PART 50C
Shivneri Nagar
April 30th Sat 2 PM
She brings the food out, sets it on the table, looks around for something, goes inside, grabs a hair scrunchie , ties her hair. He sits on the couch.
Serves for him on a plate "I was supposed to make rice, but bhool gayi"
Shaan: Punjabis are roti lovers, so you are OK
Khanak: Oh! Really? That's good then.
Khanak: Not sure if you will like, my food''.. the taste may be totally alien to you. (serves his plate)
Shaan: It cant be that bad (sardonic)
She serves herself and goes and sits on the divan, cross legged, eats slowly.
Shaan: its great Khanak! Sweet?
Khanak: Gujju khaane mein hamesha meetha hota hai.
Shaan: Even in subzi?
Khanak: Haan!?
Shaan: Besides the spice its all good.
Khanak: Aapke liye alag se spicy banaoongi.
Her heart goes thud, at that unexpected admission of cooking for him in the future.
He looks up at her.
Khanak: when ever I cook, I mean if you visit for lunch (stoic)
Shaan: Or'''. At home.
Khanak: Did you grow up in that house?
Shaan: Nope! In Bandra'''.. Dad bought this one 5 years ago I believe, we had to gut the walls between two apartments and expand it.
Khanak: Oh! Its two?
Shaan: Haan, kuch zyaada bada ho gaya ab, over 10k sq ft.
Khanak: Aap logon ko pata kaise lagta hai, ghar par kaun hai kaun nahi?
Shaan looks at her deeply "We meet at lunches or dinners, talk on the phone, hang out in the evenings,otherwise pretty much we are on our own"
Khanak: Oh! Mujhe bahut lonely lagega. You must tell me where you are (thoughtful, looking at her plate, wondering how she will fit it)
Shaan: I will be with you! (softly)
She serves him another roti, asking "Do you need something to drink besides water?"
Shaan: A beer would be good!
Khanak: Sorry, not in my house!
Shaan: That's fine (smiling)
They continue to eat quietly for a minute.
She gets up to go get dahi.
Shaan: Can you meet my friends Tues or Wed next week?
She returns, and sits down, serves herself some, " aapke liye?"
Shaan: Umm... sure (extends his plate)
She goes off to fetch a bowl for him,
Khanak: Mujhe Mahi se nahi milna! (nervous)
Shaan's heart skips a beat "Why?" (delicately)
Khanak: I don't!
Serves him his dahi... he goes " She was looking forward to it Khanak"
Khanak: you still meet her? (spontaneous)
Shaan: With friends... (harmless)
Khanak: Oh! (disagreeing but aloof)
Shaan: Does it bother you?
Khanak: Ofcourse not'''.. actually, not until May 29th! (cold)
He bites his lower lip to hide a smile "Uske baad"
Khanak: Do you need more water?
Shaan: what?
Khanak: Paani? (cool)
Shaan: Nope! I am good, thanks.
Shaan: Do you cook everyday?
Khanak: Yep, two meals, agar subah time nahi mila to sham ko.
Shaan: Really? How long? How long have you been cooking
Khanak: since I was 10... 12? Yaad nahi (genuine)
Shaan: Really? (shocked)
Khanak: dadi wanted me to learn how to.
Shaan: Did Sooraj cook? (stealthily)
Khanak: Oh ya, many times, but who mujhe help karte the kitchen mein, all the time, chopping, cleaning, doing the dishes, blending...(smiling, cheerful)
Shaan looks at her somberly. Something about Sooraj, always perked her up.😭😭
Khanak: Jahan hum rehte the, Ahmedabad mein, wahan, mujhe koi kaam wali bai nahi mili, we did all our housework, Sooraj did most of it (grins sheepishly)
Shaan nods expressionlessly.
Shaan: Was bhindi his favorite? (looking at his plate)
Khanak: No... potatoes!
She did not ask him what his is. He noticed.
Khanak: He did all my grocery, veggies, everything. I just went to work (smiles)
Shaan: uh!
They eat the rest of the meal without a word being said. He gets up, she shows him the tiny white wash basin sticking out of the wall near the bathroom annex. He washes his hands, she hands him a towel. They exchange a look.
Shaan: what do you do during afternoons?
Khanak: sleep (smiles)
Shaan: Would you take your nap now? (looking at his watch 2:40 PM)
Khanak: Ummm'.. aaj nahi (blushing) kal raat ko movie dekha, with Ritu, so was asleep until 10 this morning.
His phone rings, she cleans up the living room, puts the dirty dishes away. Runs water on them. Walks up to one of the oval mirrors in the living room and pulls off the hair band, checks the corner of one eye for something. Suddenly realizes she has company, and wears the hair band again.
He is on the couch now.
Khanak: Did you have anything planned?
Shaan: Not really'.. (sombre)
Khanak: Aap kya kar rahe hain sham ko? (walking over to the couch and sitting on the extreme edge)
Shaan: I was supposed to be at work at 3.
Khanak: Aaj?
Shaan: haan.
She realizes he may leave soon, makes her extremely sad for some reason. She has never really worried about being alone. She has loved it actually. She would read, take naps, watch movies or do her favorite thing, sketch!
She didn't care for any of it.
Khanak: Aap Ritu ke aane tak nahi rukenge? (agitated, walks over to the window, pushes the curtain and peers out, sadly)
Shaan: Khanak.
Khanak: you must go then...(aloof)
He walks up to her, she does not turn to face him, continues looking out the window.
Shaan: khanak.
Khanak: I still have to do two cupboards inside!
Shaan: Khanak, please...
Her left hand is on a circular wrought iron flower.
He traces her fingers, and circles the ring with his index finger. She is facing sideways now, while he is facing her.
She withdraws her hand.
Khanak: You must be getting late.
Shaan: Have dinner with me tomorrow!
Khanak: Nahi! (sulking)
Shaan: Tonite?
Khanak: "Work is worship"as they say so dinner can wait.
He is overjoyed at her childish fit.
Shaan: Thanks for breakfast and the lovely lunch (polite)
Khanak: You are welcome, who to main kisi mehmaan ko bhi khilaoongi (no big deal!)
Shaan: Khanak!
Shaan: Go with me then, we can be at the site
Khanak: I am not crazy to work on a weekend. Being with you is a bigger torture (sulking)
Shaan(nuzzling her ear) ha ha ...Tuesday nite to meet friends?
Khanak: I will call you if I can make it.
Shaan: Will you call me otherwise?
Khanak: Nahi! (turning around allowing him access to her face)
Shaan: Good! I wouldn't want to hear from you constantly! (laughing under his breath)😉
Edited by aditee - 14 years ago
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