Open to title suggestions
Deep desires & Dark Rooms
“Baat baat par argue mat karo, please” Anubha put away somefreshly laundered sheets in the hallway cupboard
She had taken the day off today, she was a EngineeringProgram Manager at a large German Industrial conglomerate
“I have to hit submit Ma” Viveka Mathur grabbed her mother’spallu and wandered right behind her
“To mat karo submit”
Anubha went inside the kitchen and started stacking the drydishes back into the shelves
“That’s Papa’s job, aap kyon kar rahe ho?”
“Papa ka aaj koi talent acquisition meeting hai” she saidlooking at her watch thoughtfully
Akash Mathur worked for a famous nationalized bank, as a Regional Manager
His wife made more money than him and he was delighted aboutthat
They had 4 daughters
Viveka 28
Naina 26
Diya and Karuna Mathur (twins) 19
“The twins are not half as excited as you, THEY are bothsupposed to be taking more and more classes”
“that’s fine… don’t insult them Ma, are you going to at least let me apply?”
“Papa se baat karo beta… he will not let you”
“HOW do u know…. AHAAA! YOU already brain washed him DIDN’T YOU”Viveka’s hands went to her hips as she challenged
“nahi to” Anubha tried to save face, turning away towardsthe sink “Yeh isne teesri baar stain chhoda karahi mein” she cursed as she scrubbed breathlessly
“This is so rude… I am asking you for the 4thtime today” Viveka shouted
Anubha shut off the water and turned to her
Viveka was tall… and gangly… her hair come down to her waistin messy unbrushed curls, forcefully tied with a old scuncie
Her glasses were too big for her eyes, there was not a speckof make up on that face… the acne scars on her left cheek visible when sheturned towards the sunlight in the well lit kitchen
She was wearing blue jeansand a bagru print top in magenta that had clearly seen better days
“You are following me everyday… all the time… beta” Anubhashook off her trance and walked out of the kitchen
“I haven’t”
“You have… last Friday bhi tum mere peechhe peeche ghoomrahi thi asking to go to to that Philippines conference on Law Language and EconomicProgress”
“Oh well I realized you were right”
“NO… jhoothi ho tum, MAINE kaha, you don’t have an invite, Idon’t want you shacking up with strangers in Manila” Anubha waved her fingerwarningly
“I was NOT going to do that… but whatever” Viveka pushed herglasses back on her bridge
“Now its THIS… let you enroll for a Public Economics &Policy Research Program at IIT Kharagpur”
“I HAVE BEEN INVITED” Viveka was hopping mad
“Invitation to tumhe 10 universities se aate hain har saal…how can you go beta?”
“WHY cant I?”
“I am sorry I am not having this talk with you. Go pick upyour sisters from college JAO”
“Sorry… I am headed to JNU for a lecture series” she saidcoldly
“I will tell your Dad”
“Discipline is choosing between what you want NOW and whatyou want most” Viveka quoted Abe Lincoln
“You want Research now, you want lecture series now, youwant a Ph D You want to be an author” Anubha mumbled under her breath returningto the office/ extra bedroom of the 1st 5 bedroom floor Rohini apartment
“TIDY your room”
“Sorry I am late”
“Are you wearing THAT?” Anubha was shocked
“Its in the auditorium at 7 PM… its not some Bollywood awardshow”
Naina Mathur returned from her nails appointment, she hadtaken half the day off too… just so she could get her nails done
“TA DAAA” she showed off
“Can u go pick up sis… plural?” Anubha begged
“Maaaa” Naina went into her room
Viveka left too… she drove to Keshav Mahavidyalaya, to pickup her sisters
“We get to ride home in Ma’s nice car” the girls relaxed inthe comfy Toyota Corolla
“Don’t fall in love… Naina lekar ja rahi hai shaam ko”Viveka lied
“KIDHARRRR”
“Who knows” Viveka’s eyes twinkled as she stared at Karunathru the rear view mirror
“If YOU had a job… aap khareed sakte the”
“Ya right!” Viveka mumbled shaking her head
She was hoping to ask many questions tonight and she had notread the 4 journal articles she had put away
“Viveka can we PLEEEEEEZ stop for cold coffee?” the girlsusually spoke in unison
Viveka laughed out loud
“Bahar 40C hai”
“Its OK no… pleez pleez”
“I live on an allowance from Papa… you brats” she scolded
She pulled over by a café… and squished her body to get out,the twins got out like queens
The spent 30 minutes deciding what toppings they wanted,Viveka scanned the sheaf of papers she was holding
She had left the last page of an article back in the car
“Here pay for it” she ordered and ran out
“Madam kahan hai? Bulao unko… who gave her a license? “Are ufreaking kidding me?”
A (gorgeous) man wearing sunglasses in clothes Viveka didn’treally look at, was almost pounding on her mother’s car
“Kya chahiye?”
He did that key turning thing with his hand
“BEHRI nahi hoon” she yelled
“Madam kidhar hain?” he shouted back
“KAUN madam?”
“The f----- car you…” umm”
Viveka leaned on the car without clicking on the remote to unlock
comment:
p_commentcount