Veev & Weave
Her mind worked overtime coming up with what alibi she couldgive her parents. Parents were OK with boyfriends, but absolutely not OK withdaughter shacking up in Jaipur with a NRI stranger, two weeks after meeting him,and lying about it
She could send the twins over to Bua’s but Bua gossiped abit and would definitely want to know why she has to go rescue Naina fromJaipur
Most of Naina’s trips were usually overnight… well she couldlie about that too, saying she had been gone for a night
But how many bases could she cover?
Viveka was invited to a Culture Democracy and Developmentconference at India International Center, it was a 3 day event and Viveka’spresentation was tomorrow, the last day
She could not go get Naina before that
She had to prep for it tonight
She was so anxious she had no idea how she was going to prep
“Di aap mujhe subah North campus chhod dogey?” Karuna beggedas Viveka fixed dinner, still in her crushed cotton saree and hair tied up in aknot
“I have to present babe… at 9, it will go for an hour, andthen… umm” she thought about if she should tell the twins she was heading toJaipur
She had looked at Shatabdi they left at 6 AM and arrived atNoonish, that will not work for her at all, or it left at 8:30 and arrivedafter midnight
She did not know Inder from John Doe on the street she couldnot ask him to pick her up
She was too afraid to take the midnight train, and Papa’sorders were for them not to arrive any place after 10 PM
She was super mad at Naina
There were 6 days left for Anubha to return, Akash wasarriving Saturday afternoon after spending some time at Anubha’s sister’s houseat Ghatkopar
Today was Tuesday
“Hmm” Viveka let the roti char as she let her mind wander
“Diiii roti jal gayi” Diya grabbed it burning her finger tip
“Ufff… ruko… ek second do mujhe, she turned off the gas and went into her bedroom and texted Inder
“Is she better? Can you bring her back?”
“I am sorry she has a low grade fever, I don’t think she can sit in the car for 5 hours”
“Ughh… umm.. I am sorry, can I talk to her?”
“She is still asleep, she woke threw up and went back…”
“What did she eat?”
“She doesn’t eat much” he laughed
“Oh yeah… the size 4 obsession” Viveka realized “I hate spicy food she loves spice did she eat spice?”
“I guess…?” Inder appeared clueless
“TUMHARE saath rehne ke liye gayi… tumhe KHUD pata nahi kya khayi hai?” she wanted to yell but was quiet
“You were not with her when she ate?” she insisted
“Oh I was… I don’t think she ate anything weird… I am sorry if I sound like I don’t know what I am talking about Veev, is it OK? She said Icould call you that” Inder requested
Viveka found herself smiling, the Brit accent the pleading and the spontaneous use of her nickname all she found charming
“No wonder” she whispered to herself “Sure… Inder”
“Nice” he chuckled “It’s a stomach bug… do u want to wait until tomm morning before heading out?” he offered
“If she is better will you bring her back?”
“Absolutely” he promised
“thanks”
“I want you to know she is safe here… I know what you must be thinking”
Viveka chuckled to herself “OH I KNOW” her eyes twinkled
“she really wanted to go”
“I am thrilled she is here” Inder sounded like a 5 year old
Diya came running “Di MAAAA” she whispered
“Umm.. ek second… finishing up a work call” she whispered to her sis
Anubha grilled her about Naina
After much yakking on other topics, Viveka managed to weavea good narrative
“Ask her to call me, or tell her I will call her phone nahiutha rahi”
“Jee Ma”
“Khana kyon bana rahi ho Chow Mein order kar deti, Aggarwalsse”
“I wanted to eat baingan” Viveka chuckled
“Maine fridge mein paneer banakar bolkar aayi hoon” Anubha fret
“I know Ma… dal hai… pulao hai, we are not 10”
“Achha sorry” Anubha laughed
“Don’t run away with a handsome Turkish guy Ma, Papa will miss you” Viveka smiled
“Bataoon tumhe?” Anubha blushed
“BRING ONE FOR ME” Viveka sighed “Like Yusuf Cim or BerkAtan” she sighed
“specs bhejo dhoondti hoon” Anubha nodded, waise ek hai… in ManufEngg, but I think he is over 40”
“Koi baat nahi Ma main adjust kar loongi” Viveka promised
“Good luck beta on the presentation”
“Thanks Ma”
The next day she finished up around 11, and headed out after telling the twins, they ABSOLUTELY cannot leave home for anything other than college
She gave them a sanitized version of Naina’s trip
She arrived in Jaipur after 6 in the evening, it was aloooong drive, just stopping for gas… and not even to pee…
Ma’s car was new… and it saved her behind multiple times onthe crazy NH
When she arrived at the gate and identified herself, she wasready to stretch her back
In a orange dabru print saree with purple border her usual favorite, handloom weaves bought at one of the many hastakala utsavs she frequented, her hair tied in a messy bun with a carved wood stick with bells at the end, and a large floral silver nose ring on her left and kolhapuris on her feet, she looked very much the DU research scholar/JNU wannabe professor
though sweaty and tired… right now
She rang the doorbell to the large farm house, the door was likeit was stolen from a haveli
A help opened the door
“Viveka hai… sorry Naina Mathur hai?” she asked politely
Out came Raanav Parashar… in grey shorts and peach Polo tee,and ALSO wearing kolhapuris on his feet!!!!!!!
If she knocked his breath off he was not going to admit it……..
“Aap kaun madam”
“Viveka Mathur” she said going on her phone to text Inder frantically
Edited by Nisha0604 - 3 years ago
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