Posted:
Kids are home for the holidays so life is madness in a nutshell. House looks like a mess, its too cold and snowy and I have time off, but nothing seems to get done
Sorry for disappearingđđłđ
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Faith & Faux Fur
Things would change between Akka and her not noticeably but subtly
They would make "peace" a week or so later, but Akka would show restraint in enthusiasm never seen before by II
II would struggle to reveal such an observation to dude, with Manya still around, she didnt want her to know of
She would go to Munirka un announced to help out MIL had parked herself in the hospital with real and imaginary ailments just like some oldies were prone to
II shuddered to even think what a blow this was on Bala's pocket book
His Dad was a govt employee that was entitled to public hospital treatment, but his mother was in Max Saket
II took a couple of afternoons off went to Munirka from Gurgaon, and let the maid go take care of her business, and even sent Kamakshi Athai back to NOIDA to visit her kids
Shravu was happy to see her at home almost every afternoon the week of Nov 22nd
R&B was in Goa first and Pune later that week, hosing Manya's visit in a certain sense
Manya ofcourse didnt bother reaching out to II attempting to befriend her
The baby was growing fine, REALLY GOOD according to the doctor, II had age on her side, being less than 30, her systems were all working together real well
A couple of afternoons she took Shravu home without informing Akka, after making sure dinner was cooked at Munirka
Manya chithi let me use her ipad" II said one afternoon
II was shocked
She knew he wasnt supposed to use her device, she didnt want any more stress with Akka than she already had
"Are u sleeping in Munirka?" Manya asked as II wrapped up work email, and put away ironed clothes of hers and dude in the closets
"No, I am here, but many evenings when I return aap ghar par nahi hotey ho"
"Oh ya,I am painting the town in fatigues" Manya winked hinting about Makarand
"He seems nice" II nodded
"He is very intelligent, and is next in line for Major, can u believe it? Hes not even 40" Manya danced with pride
"Thats very nice, he must have such a tough job" II praised
"Oh ya, nothing like what u or dimpal have, or even Dad has... its the most noble of all" Manya explained
II nodded
"Have u met his family?" II asked softly
Manya clammed up the very next second
"Umm... no" she said and then attempted to say something and then didnt
"Are they from Delhi?" she asked
"No" said Manya, indicating she wudnt reveal any more detail
II went down and checked on Mahavir about dinner
"Didi ke ghar ke liye kuch bhejna chahti hoon, subzi roti dal aur raita? Athim ko bharta pasand hai bana lenge kya?"
"Aap aaj banakar nahi aayi khana?" Mahavir smiled
"Banaya maine, chholey" II smiled
Manya noticed that interaction
Ranjan returned from work at 8 ish, Shravu had been dropped II was on her way back to MM
"U need to start paying the help more" Manya suggested to Ranjan, as he browsed the day's newson his ipad
"Kyon beta? chhappan bhog banwa rahe ho kya?" he chuckled
"Main nahi, aapki bahu seems to be taxing the poor kid" Manya said softly
Ranjan looked up from his ipad
"Kya matlab?" he asked
"Waha bana aayi khaana aur phir yaha is se poora khaana banwaya usne" Manya said gently and chuckled
Ranjan did not respond
Manya was quiet for a bit as well
"Maybe she shud help them hire a help?" Manya suggested innocently, or pretending to be?
"Yahan inke paas koi kaam nahi hai, ghar par chaar aadmi hain aur hum TEEN" Ranjan tried to smack Manya gently
"Umm" Manya squirmed
"Sam has been sending food too" Manya stressed
"Puttar jee tussi fiqr na kareen, sab theek ho jana hai, woh bechari beemar haingi" Ranjan spoke firmly
Manya backed off a lil
"She shud be allowed to do what she wants puttarjee" Ranjan reiterated his faith in his gudiya
"Who?" Manya asked
"II" Ranjan smiled firmly, getting up, asking Mahavir to fix him a drink, as he approached the grand staircase,chakkar bahut kaat rahi hai aaj kal, Dhyan ko kahin jara uski gaadi test karwayega"
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II dropped Shravu off and headed to some craft supply store in Naraina to get him some fake fur for a Siberian forest project
She parked in a gali walked down two more winding ones, trying to find the tiny store on the 1st floor of a furniture store
She got what she wanted and returned to where she thought she parked her car
She wandered 6 blocks around it she couldnt find her car
Fear gripped the pit of her stomach, her car was gone
It was not even midnight!!!!
It was only... she checked her wrist, 9:28 PM
She couldnt believe it
She retraced her path from the store back to the spot she parked it
A bunch of rickshaw walas sat around a make shift bonfire outside a shuttered granite store, huddled in Delhi's foggy mist
The stench of beedis making her nauseous
"Bhayya yaha ek gold Toyota Corolla thi, dekha aapne?"
They mumbled to each other and looked away
"Yeh jo blue Tata Sumo hai na, iske peechhe lagayi maine" she showed the tire prints on the gravelly dirtyedge of the street
"Hum to abhi aaye" the men lied, the stores were closed the fire was lite even when she was attempting to parallel park the car
She wandered asking auto walas and drivers waiting for their employers... attempting to find stolen heat from random bonfires
After wasting atleast a half hour in futility she realized it was GONE
She had her change purse and her phone!!
PHEW!!!!
She dialed, Appa, and disconnected
She dialed Akka did the same
Dialed dude
He answered on first ring
"Hey" he said
"My car is lost da" she whispered, unable to control her tears
"Whattt?" he asked gruffly
"I came to Naraina to get him some fake fur for"
"FAKE FUR?" he asked baffled
"shravooo" II shrieked
"Is he with you?" he panicked
"No... "
I AM NOT THAT STUPID
OFCOURSE NOT
JUST CLOSE
SHUT UP
"Its 10:14" he said terrified
"I know, I dropped him at home at 8 and came here, got what I wanted, now my car is gone" she said afraid
"I texted Dhyan, he shud be getting there, u need to keep talking with me and tell me EXACTLY where u are"
II furiously started walking towards Naraina Ring Road
"I am at OP Bharti Marg" I THINK" II read a store front board
"Give me a shop numberplease" he said gritting his teeth
"Hindi mein hai" "Ruko" she ordered
"I am working my way to ring Rd
"Is this anywhere near loha mandi?" he asked
"Kyon?" she argued
"Never mind
"I think I see the ring road" she said comforted
"Do u have battery?" he asked
She checked, "52% hai" she nodded
"I dont know WHO stole my car" she cried in despair
"Lets get u home first?" he asked blandly
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Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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