See you on another wave -2 - Page 21

Peace in parting

The next evening Prakash did not waste any time in nabbing Sharanbir even before the man could order a soda, 

he walked over and spoke politely, softly and directly.

"We appreciate your business" he said with folded hands

"I love this food"

"Thank you but I dont think thats quite true"

"Umm" Sharan did not look up from his drink

"Look I know who you are... I didnt until that evening it rained... but now I do" Prakash 

said softly as his apron clad daughter walked in and out through the swing doors to place the filled up salt and pepper shakers on the tables

A corner table by the wall had neatly stacked washed and dried plates and bowls and cutlery and napkins and bowls of sugar etc for those that ordered coffee at lunch

"Umm... if you do... OK" Sharanbir leaned on his chair  "I come as a friend. Not to make trouble"

"I believe you. But we dont share a good past"

"Then we must not talk about it"

"I agree I dont plan to either"

"My daughter does not know about you" Prakash was almost inaudible

"Are u going to tell her?"

"Why not? She is no longer attached to your family name. Your grandson seems to have let go"

"My grandson behaved recklessly"

"No knew exactly what he wanted and achieved it"

"No.. No Mr Shanbag"

"Please dont argue... I will have to tell my daughter. Your coming here every night is not helping the cause"

"When you yourself said its all over why do you want to tell your daughter?"

"She must know why the boy married her"

"she doesnt have to"

"She is unaffected with what happened in Bangalore. She is home, happy and safe. She should know and you should stop visiting"

"You cannot turn away a diner"

"I appreciate your business. You area reminder of the foolish choice she made to help me out. I dont want you to remind her of it everyday"

"Has she spoken about Ashvin?"

"I havent asked her... he is no longer relevant"

"She does not hate him"

"May be not... but thats irrelevant since he is a nobody"

"You are still angry"

"He hurt my daughter"

"He is foolish. He didnt want to hurt HER or YOU. He wanted to hurt me"

"Then please sort it out with him sir... he is your grandson"

"I want to make things better"

"Things are better now"

"No.. they are not... Ashvin still thinks about her"

Prakash was a bit startled

"How? I mean... why?... what?"

"Like I said my grandson is not indifferent to the events of the last two months"

"He didnt even care for her, he married her and let her go in two months. How can I believe he thinks of her?"

"He does... I have known him almost 30 years" "I know"

"You two are colluding to take my Trisha away under some pretext?" "You cannot hurt her" "I wont let you"

"You just said she is unaffected by Ashvin. If she was hurt by him wouldnt she have told you?"

"Aaanu... Aaanu... the new cook wants to know if he can substitute tamarind for tomatoes on the shrimp? He has a anew recipe"

"I will have some too" Sharanbir waved

Trisha was startled.. she nodded nervously

"I dont know what games you rich people play. The incident warranted me calling the cops that night, they grabbed the 

hand of that new bride. One boy was so stoned he couldnt even hear. What a horrible way to treat someone's daughter"

"I know... I know... I fully agree... I have many grand daughters.. no daughters...i was duty bound to help bail them out

 every daughter is worthy of utmost respect...I think your daughter Trisha is like my own..c"

"She is mine" Prakash cut him off

"Umm... someone may be trying to lay claims soon" Sharanbir was amused

"You  mean you?..Dont deny it

. I know... I appreciate you visiting, checking on her well being. She is no longer your responsibility. 

She is my child" "Nothing more can happen now. I am holding back on sharing with my daughter, 

all the events from 10 years ago and how it has changed the last two months of her life. I thought she is back safe. 

But I think I will tell her everything tonight. She is unworldly and naive. She thinks he married her to please a relative or to appease a demand made by someone

She has no idea there is a dark history.

She will find closure soon. I will tell her me 

being her father caused her life to be shattered, lose Jayadev, marry a stranger on a legal agreement, stopping studies, cutting vegetables" 

"All my fault. The hurt and pain belong to me. Not her. I was the intended target. Not her.." Prakash was devastated

Sharanbir looked sadly at him

"Lets part peacefully" Prakash said fighting tears, with folded hands

"there is no peace in parting" Sharanbir said grimly looking at Trisha working at a distance "For her nor for my grandson"

Fabulous writing.

Waiting for Ashwini and Trisha's meeting

I wating what is going to happen next I am biting my nails Nisha 

I wating for Ashvin and Trisha meeting 

Poor Trisha she feels very bad when she knows the truth 

One more update Nisha pls

Father Shanbag sings the same tune as his daughter. What is done is done... let us cut our losses and move on. Both with the incident from the past and the marriage his daughter has unwittingly got into.

Dadu seems to be made of tougher stuff. he is unwilling to let go as he has seen the Trisha his Ashvin has fallen in love with and though his grandson has not made any overtures yet, he is keeping the fire stoked up for him...Trisha is not going to be able to put this behind her with Dadu making regular starfish tips !!!

Speaking of starfish, I sense these two are connected to this innocuous sea creature in more than one way. Starfish have the ability to regrow and regenerate arms that have been maimed or cut off. In a sense both are trying to cut each other off their lives, and carry on as though nothing happened. They can grow four extra arms for all I care but they are now intrinsically a part of each other..

The status quo continues and  the Sunday stretches ahead looking for best flight rates for Ashvin to reach Ullal 😃😃

One quick question...it is not very clear what role Trisha played in the conversation. Was she aware of what was shared ?

Aanu  is unwilling to face the reality that the reason his daughter has lost her spirit is that she has been unable to forget Ashvin. That he is in the same state longing to atleast hear her voice we the readers have been told.

Ashwin has behaved very genuinely in his atonement stayed off spirits though it would have been easy to fall deeper into substance to recover from the memory of the horrid night.

There are several people interested in Trisha and sooner or later Aanu will have to let her become someone's. He has to understand that.

Jayadev with a wad of notes to lay on the table thinks he was the best option and now Trisha has a miserable future with the old man.

The old man adores her as if she were his own. He has been very caring affectionate and respectful in trying to understand her and is appreciative of her  poise.  for the way she has managed herself in game between grandfather and grandson.

Dadu understands people and the intent behind their actions. He reads meaning into silences and responses carefully and quickly worded.

Trisha should get to know the truth...decide for herself the stance she takes.

Interesting point about peace. Waiting for the claimant to appear on the scene.

Was it that sentence alone that requires further elaboration?