Helical Spring๐ณ
"hello" Neel said politely tipping his head over, Suvi smiled nervously not expecting her boss at the school waiting room
If he wore a hat it would be a "Howdy Ma'am" with the tipping of the edge
He tried not to notice her, but he did, the Paithani kurta and the chudidar, he wondered how curly her hair was, tighly wound like a helical or coil spring
He channeled his Physics class from his Mechanical Engg undergrad
He went back to his phone as Gomez sent him a text
Nihar looked at Aadhya chuckled seeing her gauzy sparkly snowwhite blouse. He was dressed in formals in navy pants and a blue shirt
He went back to his hand held PS3? some device
Aaradhya crept up to him and peeked
He moved his device away
"Nihar!" admonished Neel
Suvi didnt linger she found a chair, also on the last row, a handful of seats from Neel and sat down and caught her bearing
"Wife must be busy" Suvi thought
"Tai didnt care to accompany?" Neel wondered
"What a good father" Suvi appreciated Neel
Her thoughts sliding back to Rutwik, he must have gone to his son and daughter's school admissions
She sighed and looked out at the corridor
Eager parents wandered, trying to find the "interview rooms"
This was worse than job interviews
Suvi agnoized if missing her first appointment was going to ruin Aadhya's chances
"Aai tyachya ajjee ghare aahe"Aadhya hollered, after quizzing Nihar (his grandmother is at home)
Nihar turned sideways to look at Suvi and gazed for a minute or two, a longing? in his eyes?
Suvi couldnt tell
Neel turned sideways, and looked at her again
Suvi smiled nervously
"Sorry" she said ina thick Marathi accent
"Aadhya, tyala trasa nakko" (dont bother him)
Neel understood Marathi, he Nihar did too, they even spoke well
It wasnt heard to learn, they haggled with cabbies and hawkers... he had lived in Mumbai 20 years
Aadhya was extremely curious, she sat by the boy and picked up his ipad from the seat by him
Suvi ran over to the chair and grabbed it from her hand
"Sorry beta... she is only little" Suvi explained
"Adhya chala jauya" she held her wrist tight
Aadhya began to cry softly
Neel looked up from his phone "Its fine" he said quietly
"Chhoti hai na.. samajhich nahi isko" Suvi was embarrassed
"She can use my ipad, I only have BOY games" Nihar said politely
"She does not know, how to play only" Suvi smiled wide, she had a crooked canine, she flashed it briefly
"Mee khelah shakatey" Aadhya was offended
"Aadhya' Suvi scolded in the kid's ear
An employee tapped her on the shoulder "Maam, ur turn"
"Aapka ho gaya interview?" Suvi asked
He smiled "Nahi" he said politely, wondering WHY anyone would choose to spend their Saturday willingly in a room filled with parents wearing cheap cologne and gaudy biz outfits
"Good luck" Suvi said politely to Nihar
"Tujhha naav kaay aahe?" (whats ur name) Aadhya asked softly
Finaly when they were about to leave
"Nihaar Pandit" the boy said softly
"Mee Aadhya Dhabolkar" Aadhya said softly
The father and mother glanced at each other one time
"good luck" said Neel
Suvi smiled
The interview was "OK"
The coming in late, waiting, and having a WRIITEN TEST for a 5 year old, delayed her for the Vanasthali interview
They met Neel outside as he walked towards his car, three blocks from the school, all the road edges were taken by eager prospects,
Suvi had to walk three blocks to find an auto that was willing to go to the back end of housing society in Patparganj to Vanasthali Public School
Some wanted Rs.150...
Their paths crossed again
"Aaai Nihaaar" Aadhya pulled Suvi's hand jumping up and down like a helical spring device
Suvi was pulling her away from traffic, cars honked, they got on the extra steep side walk
Suvi stubbed her big toe on the edge, the pain instantaneously traveled to the center of her head
"Aadhya, tumhee kuthe jaat aahat pahu" (watch where u are going) she scolded her daughter loudly
As her daughter walked mindless towards the 10 year old boy atleast 10 steps ahead of them on the sidewalk... dragging her Aai towards the boy's Dad
"Interview ho gaya?" Suvi asked politely
"Test bhi liya isne"
"5 saal ke bache ko koi test deta hai? Zoology aur Biology mein faraq poocha" Suvi was annoyed
Neel smiled politely
"Aapka beta intayligant hai usko milega jaroor" Suvi said graciously
"Pata nahi, kuch keh nahi sakte" he said
"Aap yahi rehti hain?" Neel asked in perfect Hindi
"Aage Society hai, taxi waale se magaj maari" Suvi said smiling sheepishly
Neel understood that she implied "auto'
"Auto" she hollered and ran up to talk
Aadhya watched Nihar play his game for that extra two seconds
Aadhya came back, as Neel's driver unlocked the car, a Toyota Corolla...
He held Aadhya's hand until Suvi returned
"Chala jauta sakhara" (lets go sugar) Suvi came up and held the other wrist
Nihar looked up from his device
"Jeetey?" Suvi asked politely about the game he was playing
"Abhi nahi" Nihar said honestly
"Monday ko milte hain?" Neel said
"Jee... umm.." Suvi nodded
"Aai mee jau shakatey, somawari?" Aadhya asked eagerly
"Nakko" Suvi muttered seating her disappointed daughter the little kid looked through the Shahrukh Khan window covering on the auto to catch a glimpse of the 10 year old boy still on the sidewalk... as the auto released a puff of smoke from the exhaust as it noisily pulled away
"Chalen Nihar??" Neel asked patiently waiting with the back door open
He smiled at his Dad, and nodded