The walk
He went on the phone soon after, when the nanny knocked on the door... she quickly collected the shredded flowers, and opened the door,
and took the baby...he spoke for the longest time in French, since it was extremely difficult for her to shut up and sit still she wandered the room
"Naa mela poren da" "I am going upstairs to be with the boys" she muttered rocking the angel in her hands... he walked over to where she was, leading to a patio door, staring out like she was trapped
Unable to understand French, and alone suddenly in that wealthy environment...
"Stay" he said softly pulling the wiry stringy enpty string that once held jasmine buds...
"U are on the phone... I am going to go play with the kids" she said
Dabbing some vermilion off his white vee neck vest... the baby bobbed towards him, he smiled stepping back
"How mean" "No kanna dont go to him, va I will take you upstairs we will play with Nandu Anna, & Shravu Anna" II grumbled
The baby continued to wave her arm and fist... II grabbed it pushing it down...
He spoke more French coolly.. and then switched to English, "Go ahead u guys can go check it out if you want... my decision wont be changed" he said firmly
She walked towards the door... turning to look at him "Wait" he said
"No, nee pesu nanna, just NOT to me" (TALK ABOUT WORK, JUST NOT TO ME)
"Walk?" he asked muting the phone...
"I cant leave the kids alone..." she said eager
"After Sam returns?"
"If u get off your call"
"I can talk and walk" he said
"NOT WITH ME U cant" she walked away
"U should come hang with me OK...
I will teach you tamil, I will read u gossip, I will teach u to be naughty, everything, and then we can coach Nandu and all of us can be a team...
She hung with the kids, playing video games until Ranjan arrived...
He was thrilled to see her baby sitting Lasya, he had just walked up not knowing his son was downstairs...
"Did u have a fun party beta?" he asked
"Jee I did" she said smiling
"How is work?"
"Ummm... good I guess... long hours but good"
"ask him if he is OK with you working long hours"
REALLY?
"He is working right now" she supplied
"You must tell him he should not"
"Yes I did" she said smiling
The baby started to doze in her Grandpa's arms... the boys shushed them... Ranjan walked out the room to another huge room with windows everywhere..
leaned back on the plush couch shutting his eyes, refusing tea
"If u are sleepy may I take the baby?" she asked politely
He handed her the half asleep baby, there was a bassinet in every room
she had seen thus far, she gently placed her on her side and did not cover her though there was a blanket draped on the side, she was too afraid of choking
"Do u have all your shopping done?"
"Umm mostly" II smiled
"Packing?"
"Umm not yet"
"Better start right now
She nodded obediently...
"His floor is always in a disarray, when ever some one asks him he would say "method to the madness" Ranjan laughed
"You look tired" II said softly getting up, allowing him to sleep
"I was golfing with Bansal and couple other friends... "
Pause
"R&B would love golfing too, he still does... but he goes with Mihir I think" Ranjan said looking out the French window...
"Did you two golf a lot?" she asked
"Every Sunday at 3, tennis every Saturday at 6" Ranjan said promptly
"Who won?" II asked
"Ofcourse (with pride) HE DID" "He has the best handicap of any one I know in golf and an undefeated record in tennis with me, he played for his college too"
"Last week in Paris he must have played" Ranjan said
"He said he was in Copenhagen and Geneva" Ii said
"Oh really?" "I dont know where he went, Sam says he is flying out of the country thats all I know" Ranjan said
Unafraid how is future daughter in law was judging the complete break down in communication between him and his son
"Oh I am sorry he must have gone to Paris also" II pacified
"No beta you probably know more" Ranjan said looking away
They both sat there hoping one of them would ask something
"Did u go visit him a lot when he was in college?" Ii asked smiling talking of happy times
"2? 3? times a year? Savita was most worried, your Mom, she would go every three months the first year... he would ask ermm..
I mean his girlfriend would move out" Ranjan chuckled
II felt a sharp piercing pain shoot through her inside like she had stepped on a nail unexpectedly on the road wearing her kolhapuris
Dont know what Ranjan saw in her face, he quickly retraced as much as he could of what he said " She started renting a apartment for her and him"
II looked down at her fingers...
"Argue with him and fight with him, he loves a good challenge" Ranjan coached
II couldnt be cheered up now... she was down
"Shravu and him both should ride the ghori u know... Nandu was 3 or 4 during Utkarsh's second marriage? Sam wouldnt let him get on" Ranjan cleverly changed the topic
II couldnt shake the feeling of being a stranger in the complicated but wealthy experience she was being subject to...
She was unusually possessive of women he had been close to from 12 years ago, not normal II, NOT NORMAL
WHY DOES IT HURT YOU SO...
"If Savvy saw you she would be very happy, she wanted someone like you for R&B... talkative energetic and spirited" Ranjan smiled
II lifted her head up a little... smiling... like she was a child that was sent to a corner for misbehavior and her parent was now coaxing her with sugary words now
He yawned softly, she got up "Do u need a blanket? Erm.. Dad?"
He nodded.. pointing to a wall closet, she pulled out a soft expensive looking throw and brought it to him with two pillows...
"I get a bonus" Ranjan smiled, laying horizontally, as she draped him...
Went downstairs, he was asleep by then...
He wandered the living room sipping a beer.. he turned to look she was sad so she didnt meet his eyes
"Since ur Dad is here, I should just go" she said clamming up
Unable to rid herself of the feeling of betrayal, though she didnt know of his existence even, at 18, she was 15, in 11th grade?
He gently placed his bottle on her bare collar bone... it stung since she was bruised by his beard she jumped... rubbing the moisture
"Are u missing Lasya?" he asked
"mmm... mmm" she said and unusual answer...
"Missing the boys?" he asked trying to understand
"Missing chocolate" she said walking away to a window
He pressed the wall page...
"Khaane ko kya hai?" he asked
"I will just go home" Ii said
"Dinner laayenge?" "Indian is fine" thanks" he said
II walked away to another window... wondering unable to imagine how Ranjan must feel all alone... her eyes filled with tears as she imagined Appa like that one of them, her or Vandu not in speaking terms with him, Amma gone
It hurt her a LOT if the size of the tears are anything to go by
"Lets go for a walk" he said
she quickly wiped her tears and dabbed it on her pallu... walking away again...
"Dad is here" she said
"Oh?" he said
He steered her to lead, she followed out the door... arm around her waist... they made a gorgeous couple, tall lanky guy slender girl in a saree... they walked out towards Moti Bagh the street was quiet and well lit
"He Did not know where you went" II said treading softly
He didnt respond...
"He thought Paris" she said
"I go there usually" R&B muttered
(So Dad's guess is right)
"I told him you didnt go to Paris" II WAS STUCK ON IT
"Thats fine" he said
"Did Sam know you were going to Geneva?" Ii asked
"No" he said softly
"Only I did"
"II" he interrupted WHATS THE POINT tone
"Ummm... Appa goes somewhere I would tell all my friends... he went to Singapore for a training for three weeks once and once to Nigeria when he worked in Industry Minitsry"
He held her elbow and pulled her closer allowing a biker to pass.. she looked up instinctively not knowing that... until the biker rang his bell
She gently extricated her elbow... he allowed it...
"I never travel for work... pretty dull" Ii said
"Cant be dull" YOU FIGHT WITH ME tone
"I dont go to a country a day" II said further realizing the humungous chasm that divided them.
"But you sing" he said
"U are just trying to be nice" II said
"Thanks" he said half smiling...
She smacked him soundly
He rubbed himself, grabbing that hand... and holding it
"I dont play golf" she said
"U cook paranthas"
"I dont play tennis" she said
"U draw that art work outside the front door"
"there is no championship for it" II was grumpy
He smiled fully
"Will u be gone long" she asked softly after a longish pause as they let a bunch of cars honk angrily at each other
"For what?" he asked
"On trips? Ive never stayed alone, agar u know... Mr Ranjan... I mean ur I mean Dad bhi chaley gaye to?"
"U can visit Sam" he said
"Umm... I dont... I havent ever..."
"Stayed over at hers?" he asked completing her sentence
"U are right... I only stay at Akka's... once a week or once every two weeks"
He didnt tell her he planned to return to Paris shortly...
"Did u win a lot at tennis?" she asked
"Some"
"Quantify" she urged
"6? 7 tournaments?"
"Did u kiss the cup?" she giggled
He nodded smiling
"I put Shravu in tennis lessons starting last month... will u I mean when u can will u show him how?"
"Wont you be afraid I might steal him?"
"I will be watching" she had it all figured out
"I might demand "camps" "Guys only" he used her hand for air quotes
"Thats not fair" II said
"Nope" he agreed
The walked quietly for a few blocks... with him it came easy... he didnt say much, he had left his ear phones at home
"Should I learn French?" she asked "I dont know any foriegn language, ek bhi nahi"
He squeezed her hand gently
Pausing near a humungous chambal tree, in full bloom... he urged her to step back she did and leaned on it
"I could teach you" he said
"French?' she asked
"And tennis" he said...
"I cant afford you" she said huskily😳
"U could sing for me" he said softly his eyes on her lips... as it quivered at the barter idea☺️
Bigg Boss 19
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
11