Favors & Apologies
She felt relief, embarrassment and shame all alternating with each other, during her ride home from NOIDA
Adhya's friend's apartment was adjacent to the playschool Aadhya didnt want to go home.
The Mom was kind, she had already fed her, Suvechha shared the besan laddoo with the family
The husband asked how long she lived in Mumbai and how she liked her job etc
It was good to chat with people after a long time
First with Neel and now with Rhea's Mom and Dad
She didnt have much adult conversations outside of work
With Tai almost always on her own phone or sulking
The women in her complex didnt bother to invite her for walks etc they had their own cliques happening
The couple that lived across from her front door didnt speak much Hindi, so they kept to themselves
"I can drop you" Rhea's Dad offered
"Nai, main chali jaayegi" Suvechha promised
"See I told you... I love this yaar... this accent" the man chuckled joyously
"Mumbai mein har koi mere tarah baat karte hai" Suvi informed him
"Aapko mujhe sikhane ka hai" he said and laughed out loud at his own joke
Suvi nodded
He picked up his keys, but Suvi ran, not wanting any favors from married men
Aadhya for the first time sulked at being picked up
She had eaten too, so for her, she wanted to have a sleepover with Rhea
"I reached" she said after she got home with Aadhya
"Thanks Suvechha" he said
Weeekend was quiet
She had no reason to take Aadhya to NOIDA so she didnt
She thought about Nihar the whole day
She was reminded of her Aai who would say "If u have to think about TV or shopping all day, might as well watch or go shopping... quit pining over it"
She tormented herself over not fulfilling Nihar's promise
There was no reason to go back there was there?
She couldnt get her dabbas, she ate dinner and had returned
Every time her phone pinged with a work email she thought it was a text from Neel asking if she was bringing Aadhya
She took Aadhya to a multiplex to watch a movie on Sunday
Monday through Wed was sizzling hot, Neel was in and out of the office mostly in neta meetings over a huge political campaign for Delhi elections
Thursday it turned a little muggy and cloudy by 10 AM
She felt sick to her stomach, achy and crampy and headachy
she tried to get by until Noon, and gave up and took an auto home in the 42C heat
She called the playschool as usual to make sure Aadhya got there safe
Decided to take an hour long nap, and go get her
Tai was startled to see her, she was stretched out on the couch IN THE LIVING ROOM wasting the AC in the bedroom
She ate ice cream as she watched Marathi soaps
Her head hurt so bad she didnt want the TV on or the AC on, she could only shut off the AC, she shut the door and was knocked out
At 6 ish the play school owner called her, her phone was in the bathroom by the wash basin
Then Playschool called Tai, who didnt bother to answer, then finally they called Gomez
He was her only emergency contact, he answered and said "Woh to ghar gayeli hai barah baje"
Then realized she must be sick, the playschool lady told Gomez she cant shut down and go drop one child off 4 kms away though it only took 20 mins
Gomez made a face and called Suvi again
Once, twice, thrice, and then walked over to Neel's office
Payal accosted him and refused to let him go in
He did any way
"Mujhe ghar jaane ka hai dude, please can u go tell her she needs to pick up her kid?" Gomez asked
(Gomez knew their kids went to the same school and she got a ride to her house one evening, and Neel knew where she lived)
"WHO?" Neel asked preoccupied
"Dhabolkar mere baap!" Gomez was frustrated his wife was calling him incessantly
"Hua kya?" Neel asked
"Pata nahi, she took time off, she was really sick... ab pata nahi ghar ko gayi ke kidhar gayi, she is not responding to calls man"
" Are u actuallya sking your boss to go do your work?" Neel asked somberly
"PLEASEEE I will buy u a beer tomorrow" Gomez promised
"I have a kid too" Neel protested
"I live in Janakpuri, Cannaught Place se Janak puri takes me shitty two hours man" Gomez whined
"I live in NOIDA" Neel argued
The playschool called again
"Is it OK i send some one beside me?
"Baat karwayiye" the owner said
She took Neel's driver's license copy, his work badge etc...Neel was told if the child doesnt recognize him, then she cant send her
"I dont think she is going to care for this" Neel warned
"She doesnt have a choice dude... she needs to be awake and pick up her child" Gomez blasted
Neel picked Aadhya up
And went up to her apartment
Tai opened sulking, upon seeing him she froze in shock
"Aaiii Aaiii" Aadhya cooed running inside
Tai went back to her COUCH
Did not greet him or say anything
"Aai is sleeeping" Aadhya said
Neel worried
He walked in
Suvechha sat up groggily
"Neel????" she asked shocked, he turned on the lights
She grabbed a sheet, when she realized she was wearinga skinny tee over a salwar
"Neel???" she asked setting feet down off the bed
"Aaii why were u asleep?" Aadhya asked worried
"I am sooo sorry" Suvi kissed her, hugging
"Are u sick?" he asked
"I have been sick all day" she said
She rushed after him when he turned to leave the room
"Chai banati hoon" she said
"I dont need tea" he snapped
"Thank you isko laane ke liye" she said
"U have Gomez for emergency contact?" he asked angrily
Aadhya sat on the bed and started watching on her ipad, Suvi turned on the AC
"Aur kisko jaanti hai main?" Suvi asked groggily, shocked
"He had to take off" Neel pointed
"Thanks for bringing her... aapko dukh diya" Suvi said apologetically
"If you were sick, as your supervisor shouldnt you have told me?" he demanded
"I EMAILED you" she shouted "Aap they nahi office mein Payal ko gaadi dilaane ke waaste gaye hongey" she shouted back
Suvi turned to Aadhya, she was watching on her tablet oblivious
"Gomez was in charge and he failed miserably" Neel said
"I will remove Gomez and make sure aage se I wont take a nap" she said feeling miserable
"You had no idea it was 6" he said
"Isko laane ka thanks... like I said I did not need a favor from you"
"Aapko kisi se na favor chahiye, na aap kisi ke liye favor karengi" he spat
"Kya matlab?" she asked shocked
"Nihar begged you to bring Aadhya, you couldnt bother to even text him"
"Mujhe saare weekend usko lekar bura laga... DO U EVEN KNOW THAT?" she cried
She walked to the connecting bathroom and threw water on her face
"I was in meetings Suvechha ...Payal ko gaadi dilaane nahi gaya tha" he said over the frothy din of the tap, as she looked at him
She shut the tap off and looked at him
"Mere ko aise nahi kehna tha" she said cringing...
He crowded her, and bend down... "I am not drunk... and I will not apologize later" he whispered hoarsely
He kissed her slowly this time, and surely...
comment:
p_commentcount