Though short, he needed that nap. Right after he had felt her safe in his arms, as if it was the only way his mind could make sense of her still being part of his world, he had firmly held on to that moment and slipped into sleep state unknowingly. His misery ebbed out and he settled in tranquil holding her tight to his body, like she was the drifting life force that had played catch with him those tormenting hours.
Seeing him peacefully sink into a siesta, she left him after taking herself out of the death hold he had around her. She had smiled, running her fingers through his hair, wondering what vivid imagination had him fly right out of NY. His tendency to be overtly concerned for her had proven to work in her favor this time, she thought. Leaving him to get his much needed shut-eye, she had joined the awkward duo downstairs.
After a suspicious enquiry from her for which Rishabh threatened them suitably to leave as a response, Daadima had averted the situation by asking him to stay back for breakfast. Now that it was the first time, the jamai showed up after nine years and abruptly too, a grand spread was indeed needed to obscure the other oddities of the circumstances.
The three women labored away at the kitchen in preparing an elaborate feast fit for any royal. There were all sorts of parathas, omelets, fried food, juices and dessert for choice. Geet and Daadima shifted and crossed each other swiftly moving the batter and flour, when Naini was the one who sulked every step of the way and Maan slept upstairs the entire time. Naini had protested to the other two women of the house, insisting that her husband was not a breakfast person, but was clearly ignored. Rishabh being left alone in the living room nervously shuffled in his seat and rarely stared outside the window; a habit he obviously picked up from his dear wife. When life happens the way it did for Rishabh and Naini and for that long too, it is hard to stay insert and not have each other's quirks rub off on one another.
Hearing him come down the stairs, Geet hurried to the entryway of the kitchen and found Maan already greeting Rishabh. A firm handshake was exchanged and the universal head-nod acknowledgement of each other's presence was given out. How very business like? It was a media moment for the Khuranas and Oberois very plainly. She felt they definitely needed some male bonding and could do better than that. Sighing out loudly, she clutched the tray close to her torso, when Daadima landed right next to her and so did Naini. And they all peeped out holding each other by their shoulders, resembling a leaning tower of curious women.
The television came to the rescue for a bit, as either of them did not let a sound to escape their tapered mouths. When the meal was ready, everyone assembled at the table except Naini, for she felt, she would have a better appetite inside the kitchen and away from him.
Nervousness floated in the air as silence pierced the ears. No one knew what would sound out of place and what wouldn't when it came to Rishabh for his sudden showing up at their door was still a mystery to the family except for Maan. And so he broke the ice, quite ironical when considering the fact that he had still not spoken a word with his own sister.
"Thank you for arranging the charter at such short notice" He said.
Geet looked up puzzled and so did daadima.
"So it was not rented?" Daadima questioned to no one in particular.
Before Rishabh got to it Maan answered, while Geet went around serving the rest of the members at the table.
"No Daadima...it belongs to Rishabh's. I knew they always had one on standby and contacted his secretary" Maan said, motioning Rishabh to go ahead with the breakfast. But Rishabh showed unease perspicuously on his face and messed around with the food on his plate. Daadima noticed the same and was tempted to taunt him momentarily, but the bond was yet to be formed for her to reach that comfort level too.
Geet caught on Rishabh adjust his tie and loosen it a bit, while his sweat beaded by the side of his forehead. It was a delicate surrounding, no doubt and so she decided to add something familiar to the equation.
"Naini..." She yelled, making sure she would be heard across the hallway "Your husband needs help with the food...perhaps he is not familiar with our style of cooking" She finished with a giggle.
Maan looked up from his omelet, while Daadi let out a calm smile. Something crashed in the kitchen leading Geet to laugh out, seating herself next to Maan. Many more vessels clamored before she came out of her hiding with a tray in hand.
"Geet Bhabhi...aap bhi na" She rolled her eyes as she paced forward towards him with a simmering sulk. Placing a cup with what looked like black tea and cereal bowl with milk, she sat opposite Daadima.
Oddly, after the hard labor, what apparently appeased the jamai babu was milk and cereal with plain old honey sweetened tea with lemon. His lips welcomed the familiarity that Geet had jokingly brought into the room, knowingly or unknowingly; he was referring to the cereal part.
"Oh!" Geet and Daadima sang in union and exchanged looks as Rishabh relished the Cheerios. All their hard work for nothing, Geet sighed once again. But then all was not in vain, when she eyed Maan gobble up his favorites.
Like fate didn't already dish out gruesome cruelty apart from the awkwardness he was already engulfed in, it brought on the last thing he wanted to witness.
Maan began to choke on a large piece of orange, he just causally threw into his mouth, making Geet jump about her seat and scurry her way to him with a glass of water. She gently tapped his head and had him drink from the glass she held on concerned. This was a usual scene for Daadi but the overwhelming display of care, now chocked him. And right about when he was lost gaping at the star-crossed lovers across the table, he started choking and coughed up loudly to get everyone's attention. As much of a hard head he was at times, he was a sucker for such tender moments that made up life's priceless memories. Perhaps the lack of it had what made him bitter and sour, he pondered. Thinking back to the times he had received the same love and reciprocation from her, what seemed eons ago, he averted his gaze at her. All he got was red-hot daggers shot directly at him and so he turned back to the couple at the end of the table.
Maan smiled at his wife, with an "I know you love me too much" look and Rishabh, on the other side, burnt with a fit of jealousy strangely.
"It was nice of you to come down to join the search party" Daadima broke another bubble of quietude that was forming too quickly in the room.
"Oh! Yes...I was in the vicinity, just a couple of hours down the coast. When my secretary called I thought I could help out" He answered still looking at his wife who had still not touched a morsel on the plate. He coughed uncomfortably and took the napkin to cover his mouth.
"So how did the openings of your new line of hotels go?" Maan asked taking in a spoonful of kheer. He was careful not to let out that taunting smirk he was holding back.
"It went well, Papa attended it. I was taking some time off at Catalina...it's a nice place, you all should spend some time there" He said hinting at the obvious, but discreetly withholding where and with whom while at the island. Well the guy was at least honest, Maan thought and felt he already liked him for the virtue he strived to keep up with.
Slowly one after another left the room with some excuse leaving behind Rishabh and Naini alone at the dining table. Like they couldn't guess what the others were facilitating.
"You didn't eat anything at all...are you ok?" He asked unable to keep himself from intruding and stretched out his arm to touch her hand, resting on the table; it was a subliminal act on his part. He was a mad fool for her in the end, which even he denied unwittingly.
"Hmmm" She paused but then her eyes reddened and narrowed "Why do you care...you stubborn ass? Then why let me file for the divorce in the first place?"
She dusted the napkin off her lap and got up to take the dishes into the kitchen. He followed evidently. The tension building up in his voice, he cleared up his throat and went on.
"See...this is exactly why...my foot. I'm done with your name calling" He threw the napkin in his hands. Geet flinched at the sound of tumbling dishes and her face contorted upstairs as Maan held her from behind. Daadima stiffened the papers she was reading in the living room and smiled simultaneously.
"You seemed to like it when I did so at 18...what happened now? Why did you stay mum all these years?" She retorted turning on the faucet, staying far away from him. Her withdrawal made him move closer from the other side of the island.
"That was puppy love then...What is there to say in this? It's all understood...and same goes for you...shouldn't you know by now what is acceptable and what is not?" He fumed.
"Yeah! Right? Don't give me that crap...Abhi..." She fumbled upon the calling of his nickname. He looked up at her at once. It was still an enigma to him, for he always mellowed when she called him in that tone and by that name in particular.
"Abhi?" he spoke softly.
"Sorry...Mr.Rishabh. This is a world where people have to talk about what they want. It doesn't run by assumptions. Like today...can't you tell them you don't eat breakfast...why let them go all nine yards and you eat up that cold cereal shamelessly..." She threw another vessel inside the sink "Can't you be a little considerate...Stubborn ASS" She stressed on the last word more than necessary "I'm done speaking for you" she rested her case.
"That's it...I'm leaving...This is just not getting anywhere. And mind you I came here because I felt your brother could use some help and there is nothing to imagine...Got it?" Ok, he thought he was clearing up a misunderstanding, but instead he only proved her doubtful claims.
"And I didn't come here for a full spread breakfast" Just as he was about to leave the room, he heard her hiss in a shrill voice. Whipping about where he stood, he saw that she had a bleeding finger, wincing in sharp pain. She must have punctured the skin surface from the sharp knife she was washing up, he inferred. His feet, with a will of its own, darted towards her and instantly reached out to hold her finger. Their eyes met, as she grew self-conscious over their nearness. His worried look disappeared as his anger took over him once again. Letting her finger slip from his hand, he walked off from the room and paused a minute to bid his goodbyes to Daadima. Before Geet or Maan could come down, he already shot past the entry way and into his jet-black limo.
Daadima was not shocked at their encounter, for she was sure, that they were indeed in their best behavior they could offer; it could have gone worse or turned into WWE raw for all they knew. The couple had a lot to learn, she concluded. After all this was no homecoming for him. It was more of a promo trailer of the times yet to come.
Thank you...Thank you for all such long and lovely comments. I'm thoroughly welcoming it and of course reveling in the moment as I read them.
About PM's: All those who do not want to be PM'd please let me know.
I want to finish off NY Times on May 19th exactly seven months to the day since I started this FF. And so I wont be updating any other FFs until I finish this one.
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