Quid pro quo
She couldnt bear the waiting anymore, two evenings later she took off for Ullal after Prasad returned. She left his keys on a doorway table.
She stayed up on the bus at night thinking about the cat and what Ashvin was doing. He was probably out with friends all night. Atleast he had the keys now.
She arrived in Mangalore and first went to Jayadeva's apartment. It was locked
She called his room mate he didnt answer
She went to the Physics Deptt and called, he answered
"Its me Trisha" she mumbled
He hung up
She took a bus home
Her father wasnt home, she walked to the restaurant in the midday heat
Her father was surprised to see her
"Why do you miss your parental home so much" Rao Anna hugged her warmly
"I miss my parent too Anna" she said
"We see that. We see that. Every week you tirelessly ride the bus all night and show up here" he said
Her father was mopping the kitchen floor with the stick mop
"Give me I will do it"
"No you eat first" he said quietly
"wont you atleast greet me?"
"My other two kids havent bothered about this old man. Why do you worry so much"
"I love you Aanu"
"then why did you marry a stranger?"
"i dont know... I have no answers anymore. I am unhappy there. I am sad here" she began to cry
Rao Anna began to tear up also
"You should not say that. You will be happy soon" he promised
"I dont know. I married him just so Aanu's life can change. I dont even know the man" she whispered
Her father was shocked
She nodded
"I want you to see I am willing to go to any length to make you happy"
"I am not a 10 year old child. You cannot make me happy with things"
"I know that. I am trying to save the family symbol Aanu"
"By doing what?" he sat down weakly in the chef stool
"I am not a smart girl You know that. I cant cook. I am clumsy. My thesis hasnt been approved. I do crazy things" "I did this to change your life for ever. So you can be the boss"
"I am not the boss. This is a family enterprise. Do you know Rao Anna has invested money here?" her Aanu threw a bombshell
"I DID NOT" she gasped
"This place is running because of many kindness" his chin quivered
"I want everyone to feel relieved and all the financial fears allayed" she whispered sniffling
"Your heart is not allowing you to be at peace. You come here repeatedly. Something is troubling you" her father said sadly
She nodded tearfully
"what is done is done. You did what is right. I must do what is right"
"all because you are so principled?"
"Children should be children"
"You allowed Sanchet to run it"
"We all know what happened" he said and got up abruptly
Rao Anna patted her shoulder to quit it
"I dont know what to do. I want him to be happy Anna"
"I am happy. I am not happy according to your definition. Big city talks. Big ambitions" her father said calmly
"you will end up losing the restaurant this way" she panicked
He picked up his umbrella and his dhoti edge and stepped out into the rain
The folder lay in that exact spot still
She spent three futile days and returned on Friday morning. Rao Anna convinced her he was going to try and convince Shanbag to atleast review the Ready Noodle option.
She had come home with a heavy heart but she was leaving with a small reassurance
Life had changed for ever the day she had decided to go down this path.
She lay awake at night, "the skies looked different in Ullal" The air was dryer in Bangalore
She sometimes slept to the lullaby of distant TV sounds from the living room where Ashvin would be watching TV
Her bed was luxurious too.
The lady cook was home she let her in at 11 AM (unaware that Ashvin had come in and packed a duffel bag and left home)
"You come and go as you please." she said
Trisha did not respond.
Ashvin for his share had an equally lousy three days
His Mom had come in to town and had checked herself into a hotel
One of his cousins had shared that news in secrecy and wished him luck in trying to talk to her
He had met her at Windsor for brunch
"You have left me in no position to champion your cause"
"You married her on a whim, why couldnt you have chosen some one like Aanya Mehra?"
"Who marries the daughter of the man that ruined their life?"
"Everyone in Delhi is upset and angry. Dont come to Delhi anytime soon"
"I am not going to be staying at your place for now"
he listened to it all
He didnt have much from an argument standpoint.
Yes she was right.
He will probably never see a dime of the Narang billions
She still held out on hope because she asked him if Dadu called him
He shook his head quietly
"Dont go to Delhi and fall at his feet now. I will think of something"
"Check out and come stay home Mom" he ordered weakly
"If you cared you wouldnt have married a random girl"
Leela was completely not talking to him
He had enough friends and a crazy evening and night life to keep him going
He actually paused and looked at the cat when Prasad carried it around in the elevator
It scowled at him but he still looked
Prasad asked him when she was due back
"You know she is not in town?" he asked
Ofcourse he does. She is his cat sitter
MJ loves her" he was told.
His friends Avinash, Oscar and Riz planned a Goa trip, Chirag bulldozed him into going
he took off on Friday morning after successfully closing two Vitaessence ( a fresh squeeze vitamin drink franchise) one in Nagpur and one in Agra.
She wasnt going to be home. Even if she was she wasnt going to bother stepping out of her room. He didnt exist for her. Period.
Thats what he wanted anyway... so yeah
Her Friday went in sleeping and WAITING
Unbeknowst to her she waited for the front door to open at 7, 8, 9, 10 PM
When he didnt come home it bothered her
She went to bed chafing
The next day, Saturday when the cook came in the morning
"He is not home. you dont have to cook" she said opening the door
"He never called me" the cook said smugly not believing her
"Well I am telling you. the dinner did not get eaten" she said gleefully in broken Hindi
The lady scoured the kitchen and left huffing
All day Saturday she moped wondering why Chirag didnt come either, seething.
She couldnt go anywhere, she had lucked out when the cook let her in on Friday, she didnt have the keys
She wandered the house, left the door open with a shoe as a wedge and brought MJ home
Prasad was working so his maid gave her MJ
she hadnt thought about Jayadev for one second the last three days
Not one second, she checked on her father texted with her friends. But the remainder of the time
Just plotting the many ways how she would coolly leave on Monday morning.
How she will go away every day and not tell him.
How she wouldnt say a word.
I dont tell him anything
He doesnt either
Why is it pissing me off so much? Its just the keys. He gave you the keys. You left it on the entryway table.
Its his house. Let him come and go as he pleases.
"I need my own keys" "thats all" "You can go and come as you please. But I feel trapped" "I cant go anywhere"
Sunday after midnight when the door opened she tried her best not to fume.
He was shocked to see her in the living room
His duffel bag slipped from his shoulder when he saw her. a momentary delight flashing across his face
She wore her satin stripe capri and yellow blouse
"Next time you leave and dont return for three days. I need to know" she ordered
"Oh really?" he was livid now
He dropped his bag and approached her
Tired, tousled and pissed
"Why?" he demanded
"I was trapped here for THREE DAYS by myself" she shouted
she froze when she realized she had just declared she was lonely
"I need my own keys" she whispered
"Trisha I am tired. the car broke down. I ve spent 7 hours on the road"
"You never told me you were going on a trip"
"Did YOU?" he asked
She lowered her gaze
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