Like no other
Amma followed her panicking, "How was your day?"
"Pretty bad Ma" she said setting her bags down by the divan and sitting down, on the divan staring out the window
"Why do u leave the windows open kanna? the nights are still cool, u dont want to get sick again, u still have a lingering cough." Amma shut the windows protectively
"Oh its not too bad Ma" II said with a faraway look
"Realx for a bit and let me know if u want to eat. How will sandwich be sufficient for dinner, I made adai (dal dosa) u should have a couple" Amma offered
"No Ma I am full, I had all three sandwich soup and salad, and brownies Ma" she spoke normally but without any expression, she wasnt suddenly mature in 5 days since she was a year older now
Amma was worried a part of her was dismayed from the get go this girl's wedding plans had been jinxed, first Subbu and the courtship then his unusual attachment to his mother and rejection of II
Then Sree appeared in the picture and she showed no inclination of wanting to marry him
Then her association with R&B, then the sparks of attraction and now the marriage talks not making any real progress with the wedding itself being three weeks away
Amma sat down by her and hugged her as II began to cry
"Appa doesnt want me to get married to him and everything seems to be going his way ille Ma?" she asked
"No dont say that why would Appa not wnat you to be married?" Amma lied
"No he wants me to be married not to HIM" II said dejectedly
"Ayyo its not like that kanna, he came over right on Friday night?" amma offered
"Yes under coercion, he likes nothing about that family, their wealth the culture the father, the guy itself" II sobbed
"Tch tch tch, dont cry kanna, u should be happy and cheerful, not upset and worried" Amma was thinking aloud
"He doesnt talk but I still like him only Ma, he is like no one else" II said, even the thought of him sent her heart galloping.. like she was a teenager
"I know raja I know" Amma breathed long and loud
"I have no control over what his Dad did, I have no control over why they keep bringing it back,
if Appa wants to derive satisfaction from it then he should call it off, years from now IF he is proven innocent or if we discover he always was, then it would be too late" II ranted
"Sh shshhh shhh No no apdi pesaade" (Dont talk like that) Amma hugged her tight, slowly leaning on the wall taking her lil girl with her
"But one thing's for sure if Appa calls it off I am never marrying again" II stiffened... "And I dont think any amount of blackmail by you or Appa or Akka can make me change my mind" II cried loudly
"Ayyo dont say that kanna" Amma wiped her tears quietly hiding from her daughter
"I know he will get married too or just begin living with someone again.. but naa pannikka maaten ma (I wont marry)" II declared with deep conviction
"U are not supposed to say such things with the wedding being three weeks away" Amma ordered
"Ask Appa if that statement still holds true" II cried some more
~~~~~~
It was almost 1 AM... she tossed and turned in bed unable to sleep
She called him he answered in one ring, his flight was at 1:40 AM, they had just boarded, since he was always first class he boarded many minutes ago...
" Why cant you stay?" she started to cry
Unprepared for a sobbing fiancee call at 1 AM R&B was startled
"II?" startled
"Mat jao na" she begged
"Why are u crying?' he asked
"Because of YOU U jerk!" she cursed" wiping her tears
"Thanks" he half smiled
She giggled and cried at the same time
"Please da?" she begged
"What is going on?' he asked
"I know u will say few days and wont return for weeks" II said
"Does that mean u will miss me?" he taunted
She just cried upon hearing the word missed pop in his speech
"Mat jao na please?" she asked again
"Call me or I will when ever I can" gently, not telling her he cant cancel
"Iska matlab tum cancel nahi karogey?" she asked
(U wont cancel will u)
"I wish I didnt have to go" he said
"U are a bloody liar, u must have been itching to get away from me... u know the dull Iyer that nags u all day..
the one that runs round and round around you, u must me sick of me" she ranted
"Ya I cud get some work done" R&B chuckled
"Then u shudnt be too upset if I marry an Iyer and move to the Bay Area, u pig" she shrieked
"Enough II" not happy
"Dont go" II begged
"If u are trying to make me get off the plane and drive up to RK Puram u are close" he said husky
"I am in Malcha Marg" she said softly cooing
"In my bed?" he asked softly
"Ya wearing that stone wash red BR tee" she muttered..
"Nothing underneath?" he asked gasping
"BLACK lace" she said quivering
"i am cuddling with all ur pillows, and stretching on your favorite sheets... now ur sheets smell like jasmine" she giggled
"Gestapo" he said viciously
She dozed hearing him breathe for a few minutes, his quiet even breath... unperturbed... calm... quiet just like he was...
He checked email on his laptop as they both held the call for the longest time
~~~~
Sam subscribed to news aggregation services, Tan and R&B had recommended a few when the scandal broke first four years ago
R&B reluctantly, Tanmay worried...
"Is one source not enough for you?" R&B sniggered
"R&B aisa mat bol its good to know whats out there who is saying what" Sam had cried
"Usko chhod yaar why are u hurting her?Tanmay was offended back then at R&B being ruthless and insensitive to his own sister
He had helped her though offering recommendations to Tan if freeware or proprietary aggregators were better, Argent subscribed to a few.. so he knew
Sam was the only soul that was Ranjan's point of support with Manny overseas and R&B completely uncaring, this scandal was entirely Sam's to have and keep
Today was no different, when she woke from her afternoon nap after nursing Lasya, the link had appeared, she had called Tan sobbing
"Dad ko call karo pehle STOP CRYING" Tanmay was frustrated "I am heading home right now"
He was home in an hour... Sam hadnt told R&B since he was leaving tonite... not that he would even care... but she didnt
"Does he know?" Tan asked
"I didnt tell him, he doesnt care... tomorrow if Dad went to jail for 5 or 10 years he would go on with life as if nothing happened, he will not marry Ishita, he will live with someone 15 or 20 years older
fly from continent to continent aimlessly.. wandering"Sam cried long and hard
Tan took the baby from her, paged the nurse and handed the baby
"Sam, Sam Sam... dont say that, bandey ki shaadi hai three weeks mein why will he dump her?" Tan asked
"HE WONT, her Dad is itching for something like this, he hates us Tan... he hates us... we only have YOU, we dont have anybody, Manny R&B and I we only have you" She hugged Tan and cried
"Shhh shhh no.. I dont think he will do that he is mature, reasonable and well educated, he wont do that" Tan defended the man... though mot believing one word of what was coming out of his mouth
"He wants his daughter to marry a charming Iyer boy like Bala that takes good care of his wife and doesnt randomly travel and makes way less, Iyers think wealth is a vice" Sam hissed
He hugged her tight " I dont think Ishita will let him do that do u?"
"She is so innocent, uski shaqal dekhi hai tumne? (have u seen the way she looks at R&B?) like she will follow him blindly... all she needs is to be with him"
"I know I know... dude doesnt talk but has her glued to him like a magnet. Wonder why I didnt learn that"
Sam kicked him...
"Ouchh!!"
"Her Appa hates that... he will do everything to separate them"
The couple stood in a long troubled embrace
~~~~~
Sam had called him moments after she had heard, he was returning from Chandigarh... Ranjan's heart and intestines came to his mouth when he saw the link Sam had sent..
He shut his eyes, leaning back on the Merc seat... his face pale... his heart beats accelerating... he removed his glasses lay it on the side... everything around him was the most expensive, his clothes, his glasses his car
The phone he held, the watch he wore... was top of the line... the scandal? was the lowest of lows...
Sam had texted him at Noon to tell him R&B was leaving for Copenhagen, he was bummed , he loved having him at home, him and Ms Iyer, the delicious chai and paranthas from Sunday
She looked nervous and jittery around her son... a tall confident professionally successful girl turned into a watery gooey mess around his son
Savita would often say to him "Hes quiet but he is the most sought after, aap dekh lena (just watch)
"Your son knows he is very charming Savvy" he would say laughing out loud
"Hes a good kid Ranjan, see the kids around us in Chanakya Puri and Vasant Vihar, or Aurangazeb Rd... NONE are like him"
"U dont know of all" Ranjan teased
"I dont have to, none are like my baby" Savita would gush
They would sit on the swing in the backyard watching the birds flock the bird feed, and splash water from the various ornamental fountains
"Wish he would marry and settle down" Ranjan said
"He will when he is ready she will be like no other, and his wedding will be like no other" Savvy declared proudly
Like no other...
"
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