Part 8:
Shravan and Sumo both busied themselves with the children as they played around. School was off, plus it was a holiday, so they were being extra excitable. He looked at her once in a while, but she had no time to even look back. There was a time she was so aware of him looking at her that she would fidget. But now, even if she was aware, she did not let on.
One thing Shravan had to say though, Sumo's kids were exceptionally well-behaved. Whatever they did was just normal for healthy, happy kids. He could see why they were such a source of pride for her.
Sahil toddled around the craziness of the room at his own pace. Quiet, observant, and sucking his thumb with devotion. Sumo grabbed him and put him up in the air. His giggle and laughing eyes could light up a town. Sumo's laugh and his little giggle filled Shravan's heart.
Sumo speaking in baby voice: Who is a good boy!? Who is!? Sahil! Yes, he is! Yes, he is...!
Sahil giggled as Sumo brought him down and hugged him fiercely: Time for breakfast, baby.
She looked back and caught Shravan's eyes. He was smiling. She looked away and busied herself with breaking Sahil's breakfast into small chewable pieces for him. She put a piece in Sahil's mouth. The way his little baby lips touched her fingers always made her heart catch.
Shravan got to know a few kids around the playground, the boys took a particular interest in him, no doubt just happy to see an adult male who could play ball with them. He played with them for a little bit while thinking of another way to make it up to Sumo for his latest blunder.
Ice-cream. Yes. She loved ice-cream. He could go out and get ice-cream for everyone.
Resolving, he got ready to leave.
One of his shoes was missing. He looked around, every other pair in the entrance was small kids' size.
Shravan: Where...?
Preeta came up: Ab kya ho gaya?
Shravan: One of my shoes...it's missing.
Preeta: Was it expensive leather? Smelled nice?
Shravan: I guess...
Preeta clucked: It must be Sahil. He tends to chew on shoes when Sumo puts a glove on his hand to stop him sucking his thumb.
Shravan chuckled: Really?
Preeta: He's still teething, that's why. Wait, I will go find him and your shoe.
She came up hoisting Sahil as he chewed on the Italian leather shoe.
Shravan extricated the shoe from him as slightly as he could: I will take that...thankk yyyou.
Sahil burst into tears, the grief of losing his new toy too much for him.
Shravan: Oh God, here, let me.
He picked up Sahil: Hey little man (he put him up and down), you want to take a trip with me? Preeta, I am going to take him out for a bit, let Sumo know, okay?
Preeta warily: Okay, but just be careful. Sumo will gauge your eyes out if he gets so much as a scratch.
1 hour later...
Shravan and Sahil had a great time picking ice cream flavors at the local cremery. Apparently, bribery worked very well for him. It also did not hurt that the teething pain was soothed with some cold ice-cream. Sahil approved of him, this was progress. This was a way now into Sumo's heart.
The server had given him a new idea besides which gave him great hope.
The chatty young girl brought all the scoops of samples and placed them between him and Sahil.
Server, blushing: Your son looks like a carbon copy of you, Mister.
Shravan: Oh, he's not...(she went on without listening).
Server: Same hair, same eyes, all they down to his little chin-cleft. It's freakin' scary!
She pinched Sahil's cheek and left them to enjoy their ice-cream, still blushing madly. Shravan had that effect on women.
Shravan looked at Sahil with renewed eyes for a long time. By God, that kid DID look like him. But he couldn't be Sumo's. For sure and HE and Sumo had never...but the similarities were amazing. Sahil could easily pass as his own. Is this why Sumo named him Sahil?
Shravan smiled, if he had a kid with Sumo, this is probably very close to what that kid would look like. That little one was as good as Sumo's, why could he be Shravan's own too?
Shravan came back with his new friend, triumphant with his success. This ice cream trip was more successful than he had planned.
They were at the door, ringing the bell when Sumo burst out of the door.
Sumo screaming: SAHIL! SAHILLL! I will f-king kill you Shravan Malhotra, you moron, HOW DARE YOU!? HOW DARE YOU take him out without my PERMISSION!!!? I have been worried SICK!!!
Other teachers, kids, and PCT women followed out behind her.
Shravan took a step back in shock: We just went out for ice-(she tore Sahil out of his arms and checked the boy for injuries).
Sumo: This is a cheap trick to get back at me!
Sahil looked scared by the commotion.
Sumo wiped his face with her hand and checked him again: You okay, baby? Did that bad man hurt you?
Shravan's temper rose: LISTEN! I TOLD Preeta before going out with him. He's FINE!
Sumo shouting: PREETA IS NOT HERE!!! Who said you could take out any of my kids from here without MY permission?! Goddd (she placed a hand over her heart, still holding Sail fiercely), the things I have been thinking of...he can't even speak up for him-self. What if some kidnapper (her voice broke)...
Marie tried to soothe Sumo: It's okay, it's okay Sumo. Calm down. Sahil's fine, you see...?
She glared at him with red rimmed eyes.
Shravan feebly: I asked...
Sumo held a silencing hand up: Clearly, you don't know ANYTHING about taking care of children. So DON'T talk, there's NO justification for what you just did.
Sumo then caught Preeta when Preeta came back from the bazaar and gave the poor woman another earful.
Preeta: Sooorry Sumo, mere dimag se nikal gaya. Woh, bazaar zana tha na?
Shravan sat in the hallway rehashing the day over and over: Why did this keep happening? Was he wrong or was Sumo being too sensitive? But then, he did take the kid out, it was natural for her to worry when she found him missing.
He looked out into the garden where Sumo was sitting with Sahil on her lap, still hugging him.
"He's a favorite of hers. He's vulnerable, you see? She gets a bit over-wrought."
Shravan looked up: I can't do anything right for her! Did you see what she said!?
Marie, sitting down: That might have to do with the two of your unresolved issues.
Shravan looked back: What?
Marie casually: How long have you loved her?
Shravan buried his face in his hands: Am I that obvious?
Marie sighed smiling: I am afraid so.
Shravan: Do the other teachers know?
Marie: Some of the students even. (She laughed). No, just me and some teachers also suspected that you two might have a history. Sumo has been very agitated since you joined and you two are very familiar. So, how long has it been?
Shravan: 17 years.
Marie: Good Lord! 17 years! That's a new bar for pining.
At Shravan's pained expression, she stopped teasing.
Marie: I will help you, if you tell me where it went wrong.
At Marie's urging Shravan shared the ice-cream during afternoon coffee-break. It won him instant friends from the PCT women to the kids and teachers.
Shravan mumbling: Now if a kid catches cold, she will rip my throat out.
Marie smiled. It was sweet how afraid he was of her, especially considering their size discrepancy.
Marie: I think you will find that she is very forgiving when it comes to ice-cream. She never chides the children for ice-cream. She even defends them to Preeta. Just let her come down...patience.
Shravan sat warily, breaking his waffle cracker into the ice-cream.
Sumo crept up to the ice-cream stall eventually.
Shravan saw her and looked away, indignant.
Sumo: Listen, maybe I over-reacted a bit earlier. Marie said so. But you were wrong too.
Shravan accusingly: You called me a "moron" in front of everyone!
Sumo snapped: Well, what you did was moronic! (She took a deep breath) If you just asked me...
Shravan: I told Preeta and she was fine with it. You were busy!
Sumo: Well, if Preeta told me, I wouldn't think of those horrible things in my head.
Shravan scoffed: And that of course is my fault too!
Sumo: No...no it's Preeta's fault. I am...I guess I am saying s-(the word stuck in her throat).
Shravan looked at her, hurt: Nevermind Sumo, you won't be able to say it. Thanks for ruining my reputation in front of the teachers before I even had a chance to start the job. Enjoy your stay on your high-horse.
He walked away. Sumo stood there biting her bottom lip.
That night for Eid dinner...
Pushkar and Preeti came bearing gifts for the kids. They also brought with them his things from Delhi.
Pushkar got a giant group hug from the children, who clearly regarded him as a kind of Santa.
Preeti looked at Shravan a little more kindly, though she was quiet and still annoyed. Shravan felt much the same at the jeering Pushkar. His brother had made regular visits here and kept is all a secret from him. So much for brotherly love.
Pushkar eventually came up and handed over the two suitcases to Shravan.
Pushkar smiling from ear to ear: This should last you a while, Bhaiyya!
Shravan: Daat phadke kyun hash raha hai? Mere condition pe maaza a raha hai tuhje?
Pushkar sighed: If I am honest Bhaiyya, yes. I had hoped for you two to come together for a while. Baas bol nehi paya, Sumo ko promise kiya tha na?
Shravan mimicked him and hissed: Bol nehi paya. It wouldn't have gotten this bad if you told me earlier! Wait, what, Sumo made you promise not to tell me!? And here she is giving me a hard time about it as if I am the only one at fault! (He took a deep breath as his temper rose) That...
Preeti: You never asked either, otherwise I would have told you. Mujhe kisi promise ki fikar nehi tha, if it was for the common good.
Shravan sighed: God knows how you two came together. You are both special pieces. First you don't tell me and want me to read your minds and now you are enjoying this at my expense!
Preeti smiled mockingly: Haan, The Shravan Malhotra living in a dorm with one little under-sized bed, a rickety side table and a cupboard is very enjoyable. Do you fold yourself in half when you go to bed?
Pushkar hid his smile, looking down at the ground.
Shravan glared at him to Preeti: Haso, aur haso! Mere condition pe haso. Yeh bilkul Sumo ki hi behen hai.
He walked away.
Sumo put the finishing touches on Shravan's favorite sweets and curries. God, she really did go way over-board with the "moron" comment. What was she thinking? That's it, she wasn't thinking. She was blind with rage over Sahil. Sumo felt so bereft thinking of poor Sahil lost in the city alone again that she ripped Shravan into shreds in public. She regretted it now. Even he did not deserve that. Whatever their issues, it should have stayed private.
Thoughts?
Edited by Marybarton - 9 years ago
Music Corner
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
