Part 204 C
Greater Kailash Gujju Samaj
October 23rd 2012
10:19 PM
"You are...I can see" pulls a string gently at her back, sending shock waves rippling thru her entire system.
"And you are touching me" (squirms as she complains)
Still not turning around to face him...
"Not yet... I am only touching ur clothes" (fingers a sequin on her arm at the back)
She steps forward and he does too
"I want my dandiyas" (fiercely husky)
"How badly?" (breathes on her neck)
Not badly enough" saying so she turns towards the dancers and starts walking, she smiles as she walks, knowing fully well she is being followed. He has her dandoya tucked in his shirt pocket like over sized pens. Some men look at him quizzically and smile''..
"What was ur friend counting?" "Back there?"
Khanak: Oh! A fave song of mine.
S: Which one?
K: Aapko nahi maloom, Gujarati mein hai.
He is still a couple of steps behind her, she leads he follows,
S: When did you get here?
K: 8:45? Shaayad
S: With ur date?
K: Umm'mmm
S:You found him here?
K: Hmmm
K: Aap kyon aaye?
They are circling the huge banquet hall, enjoying each other despite their reservations
S:To watch you dance
K: Too late'.
S: Cmon I know you will go back
K: I don't think so'.
The music starts she pauses, he does too, she gathers her dupatta and gently places it on her shoulder, he notices a cut of sorts on her index finger
He holds it
"Kya hua?"
She tugs, he does not let go " The tassle at the end of a friend's dandiya tore my skin''
"Did u put something on it?"
"Umm..mmm"
"That's the 4th time Khanak"
She looks up at him, they are not looking at the dance, instead at each other''
"You've counted the number of times Ive cut myself?"
"No the number of times you've said Ummm' mmm today" (smiles)
They both are transported to Beacon Hill for a few moments
Cheery,relaxed, fun, just the two of them
After a looong time that seems to be recreated tonite''.
Her finger is still in his grip''''.
"Mera haath chhodiye" she tugs
"Why? Do you know some one here?"
"My date wont like it"
"Then I need to wrap my arm around ur waist
He doesn't but the thought releases butterflies all over her insides
"Your admirers arent going to like it either
"Khanak I met them at the door"(pleads)
"One is walking our way" she tugs shooting daggers at a the girl in magenta
He doesn't let go, instead sidles up close, so her lehanga and dupatta folds shroud their hands. His grip is firm, and possessive
"The next is a couple's dance, do you want to dance"she asks
"I don't really do dandiya" he says amused
"I don't either, I just want to be seen with you" she says
Khanak tugs violently, he holds on tighter''.
"That's honest" he laughs throwing his head back
The fact that she amuses him makes Khanak more infuriated.
"I am going to get something to drink, be back in 10, the name's Shefali BTW she smiles and that makes her look more gorgeous'''.
"Bad idea Khanak! Go home to ur computer and sketching''..""Her mind wails, mourning...
"May I have my Dandiyas?"
"No Khanak" he says firmly
"I am hungry!"
Lets go eat" he says
He steers her towards the tables. The food is part of the tix price Rs.1800 per head
Ritu has just sent her a text message, the car battery had died'' and so they might not be able to make it
They were going to go meet Rajat's prospective bride again so she needed to crash sooner anyway.
Khanak picks up a plate, there are waiters serving the food.
She asks for some rice, dal, subzis anda roti, her finger still held captive.
He shakes his head when they ask "Sir aapke liye"
"Ill eat with my wife he says pleasantly
She looks at him startled
"What? You don't want to share?" (deliberately ignoring the reason for her shock)
"Nahi" (softly)
"You wont share?"
"No! Whats mine is mine" (firmly)
Waiter: maam, salad?
He interrupts their reverie
Khanak: Hmmm (extends her plate)
He gets her some silverware and juice
They find a table
Khanak: Mera haath...
S: You have ur right hand...
K: I want both...
S: We are not in bed why do u need both...đłI will tear up ur roti, Gujju rotis don't need any tearing up anyway (mocks becoz they are so soft)
K: Theek hai phir aap Punjabi roti lekar aayiye
Pulls her plate closer
S: I was kidding Ms Mistry
K: You should have married a Punjabi gal
S: I still can... (smiles)
K pulls her finger
He picks up a slice of cucumber and chews on it...
S: I discovered a scar on ur back'''
She picks up the water and gulps it down with a rock of an ice in it, choking
S: The back offers a great view Khanak
K: Stop it!
S: How did you get that?
K: Ummm 'mmm
S starts eating rice with the only fork on her plate.
Goes for the exact subzi or dal she tries to scoop with her roti
She gives up frustrated''. He eats for a while
K: I fell down from a tree and the limb scraped my back
He looks at her startled to discover the tomboy''.
S: How big ?
K: The tree or the limb?
S: Both
She uses her hand that's held captive and raises it up high, draping her orange dupatta all over his white shirt sleeve.
K: I am sorry! (goes to pull it off)
S: Its fine Khanak''.. (stops her)
K: I was 15 I think
S: You climbed trees at 15
K: I still do'' (blushing)
S: Why?
K: There was a cute guy that lived two doors down he used to be out in his patio, the only way to see him was ''.
S: Do you still look at him? (amused)
K: I do look at him ''' ALL the time (husky)
They both knew it wasn't the neighbor
Shefali: Here you are! Where is my dance?
S: how abt i take u on one later?
S: Really? Shud I give you my number?
K: Hes promised me the next dozen or so weekends, you shud give ur number to me! Once I am done, hes all urs, I can let u know (smiles)
The girl's jaw drops
Her husband looks at her in shock yet again
Shefali: I don't think weve met
K: Nope!
Goes back to eating, grabs her fork from his hand and starts to dig in
Shefali: Lets meet when u are done with dinner
Shaan: ummm' OK
She eats quietly while he admires her, she doesn't say a word afterwards.
Shaan: Dozen weekends? Huh?đđł
She shuts her eyes mortified...
12:14 AM
24th Oct 2012
He has sent her car away, hes driving his tonite'.. her legs are ready to fall apart.
Her dandiyas are still with him, she used a loaner pair''..Danced her heart out.. he had watched them all''..
She is too tired to think straight, he opens the car door she sits down and looks at him
He smiles
Sits down, revs the engine, hits the radio
kahi na jaa, aaj kahi mat ja
(phir mile na mile
ye pal ye sama baahon me aaja
kahi na ja aaj kahi mat jaa - 2)
(ye jo bas mein kadam nahi tere
main sanvaarungi dua sang tere
tere dil ki manzil hai yahaan - 2)
He slides the window down, and pulls out of the parking lot, driving towards the outer ring road''
jaane wafa, sach hai kisko pata
phir mile na mile
ye pal ye sama baahon mein aa jaa.
S: Can you get home on time the rest of the week?
K: Hmmm (eyes closed)
He reaches and flicks a few bangles'''
She opens her eyes
S: You did not answer me
K: Kya?
S: Get home on time?
meri raahon ka diya teri aankhen
mere gam ki dawa teri baatein
to phir aur jaana hai kaha - 2)
la: kahi na jaa, aaj kahi mat jaa ...
K: Kyon?
S: I have to go to Mumbai tomm.
He drives looking athe road, she misses him already'..
K: I am going back to Vasant Kunj! (upset)
He is thrilled she is hinting that she would miss him
S: I am working two jobs (husky plea)
K: I know that already! (glum)
S: I will be back by Friday'''..
K: I wont be home!
S: Where are you going?
uljhan teri main sab jaanu
tujhe teri tarah pehachaanu
jo main hu to gam kyon jaanejaan
ho jab dil hua jab tera deewana
thokar mein hai sara zamaana
mera kya karega ye jahaan
jaane wafa sach hai kisko pata
phir mile na mile, baahon mein aa jaa
la: kahi na jaa, aaj kahi mat jaa ...
K: Mujhe aapse koi baat nahi karni
He drives past IIT, Munirka, does not turn towards Olaf Palme Marg''.. she doesn't care, she misses him too much to go home and be lonely all over again
S: khanak'..
K: Mujhe ghar jaana hai
S: I will be home Fri nite
K:God! You are so clever! You showed up today so you can take off tomorrow (accusing)
His joy knows no bounds again, he smiles at the steering, "we are fighting like we used to" "She is so mad at me right now, I just need to get her home to bed" "MY bed"
S: You've promised a dozen weekends to me!
K: Go to hell! I am not giving you an hour! (blistering)
He laughs out loud
Turns around ad gets home
She wont get off the car
S: Do you plan to stay here until I get back?
K: I will be some place where u cant find me.
He holds the door for her, she walks out in a huff, holds her lehanga with both hands and scampers up the stairs
He follows chuckling, doesn't unlock the door''.
Pushes her against it and kisses her.
Her dandiyas are in his back pocket
His hands are all over her back, and now waist''.. she take soff her dainty jootis and stands on his feet''..
S: This has so many sequins, u are a cactus''. (disgusted)
K: Ward off men! (kisses his neck)
S: Most''..
K: I am leaving if you go to Mumbai
He crushes her to the door'.. "Try that Khanak, I will show you then"
Unties the drawstring at the back''''
His white shirt is smudged with lipstick and kajal'''
K: where is my dandiya
S: back pocket (whispers and laughs over her lips)
K: I want it
S: Get it!
She reaches for it''..
S: Why do you love it so much?
K: I do'.
S: Why? Did ur Dad buy it for you?
She is so carried away in throes of passion ... she puts her foot in her mouth elegantly...
K: Not Aada... (groans pushing herself against him pulling the carved sticks out...)
He stops, he knows who bought it...đđ
She realizes the moment she says "Not aada"đđ
He unlocks the door turns the light on and goes to his room, she stands there at the threshold of her "now/future" home, holding something from her past...
