FF: Shades Of Love last part pg 91 dt 28.12.15

Dutta Shreeram Patil - 27 years old. Doctor by profession, in fact a cardiologist to be specific ( dil ka doctor😉 ). Being a city boy he is not at all conservative in his thoughts. Though he has temper still one can say that he's quite easy going, friendly and approachable.

Nakusha - 30 years old. Has always stayed in her hometown and never been exposed to the outside world. Good at heart but seems to have a grudge against everyone around her. She is extremely short tempered and comes across blunt rude and annoying.

Aayi sahib (AS) - A strict disciplinarian who likes to control things and people around her. Doesn't change her decisions for anybody and she is someone who is hard to deal with and to impress. She is the sole caretaker of Patil Vadi and cares only for its welfare.

Supriya - 22 years old. She is sweet chirpy and full of life. Lives in her dream world and believes that life is a bed of roses. Orphaned at a young age, she is very close to Nakusha who considers her nave and immature.

More characters will be added as the story progresses.

shade 6 - 10 pg 12

shade 11 - 12 pg 29

shade 13 pg 38

Shade 14 - 18 pg 40

shade 19 - 20 pg 54

shade 21 - 23 pg 60

shade 24 - 27 pg 69

shade 28 - 32 pg 81

last shade pg 91

Shade 1

The engine whistled and the train stamped in. There was noise and commotion everywhere. Many passengers including me got down while many boarded the train. Coolies in red uniforms were sitting in a line. After throwing a glance at my wrist watch I looked around to find someone from home. My train had been on time but strangely no one had come to pick me. Hanging the backpack over my shoulder I moved through the crowd. Passengers were waiting eagerly for the arrival of the train. Some were sitting on benches and smoking or reading newspaper. A few were pacing up and down the platform. The vendors were having a busy time. There was rush at the tea stall. Smiling to myself I concluded that nothing had changed here. Even ten years back the scene here had been the same.

Strolling out of the station I saw a long queue of auto rickshaws. It was a pleasant Sunday morning, not too hot and sunny. So I decided to walk home. I hoped I remembered the route.

Patil vadi my hometown was surrounded by hills which were full of dense vegetation and tall trees. We were basically landlords thus huge acres of land belonged to us. Memories of my childhood came rushing to me when I spotted kids climbing the mango tree to pluck mangoes. How often had I done the same?

I crossed the primary school where I had studied only for a few years before being sent to a boarding school in pune because PV was not educationally developed. Was that the only reason why I had been forced to stay from home? I shook my head. Perhaps not. But still during my vacations I used to come back home. However after completing my schooling the return trips reduced. I used to be so engrossed in my medical courses and had no spare time. And even if I had I didn't feel like spending it in PV. The city life was more appealing to me. I knew aayi hadn't been happy with my decision but I didn't change my mind. However I did promise her that after getting my degree I'd settle in PV and work for the welfare of people here.

So here was Dr. Dutta Shriram Patil back to his roots.

*Bang*

"oh ho." From where did this girl come and hit hard against my chest?

" Nonsense." She cursed. It was her fault she should have been careful. And now thanks to her we both lay in mud. She had in fact fallen into a dirty pit. Dusting the mud off my blue jeans I stood up and extended my hand to her.

" you should see where your feet drop when you walk." I said. She slapped away my hand and got up on her own. How rude of her.

" to see where one's feet drop one has to first remove these black blind looking glasses." She snapped after snatching off my shades. How dare she do that!
" what kind of misbehavior is this?" I asked through gritted teeth. She glared back with her green eyes and replied, " I haven't yet misbehaved but now I will."

Before I could understand what she meant she threw down my shades in that same filthy pit. My eyes turned wide in shock.

" my Gucci shades!" I screamed at her. She had no idea how expensive they were. Moreover that was my favorite pair of shades. She creased her face in confusion and said, " ghuchchi ? And what about the bhurji you made of my eggs?" she peered down at some eggs that broke after our collision. I couldn't believe she was crying over some silly eggs.

Taking a step toward her I pointed my finger and threatened her, " listen lady , you don't know who you're messing with."

She placed both her hands on her tiny waist and retorted," A blind man who crushed my eggs ." Flaring my nostrils I pursed my lips in fury. I swore if she weren't a girl I would've punched her face.

Hanging the backpack over my shoulder I decided there was no point arguing with this villager. I walked past her and muttered, " idiot."

" Donkey!"

Thanks for reading

Rose

Shade 2

Through the back door I entered the kitchen and found my mother plucking spinach leaves while sitting on the floor. Opening the fridge door I placed the eggs on the rack.

" nakku, what took you so long? Do you know..." she trailed off when I shut the door with a thud compelling her to look at me.

" who did this?" she gasped on seeing my light blue suit stained with mud and yellow patches.

" A blind donkey." my blood still boiled on thinking of that guy who bumped into me. He was walking as if he was strolling in his personal garden.

" he collided with me and broke the eggs. I had to again go to the market to fetch more eggs. Aayi, my clothes ..." my mother interrupted me to inform," you know bhau has already arrived."

I rolled my eyes, for her what I said or thought hardly mattered.

" who bhau?"

She shot me a surprised look before replying, " dutta bhau , who else?" oh how did I forget him, apparently because of him I had to go and buy eggs from the market as he loved eggs. Yuck !

" but wasn't he supposed to come by evening?" then why is he early?

" no, we were mistaken . His train was scheduled for morning not evening ."

Whatever, I was least interested in his home coming. Right now I only wished to take a bath and get rid of the smell of eggs.

Water dripped from my open hair as I changed into another lemon colored suit and came back to the kitchen. Aayi was pouring hot coffee in a mug.

" nakku, take this coffee for bhau." She said while handing me the tray. I made a face, I didn't feel comfortable going to a boy's bedroom.

" aayi you only go and give him."

"oh ho I have so much of work here. The lunch is also not yet ready. Go now." With that she turned to chop vegetables. A minute later she glanced over her shoulder. I was still standing with the coffee.

" hurry up nakku, later you also have to make egg curry for bhau ."

"no way aayi, I'm not going to cook egg curry." How could people kill another living thing and eat? The thought itself disgusted me. Though eggs were different but still they were snatched away kids of hens. We had no right over them.

"why, what's the problem?" she asked in irritation.

" tell me is it right to kill someone's children?" she rolled her eyes in response as though I was debating over some silly issue. Shaking my head I left the kitchen, it was stupid of me to have expected of her to feel the pain of mother and child. When she failed to understand mine then how could she understand the pain of innocent animals?

Crossing the hall area I was approaching the staircase when Aayi sahib called me from behind.

"hey you, where are you going?"
with lowered head I replied," coffee for sahab."

" like this?" she retorted. Raising my head I met her cold gaze then realized my mistake. I kept the tray on the side table and hurriedly lifted my dupatta to cover my head and face. Now only my eyes were visible. Picking up the tray I moved toward the stairs.

" don't ever forget who you are." She said sternly.

Biting my lower lip I silently climbed up the stairs. Not for even a minute could I afford to forget who I was and even if I did people around were always there to remind me.

I pushed the door after knocking it. My eyes opened wide in shock.

*thud*

The tray dropped from my hands and the coffee mug crashed on the floor. Immediately turning my back and shutting my eyes I said," no,no I didn't see anything. Really, I saw nothing."

My heart beat raced rapidly. What was that donkey and that too not fully clothed doing in this house? And why the hell was he holding supriya tai in his arms? I shuddered at the sight.

" shameless !" I muttered while walking off.

thanks for reading

Rose.

Shade 3

" what rubbish!" I said through gritted teeth as I pulled up supriya who was dangling in my arms. My eyes were fixed on the girl who had literally accused me of having a scene with supriya and was now leaving the room. Really what exactly had she seen that shocked her so much? Supriya had twisted her ankle, she was about to trip and I simply held her so that she wouldn't fall. Now what the hell was wrong in that?

" you're alright?" I asked supriya after tearing away my gaze from that girl.

" yeah..but nakku, what has she done..." she said while looking down at the splashed coffee and shattered mug, " I'll send you another one."

I wavered my hand in the air and said," don't bother. As it's I'm going down to meet AS, will grab another cup of coffee with her." She smiled and exited the room. Moving toward the bed I picked up my blue striped shirt and wore it. While brushing my wet hair my mind ran over the events that took place after I landed in PV. First of all nobody had turned up at the station to receive me. Apparently there had been a confusion regarding the timings. And then I'd bumped into a silly girl who had raised a great hue and cry about some broken eggs. Seriously man, they were just eggs but she was making it appear as though I had committed a huge crime by accidentally breaking them.

Throwing the hair brush back I shook my head, if all that wasn't enough then this thing with supriya. Which was actually nothing. And there couldn't be anything. Supriya was a friend. I had known her since childhood. Our mothers had been really close friends and when her parents died in a road accident then AS decided to adopt her. It had come as an unexpected blow when I'd come back home for holiday and learnt about AS's decision. I was barely twelve and it felt odd sharing your parents attention and affection with someone else. But slowly I got used to it. Just as I had got used to of various other decisions that my parents had taken for me without caring to consult me even once.

"Aayi sahib ... aayi sahib." Where was she? Her room appeared empty. Moving out of her room then the dining hall I crossed the mini bar. My feet halted at once. No, I wasn't desiring to have a drink but remembered something. As a child I'd often seen baba sitting here on the stool with a glass in his hand. After drinking he would sometimes end up sleeping here all alone on the couch. He was a loner but I didn't know whether it was by choice or compulsion. Shaking my head I went out to the courtyard.

Ah there she was sitting under a huge shady neem tree with a small group of villagers surrounding her.

She made herself comfortable on a cemented platform as she heard the problems of the villagers who sat near her feet with folded hands. Their conversation wasn't audible but I could make out that she was discussing something important with them.

*sigh*

Would she care to throw a glance at her son who had returned home after quite a few years? I doubted as I settled on the doorsteps of the entrance.

I waited and waited and again waited for sometime more but she didn't notice me. Smirking inwardly I thought this wasn't new for me. It wasn't happening for the first time with me. As far as I could recall she was always like this, giving priority to the people of PV over her family.

She was basically a rural person at heart and wanted to see PV develop and flourish like a city, even if it required her family to take a backseat. I wasn't complaining. I had stopped complaining long ago. After all she was good at what she did and was doing. Thanks to her PV now had proper roads, sufficient water and electricity supply along with schools for boys and girls. People genuinely respected and bowed before her. She was their Aayi sahib.

Though I couldn't pin point when aayi turned into aayi sahib for me as well. The distance between us widened gradually as she moved onto another level.

" bhau, coffee." A middle aged lady distracted my thoughts. I didn't know who she was , hadn't seen her here before. Perhaps a new house worker along with the silly girl who had screamed for no reason in my room.

" mausi, please leave both the coffee cups here."

After placing the tray next to me she left. Taking my cup I again peered at AS. She looked so sincere and committed to her work. I was sure she must be expecting the same level of commitment from me too. Would I be able to live up to her expectations?

Not that I didn't love my work or doubted my abilities but still working in a village wouldn't be a cakewalk. It was definitely not my cup of tea or should I say coffee.

Glancing at my hand I realized my coffee was over whereas AS's coffee was now cold. Rising to my feet to go inside I believed not just the coffee but something else had turned cold as well.

thanks for reading

Rose

Shade 4

Dumping the shirt in to the washing machine I couldn't believe that my bad luck was that strong. In this whole world only he had to bump in to me, break the eggs, misbehave with me and then turn out to be the son of this house? I was already mad at him and now I was even more furious. Throwing his remaining laundry in the machine I cursed my fate. He had ruined my suit and here I was washing his clothes. This was so not fair!

I turned the knob of the machine and saw his clothes twirling. Moving back my heel touched something. I glanced down and saw his black shades on the floor. Picking them up I smirked. So he took them out of the pit, were they that dear to him? If yes then why were they in my hands? Hey wait a minute, was he expecting them to get cleaned up?

I pursed my lips in annoyance. This was the height of laziness. Couldn't he just wash them on his own instead of sending them with the laundry? Trust me, I so wanted to throw his glasses in the washing machine but somehow controlled myself and went to the kitchen stomping my feet.

Running the glasses under the tap water I again thought what irony , after dropping his glasses in the pit to teach him a lesson , I was now cleaning the same pair of glasses for him. If all that wasn't enough now I had to even make egg curry for him. I wished I had not gone back to the market to buy eggs instead should have told that some donkey had broken the eggs and saved myself from this task.

Talking about that donkey, did he recognize me? While whisking curd and cream I thought about it. Oh no, when he collided with me, my duppata had slipped. He must have seen my face and now I was sure that he would complain to AS against me. Let him, I muttered under my breath. I wasn't afraid of him or anybody else. Moreover I wasn't at fault. He was walking blindly in the middle of the road.

Slicing the boiled eggs I remembered that when I went to his room my face was covered so he wouldn't have seen my face. A triumphant grin displayed on my lips as I saut curd cream paste with ginger garlic and added slices of eggs. I always kept my face under a veil. He would never know that it was me with who he misbehaved.

" nakku, how long will your egg curry take?"

I frowned back at aayi. My egg curry? I swore if possible I wouldn't have touched those eggs.

" another ten minutes , I guess." I was trying out for the first time and hoped it was made like any other curry.

" what are these glasses doing here?"

" they are that donk...I mean sahab's." I replied after adding spices to the curry.

" then go and give it back to him and call him down for lunch."

" I'm not going anywhere."

" nakku, stop being so stubborn."

"I am busy. You go."

" what is wrong with you today ? why are you being so childish?"

I continued to stir the curry and didn't care to answer.

" the second time too you refused to give him coffee and I went."

" well that was because I was cleaning his room." I pointed out.

" if you drop the coffee then obviously you will only clean the mess."

I couldn't believe that we were having this senseless argument that was going nowhere. Still neither of us was backing off. She came near me, grabbed the stirring spoon from my hand and said," it's almost done and for god sake, nakku don't annoy me more. Take these glasses and tell him that the lunch is ready."

" but aayi..."

" enough nakku. He is such a well mannered boy. You know he called me mausi?"

Well mannered, my foot! Seriously was impressing my mother so easy ? then why couldn't I ever impress her?

Standing at the door I failed to realize that I was literally banging it instead of knocking at it. But then what else could I do, he wasn't opening the door.

" hey, what are you doing? Why are you disturbing him?" supriya tayi asked after pulling me back.

" excuse me tayi, but I have far more important things to do than to disturb him." She grinned as I told her that I came here to give these glasses back to him.
" not glasses nakku, these are called shades." She said while taking the glasses, I meant shades from me.

" whatever, plus he needs to join AS for lunch."

" gore gore mukhde pe kaala kaala chashma." She sang after wearing them.

" they look better on you." I remarked. She beamed in delight. How much she loved to be complimented but I wasn't lying she was looking pretty.

I turned to knock his door again when tayi stopped me.

" he's sleeping nakku."

" how do you know?"

She tugged my arm and took me near the window.

"see." She said while peeping through the window. I narrowed my eyes and thought that tayi was too much. How indecent to peep into someone's window and that too a boy's?

" is this the time to sleep?" here I was cooking for him and he was happily sleeping. Huh.

" nakku he must be tired."

" he came in a train not on foot."

" oh ho you don't know he is a busy man. He's a cardiologist. Dil ka doctor." She said dreamily without tearing her gaze off him.

" for god sake tayi, control your emotions. You shouldn't become a heart patient at this young age." She blushed and bit her lower lip," it's not in my hands. I'm seeing him after so many years, he's grown so handsome." I rolled my eyes," what's new tayi, you find every other guy handsome. Be it mohan, sohan, rohan." The list was endless.

She pouted like a child and placed her hands on her waist," no ways. He's different." For a brief moment I reluctantly peered at him. His back was facing us as he sprawled on the huge bed with one leg hanging in the air. Not from a single angle did he appeal to me.

Tayi held my shoulders in excitement and stated," uff nakku I can't tell you how amazing he was looking in the morning when he came out of the shower in just that white vest and blue jeans . With water slowly dripping off his hair." For some unknown reason I felt uncomfortable on recalling that sight.

" I was completely floored by his beauty. No wonder I lost my balance and he like a hero held me in his strong arms. It was such a romantic fairy tale moment. But you ruined it by breaking that coffee mug." She left my shoulders in disappointment and crossed her arms across her chest to sulk.

" tayi stop flying in the air. He's a city boy. I'm quite sure you're not the first one who fell in to his arms. He must have had his share of flings." He immediately turned around in his sleep as though he heard me. I gulped whereas a sigh escaped tayi's lips.

" just look at him nakku. Isn't he breathtaking? With hair tousled on his forehead, long eye lashes, prominent cheekbones and that cleft chin."

" tayi how did you miss his full lips with saliva flowing out and wetting the pillow."

" yuck nakku, you're so dull and boring."

" fine I'm leaving you with him. If possible send him for lunch."

Was I really dull and boring? In the morning he bumped in to me as well but I wasn't ecstatic like her. On the contrary I was only going mad at him.

Was I that dry and emotionless?

thanks for reading

Rose

Shade 5

Stretching my limbs I got up from the bed and glanced at the clock. It was 7 in the evening. Gosh I slept through the whole of the afternoon. I supposed the last few days of packing and finishing of my work had taken a toll on me. Just then my empty stomach growled.

I ran my fingers through my messed up hair while walking toward the bedside drawer. Popping a chewing gum in my mouth I decided to go down. My stomach seriously needed something more than a chewing gum.

Descending the stairs my eyes searched for AS. I hoped she was free by now. The living area was empty. I went further and spotted a girl ironing clothes in a corner. Hey she was the one who had barged inside my room in the morning with the coffee. I flared my nostrils on seeing her but why the hell had she covered her face?

" someone give me my puja plate." I heard AS calling out from the puja room.

My eye brows furrowed when that girl continued to iron the clothes. Was she hard of hearing? I walked up to her and stood before her with my legs slightly apart and hands deposited in my pockets. She didn't care to look up. Was I invisible to her?

I burst the chewing gum bubble aloud. Her head snapped up and she narrowed her green eyes at me. I didn't know why but her eyes looked familiar. She immediately dropped her gaze. Alright then she wasn't deaf.

" I guess AS is asking for her pooja plate."

" you guess right."

What kind of a reply was that? "so?" I asked. Wasn't she supposed to hand her the plate that was lying on the nearby table?

" so?" she mimicked me instead and went back to folding ironed out clothes. God, she was so weird and annoying.

" I think you should give her the plate." I clearly stated. She once again raised her head and stared at me for a few seconds before saying," I'll ask my aayi to do that."

"please don't bother. It's not such a big thing." I said sarcastically and went to give the plate myself.

******************************

My mind couldn't stop thinking about the girls I had encountered in the last twelve hours or so. They were rude, irritating and arrogant to say the least. Except for supriya, she was nice and sweet. But then how would I deal with the general public of PV, now that I had to live and work here. Were they all slightly dumb and crazy? My mind questioned whereas the mice in my stomach rumbled and waited desperately for AS to come so that they could go ahead and have food.

At last AS's evening prayers got over. Getting off the dining chair I smiled at her before bending down to touch her feet.

"god bless you."

Straightening my posture I stepped closer to hug her but before that she extended her hand to give me the Prasad.

" oops I forgot." I said biting the inside of my cheek.

" so dutta, how are you?"

" I'm good. Very good in fact."

She knotted her brows and said," what is this dutta, you haven't shaved? And you badly need a hair cut." I grinned, so how I looked mattered more than how I felt.
" AS, can we please eat? I've already skipped lunch and my stomach can't afford to miss the next meal." She smiled and nodded her head then called out," babi, get the dinner ready. Quickly." The lady who had given me coffee hurriedly came out with the dishes. She seemed warm and welcoming.

Soon supriya too joined us for dinner. She took the seat close to my mother and I wasn't surprised.

" dutta, we have already set up a small hospital with ten beds. The current staff consists of a physician, a physiotherapist, some nurses and ward boys. Very soon I shall show you the hospital." I simply blinked my eyes in agreement and kept the Prasad given by her on the plate. I would have the sweet after dinner. Raising my head I found the dupatta girl carrying the water jug. She must be mausi's daughter.

" so dutta do you have anything to add?"

" dutta?" I didn't realize that AS was talking to me when my gaze was fixed on that girl. For some unknown reason that dupatta of hers was bothering me.

" huh?" sorry my mind was elsewhere.

" I wanted to know your opinion regarding the hospital."

My opinion, did it really matter? Just like always everything was pre decided for me. I was only expected to follow. I shook my head and replied," it's perfect." Her eyes shone with pride.

" babi, nakusha, start serving." AS instructed.

" oh god why am I so forgetful? Dutta ji, your shades." Supriya said while handing them across the table.

" good they are cleaned up and look fine. Thanks supriya."

" I'm glad." She said cheerfully.

" I'm more than glad. You won't believe when that stupid girl dumped these shades in the pit, my eyes had literally popped out in shock. I mean first she slammed in to me, dirtied my clothes and then instead of apologizing she was arguing and blaming me for everything! I swear I've never come across someone so arrogant, mindless, idiotic ..."

*thud*

"careful nakusha, you'll break the expensive bowl." AS was right, I gaped at the dupatta girl in surprise. Instead of placing the bowl next to me she had almost banged it on the table. What was wrong with her?

"dutta ji, you know nakku is an amazing cook. And today she's made egg curry just for you. I'm certain you'll end up licking your fingers." Really? I don't know why but I had my doubts. Anyhow the curry looked quite tempting so probably I might be wrong.

" nakusha serve." AS ordered. She reluctantly took the spoon and dropped the curry on my plate. The way she served made me feel that she was giving food to some street dog. She was that hostile. And before I could express my annoyance she moved away. Glancing at AS I found her eyes shut. She was saying a silent prayer before the meal. Supriya was also doing the same. Chewing on the bubble gum, I thought that No matter how hungry I was but it didn't seem nice not to wait for them thus unwillingly my eyes travelled around and stopped on nakusha.

I stared at her.

She stared back.

*snap*

The bubble grew big and burst on my nose. It was embarrassing I had to admit and to make it worse nakusha threw me a disgusted look when I pealed the gum off my nose with a tissue paper. Shaking my head I averted my gaze and saw supriya giggling. I gave her a sheepish grin.

" dutta, let's start."

" Finally" I murmured.

Taking the first morsel I twisted my face and scrunched my eyes. Forcefully I chewed and gulped the contents down my throat.

" what happened dutta ji, it's not good?" supriya asked warily.

" it's not bad. It's just too salty."

" what is this nakusha, you had to make just one dish, even that you couldn't make properly." AS scolded nakusha who simply glanced at her mother before quietly dropping her gaze.

" actually nakku has cooked eggs for the first time. So maybe that's why she faulted." Supriya attempted to defend her but I knew this girl had some personal grudge against me. In the mean time her mother came rushing to me and offered," bhau please try this palak paneer. I've made it. Hope you'll like it."

" sure." Nothing could be as bad as that egg curry. Why I wished to believe that this dupatta girl had deliberately ruined the dish?

thanks for reading

Rose

Hi Rose,

DIL KHUSH KAR DITTA.🤗🤗🤗 and lots more...hugs and kisses.

sabar ka phal meetha... kitni dafa dil kiya pm karoon lekin i thought you made it clear so not to pester you .

tumhari FFs ko hamesha dil mange more... so welcome back friend. and we are getting some new readers they did say they loved your writing hope they are still checking the forum and see the good news, and read along with your old fans.😃😃.

Once again nice to see you back with a new FF.😃