Chapter 27
(Part 2)
The first part of this chapter can be read on pg.54
Bani: Jeet what happened to the positive drive and attitude. Look's like you are worse than the kids.
Jai: Please don't, I got lectured in the morning by Ami or rather was it a cooking class I don't know but now I cannot go in for a shrink talk with my wife. And stop smiling.
Bani Alright this class Ami gave you in the morning she never mentioned that to me.
Jai: Oh so she has left something for me to tell you. With a sarcastic tone or rather dejected tone.
Bani couldn't make out. But now all this was getting on to her nerves. She was confined to the hospital may be for another 10 days by then she doubted what shape the house would be and not only that the way things are going she feared would Jai just run away or the kids put a full stop to all the family thing they have been trying to do. As it has been like a tug of war situation from day one.
Bani: Seriously Mr. Walia are you trying to win the kids over or alienate them.
Jai knew Bani called him by that name when she found things annoying.
Jai: I am all ears to what you have to say. But it shouldn't end up like a catastrophe like today morning. You know today I was actually transported back to school chemistry class.
Bani: So were you a good student.
Jai: That part I don't know. All she kept saying was Mr. Walia if you didn't know which is which you should have asked for help. Is that so difficult?
Bani: So then why don't you do that?
Jai: I try to ask them and they give me this look like I am an alien.
Bani: Well by now they would have guessed you are really alien to the place called kitchen.
Jai: Alright I have just landed from Mars. So what to do about the lunch?
Bani: At least this time I hope things go right. As you are going to the studio and if she get embarrassed over something because of you we both are dead meat. So please don't...
Jai: Hey I follow your tips exactly to the point and then it goes for a toss.
Bani: That is the whole thing try to use your brains so that others don't think that you are a clown.
Bani decided the menu and told him what she likes to have. She also gives him the direction. She was specific to the point as to how to go about doing things and repeatedly she kept saying things over and over that Jai finally got pissed off.
Jai: Bani give it a rest will you I am not your kid.
Bani: Now she just looked at him. Fine then don't come crying like a baby next time. I just don't know just what all things I will have to do once I'm out of this place. I hope to see at least my house intact.
Jai: Oh please your husband can afford to give you houses so don't worry.
Bani: But then it will not be our home.
Jai: Not now Bani I just don't want to get into a grammar class also for today. As it is with all the instructions its make me a bit nervous. I guess my age is catching up.
Bani: Please Jai stay focused on what you want and try not to mess this one. Shaun will be coming in now. So I have to get ready for the next session of complaints and solutions.
Jai: He thinks he is my father...
Bani: Jai are you not getting late and reserve your comments about my son to yourself you too are no less.
Jai: Oh please not the virtues of my son.
Bani: Of course he is the only one level headed currently in that house I feel.
Jai: Tell me about it…
Just then Shaun comes in
Shaun: what's the discussion about me behind my back?
Bani: Shaun baby come here are those flowers for mum and come and give me a hug. And Jai I thought you had some errand to run.
Shaun: Errands to run...
Bani: Its nothing just work related.
Shaun: Oh thank God I thought he was going to get something for the house again.
Jai just moves out quietly as he knew if he stood there they would have a verbal match in front of Bani over yesterdays grocery shopping. The moment he leaves Shaun is full blown to give an account of last evening.
Shaun: Mum just tell me one thing is he faking everything.
Mum: What?
Shaun: Yesterday he ran the grocery bill over hundred dollars. As far as I have seen he has no clue to the ABC's of cooking and he has picked up stuffs to feed an army of people.
Bani: So you could have put them back on rack.
Shaun: Oh really that guy had the nerve to comment on our cooking saying that he is fed up of having soup and sandwiches so he wants eat something different. Ami heard that. Thankfully she did not blow her top at the supermarket. I somehow
Bani: Please I told you he is used to eating different kind of food. May be you could get something for him from the deli.
Shaun you think so we did not offer him that. He was trying to play the perfect father then as of now all I want is my schools to start or else I would turn mad by the time you come home.
Bani: You promised that we would try to work things out.
Shaun: Try mum you should have briefed us on what was to come. One thing doesn't get resolved another ten things pile up now in the house. So please tell him to stay put where he is no need to give a helping hand. Best would be if he could sit idle till you come.
Bani: I thought you both were smart enough to manage things with uncle's help. Looks like I will have to request for an early discharge.
Shaun now feeling guilty
Shaun: Mum it's not that. Is it necessary for him to stay with us? He could spend some time with us daily but day in and out I just cannot promise to stay cool.
Mum: Well as a family you are supposed to fight and play around just like you do with me.
Shaun just gives an uneasy look and takes leave as he felt no point talking to his mum. She is over the moon why make her feel anxious as he felt that it would be really difficult for them to get along as their mind sets are really different. He felt that his father belonged to some other era itself.
Mean while Jai had reached the dance studio. And Ami on seeing Jai is so shocked that she looses her balance as turns and slips. This gets her a good dress down from the instructor on loosing her concentration. Jai felt as though this is going to be the end of it. But all of a sudden he sees Ami walking up to him.
Ami: Has something happened to mum.
Jai now all perplexed.
Jai: No why
Ami: Then what are you doing here?
Jai: Oh that.
Ami: Listen I just got a 15 minute lunch break. So can you just make it fast?
Jai: Actually I got something for lunch. I asked Bani what you can have I hope it's to your liking and I am really sorry for today morning and also that fall...
Jai is talking non stop and it was looking funny but in some other situation she would have laughed away. But now she was hungry and on top it she could only just grab a bite as she had another session in fifteen minutes.
Ami: Just give me the packet and hope you don't mind me eating while you talk away.
Before Jai could give her the packet she grabs it and starts to have her sandwich and she is having the juice too.
Jai: Kind of feels weird. Can we sit somewhere?
Ami: I am so sorry and pulls him to the far end of the glass door to where there are benches.
Ami: So was this mum's idea.
Jai was now taken back was his daughter asking him something other than giving instructions.
Jai: Ya and she was the one who suggested the lunch packet too.
Ami: Thought so.
Jai: Why
Ami: Only mum knows how I like to have my sandwich and she makes the best. But you seem to have got this one right.
Jai: Eh actually I didn't make it.
Ami: oh mum didn't get out the hospital so who Shaun no he makes terrible sandwiches Aunt…
Jai: No I just asked one of my friends to make it.
Actually Jai did not tell her that the friend was a chef and he was one time Walia employee.
Ami: I would like to meet this friend of yours.
Jai: Why
Ami: To thank him.
Jai: What about the delivery boy.
Ami: Oh I thought this was supposed to be a pay back for the morning.
Jai: Fine so I am forgiven.
Ami: No ways you are going to learn to cook and mum is going to judge who is the best when she can get back to working in the kitchen.
Jai just gives her a look.
Ami: Its fair play after all you commented that I cook hopeless last evening.
Jai: When did I ever say that now?
Ami: You have a short term memory Mr. Walia yesterday at the grocery stores. So...
Jai: I did not say that. I just wanted to eat something different.
Ami: It's all the same to me. So say what truce on that account and she gives her hand for shake.
Jai is so perplexed, what to do and Jai was going to shake hands.
When he hears some comments from the other senior dancers of the troupe.
Girl: hey Ami choose who's the hunk
Ami: Oh God here we go again.
Boy: Seriously Ami your taste in men are weird.
Ami: I hope not as weird as you dude.
Girl: Hey introduce us man.
Ami: Get yourself someone and just back off.
Ami: I am really sorry about this they love to pick on me as I'm the youngest one and Mark over there he is like a watch dog. So I hardly get to date a guy. May be now you are there now mum might relax a bit on her rules.
Jai was so shocked to hear his daughter talking about dating and boyfriends that he just blurted out. Aren't you too young for that?
Ami: Mr. Walia I am going to be thirteen. And not to have a boy friend is like having a dysfunctional brain.
Jai just couldn't take it anymore. What about your brother?
Ami: Him the geek. He would have girls surely around him if he could get his head of that computer screen and text books.
Jai breathed a relief.
Ami: Gosh its time up. Thank you for the lunch and she goes running to the glass door but turn backs and says. May be tonight we could go out. Treat form my side. What say?
Jai: Alright I shall come and pick you up after class.
Ami: Fine be here at six see you then Mr. Walia.
That brought a smile on his face that his daughter has started to show some interest in him. And she wanted to do something with his even though it was cooking. But there was something else which bothered him and he had to have a have serious talk with Bani. His daughter and dating at the age of thirteen.
Cricket
Anupamaa
