Posted:
7 years ago
Without a Mom, and a Dad
She was in NOIDA until 10 PM on Sunday, the day before Aadhya start of school, her first ever school
Monday was chaos for her and Aadhya, but the good thing was they got to school at 7:20 AM, school started at 7:50
Suvi set an alarm for 5:30, stayed up until midnight on Sunday night arranging her uniform, back pack, snacks
She had written to Gomez on Friday and told him, she would have to be at school at 11:50 am on Monday and Tuesday to make sure Aadhya got on her Society playschool bus
She was planning to follow the playschool bus to make sure it got to the playschool safe
She had called the bus contractor and spoken at length on Saturday
She couldnt sleep a wink Sunday night, afraid, nervous, excited and unsure
She wished she could go back to Baba's Aai's town and settle down to a quite anonymous life
But she loved her job too much
But she was afraid for Aadhya too
In a fit of rage she had shunned Ritwik and declined child support and refused any contact
And now here she was...
Raising a 5 year old all alone in a strange city
No family, no friends, just her and Aadhya
She cried, hugged and kissed her many times
Aadhya looked afarid for the first time that morning, until the car ride she had assumed she would get to ride the car back and forth and just play in her uniform
Now suddenly Aai was leaving?
Suvi nervously paced the gate area
Aadhya's circular face turned pink as she began to cry, speaking rapid fire Marathi
The women staff held her hands and cooed to her and took her in She went in fearful
Suvi leaned on the compound wall and sobbed
Many young couples in Suvi's age group, 25-30 did the same, but most had shoulders to cry on, parents, husband brother, sister, aunt
Suvi was all alone
She wiped her tears, peeked through teh gate for her lil cutie and turned, Neel walked in with Nihar, Nihar wore navy pants anda white shirt since his uniform hadnt been delivered or obtained
He looked shocked to see her crying
She composed herself and greeted Nihar cheerfully
Khoop chhan" she cooed
He smiled shyly
"Has she gone in? he asked curiously
"aunty is sad" she chuckled feeling tears threaten her eyes again
Nihar looked on sad
"good luck beta" she said
"Thanks" he nodded
"Office mein milte hain" she said "If we have a meeting" she said after a pause, lest he misunderstand she was eager to meet him
Before he could protest she was gone
She worked from home in teh morning, going to get Aadhya at 11, then returning to Connaught Place at 1 PM
She observed some of Tai's antics, and thanked herself that she wouldnt have to see it everyday
She had two single girl friends at work, they hung out at lunch.
They sympathized with her generously, and in an attemptt o cheer her up suggested they shud go to Janpath for cold coffee
They did at 4 ish in the 45C heat
And returned at 5, she wanted to leave at 6 and be home at 7 so she can pick her up
She hoped she had napped during the day after the stress of school
She met Neel in the hallway, she asked him politely "Nihar ghar pahunch gaya?" she asked
"2:20 ka release hai uska, after school chess, tennis wagairah mein daala hai usko until 5" "And then a neighbor is watching him this week" he said iinformally
"Barobar" she said
"How is Aadhya? he asked
"Good" she said politely
"are u OK Suvechha?" he asked
Something abt that teased her tear ducts... she barely nodded and walked away
At 8:45 after an early dinner of dal chawal and fish fry, a cool shower, marathi songs and vanilla ice cream from Walls, Suvi was a lil relaxed
She tentatively picked up her phone... and texted...
"Nihar ka uniform le aaye?"
"I did" "Thank u" "for asking" he wrote in three chunks
"Nihar ko school pasand aaya?" she asked
"He says little" Neel reminded her
"Aaj dal chawal" she said, before he asked
He sent a smiley first, followed by
"I ordered baingan bharta and roti" he said "From a lady that caters down the street" he said
Suvi swallowed with difficulty, overcome with grief... thinking of Nihar and how he ate jeera rice one nite, pizza at 10:30 PM another and a catered baingan bharta the third night.
Her daughter lay on her side fast asleep, her first day of school pictures missing a key person... her father
