Mishal Raheja ~Dutta
Out of my hands
Part 5
Naku gazes at him with her expanded big bold doe green eyes .. impressed or rather moved by the fact that he commented on their relationship, making it look practical, to the point and nothing beyond that! however, debatable it may appear before others. It was clear Dutta didn't wish to engage in further discussion with Seema and with a nod, he made a bee line for the door and left. Seema raises an eyebrow, clearly displeased at his abrupt turns of outlandish, un foretold behaviour.. to be honest, she did expect him to tarry a while and perhaps brief her about how things went between him and his subject.. but seemed he was in a hurry to getaway.
Seema reinforces what she maintains anyhow, that Dutta in holistic terms is without a doubt, a bank of artistic imagination and expression; an asset to the school ,that's why she has to tolerate his abrasive turns. Yet, with this girl still being around, Seema can still disperse her tips of managerial guidance for good pupil practice ; for maybe a few words of sound counsel to Nakusha ,for the girl's own good of course ,will not go amiss, concluded Seema as the senior management staff of this school.
Naku doesn't quite know what to make of his hasty retreat either. But this much she gathers that DP is entirely into his work ,this studio and all that it contains, is his oyster. That he minds his own business and disengages from any extra divulging and idle digressive conversations, be it even with his boss.
However, such brashness, strangely magnetic and hard to reach persona is what strikes as most becoming to her .. Naku muses furtively in silence. Seema however, is hypersensitive to atmosphere..and sentiments. She can see this pretty young girl already seems enamoured by the moody Dutta. She saunters casually over to Naku and places her hand on the girl's arm..
"you seemed spellbound by his persona ,am I right?
"nehin..tu.. fumbles Naku, main tu...woh.." is all Naku can manage to utter nervously.
"well don't be.. you must keep in mind ,he is a senior, here only to do his job.. i.e, in your case just to capture your artistic impressions ..thing is here at this school , the establishment discourages any emotional affiliations between subject and tutors, creates complications you see ,but then you are not just a pretty face Nakusha ,you are seemingly clued on.. and sensible ... this thought can never cross your mind isn't that so Nakusha? but still, it's my duty to remind you.." Seema rattled on ..despite the fact that Naku, could have have done without this moralising, or should she deduce lecturing.. but Seema ma'am is like a teacher and therefore, in pupil capacity to respect guidelines offered by her is part of campus life, accepts Naku..
However Naku considers this all very well.. it's best ,being a junior pupil to take in what is being spoken to her, but there is some curbed rebellion in her that wishes to crash through the show of abstinence she provides in not defending her self. For, the truth is she is not that sort of a girl who would throw herself at men.. She doesn't need to. For her self- esteem matters to her.. she attaches credence to it.. however contrary, it may appear ,even to Seema ma'am, that since she has volunteered herself for this project, she may be one emancipated and may be a bit of loose character.
But Naku gathers up her proficiency and speaks out why she was here in the project,
"woh, ma'am.. wanted to remind you that I sincerely hope I will be getting a stipend for this assignment as I have to pay my younger brother's fees.. it is imperative, I promised my mother that I would take care of my brother's schooling, so I would appreciate your compassionate consideration in this matter."
Seema admires this girl's integrity .. she only asks for remuneration not charity.
"don't worry Nakusha , you will get your due at the end of the job, you do understand, we don't pay up front, as some models , take the money and soon after do a runner"
Naku is disappointed but still understands the complication of the situation.
"Ok, ma'am, phir main jate hai..ghar bhi jana hai , meri Aye intazar kar rehe hogi.." with a namaste Naku leaves..
~~~~~~~~~
Tad put off by herself for sounding so desperate for the money.. Naku squeezes her arms by her sides and steps past the huge metal wrought iron gate of the arts school.
Outside the boisterous sound and busy sight of the to and fro traffic hits her as she arches her neck to the side , squints blinded by the afternoon blazing ball of fire across the horizon. It is exceptionally baking temperature wise. A quick wipe of her moist brow, is almost a habitual and needed motion in this heat. No sign of public transport.. rickshaws rattle past, but as her Aye has briefed her, avoid using them, as buses are more sheltered, in terms of safety , but today ,no surprise.. none is seen to be approaching in the dust ridden grind of the traffic..
Beep! and then a metallic yank of a hand brake.. Naku turns her head and meets his keen ,curious narrowed lion like side eyes.. no soon did she catch them ,he looked ahead and mutters a monosyllabic words in his slow guttural drawl ..
"beith ja! ..
Naku waits for him to continue but he grips the steering of his black open top jeep, reeving his engine.. but he isn't going to grant her that favour of uttering any more..
Dutta waits.. for her response, surely she understands what I have just offered.. tu beithe kyun nehi? nazar ah raha hai , uske bus nehin ane wali.. phir be bhuddu bunke muhje tak rehe hai.. gripes Dutta.
Naku is just plain, ummh no! pleasantly surprised to see him turn up.. her luck, what good luck! but soon after, she bites her lower lip and lowers her eyes ,as her fingers gently feel the sides of her shirt.. Dutta does note her gesture but pulls his mouth down to his indented chin , blinks and then turns to dimple face Baji who leans in the passenger seat, busy watching the two.. Dutta, stiffly seated in his jeep, controlling the drone of his engine by balancing the clutch! and Naku on the road giving him the .. who me looks? Baji has to help out..
"umm Nakusha, woh kya haina, ye hamra roz ka raaste hai.. to, ghare mein beita ja, in fact, if we can co-orindate our times, we can offer you a lift daily! kya bolte hai tum?
Dutta rolls his eyes and shakes his head at Baji's initiative, of committing him to being her chauffer for god knows till when? By the looks of her response, this girl obviously warms to the idea, as now after Baji's words, her heads nods an affirmative..
Dutta rests his hand brake and looks at Baji to accommodate the girl.. Baji, moves his eyes to the back seat, and jumps out, opens the back door of the jeep and secures Naku in the back seat.. for Dutta it was time to adjust his rear mirror. She moves her eyes to his action, and there is a brief exchange of gazes betwixt them.. subtle, silent, sensation of togetherness.
Dutta turned the key and puts his jeep in gear.
As the jeep speeds on so do his thoughts! upon the wings of his imagination.. as he looks at her from her time to time in short bursts from the rear mirror, he sees her true hues, as observed, her, first hand splendour in the glowing light of the sun. The gentle breeze tousles, kisses, feels and lingers on her peach complexioned cheeks.
Despite her prettiness, Dutta , as he drives and steals glances at her, can detect a certain preoccupation in those transparent green eyes of hers.. in fact he can swear she looked morose as soon he stopped his jeep near her.. on the road. what is it that robs the natural radiance of her face, with or without the solar rays illuminating her beauty..?
He brakes.. ummh with a lurch! as a donkey! tied to a cart comes out of no where! and pauses before his jeep ,turns his neck and gives Dutta a puzzled look.. Dutta sighs, and adjusts his gear, swerves slightly and gets once into drive again, as if nothing has transpired .
The beast of burden , gives Dutta a short respite to recover from her good looks , and he decides he will ask her why does she look off colour? he sides his face and deduces, she is his subject so her welfare is his business as well. Still for the moment he, defers as his preference is for Baji to find out.
Hence Dutta , turns his neck to Baji and then back to the road ahead. Baji suspects, Bhau has something on his mind..and he doesn't want to wait long, so should he intercept? But before that, Dutta grips the steering and addresses Naku through the rear mirror,
"what's eating you inside? you can tell us.. maybe we can help?
Naku notes, he says, "us"rather then me.. he skirts around.. she wonders why? but since he is polite enough to notice, what she thought she concealed well enough , she obliges them.
"bhai ke fees ka masla hai? I did mention this to Seema ma'am, pun she didn't give the answer I expected"
"what did you expect from her Nakusha? aur bata main sun raha hoon," Dutta replies
Baji smiles, ye hoi na Bhau wali baat! point pe ekdum, koi edhur udher nehi!
"woh I thought kuch advance mil jata tu main fees submit kar deti"
With a turn of his neck, Dutta looks at Baji who gets the Bhau look cue, of ask the rest from her..
"Kaunse school main parta hai tera bhai,. Nakusha ? bas tu naam baata ,kam ho jaya ga"
Before she can reply Dutta brings his jeep to a halt and cranks his neck backwards and asks her
"gharme hai, pani peena hai?
Naku skakes her head.. and this time he notices her face appears relaxed. She watches him push one long leg out of his jeep and soon after finds his feet and strides off to the nearest kiosk selling colourful bagged confectionary and fizzy drinks and water..
Silly woman , he muses, probably wants a fizzy drink instead of still water and Dutta acts.. grips an orange pop bottle, holds it up to her and points his finger at it.. in return she giggles and still shakes her head.. well let her die of a parched throat then, he twitches his jaw .
While Dutta is busy buying water.. Naku snatches the moment when she can share her thoughts with Baji.. Naku looks across to see the imposing figure of Dutta and then says surreptitiously,
"Baji mujhe ajeeb lagta hai.. fees accept kerna, DP kiya soochte hoon ge mera bare mein? ke, charity mangte hoon, after telling him my sob story"
Baji shakes his palms in disagreement and assures her, and puts her mind at ease,
"look Nakusha , Bhau doesn't think twice when it comes to helping people with a good cause.. tune fees dene hai, that's good enough for both of us.. did you know Nakusha, both me and Bhau were from needy back grounds.. Bhau ka tu family bhi tha, unpan ka tu no one aage , no one peeche! samjhe kya? areee.. yaar Baji yetam! an orphan! he says with a guffaw!
Dutta turns up suddenly and chucks a still water bottle at Baji ,who catches it nearly in flight.
and then suddenly sits down in the driver's seat with a lurch..Naku pulls her lip as she thinks heavens, pure jeep he hil gaye DP ke weight se.. she covers her giggle with her palm as she notes that as he settles in his seat his eyes fall on his rear mirror to take on board what happens with her, on the back seat, which she had anticipated..especially after she had shared her preoccupation.. instead of giving her more attention, it's Baji who gets quizzed..
"what were you gossiping about Baji? you seemed very intense in your manner the pair of you?
"nothing much Bhau was just about to tell her that how are lives are influenced by the presence of Aye Sahib.."
Dutta yanks his head a little to the side and checks her in the rear mirror and before he comments, he forms a presumptuous deduction of what might have prompted Baji's reference to their previous life..
"dekh Nakusha, if you are humiliated by accepting help from us ..ummh this is as you see it! I want you to see instead our sincere effort in helping you out.. is mein koi bare baat nehin, humari Aye Sahib.. ne mujhe aur Baji, dono ko he pala hai! she and her husband are known philanthropist s of the area, and hence Baji and myself too put every effort in completing the legacy of supporting identified needs as seen around us! so forget about feeling any less then us. Besides ,Nakusha.. you have the essential quality of putting your family first before yourself.. and this is a quality both me and Baji also ensure we cultivate in ourselves and finding you nuture, familial service, you have are united respect.. Dutta explains firmly.
Naku nods and Dutta can see she probably can spot some reason in his words..
With a gentle wipe of his stubble cheek with his long ,this time clean fingers though still stained and dabbed here and there with paint at the lower muscular arms; he parts his lips and with one eye brow raised, he asks her the directions to her house.. silence flows as he expects. Rather irked he muses, what is with this girl.? every question one asks her.. she dons a hesitant look! and this which without much difficulty from her stirs in him a wave of irritability. Fed up he looks ahead and growls,
" Nakusha, mahal na sehi , pun tera ghar tu haina ? ye kisi chiriya ka khonsla mein rehte hai tu?
Baji blows out a guffaw, turns around his neck and says to a crimson faced Naku..
"aur bola, Bhau ko DP!, areee! be warned he can become a displaced person at times.. hota kehien pe hai, aur batien kehien aur se kerta hai.. it's me ho can locate him and bring him around"
Dutta , let's go of the steering with his left hand and punches Baji on his right upper arm..
"that's for casting aspersions upon my good nature before my subject.. gadhaa!
Baji grabs the steering in a hurry!
Bhau..watch out! aaga gadha hai! and Dutta jerks to an emergency stop one more time!
"ek tu en gadhoon ne thang kar mara hai, jadher dekho pura sadak pe gadha he nazar ate hain!
Bhaji supresses a snigger and then turns his head around to Naku
"Tu bole nehin where you want to be dropped?
Woh.. it's out of the way.. it's a fishing village at the east coast..that's why I was a bit reluctant ",she mumbles..
" lift dena hamra idea tha, your job is to give directions, and no before you start to feel awkward again, we don't mind going that way.. Dutta , says decisively ..
Baji chips in, hurriedly..
"Bhau drop me home, Roops ka text aya hai tha, they want me home for checking up on the builders"
~~~~~~~~~
Dutta pulls the hand brake before this handsome , solid stately house.. visible also is , still under construction sections, on one side of the building.. which means it's still under expansion. Naku's eyes pop out!
Baji jumps out and teases her,
Ye hamra ghar hai Nakusha... have fun with the displaced person!
Dutta reeved his engine and is about to drive off , when Baji.. dives and opens the back door of the jeep and suggests to Naku..
"why don't you sit comfortably in front, on the passenger seat.. there'll be lot less jostling about!
Dutta just firms his jaw and accepts this girl joining him in the front.. Baji dusts his hands, twists his arm and scratches the back of his head and gives his Bhau a huge dimpled smile.
Dutta just loosens his lips and turns the key and slowly drives out of his home..
Naku sits silently as he drives on.. so if he lives in such a huge mansion he must be accustomed to an affluent life style. Plenty and bounty may well reign supreme in his house. Must be a divine feeling to have, an assortment of dishes just appear at the table.. magical..From the corner of her eye she notices his knee covered by his white dhoti.. moving back and forth at the clutch. Looking at his attir , dressing down may be a deliberate move to keep his well off living, impression , under bay.. these were bits and pieces of his persona that give birth to a certain aura although a dispirited one, but still an aura does engulfs him.. that which perhaps wants her to excavate more layers of DP..
He senses her silence.. better still it could have been any girl.. but the trouble is he is not the usual amir lardka who whizzes around down town or up town or any other way with some woman sitting beside him in his jeep.. pata nehin what she is thinking? he wonders.. yet he does feel reasonably stable in talking to this girl , and why shouldn't he? will be working closely with her .. he sighs and then , turns his neck casually to steal a glance at her windswept face..
"Kya sooch rehe hai Nakusha?hope you are not anxious about travelling with me?"
"Nehin tu DP, aise koi baat nehin. .. but haan I want to ask what does it feel living in such a big house?
"I wish meri maa bhi mera saath hoti mera ghar mein?..
She gives him a sided look.. and then asks simply, "your mother, where is she?
He gripped his steering and mumbled,"my mother died when I was a toddler, bemaar thi ..my babaa brought me up initially; Aye Sahib the lady who owns Patil Nivas brought me up as my father couldn't give me a sound education .. which was my dying mother's last wish.."
When her green eyes sting with tears, Naku tries not to sniff as a result of what he shares... for she somehow distinguishes that the last thing this man would want is sympathy. What a folly on her part. She just considered the enormity of the stately house and now his loss as stated by him, in comparison seems not only more vast but also irreplaceable. Her short sightedness makes her feel slightly stupid. Her fingers twiddled about in her lap nervously.
"maggar ek baat hai Nakusha..janam tu meri maa ne diya mujhe ,pun sambhala mujhe babaa aur Aye Sahib ne.. ekdum nayaab hain! dosre ke baachoon ko, mujhe aur Baji dono ko, apne baache samhje ke har cheez de.. but I tell you the most valuable assets she has given me and Baji is the capacity and more so the ability share wealth , if we see need.. and to receive with a compassionate heart all that people around our area bring to us in terms of both their joys and sorrows... he pauses and takes a deep breath and continues,"aur mera babaa ne ye shikhya , that Dutta don't laze about but make an honest living, like he did as long as he could. Now he's old and frail.. nearly blind, but still lives in the shack where I was born in and where my mother died... tum chalo ge mera aisli ghar dekhne Nakusha?
She is taken aback by his sudden invitation.. it felt as if he was asking her to somewhat enter his life.. her eyes shine keenly
"yes of course DP! kab jana hai? she chirps..
"filhaal tu ye bata where do I drop you? out skirts are here of the east coast fishing village.
~~~~~~~~
Yes both can hear the screeching sounds of the sea gulls, the hoot of trawlers across the shimmering waves.. fishermen casting nets in the middle of the calm sea.. there is a buzz from thatched huts, roof tops covered with dried palm trees.. swags of fishing nets hang on many door posts.. and tarpaulins outside each, hut, holds a catch of fish exposed to the rays of the sun.. obviously to be sold as dried sea delicatessens..
He pulls his hand brake up and looks back at the hundred pair of eyes that look at him..then he turns to her, takes a look at her face now turned towards him.. what can he see? nothing!
"Chal.. uther ja Nakusha.. ye ab sab ko dekhai ge ke jeep me beithe hai.. apna khayal rekhna.. and I'll see you at my studio.."
He looks ahead as she disembarks .. but as she slams the door..and walks off after a shy namste... he cannot stop his eyes from watching her as she walks away from him.. why does he feel like protecting her? he must be getting displaced in his head.. she's capable enough .. if it's any one who needs protection it has to be him! and that to from her.. bhag Dutta bhag!.. he mutters, turns the key ,reverses and painstakingly his tyres.. revolve around the sand.. spraying some of it as he changes gears and speeds off in the direction from whence he came from..
When it is safe, Naku does turn back and her eyes follow the tyre tracks of his jeep.. she bites her lip..she musn't.. she cannot be so giddy.. she hopes this feeling will pass..
~~~~~~~~
"Bhau where are you? edhur Aye Sahib is asking questions , tum mera saath ghar wapis kyun nehin lauta, mera tu bheja fry ho gaya hai ,apun kya jawab de sab ko? rattles Baji.
"waise tu t era mau har baat pe bhaut kholta hai.! ye bhi pata de kisi lardki ko ghar drop kerne gaya hai main! retorts Dutta
"you don't say Bhau! agar main ye bola tu teri shaadi ka band I can hear playing in the vicinity of Patil Nivas already!
Dutta drives up into Patil Nivas.. he is preoccupied, it seems there is a buoyancy in his whole being.. not that he is a dull soul.. for being a man related to the finer senses, life around him was, is and always will talk about momentum. It can never be dull and senseless. How can it be? for he receives his flow of imagination from the meaning of life that surrounds his being, still or in motion..
It was odd he refuses food, it's clear he does not live by food alone something else activates function in him. Baji explains to the household, that he probably stopped and grabbed something on the way. Baji searches for him in his room , but only faces empty space.
With a bottle in hand and a couple of glasses held down between his forefingers he heads to the garden.. and lo and behold there he finds the missing man.
Bathed in the pale blue of the moonlight.. stands Dutta before an erect sturdy tripod held large easel. Pencil in hand, with slight furrows of concentration he pours his soul on a large sheet of paper.. Baji walks up and stands behind his friend .
" Baji the spirit does not wait, to realize itself in some form.. it wrestles to gush out ,it knows not time constraints it just wants expression.. says Dutta , his voice flows..relaxed and calm.. his pencil tip rubs gently against the large blank sheet of paper. A soft, sound, increases, to a slow sliding noise of the sharpened graphite lead pencil, then it sweeps , shifts, curves , rubs till an etch of a large doe eye realizes it self.. Dutta moves back to observe the imitation of life.. a few more shadows, depths and strokes gives it a feel of a tangible visualization, but not quite! For completion a shuffle with the point of the pencil, a winged sweep and a bow shaped eyebrow appears on the white sheet of paper..
"Hummm..ab thek hai.. pun rooh abhi bhi bechien hai , Dutta groans softly with a sigh.
A liquid glug behind him and Baji at his side, offers him a glass of whisky..
"this might help to calm the spirits.. spirit he spirit to katate hai.. he says with a sly snigger..
"Salle Baji! Aye Sahib ko pata chala tu dono ka naasha uthar dien gein".. reflects Dutta.
Baji knew that Dutta usually doesn't drink.. but today who knows he might just live a little , on the wrong side of life.. be a rebel !
Baji continues to hold Bhau's glass and breaks into a teasing old popular number..
"Ohhh aj mausam , bara beiman hai.. bara bemiman hai.. ane wala hai koi tofaan haiii!"
Dutta pivots and grabs the glass down's the drink in one shot, gulps and goes aghhh
"tera be sura gana sune se bether hai , main teri offer maan loon"
The pungent spirit burns in his gullet although way to his heart.. pushes him back to the easel and a set of thin lips appear.. he studies them tweaks them a bit.. no he didn't want them part just held against each other! still on paper, yet within his mind he can see them curve at the corners, the slight pout of the lower lip ,and ah yes... the half coy sided pull of the bottom lip.. hmmm .. Nakusha.. tu kitne sundar hai..he muses silently.. as he arches his solid back pushes his bold neck forward and with a strong linear stroke of his sketch pencil etches a delicate porcelain nose.. and Dutta smiles and puts his pencil down. with one hand folded across his chest, he turns to face Baji..
"ok guess who? Baji..
Baji takes a sip and opens his eyes wide and responds facetiously.
" ab Bhau ye main tu nehin ho sakta.. mera eye brows aise nehin, neither are my lips thin.. and my nak is anything but sharp! tu I give up! he sniggers..
"bewaqat ka mazak band kar aur jo poocha hai pata! Dutta glares at him..
ok Bhau .. Nakusha! confesses Baji..
Dutta nods once with approval and says in a guttural voice..
"yes Baji the very girl! exceptional she is.. without a doubt"
"what makes her so special Bhau, usually you're not into to using your shall we say your artistic eye on ladeez log..?
"It's her beauty Baji.. yes I have seen other girls but ye lardki stands out in the crowd.. ekdum farak lagete hai" Dutta admits.
In what way is she different Bhau..?
"uska rang aur roop Baji.. it seems the eternal potter carved her with marble.. and her features are the finest I have every set eyes on.. and those green eyes.. tu bata Baji , ordinarily where do we see many people with green eyes? hummm.. it's uncommon here.. take a look at your eyes and mine, they are dark brown like many around us. But this Nakusha , with her light eyes.. seems like an apsra.." says Dutta , unabashed about his revelations ..
But then Dutta faces a certain anxiety too..
"soochta hoon Baji ,if it's one 's face that is the immediate first point of contact of that person with another person...then her beauty must attract many admirers.. jaise main awe struck hogaya hoon, she will happy thousands more under the spell of her beauty..
Baji, can't but help point out to his mesmerized friend..
"pun Bhau external beauty is not to be impressed by.. we know nothing about the kind of person she is..?
"mera liya us ka khobsuraat chera he kafi hai.. Baji , I am inspired to create by what I see and I see only the beautiful Nakusha whose every part from top to toe enthrals me"... proclaims Dutta.. to be continued Hamlet53~ 23.8.14
Edited by Hamlet53 - 10 years ago
all great images that go with the update..👏Baaji entered with the bang.....Thank god he came there at the end.😆..he didn't interrupt Tasha's sweet convo.....Loved Baaji's teases & masti.❤️...He is Always so sweet & such a cheerful friend...❤️..Sweet Dutta& Baaji...❤️...Seema always keeping an eye on Dutta..😡...she spy on him😡..Dutta& Naku just having an artist & his subject relationship only???.😲...No Its something beyond that.😉..Dutta willl realize it sooon.😉..But this seema 😡,.Twinky baby can't trust this lady.😛...Hey Seema ..Stay away from sweeet Dutta..😡...
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Arjun
Cricket
