The truth and nothing but the truth
Tai was stuffing her face with an evening snack she hit her face behind her pallu to avoid the ignominy
He smiled and nodded did not over extend himself
Set Aadhya down slowly as she flailed wanting to go do her half finished puzzle on the dining table which Tai had accidentally ruined half way
It was a complicated 1000 piece puzzle that was taking Suvi and her days to complete 30ish %
Suvi went to the kitchen, the living room did not have AC nor the kitchen
She was sweating more self consciously
She smiled rinsing the tea cups thinking about how they scaled the steps like a "family"
She scolded herself for being ridiculous
She was sweating like she had just showered
She didnt think chai was such a great idea
She turned off the gas and looked for mangoes in the frig
There was only two left
She forgot to text back the next door aunty three days ago she wanted to sent a couple boxes over
She immediately picked up her phone and texted aunty to ship as soon as possible
She opened the doors and windows of the balcony
There was one one bit of breeze
She took the mangoes to the kitchen and whipped them up with cold milk and added a spoon of sugar
Licked the spoon thoroughly before throwing it in her sink
tai came into the kictchen and muttered about wasting tea
"u can drink it" she said between grit teeth
"I had put away the mangoes for my fasting meal" Tai said
"The box had 100 mangoes I have only been home a few days and they are all gone" Suvi said unhappily
Neel tried not to listen
She didnt have fancy beer mug like cups, she poured in tall water glasses and took teh rset in a jug
Aadhya dropped al her puzzle pieces and ran towards her
She handed her a glass seating her
He took one, and smiled
"Nasik se hain?" he asked
She smiled
"Yes they are special" she said shyly
He sat down
Tai acted disgusted and drank the remaining milkshake and left the house
"Koi kaam hey?" she asked politely
He just stared intsensly
She licked cream off her moustache... upper lip
"Kisi kaam ke bagair nahi aa sakta?" he asked chuckling
"Jab Amma aaye hai" she said confused
"I could be getting my break from her" he whispered
She blushed intensely when he indicated SHE was his escape from his Mom
"Ek mahina mey Amma aapko khatakti hai?" she whispered
"Abhi ek mahina hua kahan" he said mischievously, admitting he was already tired even tho it wasnt a month
Their lil secret... of her shielding him from his mother
He would make me answer Amma's calls too... she thought to herself more self consciously
Husbands did that thing usually
"Bore nai hoyegi amma?" she asked
"Mere yaha aane se aap bore ho gayin?" he asked
She wanted to scream NOOO NOOO ARE U KIDDING?
Aadhya grabbed her ipad and went to the bedroom turning the AC on
"Means mere ko laga koi kaam rahega"
"I just was tired to listening to the pure Hindi" he smiled
She began to float, just took off from the couch and like a feather.. danced in the air a bit and took off
"Bakwas Hindi sun ne ka hai to main record karegi ek essay ya kuch bhi" she laughed uncontrollably
He told her about his day in pure Hindi she told him abt hers in her "bakwas Hindi"
He helped Aadhya figure out some of her puzzle
nihar called him
He answered wandering to the balcony
She tidied her kitchen and looked for a veggie to cook
"Thanks for the milkshake" he said sipping the last bit of air from the empty glass as she cringed
"Baingan hai, saunf ka tadka lagaake banayegi?" she asked
He shook hsi head and watched her face deflate instantaneously
"Jaane ka hai?" she said composing herself
He entered the kitchen, and held her face
"Kahengi bhi nahi rukne ko?" he asked
"Nihar ka phone tha na?" she asked smiling
He cupped her face with both hands
"I am still waiting" he whispered
She choked on her breath at the passionate order
"and no lies" he ordered again
She gasped...
She sent her tongue out to wet her lower lip, he bend down and paid homage to it
And groaned... they kissed in the kitchen for the next 10 or so minutes
Until they heard the door
He stepped back she leaned over the sink and ran the tap, her face was on fire
"Thanks Suvechha" he said politely out loud and went in to say good bye to Aadhya and left
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday evening she took the afternoon off, and dressed with care despite her brain warning her about being insane
She showered and wore a simple pink sleeveless chikan suit with a black jaipuri dupatta
She texted Amma that Kanika's Mom was happy to have her over, picked her up from play school and took her to Kanika's with a bunch of snacks for the girls
Amma pinged her when she arrived at the society gate
She went down nervously
"Art show, and u are acting as if she is ur future boss" she thoughtt o herself
Amma stared for a second, as she found Suvi looking beautiful
"Aapko khabar hai JNU ke trip ke liye kaise kapde pehne jaate hain" Amma teased
She looked on confused
"U look lovely" Amma said
The cabbie opened their door
Suvi had no idea what to say
"Aap humse madad nahi lena chahti beti ko friend ke ghar chhod diya?" Amam enquired
"No aunty, Kanika went to Jaipur to her nani's house so they have not met" Suvi said honestly
"Hamey taqleef nahi dena chahti theen? aap?" Amma asked curiously
"Ghar pe already bache hai? nahi?" she said
"Oh preet ke?" Amma asked
Suvi nodded
Amma told her abt her school and the kids and how she moved from teachingt o principal's role
They got off at JNU, and wandered the gallery Amma read the brochure carefully... and suddenly looked up and asked
"Do u like Neel?" Amma asked as Suvi's "sach kahengi?" Amma asked softly
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
