Oops, excuse moi! I was just going to help myself to some shemai.
Sumo smiled quickly: Of course, Marie, Mr. Malhotra will get out of your way in a second.
Shravan stepped aside and Sumo walked off with one last glare at him.
He looked back to see Marie give him a quizzical look before getting busy with the food.
More cheerful update next time.
Edited by Marybarton - 9 years ago
Music Corner
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
