Cat-a-list
Mandira gave a lot of "friendly advice" along the way. Not to venture out at night. Not to talk to strangers.
Try and not take a bus to Ullal next time. Not use any ride sharing services.
If it werent for that one candid admission "I have a daughter she is almost 21 and I worry for her in Delhi"
Trisha noticed a momentary softening of expression on her face
Then she was back to telling her how fashion jewelry was not good for health.
How annoying cats were.
How she should look for a job if she is bored at home instead of playing with the cat.
After she dropped Trisha off she texted her son
"She looks gorgeous in a saree" grudgingly
"Hmm" texted Ashvin politely
When she spoke with him that afternoon
She told him how clear the konkan girl's skin was
It was not helping Ashvin at all
"Leela tries everything on the planet and her zits keep coming back,
Forest Essentials, Kama Ayurveda, now look at this girl she cant afford those and so her skin is like a model's"
Are you envying her skin?" Ashvin mocked
"Umm.. no no... as a mother I feel for Leela sweetie"
"Well she hasnt met her so she is gonna be fine"
"I guess that true"
"She says she prefers glasses, she will look so much better in contacts" all knowing
"Did you actually tell her that?" he was horrified
"Umm.. yes... just friendly advice you know"
"Ma, you are not her friend"
"thats true I am her MIL, whatever that means for the thing you two have" she shook her head wearily
"Dont you have some meeting with Dadu to go to?"
"Well he has been avoiding me"
"Maybe you shud take a break and go back to Delhi"
"And live through this strange equation you have with this girls?"
"how is your being here helping me?" he chuckled
"Its not, but I am going to help her out by teaching her about Bangalore and stuff"
"You need to find someone else to be your protege'"
"Thats hurtful Ashvin... Leela hasnt cared for me as much as you
have since Daddy passed" Mandira's tone displayed her sadness at not having any bond with her daughter.
There was a painful silence
"i am sorry Ma...I know, Ma... but you are not connected to this girl"
"I know... and in every way its a good thing... I cannot imagine a DIL in her..." Mandira shuddered audibly
"So then, just let her be... she is a student"
"I wish you had thought this through, a bit... there are so many girls in our circle that would do this in a heartbeat"
"I cant believe what you just said, pick a social elite for a fake marriage?" he was stunned
"I mean you know its a fake marriage, so why cant it be the way we want it?"
"You know why I picked her, and where she is from"
Mandira sighed and nodded
"Ive gotta go" he said gruffly
Trisha returned at 4 Mandira returned at 5, Trisha showered and began to make some offering for her Ganpati
She knew 3 or 4 sweet recipes.. she had bought everything she would potentially
5, turned to 5.30, 5.30 turned to 6, to 7 to 8, no sign of Ashvin
She asked Mandira trying to be cool about it, very very casually
"Will Ashwin be back soon?"
"Ashwin is not here yet?" when she went to get the cat
She ran out to open the door when it was just the lobby/door man delivering a package
The cat thought she had lost it
She paryed, made her offering, ate her leftovers from Kinis, and sat in the balcony with mosquito repellant on
The awning wasnt replaced yet
Maybe she should go ask Mandira?
No she wouldnt know
She returned MJ and went for a walk, chatting with a couple friends who were walking too, she asked the
doorman if she had seen Ashvin, the liftman also had not seen him
She went up and went to bed successfully managing to avoid Mandira
There was a knock on her door after 11 PM...
She waited for two knocks and opened on the third, she didnt want to seem to too eager
He stood there with his pulled down tie and the top two buttons undone
"You wore a tie today?" she asked
He grinned
"Umm.. I did" he nodded
The hallway light was out, the light in her room was turned out..
"Looking for me?" he asked
She felt the sudden thud inside,
"I was looking in the evening"
"Not now?" he asked
She smiled, "I meant I was asking about you"
she was never usually tongue tied... she spoke and thought clearly, as a TA being confused and bumbling didnt help
"And I am here"
"You are back" she nodded
"What did you want Trisha?"
"I just wanted to ask about the awning" she said relieved she had a reason
"Oh" he had no idea why the guy didnt show up
"Thats why I asked"
"Ofcourse"
"Did u have a good day?" he leaned on her door
"It was OK, the registeration has so many requirements, I dont have my certificates and all. But I came home and played with MJ"
"And now its all better?" he was amused
"You hate him" she said
"Umm.. I wont say thats wrong"
"they are so expressive, they search for you when you are gone,
they greet you when you come back, the way he arches near my leg, and follows my hand as I rub his fur"
She fluffed imaginary fur, he looked adorable squeezed into an empty box I have, sleeping all day and waking up at 11 at night
"did you just return him?" he looked at his watch
"No.. I returned him sooner, Prasad wants him when he is awake, I only get him when he is wanting to sleep" she said sadly
""Huh"
"You do know they like to be up at night dont you?" she said proudly
"Another reason I dont care for them"
"I can stay up all night if I have a cat" she said with a faraway look
"Can we talk about me now?" he asked grinning
"Sure If you have any cat stories"
"Trisha" he scolded
"You came home really late" she said finally
"I had a vendor meeting" he said
"And you said I am supposed to tell you when I dont come home"
"Apologies!" he muttered "Forgiven?"
"So the awning man will come tomorrow?" she asked looking up at him with her big beautiful eyes
"If I tell you the answer we wont have anything to talk about tomorrow" he smiled
straightening up from the door, she watched him go off to his room
Fan Fictions
