Links to all chapters here.
Part 5
While Yuvraj was relieved that Suhani had not paid much attention to what he'd said during the stool episode, his words had registered. After wondering what he'd meant, she finally went to Bhavna to ask how Yuvraj could talk like he was always telling her things she disregarded.
Bhavna, knowing her sister, was prepared. She casually informed her that maybe they, Yuvraj and Suhani, had had such arguments before. What before, asked Suhani, had she known him longer than she remembered? If they were on terms that justified his attitude, how was it he had been nowhere around after the accident?
Bhavna explained that Yuvraj didn't know about her accident, even up to the time he'd seen her at the golgappa stall, which accounted for his 'strange' behavior. He'd been away for 3 months, and as her phone had been destroyed, hadn't been able to contact her before he left the country. But they'd been quite close earlier, far as Bhavna knew.
"I was close to Yuvraj? But I remember him as arrogant and khaddus. We didn't get along, isn't that right?"
Bhavna felt she was getting into dangerous waters now. She didn't want to lie, but how was she to answer truthfully? "Look, I don't know everything, but I know you said nice things about him, and he once did me a huge favor. And don't ask me what, it's private. I think he's one of those types who can act kind of rough, but is a good sort underneath. You saw how scared he was seeing you tottering on the stool."
It was frustrating not to remember things. She could ask him, of course, but didn't feel comfortable enough with him yet. But her perspective did change. If he'd been her friend, if he'd helped Bhavna Di, he couldn't be that bad. Her borderline antagonism lessened, and she began to find his weirdness more funny than annoying.
*********
He lay awake late into the night, thinking of her, of them, of what could have been, of what could be. He was feeling more and more embarrassed about staying here. He hadn't thought--he was basically living off them. How could he repay them? And in the usual circular pattern, his thoughts returned to Suhani, whether anything was even possible. Had Sharad been right? Had her love been a girlish thing brought about by romantic imagination when Soumya told her he liked her, by being at an age where one was ripe for romance? Maybe not quite as shallow as his infatuation for her friend, but not very much different? Where would that leave him? But she hadn't been the shallow type; she had stood by him in the worst of times and through the worst of his behavior.
Part 6
That weekend Amit brought along his in-laws when he came. Lata almost blew the deal by trying to apologize for not telling Yuvraj about his wife's accident, but Yuvraj quickly changed the subject while making eyes at her to stop, and Bhavna distracted Suhani on some pretext.
Wanting to return Bhavna and Amit's hospitality, Yuvraj invited everyone to a nearby resort for the weekend. It was a pleasant time, the girls enjoying a change of scene, Bhavna and Amit getting enough time together, while Suhani spent some time with her parents. Yuvraj basically just looked on, pleased everyone seemed to be having a good time. He called his mother and Sharad, telling them how things were going. He had told his mother about Suhani, and of course Sharad knew, but no one else in Birla House, not even Saurabh and Anuj. Much as they loved Suhani, Saurabh would blab after two pegs, and Anuj was a female Menka. As far as they knew, he was housesitting for a friend, babysitting--dogsitting, really.
Sunday morning he was leaving for a run when Suhani appeared. "Thank you for bringing us here. I was getting a bit fed up at Bhavna's. Where are you off to?"
He brushed off the thanks and changed his mind about going jogging. Instead he told her he was going for a walk and invited her to join him. They meandered along, actually talking, about her accident (she remembered nothing but the aftermath), about how she wanted to start work again, about his work, his mother and brothers. She remembered his sisters-in-law vaguely, and understood from what he said that they weren't his favorite people. About dadi he kept silent. She touched upon her conversation with Bhavna about knowing him the past year, that lost year, and he nodded, but didn't comment much. They sat down for a while and continued talking, until a desperate call from Bhavna made her realize it was time they returned. It had been idyllic, for him at least, and he felt they now 'knew' each other again, at least to some extent.
Returning to work on Monday, Yuvraj had had no idea how difficult this was going to get. It was a long drive to the office, and a long drive back to Bhandwargaon, and he felt exhausted. The good part of it was Suhani occasionally expressing concern when he looked particularly tired, as did Bhavna sometimes. Bhavna knew he had to extend his day to include the long commute, but as far as Suhani knew, he was staying there to be CLOSER to work, so she just thought he worked long hours.
He was sitting in the garden one evening, staring down, wondering where this was going. He felt depressed and dejected. They were now on very friendly terms, which, considering his past behavior, was very bloody ironic and just not enough. He longed for more. He was beginning to wonder how this could play out--a sudden Hindi film-type Eureka moment where Suhani remembered all their times together and how she'd felt about him and fell into his waiting arms while some cheesy tune played in the background? But she would then also have to remember the things he rather she forgot.
"Kya baat hai, khaddus, why so gloomy?"
"Sadu," he said, without thinking.
"Are you calling me names, or is that what you call yourself?"
"It's what you call me," he said, still half lost in his thoughts.
There was another of those stop& stare moments, then her face brightened, and she said, "Mr. Halki dari, bikhre baal!"
"Stop it, Suhani, I hate that."
She looked gleeful as she reached out to touch his beard, saying, "Halki dari, " and, reaching for his hair, "Bikhre. . ."
He caught her hand, and as she reached to touch his hair with the other, still teasing, he grabbed her other hand too. He stood up and scowled at her. "I told you not to."
"Ouch, that's my broken wrist, it hurts. And my cracked collarbone." He was about to release her when he saw from her face that she was playing him. "Is that so? Shall we test how well they've healed?"
He pulled her arms behind her, bringing her up right against him. She stared at him as he said, "Your bones seem okay. Not a flinch from you. Do you know what, I think you're a terrible liar."
"Let me go. Tum kya abla naari pe atyachaar karoge?" Her eyes were gleaming with mischief.
"Abla naari! Suhani devi, if all women were as 'abla' as you, we could have a second army made up of you all." The shadows surrounded them, it was like they were alone in the world. He suddenly felt reckless, in a zone where nothing existed but they. He bent down and kissed the corner of her mouth. Her expression froze. He knew he'd gone and been really stupid, but in spite of that, as released her arms, he bent once again and very gently touched her lips with his. He didn't know what the hell he was doing, but what the heck. He felt desperate, like something had to give way. Someone should give him a medal for not picking her up and carrying her away.
She turned abruptly and walked away, then turned back, came up to him, and slapped him hard.
He sat down as she walked into the house, shocked into the realization that to her his behavior would seem terribly offensive. What would he say to Bhavna if she told her? And how could he possibly explain himself to Suhani? She would now look on him as a sleazeball.
Udne Ki Aasha
