Mantle & Mischief
He was the effortless casual son and caregiver. He didnt make a big deal out of anything.
She didnt show up until 11:40, he sat working in his office, she showed, quickly checking her hair in the
corridor mirror leading upto the office, he could see her face in the glass door's reflection
"Vareya?" she asked she was trying to be formal with him the last couple days, she had let it slip, now that they were late
"Yep" he said setting his laptop on the coffee table
She fidgeted not trusting him to go
"Dont trust me?" he asked
Pat came the reply "NO!"
"I mean barah baje hai aur ghar se nahi niqle abhi" she muttered
"Where is it?" he asked
"Aurangazeb Rd"" she said
"Pfftt" he exclaimed
"Its Noon there is so much traffic in Central Delhi" she admonished
"Where is Nivi?" he checked
"Sam said she wanted the kids to play at a bounce house next door in Shanti Niketan
He was walking down, she followed
Ranjan smiled with pride seeing both step down the grand staircase"
"Chaliye vaddiya" he said into the phone
Nitin walked up to her
"Baby kidal haigi?" he asked hands on his hips
"Aapko girls pasand nahi hai to maine usko Bua paasi bhej diya" she cooed sitting on the bottom step
He was tearful
"Pammi, Manya Nivi ko lekar gayin hai, aap nahi jaayengi?" she asked
"Yeh late utha, phir Jaggi isko le gaye, abhi laaye" Pammi smiled
"Mahavir is making lunch... paneer, bharwan baingan, dal makhani and roti... chicken hai ya fish yeh mujhe nahi pata" she said
"U still dont eat meat?" Pammi asked
"Umm nahi... " II shook her head
"How do u cook then?" she asked
"I only make veg" she said
"I will tell Raman Bhai to make u cook" she said
"Please" Ii nodded in disbelief
R&b came in "II" he called
She turned elated... he hadnt called her in what seemed like ages
She floated, not responding, he realized what he had just said... and grunted
"Umm yeah" she said
"Inse meat nahi banwaate tussi?" Pammi enquired
"Nope" he said
"U shud" Pammi winked
"Maybe I shud" he smiled gloriously... II rarely saw him smile at/with outsiders
She warmed her insides in the glow of that smile
He spoke, asked questions listened and carefully recorded the Doc's responses, leaning over to read reports
Ranjan wandered the lawns of the bungalow turned clinic with II
He told her about distant relatives that once lived in this part of town
The Doc anD R&B stepped out, the Doc walking up to Ranjan "Your son is very sharp Mr Bhalla" he said
Ranjan nodded, with pride
"I told him he needs to take over operations at the dealership, time to hand the mantle over Ranjan" the Doc winked, patting Ranjan gently on his back
"I wont hold my breath Doc, since you just fixed it" Ranjan cracked himself up
They returned home, Nivi was back, and so was Pammi and Nitin, Lasya had taught her well
She took a swipe at Nitin knocking his ice cream scoop off his cone
Nitin just about passed out screaming
She watched in horror until R&B picked her up and went up
II pacified the tyke and fed him more ice cream
II went up after lunch, to read her Tamil mags and snooze on the couch
He had put Nivi down for a nap
She half dozed and half read... Beeji and Ranjan hung out in the 1st floor lounge on (II R&B's make out) the day bed
Pammi was invited to dinner at Chachus Beeji was too but she refused to go
Chachu hadnt once invited II but Pammi was on top of his list
Such is life...
Nivi woke after a short nap, and wanted to go down, he took her down, stifling a smile as he noticed his wife spoilt for choice between three Tamil soaps
She settled for one... and lay back... he returned to find her snoozing until a woman on screen slapped another one soundly across the cheek, replayed a good 5 times on surround sound
Ii woke up startled and began following the storyline... as they yelled expeltives at each other
She noticed he was watching too and self consciously lowered the volume
They heard Nivi and Ranjan and Beeji cackling like geese enjoying themselves downstairs
Beeji had taken a special liking for II
II was not her 100% self partly due to the separation
Partly because she didnt speak Punjabi, yet Beeji was smitten
She grinned at her fondly, appreciated her generously and patted the seat next to her kindly when ever II walked by
He approached the couch and bend down, to find his phone
she grabbed her remote or atleast reached it, he slid his hand between her body and the back of the couch
"Whoaa?" she asked dazed
And felt his hand go under her tee... she buckled writhing under his touch
"my phone" he said matter of factly
He bend over the back of the couch, and heard her audibly suck her breath in as their skin touched
Beeji called "GUDIYAAA" "GUDIYAAA"
She felt his hand on her bare back, as her skimpy tee had slid up
He continued to SEARCH
She rolled off the couch and stared up at him
"BEEJI!!!!!!" she croaked shrilly
"5 points " he whispered his lower lip twitching as if they were playing a "whose voice is it anyway? guessing game...
Hindi TV Shows
Current Affairs
