Slow & Fast
Mahavir came up to the lounge, from the grand formal living room, found the couple in an embrace and turned and walked away
She soaked his shirt as she imagined Appa walking out of DII for the very last time
She cried more when imagined his daily routine in the empty DII
How he sat cross legged wearing only a veshti, and the vibhuti smeared like three finger lengths on his arms and forehead as he chanted
Amma chatting too loudly with Selvi in the kitchen and II shouting the geyser water is not hot enough
Amma asking her NOt to wash her hair and II washing it so she will have an excuses to let her long tresses dry in silky curls
"Is everything OK?" he whispered in her ear, rubbing his stubbly face on her ear
She tried to stop and couldnt, she let it all out and finally lifted her head
"Why? I can only get a hug when I am not OK or what?" she accused
He just bend down and grabbe dher lips
That familiar feeling of constellations colliding, bright lights swirled in symphony
His tongue licking her lips mindlessly
She opened her mouth eventually
And let him in
He groaned and took
Nivi wore her lil pink pail on her head and stumbled as she tried to walk
He paused kissing her to look at her amused
His daughter sat with a bucket on her head shouting loudly amplified by the bucket
II turned and smiled first
"Not the sharpest tool in the shed" she said
"shes 10 months old" he said defensively
She sighed and leaned on him
"appa missed her a lot" she said
He nodded
He led her to the swing and they sat down, Nivi finally figuring out how to get it out, she smiled at them joyously
"See I can do this thing on my own" she shrieked... delighted
He held II close
"What happened?"
She felt that famous ache in her throat
"Umm... Appa is leaving DII" she said her lower lip shaking like a leaf
He nodded
"It sucks... SUCKS BUTT" she said like Shravu
He threw his head back and laughed
I wnat everything to be the same" "I told him I will go to Rohini everyday but I dont want to" she cried
He was somber
"I HATE that apartment, I hate the neighborhood, I hate everything about the commute to Rohini, its not the same" she said
He exhaled
"First world problems?" she asked him tearfully when he didnt respond
"maybe u are right, they had no place to go 6 months ago, they were considering Tanjore... its a nice new house..." "But the fact that Appa wont be working hurts me a lot" she choked
"I want now until the day they move to go verrry slowly... I want it to freeze
He gently held her face and wiped her tears
Nivi overturned the bucket and al the squeezie water toys rained on her head, a star fish sat on top
She reached a few times to get it and couldnt she sucked on the bucket handle
"I cant seem to get over the fact that I cannot get into my car and get there in 10 mins" "I will miss Vetri, I will miss the presswala kid..." "JUST ABT EVERYTHING" she sobbed
"II" he cooed
"No wonder you cant move from Paris" she said all of a sudden
They froze staring at each other
"Why cant everything be the same?" "Always?"
"can they rent one of those?" he asked sincerely
"NO... they are so backlogged, 7, SEVENNN people are in line already for MY house" she said bitterly
He half smiled
Nivi walked up
"Hey cmon u guys the circus show is over, can I get a lil attention here?"
He bend down and picked her up
"Hold ME again" II said leaning
"Are u competing with a 10 month old?" he asked softly
"I HAVE to... I am like invisible for you" she said
He wrapped his arm around his woman, and held his baby close to his heart
She reached with her fat fist and touched II's nose ring
II closed her eyes and savored the feeling
"I also worry if one of them gets sick how fast can I go there" she whispered
He squeezed her arm tight...
For he had been there himself
For DEL-HKG was the longest flight known to mankind that night 6 years ago,
This January he was unable to head home on the day she had passed which had been the day after Pongal, but he had flown down from Bangkok (after meeting with Sukrit)for a day on barsi day though for a few hours and had returned to Paris...two weeks ago
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
