Grilled.. with crabs
She contemplated ignoring the request but by the time she sat outside the registrar's office in the bench waiting for her turn another email showed
"Dear Ms Shanbag
Hope to see you when your meeting is over
Best
Mr Narang"
She couldnt concentrate on the convo with the clerk, glad it was over when it was, she headed to Koramangala and when she knocked on the 15th floor penthouse it was way past 2:20
"Ms Shanbag" he greeted her
It was one of the most gorgeous homes she had ever seen
Well she had never seen such a home anywhere, on TV, in books or movies
She felt frumpy and unclean
In her long flowing ikat skirt in orange and grey and the orange chikan blouse with sequins
Her hair tied in a small ball of pony tail up top. Her short bob not affording anything more.
No contacts today, glasses sliding off her nose in sweat
Wisps of hair escaping the pony in the auto and bus pummeling
"Thank you for coming" he smiled
"I am sorry I am late" she mumbled fidgeting with the cotton strap of her jhola
"No dont apologize you already told me" he grinned
"Yes" she nodded
"Did you plan on ditching me? Is that why you didnt share your cell phone number?"
She turned a glorious red as her chest hammered noisily
"Us Punjabi men can be very demanding and aseertive" he declared, turning on some of the recess lights in the dark plush apartment
That was not the best thing to say to this girl
She fought for breath as she imagined Ashvin persuading "Trish"
"You never responded either" he told her off
"I am sorry" "I was hoping I can"
"Somehow get rid of me?" he grinned amused
She nodded, ashamed
The help brought water and juice
"I usually dont get time to eat since I am in the library at Mangalore Univ" she explained
"Even more reason to eat lunch then"
She nodded politely
"I am sorry I am late"
"You already apologized
"I made you wait for lunch" she mumbled
"Oh I am an old man with nothing to do. No Ph D pursuits no job, no friends" he declared leaning back, taking his arms above his head
She was being scrutinized
"Retired life must be good" she looked at him in awe
He had no idea he was lying... wishing her Aanu could live such a tension free life, envious for a moment
"It has its moments" he nodded carelessly
She fidgeted with her bag again
"Do I make you nervous?"
"Umm.. yes" she nodded after some thought
"You should not be.. I am an old old man" "I wont hurt a fly" he promised
She nodded and breathed aloud...
"shall we eat?" he asked
She sat up again stiffly
"Yes" she nodded
He stood up with difficulty and reached for his cane and asked her to lead the way to a giant dining room
Two help mumbled in a corner
"I will now garnish the fish and we can eat"
"You cook?" she asked stunned
"Yes, a lot" he nodded deftly moving pots and pans around on the 8? 10 burner central island
"Woh pakdayin jara puttar" "Mainnu rayi pakda" he instructed the cooks as he leaned on the counter, ditching his stick
The help obliged kindly
The kitchen smelled like her favorite spices, fennel and curry leaves...
He waved at her asking her to sit
"Why did you marry him?" he asked
She froze midway with her spoonful of rice
It was the most delicious meal, stir fried bananas, spinach in coconut, tepla ambat., grilled crabs
"I dont know if you know my father has a restaurant" she said softly
He didnt answer in affirmative
"He is getting old and its not making much money" she said quietly
"He gave you money to marry him?" he asked
She lowered her gaze self consciously
"Not that way... but I wanted franchise" she said unsure of the whole deal herself now
"Your father agreed to?" he asked
"Oh no... no... no... no Mr Narang" she said shaking her head sadly
"Hmmm"
"do you like how I made the fish?" he asked after being quiet for a while
"Its very good" she nodded almost smacking her lips
"Thank you" he smiled
"Then you should come here every week"
"Oh no... no... I cant" she shook her head vigrously
"You are very direct" he said looking at her piercingly
"I am sorry"
"No... no... thats good" "But us Punjabi men want to be strung along"
She blushed when he said that
She looked as far down as she could so he wouldnt see the heat on her face
"Do you like Mandira?"
"Ashwin's mother?" she asked buying time
"Yes... Ashvin's mother" he winked enunciating the AshVIN
"Yes, she is nice" she nodded politely
"Say the name again" he instructed
"Who? Mandira?" she asked
"Nooo!! Pfft... my grandson"
"A...ASh Ashwin" she said
"Ha"
"I speak his name like a konkani" she declared
"Yes you do" he grinned
"Does Mandira tell you what to do?"
She almost spit her fod out
"Umm... no... " "Sometimes" she said
"Yes? No?"
"Yes" she nodded
"Does she have your future in Bangalore planned out?" he asked amused
"She told me somethings I should do" she nodded
"What did Ashvin say?" he sipped his water quietly assessing her
"NOTHING" she jumped up... spoke too quickly... denied too quickly?... reacted too suddenly?
He grinned knowingly
"He does nothing huh?" he asked curiosly folding his napkin carefully into squares
"He does... he goes to work... he is busy... he"
shaves, talks on the phone, reads the paper watches tv late into the night... and kisses me
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