Posted:
8 years ago
Alcoholics & Cliques
She didnt invite him to say goodbye to Periappa, she packed their suitcase by herself, with Abhishek hovering
R&B had to go to Spectrum at 6 to sign the papers Ranjan wanted him to about the Union agreements after strike
"Thank you for bringing her" Appa said politely following "protocol"
"U are welcome Mr Iyer" he responded doing the same
"Umm.. can she stay a week?" Appa asked
"Umm... umm.. Probably not" he said bluntly "I am not sure how long I am here in Delhi" he said to soften the blow
Appa was pissed nevertheless, he was heard complaining to his wife in the kitchen
"Rendu naal inga irukka vida maatanam" (He wont let her stay it seems)
"Avanoda sanda poda porela?" (Are u going to fight with him?)
"Its useless" Appa cackled cynically
"Why is it a problem for u, if he sent her here and lived in Paris wud u be happy?" Amma hissed
Appa grunted... "bala let her come as many times as she wanted during the first one"
"Avanukku appo Amma Appa themba irunda" (His parents were younger then) Amma clarified
"He has a houseful of servants" Appa accused
"Will u please stop?" Amma begged half amused half angry
"U cant see any bad in him" Appa lashed
"And you? NO good" Amma shot back
"It was good to meet you" Abhishek claimed
"cant say the same" R&B thought
"Thanks he said instead
II looked like she was being taken away to be sacrificed
Some of it to rub it in him that he was hating his D II stint
They got to MM, amidst Tan and Sam's call about coming over
"I am not going to Spectrum until later, Dr Gupta would like to meet" he said
"I am fine" she said and looked at him and asked panicking "WHY?"
DID U OVERHEAR WHAT SUBBU'S MOM ASKED?
DID U WANT TO MEET THE DOC ABT WHETHER UR BABY IS WORTH KEEPING?
"Didnt u throw up?" he asked irritated
"No!!!!" she said vehemently... "No I didnt"
And then realized she had just spoken the truth... "main theek hoon"
"So u didnt throw up?" he asked
"I did"
"U made it all up?" he mocked
"Oh ya, I did so I can rescue u from the misery called DII" II lashed
He drove like a mad man for a few seconds and slowed down
He pulled in to the drive way calmly without realizing Ranjan's black merc was already in there
Workers put up scaffolding to decorate with flowers and lights for tomorrow
"Dont add me to your paranoia party" he hissed
"If THATS how you have a great time at my parents, I wouldnt want to see you having an awful time" she lashed back
They went up, she changed into a kaftan after shedding everything she wore inside, wearily walked to the sofa in the 2nd floor living room and sat down
"If u have to go to Spectrum why cant I stay at D II?" she argued
He didnt respond, just looked for a magazine?
Mahavir came up, II composed herself and took the chai he gave her "Raat ko kya banana hai?" she asked
"arey aap aaram karo hum banayenge" he said
"Sir?" he asked
"sam Adams please"
"Innikki Deepavali" (Dont drink today) she ordered
"sam Adams please" he said firmly again
Mahavir left...
"I JUST told u not to drink today" she said in shock
"And I just responded saying its a frickin beer" he shot back
"U dont give a f**k for any rituals then?" she asked angrily
"YOUR deepavali is OVER" he reminded
"NOW I get it, you want to return home because you wanted to get drunk" she shrieked
"No I wanted to return home because I was sick of being there" he shouted back at her
Inadvertently using the word "home" after God knows how long
"Dont worry, you dont have to go to D II ever again" she shouted
Ranjan gussed the couple was back, no not by the gleaming Ferrari on the drive way but by R&B slamming his mags on the coffee table
"I dont think I will hate that at all II" he hissed
"Phir to bahut achhi baat hai, tumse aage se koi ummeed nahi karoongi main, MERI galti thi jo Amma ko kaha woh do POORA din ruk jaayega" II shouted
"I STAYED TWO ENTIRE DAYS" he warned
"Oh yes, lets see u hate Appa, u hate Lakshmi ka and her husband, they are not polished and sophisticated as you, they dont listen to Blues music, her daughters
dont speak good Hindi, the house is noisy living room is full of beds and u get fed sambar every meal"
"Sounds like YOU have given it more thought than I" he mocked her immediately
It stung her badly,
"U are a fantastic actor though, you did a fabulous job of convincing Amma you like her" II choked up
"Wel... u live and u learn... and I have good inspiration" he slammed her
"I LOVE Dad!!!!" she said horrified, in utter disbelief as to how he could accuse her of lying about it
Well... that was not the most pleasant thing he could have heard under such circumstances, of
already being jealous of Abhishek and now finding his wife cared for his Dad more than him
she got up and went to the sun room shutting the door
He went to Spectrum
Mrs Sagar was still around at 7:20... "SO good to see u, Happy Diwali" she smiled
He smiled, doing a great job of concealing his mood
They talked about life in Paris and the weather, and visit to in laws
Ranjan met him by the elevator once and now by Mrs Sagar's desk,
The first meeting by the elevator...the two humungous glass doors leading to the lobby with "Excelsior Automobiles" in brass behind the reception desk
The receptionist was gone, R&B's office was to the right of the reception Ranjan's left... like it was destiny, their paths wouldnt cross much even at work
"Aa gaye ghar?" Ranjan asked mildly near the door of R&B's office
"I thought u knew" R&B said gruffly, unwilling to play Ranjan's game...
"Ur car was parked in front of mine" he said "And u probably heard the shouting match" he said bluntly
It was a silly, but Ranjan was overjoyed, his son had revealed details of his life to him, with no provocation
Like somewhere in the hierarchy of his son's life, he was placed higher than Mrs Sagar
He was part of his son's clique..
"Umm... uhh" Ranjan grunted "Ladai na karin puttar" he scolded gently with haq
R&B muttered something under his breath unemotionally and let himself into his office
He was at work until 9 ish, and when he got home at 10 she was still asleep in the sun room
He half expected Abhishek on the couch and them watching Freinds over a tub of popcorn
He felt a overwhelming rush of emotion for his sleeping wife
She had no idea he hated Abhishek..
He sat down by her
She stirred and turned
He gently reached for her cheek, she opened her eyes and looked confused at first and slapped his hand back
"Shhh" he warned softly
"WHY?" she asked ready for a battle
He reached again... she didnt protest... he bend down "Arent u supposed to be getting drunk to drown ur sorrows of meeting the in laws?" she asked, no clue he went to Spectrum and returned
She knew how to push his buttons alright...
"I am saving some for tomorrow when the whole family will be here" he said sharply
She sat up quietly... and leaned back on the window... suddenly realizing Nivi hadnt jumped and rotated when she had fought with him two hours ago
Nivi was part of her life for 15 weeks?, her movements a week? but it felt like II was born with both sensations
The void was conspicuous..
She felt her belly... as her heart begun to hammer in her chest in fear...
Edited by Nisha0604 - 8 years ago