Sauteli Stereotypes
Amma arrived unexpectedly Wednesday afternoon when Suvi was taking a nap with Aadhya trying to enjoy her last few weeks at home.
She had been sleeping poorly the last couple nights
She didnt know what she could do about Nihar, any thing and everything she was trying was just turning into a bust
He was polite but not warm, he followed every rule and didnt get into trouble, did his homework soon after lunch and then headed to Preet & Gags'
He shut his room door usually when he did his home work, listening to music, she had found him plugging away on his computer, when she had gone into hand him his evening bournvita and cookies
He didnt refuse any food or bev
He listened when she spoke and nodded nervously
She didnt want him to fear her, she didnt know what caused the fear she saw in his eyes
She really wanted to dig in and find out
And then...
She found out from Preet. Nihar couldnt go to their house from Friday, he was told the boys had a curfew
Suvi didnt know what the heck happened she tried to intervene she was told it had nothing to do with Nihar
A week passed by with no contact between the boys
Making an already jumpy Suvi more nervous
Preet had told her Sunday night, when the men were drinking and she and her were walking after a long hard rain shower
"Neel daat te hain Nihar ko?" Preet quizzed
"Bus both strich hei wo" she said grimacing
"Main ek baat kahoon... Neel ko nahi kehna... maine Gags ko kaha hai Neel se baat nahi karenge, but but he will just coax neel to approach it differently"
"Koi tension hey?"
"Umm... humne bachon ki class lee hai" Preet mumbled
"Please tell me Preet"
"Bachon ne Nihar ko kaha hai ki agar tumhe Nihar pasand nahi aaya to tum usko adopt karwa dogi aur Neel bhi maan lenge"
Suvi's heart stopped she froze in shock
She composed herself and tried to smile to dull the pain
"Kids" she chuckled weakly
"I am so so so sorry Suvi... maafi ke alawa kuch maang nahi sakti... agar tum baat karna band karogi to dukh hoga par samajh jaaoongi"
"Oh no" Suvi squeezed her hand warmly
Preet began to cry... "I want you to know this idea DID NOT come from Gags or I"
"Of course I know"
"I am so so sorry... my boys were out of line"
"Its OK... mere ku laga Nihar itna dar ke maare kaise hei"
"I am so sorry"
"Mei Neel ko kahegi"
"PLEASE MAT KEHNA"
"Umm.. why?"
"Neel aur daatenge Nihar ko... Nihar ke man mein mere bachon ka rumor aur baithega firmly"
Suvi was confused
"I know you are trying very very hard... this was an unnecessary glitch... I am so sorry"
Suvi nodded sadly...
She had applied to a couple of positions in Sector 52 and Sector 40 in NOIDA an ad agency from Norway and a PR firm in Sector 40
She had interviewed at both and hoped to get into one
Neel had told her she need not work and could stay home if she wanted
But she knew she had to go back to work, if would be good to get away and think about something else besides how to carve a path into Nihar's heart
After two months of staying home there were only so many paths, and most all of them were sealed shut.
He didnt have any more meltdowns, as if he had coached himself into thinking she was his teacher
Amma appeared when she opened the door
"Andar aa jaayen beta?"
Suvi smiled groggily"
"Mei so gayi hei" she mumbled
Amma giggled at her Hindi
"Soney ke waaste Hindi aur kharab hoyela hei nei?"
Amma laughed heartily
"Par aap hamesha ki tarah innocent zaroor hain" she hugged her new DIL and sighed audibly
Suvi hugged her tight and let it all out