Booby Trap
"Apne ghar gayi hai kya?" the cook couldnt control her curiosity
"Hmm... haan"
"Kab aayegi?"
"Hum aapko bata denge" he smiled politely
"Chalo theek hai tab taq billi nahi aayegi ghar mein" she made a face
To him the lady reminded him of his Mom
He gently got up and walked to the balcony not to encourage her anymore
Trisha's room was sparkling clean. She had spent the night before leaving putting everything away
Accidentally stuffing two of her cat momentoes in the drawer and forgetting them there
"Love me, Love my cat" desk quote with a kitten inside a heart
Two glossy 5*7 pictures
One a cat like MJ tangled in a pink padded bra "Its a booby trap" the quote said
The other one with Tom cat "Its hard to find a good friend who is 90% Funny; 95% Sexy; 100% Perfect, So whatever you
do do not lose me" on Tom's belly she had penciled in "MJ" and a smiley face.
Or she left it intentionally?
Her father wasnt going to allow cats, MJ lived here so what was the point?
His mother called
I dont understand you at all" she shrieked
"i dont either Ma" he mumbled pacing Trish'a balcony
"Jaldi jaldi mein jaakar stupidity waala kaam, aur do mahiney ke andar you cancel it all"
"thanks"
"I am serious Ashvin. I live breathe and do everything worrying about you" soft, choking
"You shouldnt... you should start living for yourself"
"Dadu's behavior nags me, I feel slighted, your Dad was his favorite" beginning to weep "You were too"
He nodded feeling a lump in his throat
"What is wrong in expecting equal treatment? batao mujhe?" she demanded
"I am done expecting it, I am done" "The idea was utterly absurd to begin with,I DON'T want the cheese any more"
"No dont say that" she ordered
"I picked the wrong person to stage this act" he yelled
"Why? What did she do? She is unglamorous and nerdy" "How could anyone so dorky ever hurt you?" tone
"She didnt... she hasnt.. ever... I pulled her into this mess to punish her Dad"
"Haan to theek hai na. It all happened because of him"
"He seems to be a hermit. Uncaring and unaffected... she must get that from him" he was startled when he said that about her
"aisa bas dikhaane ke liye hota hai"
"No I am telling you"
"If he was then he wouldnt have clutched on to the money and welcomed his daughter"
"She sent the binder back, with the proposal, paperwork and the check. I got it today"
Mandira was quiet
"If her Dad didnt want it why did she marry you?" Mandira hated defeat, in rejecting the monetary offer a
impoverished nerdy unglamorous girl had thwacked Mandira soundly
"Didnt you want me to NOT marry her in the first place?"
"Ashvin"
"Its over Mom... she is gone now, the check has been returned"
"What can"
"I am done with this whole thing" he sounded cold and bitter
"Dont say that"
"You want me to continue burning up the rest of my life?"
"No betaaa.. I want you to be happy. I want Dadu to hug you, I want you to be in charge of Narang Falcon project" she whimpered
"Give it up Ma. I have"
"No... dont"
"Its been a long day Ma" he said quietly
"Its been a long 10 years beta" she sniffled
"See? Even you realize."
"Let me talk to Dadu"
"How much more can you talk? Youve already probably told him, this was a sham and how you could do disaster clean up and restore me to my sparkling self"
Mandira sobbed quietly
"quit being so over protective Ma" Ashvin sniffled
"Its like saying quit breathing" she whispered
"I am sorry" he said for being harsh, clearing his throat wiping away that one tear quickly
"I am too.. I am too.." she whispered in despair at how everything had turned out
