Knight on Ninety Horses
Chapter 2
"Hey Maan, why don't I tag along with you?" Adi put an arm around Maan's shoulder.
"Oh that's quiet alright Adi. You'll just be bored meeting my uncle, his wife and kids. Also, they have invited me for dinner and I'm not sure it would be polite to show up with an unexpected guest. I will meet up with them and be back in a few hours. Why don't you just hang out with the other guys. I'll be fine."
"Ok then. Enjoy your boring dinner. We'll not miss you at all. See you later in the evening at the hotel room."
Maan shook his head as Adi slapped him on his back and walked away, feet sinking into the soft silvery sands of Colva beach.
He'd met Adi in the first year of college while standing in the queue outside the main office of their university. He had cut in line and when other students had started protesting, he'd put his arm around Maan's shoulder and said that they were best buddies and that Maan had been holding his place in line for him. His eyes had pleaded with Maan's to go along with the small fib to which Maan had just grinned and nodded. That had gained him the lifelong friendship of one Adhish Nanduri, better known as Adi.
They were third year, Mechanical Engineering students of Osmania University, Hyderabad and were on a so-called industrial tour in the picturesque state of Goa. Thay had not visited any industries so far, however according to Adi the tour was a success coz he had industriously watched all the pretty ladies on the beach.
Maan grinned and wondered what kind of people the uncle and his family were.
He just hoped he did not end up feeling bored.
Geet was having a hell of a time. The stupid cat was refusing to come down off the roof and howling crazily from the tiled rooftop.
She was balanced on a tin box they used for storing rice and extended the handle of a broom towards the cat for the umpteenth time. The cat moved further behind.
"I am not going to hit you with it, you stupid cat. This is a lifeline I'm offering you. Stop howling and come here right now."
The cat refused to budge. Just then her mamma called out.
"Geet, let that cat be. It will come down on its own. Come help me with the rotis."
"Roti." Geet yelled.
She ran to the kitchen and grabbed a roti.
"Geet where are you going with that? Come back here right now."
"Just one minute mamma."
Geet tied the roti to one end of the broom got back on the tin box and slowly extended it towards the cat.
"Here Kapus. Here meow. Come sweety, see what I have. "
Kapus inched forward slowly, intrigued by the smell of the ghee wafting from the warm roti. As soon as he was within arm's reach, Geet tried to make a grab for him. He turned and started climbing back up. Geet yanked on his tail which was within reach. The cat meowed loudly, slipped and ended up in Geet's arms, scratching her wildly in the process. Geet was unbalanced and landed hard on her butt, her arms full of cat, a broom and a roti. Her arms and butt were stinging like hell.
Just then she noticed a pair of sneakers right next to her. Her gaze traveled up a pair of cotton trousers, to a short-sleeved shirt with the cuffs folded up.
What kind of crappy fashion was that, she wondered. He was skinny as hell and had no biceps to speak of. The upturned shirt sleeves looked almost comical hanging from his shoulders. That is when she saw the large bag on his shoulders and her eyes narrowed.
She jumped up to her feet. Kapus had long since escaped. She was hurting and mad. Geet picked up the broom and pointed the handled end at the young man standing in front of her.
"I don't care what you are selling, whether it is sarees, bedsheets, soaps, sanitary napkins or whatever junk. I neither want free samples nor do I want to buy anything. I'm sure you'll find far kinder people in that house there than here. She vaguely pointed out to a random house in the neighborhood.
"Your arm is bleeding and your butt's probably hurting too." He pointed out drolly.
She gasped.
"I'll take care of my arm and my posterior, thank you very much and I still don't want any samples."
"Ok then." He shrugged and walked to their front door instead of walking away from it.
"Oh hello, where do you think you are going?" Geet called out.
Just then her mamma came out to see where Geet had gotten to.
She looked at the young man and smiled gently.
"Oh Maan your'e already here. Welcome beta welcome. Do come in." She grabbed his hand and started petting it gently. "Uncle has gone to the bus stop to pick you up. You must have missed each other."
Geet who was a few steps behind and hadn't heard their exchange yelled,
"Mamma I already told him we are not looking to buy anything, so please don't pity him as usual and get conned into buying stuff that we don't want or need."
"Geet!! Shut up."
"Oh alright!! Maybe one thing is ok, since it is so late in the evening and he seems to be desperate."
"Geet I will hit you with that broom if you don't shut your mouth right now." Her mamma whispered urgently under her breath and then continued loudly.
"Geet he is not a salesman. He is aunt Shalu's son, Maan. He is the guest we've been waiting for."
"Oh fuc..."
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