It was nearly 8,O! clock when Anu woke up. That she had an unexpected
visitor last night and he was still in the house was the first thought that came to
her mind. This thought had the effect of propelling her straight out of bed and
sending her at once into the bathroom to get ready-which she did with lightning
speed, showering far too quickly with far too warm water. She was breathlessly
putting on her clothes when there was a loud knock on the front door.
Sweeping the mass of her un brushed tresses on to a shoulder Anu ran to the
door. Expecting it to be the milkman , she flung the door open and found herself looking into the shrewd , round face of Minty Sareen.
Minty 'looked 'at Anu without actually seeing her- something Anu had got used
to by now. Minty's hatred for Anu had been instantaneous and pathological
from the moment she had set eyes on the girl. Speaking to Anu, but looking
past her, Minty said " Hope you have given him a decent bed. Where's he?
Rajat...Rajat!"
Anu turned around towards the guest room to see if Rajat was coming out.
There was no sign of him.
"Here, get these signed by your Father" Minty thrust a document wallet
into Anu's hands and when Anu did not budge , Minty glared at her,
"Go on girl, get them signed !"
" But Papa is not at home now. He did say that he would go to your house
today to sign the terrace rights papers " Anu said in a reassuring voice as she
knew Minty had been anxious about all the legal paperwork being completed
since Sareen uncle had sold the first floor of his house to Mr Shastri.
"Not at home ? Gone to work so early?" Minty raised a quizzical eyebrow.
" No, actually he did not come home last night...the storm.."
"Did not come home? then did you..." Minty could not complete her question
for at that very moment Rajat emerged from the guest room.
"Hello Minty Aunty!"
Minty's face beamed with her carefully cultured smile and the next moment
a cunning calculative look came into her eyes as they darted from Rajat to
Anushka. All of a sudden Anu became acutely embarassed about something
she couldn't identify. Minty's gaze had somehow made her aware of her
dishevelled appearance- her untidy hair , her skin still pink from the shower ,her
clothes looking very much like they were pulled on in a hurry.
Excusing herself with a murmur, she escaped from the room , leaving aunt and
nephew to exchange greetings. Minty never held back when it came to
demonstrating affection. Having no children herself she saw support and not
competition when she looked at Rajat.
"How are you beta" she stretched her arms and Rajat bent down to hug
his aunt.
As she combed her hair and pinned her dupatta in place, Anu could hear Minty's
loud enquiries and Rajat's soft replies from the living room
" Come on , come on , your uncle is dying to meet you"
Minty's high heeled sandals click-clicked to the guest room and back-
and after that there was silence.
Anu peeped into the living room and the guest room. They had gone.
Without so much as a word to her, Minty it seems had collected her nephew
and the nephew had collected his bag. It wasn't there in the guest room.
Feeling a mixture of irritation and dismay at their rudeness, Anu was about to
walk out of the guest room when she spotteed something- a small pack
of swiss chocolates and a little note that said 'Thanks for everything' with a
scruffyly drawn smiley face .
Anu picked up the chocolate box and went to close the front door .
Downstairs , in the front garden , Sareen uncle was enthusiastically greeting his
nephew and Minty stood gushing . Anu peeped down and at that very moment
Rajat looked up. Catching his eye she immediately withdrew her head, stepped
back and closed the door
In the broad light of day, it seemed inconcievable that she had let into her home
a man - a stranger she had never met before, cooked for him , shared a meal
and a roof for the night. With the passing of the night and the storm,the
happenings of last night seemd odd and she would feel really awkward facing
him again. Anushka made a silent resolution to never speak to Rajat again and
in fact to avoid him at all costs.
