OK. Here is the second installment of this chapter. I have read the comments to the last chapter with great interest. Most of you seemed to like it. Some of you said it was OK but it was taking away from ASR-Khushi. That is true, for the moment it is. But I think that's just the way I want it to be for now. We'll get plenty of all that stuff around the wedding. For now, please be patient and enjoy Malli's story. (If you can, that is. If you don't like it..I am sorry!)
Ch 34, part 2: Malli- Crushing a flower
"I'm home!" said Nigel, closing the door behind him.
"Hey Nigel! How was class?" asked Arnav emerging from the living room.
"Good. I like Geology!" said Nigel enthusiastically. Arnav merely nodded in response.
Nigel made himself a cup of coffee. "Where are the kids?" he asked.
"In the living room. Sheila's doing homework and Nita's playing quietly," said Arnav.
"OK. Have they had their evening snack?" asked Nigel.
"Yes. They both ate a banana muffin each," said Arnav patiently. Sometimes Nigel could be a tad annoying with his nagging and his "know-it-all" attitude with the kids.
"Hey ASR..doesn't Malli take the bus from our street?" asked Nigel, sipping his coffee.
"Uh-huh," said ASR.
"Then what was she doing at the bus stop 2 streets away? I saw her at the corner of Carter and Evans today," said Nigel.
"What? You mean this evening?" asked Arnav.
"Yes. Like 15 minutes ago," said Nigel.
"But I put'"Arnav stopped himself from finishing the sentence. He would figure it out himself, he thought. He changed the subject to Geology and was subjected to a long lecture on why lapis lazuli was so blue in color.
Arnav kept his word to Malli and didn't mention it to Khushi. He did keep a close eye on her the next day. It was a bright, sunny day and perfect for their barbecue in the backyard. Malli was watching the kids play with a ball. They asked her to join in, but she declined. Truthfully, her back hurt like crazy from being thrown down and pummeled yesterday. The swelling in her cut lip had reduced considerably after she'd iced it till her lips were blue last night. She had covered up her now purple eye under the usual thick layer of foundation. She looked pretty normal'her usual pale, ghostly self. She wore her usual black micromini, with an orange bandeau top, and had changed her black leather jacket for a short blue denim one. The pink and purple streaks in her hair clashed quite violently with her bright orange top. Her long leather boots were totally inappropriate for the weather. Her feet were chafing with heat under them. She propped herself up against a beam on their porch and watched the scene in front of her.
Aadit and Anjali sat on the deck, under an umbrella. Anjali had begun to show the tiniest bit. You could only tell if you knew she was pregnant. Aadit held her hand, and she let it rest in his contently. She looked quite lovely. Pregnancy agreed with her. Freddy and Nigel held beers in their hands, as they stood around the table on the deck. Arnav had his arm around Khushi's waist. They were all laughing about something. Malli didn't pay attention to the conversation. Her eyes moved from the adults to the children restlessly, but her mind was elsewhere. He knew where she worked. She was afraid of that. He couldn't touch her at the station. It was too public a place, and she had friends there. Friends who occupied neighboring benches and looked out for each other. Friends who never asked each other about their past. But all whom had a story. None of them were bedtime tales. But she was vulnerable in the journey to and from the station. And when she dropped Sheila to school. Or any time she stepped out, really, she thought exasperatedly shaking her head. She couldn't escape the fact that he was going to waylay her again. She needed a solution. And she needed it quick.
Arnav and Nigel got the grill going. They began to barbecue the marinated meat and vegetables on it. While they got the food ready, Khushi walked up to Malli.
"Malli, I hope you're happy here?" she asked smilingly.
"Yes, yes of course Ms.Gupta," this was said sincerely.
"Call me Khushi,"
"OK, Khushi."
"I know the kids enjoy your company very much and Nigel has told me how wonderful you are with them."
"Has he?" a fearful look crept into her eyes.
"Yes. He's been raving about you. I'm quite surprised. He rarely pays anyone such wholesome compliments. But he said some very good things about you Malli."
"Oh!" was all she could say. "Has Mr.Raizada said anything?" she couldn't help asking. "Just curious," she clarified quickly.
"Arnav. Strange you mention it. He hasn't actually. He hasn't said a word. But that's Arnav for you. He's the strong, silent type, my Arnav. With him no news, is good news!" quipped Khushi.
"I see."
"So, what will you do at the end of the summer? You have still have a year of high school left, right?"
"Yes," she said hesitantly. She hadn't planned on going back to school, but didn't want to tell Khushi that.
"Mommy! Sheila's hurting me!" wailed Nita loudly. Khushi left Malli to make sure her daughters didn't kill each other. Now that Nita had gotten better, the sisters were back to their usual rambunctious selves. Malli heaved a sigh of relief. She didn't have answers to the questions that Khushi would inevitably pose. And while she could lie glibly, in this case she was skating on very thin ice. She needed the job, which means she needed their trust. The more lies she told, the more likely she was to be found out. It was all very complicated. Malli felt like she was trapped in a very small room, the walls of which kept closing in on her from all sides. They moved slowly, but they moved nonetheless. And soon, she would be crushed. She almost wished for it to happen. Almost. Then she remembered Anshu. And she knew she couldn't die.
"I'll watch them Khushi. Why don't you go join your friends," said Malli, jolted out of her reverie. She walked quickly to where the kids were, and started to pick Nita up.
"Nah. It's OK. It's the weekend. Let me be their mother today'they like it and I do too. I asked you here to enjoy the party. Why don't you get yourself some lemonade and something to eat," said Khushi easily.
"OK," said Malli. She was relieved. She didn't think she could pick Nita up today without doing some serious damage to her back. She walked to the table on the porch, around which everyone was congregated.
Nigel waved a hand at her as she joined them. "Malli. Have you met everyone?" he asked. He introduced her to Aadit, Anjali and Freddy. Aadit and Anjali just smiled politely, but Freddy looked at her searchingly. He stared at her for a minute making her feel slightly uncomfortable.
"Is there something on my nose?" she asked finally. Freddy grinned. "Sorry. No." he said. "Actually, I was wondering. How old are you?" he asked.
"Err'17," she said.
"My full name is Frederick Meek. I'm a .."
"Everyone knows who are Mr.Meek." she interrupted.
"Yes, well. True." Said Freddy nonchalantly. "Anyway, I was wondering. Have you considered doing any modeling?" he asked.
She laughed. It was a husky laugh, her voice roughened by the cigarettes she smoked. "No. I hadn't," she said in a low voice.
"Well, you'd be perfect. You're tall. You're what, 6 feet?" he asked.
"6'1"" she replied shortly.
"Right. You're tall, skinny, long legs. Decent hair. We can change the ugly highlights and get you some real clothes. You could be the next Kate Moss!" he finished triumphantly. Arnav looked at her curiosly, wondering what her reply would be.
"No, thanks. I don't think I'm cut out for that life," she said.
"Why not?" asked Freddy. "You could make a lot of money. You got anything against money?" he asked.
"No. But I don't want to be a model," she said simply.
"What do you want to do?" asked Arnav before he could stop himself.
"I want to be a Sci..never mind." She said.
"What is it, tell us." Said Anjali.
"Yes. Tell us your dreams, so we can make fun of them," said Aadit. "For example, I always wanted to be a bassist in a rock band. And look at me now. Boring businessman."
"I always wanted to be a famous artist. Unfortunately, I only ever painted for pleasure. Never tried to make a career out of it," said Anjali ruefully.
"How 'bout you Freddy?" asked Aadit.
"I always wanted to be a world class designer. And I am." Said the inimitable Freddy. Nigel threw a celery stick at him. "Show off," he said.
"Well, Malli. I always wanted to be a petrochemical engineer. Instead I wipe kids' snotty noses and sing them lullabies," said Nigel. "Not that I don't love it," he said hastily when he saw the angry glares everyone was giving him.
"What about you Arnav?" asked Aadit.
"Me? Oh..I don't know. I don't think I ever had any dreams. I always knew I'd have to take care of the business, and I never thought of anything else," he said quietly.
"You never had any dreams? How sad," Malli wished she could unsay the words the moment they escaped her.
"Its not that bad," said Arnav. Khushi walked up to him clutching Nita on one hip and Sheila holding her other hand. He took Nita from Khushi. "I have a nice family, a beautiful fianc," he kissed the top of Khushi's head. "A job I enjoy, and some good friends, present company excepted of course," he said tongue in cheek. He was assailed by a series of baby carrots and celery sticks for saying that. He ducked them all pretty efficiently. Malli looked at him sorrowfully. How easily he had said it. He'd never had any dreams. And yet, all his undreamt dreams had pretty much come true. He had everything. And here she was. 17 years old. A head full of dreams. And not a hope of making a single one happen.
"So, Malli, what IS your dream?" asked Nigel. "We've all had our say. It's your turn now."
I'm just like Mr.Raizada, I guess. I have no dreams either," she said shortly.
"But you just said it was sad Chotey didn't have any dreams. That must mean you have heaps of them,' said Anjali, puzzled.
"No. I guess I'm a sad case too. Anyone else hungry?" she asked, successfully diverting everyone's attetion. They all went to get some food. Aadit and Anjali were their usual "all over each other" selves and fed each other lovingly. Everyone else rolled their eyes at this exhibition of love.
"How come you never feed me?" asked Khushi, nudging Arnav.
"Because I don't like putting food into other people's mouths!" said Arnav shortly. Malli laughed at that. She hated anyone trying to feed her, and she could see Arnav's point. She ate her food in record time. She was starving. Her last meal had been dinner last night. She'd budgeted herself one big meal every day. She figured that was enough to keep her going. The rest she saved up. And since she was eating here today, she thought she could save all of today's wages.
They sat around on the porch after eating all that food, too lazy to move. Khushi fetched some ice-cream from the freezer and they ate that too. The kids slept off, tired after playing all afternoon.
"Malli, can you help me carry Nita upstairs to her bed? I got Sheila," said Nigel. "No, you stay Khushi," he waved Khushi back into her chair.
"Sure," she said. She took Nita from Khushi's arms and almost winced with pain. Only Arnav, who was watching her closely noticed the fleeting grimace. "I'll take her," he said. He plucked Nita out of Malli's arms. "You sit here. Eat more ice-cream," he smiled gently at her and walked away, behind Nigel. Malli sat down on a deck chair, almost gasping with relief. The pain simmered down quickly, and she decided it was time to leave. She was telling everyone goodbye when Arnav came back down.
"Wait a moment Malli. It's getting late, I want you to take a taxi. Here's the cab fare." He held out a few notes to her.
"That's not necessary," she protested.
"No, Arnav's right." Said Khushi. "It's a Saturday evening too. Better take a cab,"
"OK. Thanks," muttered Malli, taking the money from Arnav's outstretched hands.
Arnav hailed her a cab and put her in it. "And this time, take the cab home. Not to the next bus stop," he said firmly. She looked at him, surprised. "How did you?" she began to ask.
"Never mind. Just take the cab home," he said shortly, slamming the door shut. She decided to listen to him this time. She got to Waterloo station and made her way to her usual bench. She spent an hour or so chatting with some of her buddies there. Then she went to her usual hiding place on the restroom ceiling and fished out her sleeping paraphernalia along with a book. She had just settled down for the night, all tucked in and cozy with her copy of VS Ramachandran's "Phantoms in the brain" when she thought she saw a shadow behind the high pillars of the platform. She looked up alarmed. But it was gone. "I must've imagined it," she thought. She went back to her book and lost herself in the beauty of the human brain.
Arnav walked out into the warm night air. He felt a little chilly even though it was not in the least bit cold. "She sleeping on a bench in the train station," he thought incredulously. He wondered what else was wrong in this strange, disquieting 17 year old's life. And he wondered why he felt the need to fix it.
Okey...time to tell me what you think peeps! 😊
Cheers!
Vidhya
Edited by madmaxine - 13 years ago
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