Re-cap: Shiv is late going to the train station to pick up the Chaterjee
family. Gauri and her family take a taxi to the Kapoor residence. Shiv
goes to apologize to Alokji and his family when water is dropped on his
head from the terrace.
Part 3…
Just then the front door of the guesthouse opened up and Alokji
stood there staring at the stranger. Alokji said, "Yes, may I help you?"
Shiv was taken by surprise so he stumbled with words, " Ummm, actually,
I," clears his throat and continues, "Actually I came to apologize to you
and your family."
Alokji not knowing who Shiv is gave him a curious look. "I don't know
what you would be apologizing to us for."
Shiv then says. "I am Shiv, Mahen's son. I was supposed to receive you at
the train station this morning but I ran late and missed you guys."
Alokji understood and smiles at Shiv and says, "Son, you never say sorry
to your own family. Mistakes happen. Please do come in. It has been so
long since we have seen you." Alok looks around the living room and
screams for Mashi ma to come out. "Come look at our Shiv, he has grown
so big. Shiv, do you remember when you were young and you used to
come to Calcutta with your family. You will be surprised to see how
grown up your childhood friends, Gauri and Kaya, are too."
Just then Mashi ma and Kaya walk in the living room and greet Shiv.
Mashi ma joins her hands together and says, "Namaste" to Shiv, while
Kaya walks up to him and shakes his hand.
Alok says, "That is my sister, everyone calls her Mashi ma, it is a Bengali
way of saying aunt. And that is our Kaya. Though she is the youngest of
the family everyone bewares of her. Her anger is something." He laughs
while saying that. He continues, "She is studying medicine at the
University, hoping to be a surgeon one day."
Shiv helplessly is listening to all this. Being polite he just nods and
smiles. All the while wishing he was anywhere but here with these
people. It wasn't like he didn't like them; he just doesn't know them so it
was hard to care about what they were saying.
Alok then looks confused then and asks Shiv, "Beta, I wanted to ask you,
why are you all wet?"
To that Shiv replies, "Voh mein…"
"I'll tell you what happened papa," came a voice from far right which
looked like the entrance to the kitchen. Gauri walks in to the living room
and explains what happens without daring to look up Shiv. "Papa, since I
couldn't do prayers this morning since we were on the train, I thought I
would do them now. I was offering water to the sun off the terrace
upstairs and I didn't realize there was someone standing down at the
bottom. That's how Shiv got wet." Then she turns towards Shiv and
quickly glances up at him and down again and says, "I am sorry."
Alok laughs at what Gauri has just said and looks between both of them
and says, "Aisa hota hai. Gauri please go get Shiv a towel." Gauri nods to
her father and leaves the room. Alok continues, "Shiv do you remember
her. That was Gauri. You two used to hang out together every moment
you and her could, when you used to come visit us in Calcutta. You all
used to play house, Gauri would pretend to be the mother, you were the
father, and Kaya and Viven used to be the children."
Shiv now feeling very uncomfortable and just wanting to get out of there
hurriedly says, "Yes uncle, I remember a little bit. Anyways, I should get
going I have some work to attend to. After you guys freshen up, you
should come to the main house for some food. I am sure the family is
expecting you. I will see you all later. Bye." He turns to leave and walks
out the door before anyone could reply.
He's about to reach the garden when he hears a sweet low voice say,
"Suniye."
Shiv turns around and sees Gauri standing there with a towel in her hand.
He also notices how shy she is and how uneasy and uncomfortable he
makes her; he decides to have fun with that. He says, "I thought your
intentions were to get me out of my shirt Gauri."
Gauri's face turns a deep shade of red and she looks up with questioned
look, "Sorry?"
Shiv says, " You know, the whole purpose of pouring water on me. So you
could see me with without a shirt on."
Gauri turning redder by the second looks upset and starts speaking
quickly, "Ji voh, no, it's not like that. I really was praying. I didn't even
know you were standing…" All of a sudden she hears Shiv's booming
laughter and stops speaking.
Shiv says, "Calm down I was just kidding. No need to get so upset about
this."
Gauri just realizing what just happened and looks at Shiv angrily. "Look
Mr. Shiv Kapoor, where you come from that kind of dirt joke might have
been funny. But to me that was very low and disgusting. You should be
glad you are Mahen Kapoor's son, otherwise…" She turns around all of a
sudden and is about to walk away.
"Otherwise what?" retorts Shiv and Gauri turns around to face him.
"Otherwise what, Gauri (her name being said sarcastically.)" "Otherwise
you'll tell your father? Tell my father? And they will do what? God, you
simple little village girls," Shiv shakes is head after saying that and then
looking disgusted himself says, "I can't believe I am stuck here in this
place with stuffy people like you. Can't wait till I get back to Mumbai."
After saying that he leaves Gauri still standing in her place wondering if
all city people were like Shiv or it was just a rich thing.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
