In the now…
Dadu’s surgery took hours, he made it out fine though weak and on oxygen, he was wheeled back into the ICU (for care) around 5 PM. Viveka went in and out of the hospital making calls on the way to Bua, Fa, Harshu, Ma and Dadi
She called to check on Naina’s interview
Papa was worried sick, Anil Chachu came by around 5 PM
Papa broke down and cried
“hamey to laga who bach nahi paayenge, umar jo ho gayi hai”
“Arey nahi bhayya”
“Ek time to doctor ne kaha 50 50 lag raha hai”
“Naina kaisa gaya interview?” Viveka gushed eagerly
“I might have blown it, Dadu kaise hain?”
“Abhi abhi laaye room mein, I think he will be woken up later at night”
“Did everything go well?”
“Haan, Dadi bhi aa rahi hain now that he is out of the OT”
“Oh”
“Naina tell me na”
“they asked me a lot of engineering design questions I am not an
architect right?”
“So what you have enough years in the industry” Viveka gushed overcome with love for her baby sister
“It didn’t happen that way” Naina was polite but did not accept the praise
“I hope you get it Nainu”
Viveka rarely called her Nainu
Naina was a bit startled
“Is your husband there?” Naina asked cautiously
“Raanav? Umm.. nahi to”
“Oh”
“Kyon pooch rahi ho?”
“I was going to stop by”
“Naina I doubt he would care if you were here when he is”
“Jaanti hoon, but I am not exactly in the mood to socialize with your family”
Oh well!
It was back to icy coldness again
“Naina he only says nice things about you” Viveka lied
Raanav never mentioned her actually
“After calling me a gold digger? Kaise maan loon main?” Naina teared up
Viveka realized how hurt she must be
“And I married the man!” she told herself
“He is not here Naina”
“Aati hoon”
“Naina tum mujhse kitne saal is baat ko lekar naraaz rahogi?” Viveka asked tearing up
“Tumse naraaz nahi hoon” Naina said pointedly
“I am in love with him Naina! Can I only get your love if I leave him?” Viveka sniffled and cleared her throat pacing the lobby of Kapoor hospital in karol Bagh
“Veev I am going down to the subway to get a Metro yaar” Naina spoke gently and hung up
“dadu is fine” Viveka texted with trembling fingers
Raanav did not respond
She called him in an hour
“dadu made it fine” she said cheerfully
“Good”
“Phone nahi dekha I texted you”
“Just got out of a meeting”
“Naraaz ho?”
“Why didn’t you tell me Mom wanted you to accompany Dad to the testing?”
She felt a jolt
“Umm.. was I supposed to?”
“I think so”
“You didn’t ask me about my Dadu’s surgery either raanav”
“But you did not ask me if I could go, Mom did”
Competition hai kya hum dono ke beech?”
“Not at all” he said firmly
Silence…..
“Mom ne kuch kaha?”
“Why are you asking me that for the second time Viveka?”
“Umm… tum subah… I wanted to know if she did”
“Don’t try to demonize her please”
“I am not if I was supposed to ask your permission to visit my parents let me know, I will make sure I tell you when I talk to your Mom”
“Great”
He hung up
She walked upstairs in daze to find Papa and Chachu looking at some pictures on Chachu’s ipad with Dadi
“Aa gayi hamari Biveka!” Dadi seemed happy to see for a change…
She sighed as she sat down
“Dekho hamara damaad isko kitna thaka raha hai”
Akash burst out laughing at Dadi’s risqué joke
Viveka felt a flutter in her belly, as her cheeks warmed up
He was indeed… but not right now
“Chachi kaisin hain?” She asked Anil Chachu
“Sahi hain beta, aayengi weekend mein, unhoney job kar li na abhi”
“WOWWW”
“Haan future achha hai”
“Chalo Anu ki barabari mein aa jaayegi phir”
Akash looked at his mother and just sighed
How could he be nasty to her now? Her husband was in there just out of surgery
“Ma… apni kadwi baatein Bauji ke ache honey taq to bacha kein aap” he gently thrashed her
“Dekho, sasurji ka operation aur khud London baithi hain”
“Ma aap yeh baat poore building mein bata chuki hain, yaha sabhi healthcare workers ko bataane ki zaroorat nahi, kal waise hi akhbar mein chhapega tab padh lenge”
Anil stared at his mother realizing how toxic it must be for his Bhabhi
“Ma, agar Bhabhi ka medical insurance nahi hota Bauji ko ek ghar bechna padta apni ilaaj mein”
“Mera beta? Yeh kuch nahi? BATAO! Aur yeh mera beta GM haiga bank mein” Dadi was loud
Ma state bank ka insurance Anu ki company ki tarah nahi, Anu abhi director hai”
“Main ruk jaaon yaha raat ko?” she asked for permission
“Please do, and when you get a chance can you check on my Dad as well please?” he was direct as always
She cringed, being reminded for the first time in ALL day of the gracious role she could have potentially played
“OK” she said politely
A thought occurred to her as she brought snacks up for Papa Chachu and Dadi, wondering what she would say to Satyen for dropping the ball, he is so pissed as if HE called Papa
“Did Raanav call?” handing Papa the coffee and the sandwich
“Achhe log hain beta, Raanav ka 3 phone aaya aur Satyen ji ka bhi” “I mean… expect bhi nahi kar raha tha, kitne bade log hain”
“Hmm”
He was indeed meticulous
Debate Mansion
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