PART 2
The phone rings just as she gets off the auto
K: Kitna hua bhayya?
A: 142
K:KYA?
A:Chalo 140 de do
K: 100 se ek paisa zyaada nahi doongi (hmpf)
A gives her a sullen look
K hands him the money, phone continues to ring.
K: Hello
Ritu Dua(her room mate friend, once upon a time co worker and batch mate): Where are you?
K: Just getting off yaar……..
R: From?
K: Look out the window
R walks up to the balcony of the 5th floor apartment in Chembur's Shivneri Nagar and smiles and waves
K takes the elevator upto the apartment still holding the phone to her ear
R: Why are you late
K (into the phone) Missed the 2.40 train
They both laugh and hang up
K: Kya hua?
R: I told you yesterday, we have to go to my Mama's daughter's engagement tonite
K sulks……. "ughhhhh"
K: Please I don't want to
R: Don't argue yaar. Chill! You already promised me. Never mind we have 5, checks her watch, no 4 hours
K Please Ritu I don't think I want to go (she walks over to the low divan and sets her laptop bag and her purse, cranks up the AC, lays back on the oblong cushion by the wall and shuts her eyes)
R: Lets not talk abt that…. Where were you?
R: No don't answer, let me guess, CASA!
K smiles, eyes closed…….. "Hmm Ram wanted us to review the presentation one last time"
Ram Menon was her boss barely 30, from Natl School of Design Ahmedeabad……… her home, her Mom and Dad's home………… he was barely 30, charming, articulate and a hard task master
R: Kab khatam hoga tera CASA
K opens her eyes looks at Ritu points a finger and goes "Joke right?" laughs out loud
R: Very funny Raaz……
K:The completion date is 2014
R: By then u will be married and have kids
Stops and looks at K
K's smile has been wiped out
R: Sorry Raaz
K: Nah, don't worry (smiles)
R: Chal OK , I Will be married for sure (grins)
K:That you will (smiles back)
Ritu is taller, extremely fair and has curly hair, small eyes, sharp nose and skinny. She declares frequently that she was Bollywood leading lady material if only she was "well endowed" like her friend Raaz…….Ritu works with Hafeez Contractor as a urban planning consultant.
Khanak had moved to Mumbai in 2010 after losing her husband Sooraj Vaishnav to an accident. They had been married for barely 5 months. He was her college love. They both sensed they had something going the first meeting at the sprawling open air cafeteria at the SPA Delhi. His favorite drink was sugarcane juice across the street at one of their favorite juice wallahs of ITO, hers was "mixed fruit"
He always had a foam moustache when he did a bottoms up on his :- ) They argued in Gujarati many times and the Punjabi juice wala often gaped in shock……..
R: Hey Mystery gal
K: Kya (opens her eyes again)
R: Please?
K: I need a nap yaar
R:OK fine, if I let you get one will you go with me
K: I'll think about it…….
K was tired and sweaty, she needed a nice cold shower and some chai and food………
R:I made poha for lunch, do u want some?
K's lavender chikan suit stuck to her body……. Her gorgeous silky hair was plastered to her scalp and around her face. She wanted to take that shower NOW, and sit down and work on that presentations
What started as 20 slides had exploded into over 50, they had exactly 30 minutes with the Casa Project VP at Ajmera on Monday. Ritu wanted her to go to the engagement
K: pehle main naha loon? BTW, tumhari cousin ka kya naam hai?
R: sure (she has gone off to the PC and is checking the email for the invite. Trishna's engagement is at Marriott Juhu at 9 PM) That's the 7th time you are asking that Q, its TRISHNA
K grins sheepishly, she was BAD, her memory was failing she thot worriedly
R:Its not your memory idiot, you don't pay attention
K:That too (agrees)
R: Chal na PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ
K: Ummmmm NO!
R: This is just not fair (sulks and punches her keyboard)
K: Go with your aunt! (winks)
R: THANKS! But I want to go with you (smiles perfunctorily)
K: Ritu, you know….. I hate these in-your-face, I am-so-wealthy, I-will do-as I please, parties that these super rich throw
R:Excuse me but he is my Uncle (mock angry)
K: Right……….(sarcastically) but u know what I mean, misbehaving men, maddening music and mental torture………
The James Patterson book fell out of Shaan's hand when the driver braked suddenly. He stared out the window, it was yet another muggy Mumbai evening………. Might rain in an hour may be he thot
He was happy to be INSIDE the car and not out of it. The AC on the Mercedes S class had mimicked the arctic circle inside. He needed to get home by 8 and then drive all the way back to Marriott Juhu for Dhruv's engagement. Trishna………hmmm wonder what it means he thought……
Dhruv had mentioned the name two years ago for the first time. It was the REAL DEAL he said.
When he said he was going to be engaged, Shaan had asked "Is it Trishna"
Dhruv had been speechless
Shaan never forgot anything……….. ANYTHING actually
Not good at times he thot………
He had to attend the "guys nite out" tomorrow and be at work at 9 AM on Monday. He needed to be off his bed by 7. He hated Mumbai traffic. He wished the office was also at Malabar Hill. He lived in Mangal Kunj with his parents. His Dad was a "commodities"/parts broker. He dealt in products ranging from semi -conductor scrap to bra straps and everything in between. His office was at Nariman Point. Akshay worked with him. His Dad and Akshay both went to Stanford. He was the "retard" of the family as Akshay frequently pointed out.His Dad employed over 100 people, they were ALL on the phone ALL DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
His Dad had been travelling more to Asia, Taiwan and China particularly. Akshay did the facilitation so he did Europe and Americas. Shaan usually tried to stay out of it. He had no interest in what his Dad did, nor desire to involve himself in anyway.
His Mom was mostly "seen" on Page 3, Shaan did not really know what she did during the day. He met her at dinner twice a week, he met his Dad and Akshay and his sister in law Khushboo at the same time.
Dad's rule…….. dinner twice a week. He argued about making one of those days a Sunday but didn't work
He loved being with his friends, staying out late at nite WHEN WORK PERMITTED………
Most ushers at the 5 star pubs knew him and he was quite proud of that accomplishment.
His friends often teased him about it. He loved to party, dance and have a good time.
His motto in life was……. Oh well, he didn't have a motto….. he was too busy "living it"
The Casa project was sucking his insides out already and the bhoomi pooja had be performed barely a year ago. He wondered if he will last the chaos.
He shut his eyes lay back on the head rest, the TV was playing American Idol……….."Maybe I shud move back"
The driver softly navigated the car into the basement parking lot.
D: Aap ko kahin jaan hai? (opening the door while Shaan opened it himself)
S: Oh yes! At 10 Marriott Juhu…… maybe 10.30
D nods…… "Jee"
S starts to walk, turns around "Thanks" smiles and walks towards the door leading to the elevator hallway.
S had to go get the shower, shave, change, and get out by 10, "maidens, music, malt and masti" 4 Ms he SO LOVED
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