Winged Flight
The laptop was returned to Malcha Marg, Manya had attached a note to it
"Thanks Ishita, but I lost a whole lot of work spanning the last 10 years or so. I appreciate your thoughts"
"Regards"
"Manya"
It sounded very business like and professional to II.😭
II contemplated calling her, but wondered what she would say to her "I am sorry its lost, my friends should have been more careful?"
"I dont think my friends recall seeing it?"
"I am sorry Manya I will check with you first before having anyone over to the first floor of the house?"
She wondered how it would be when Manya returned after 6 months, she had heard Ranjan mention to Sam about forcing her to "come back"
Ranjan loved his girls too much... R&B had made it a business out of wandering continents, II wondered if R&B was subject to any such diktats
"Did Manya tell R&B what she thought of my friends?" II wondered, "is that why he downplayed the whole thing in front of me?"
"I will never know, he will never share"
Sam was honest and caring, Sam would come after her if she was upset and crying, she doubted if Manny would
She had knowingly gotten herself in such a situation, Sree had a sister and a brother? would it have been OK being subject to the same treatment from them?
Being Punjabis and being wealthy does it screw everything up?
She didnt finally call Manya or anything... she left the incident at that
17th April was the bi weekly pay day.. she sat on the 2nd floor swing and went to her "quik notes" file on her iphone 6, to review her finances
she was "partially broke" today's pay check was going to help
She had made self righteous announcements she was going to pay him back for all the Paris shopping, she had done none of that yet
She owed approx Rs 20,000 for the car loan every month starting May... she needed to rob a bank or win the lottery QUICK
She set her phone to play Tamil songs, Amma had texted her to PRACTICE, for Sunday class
she stepped on the ground and pushed giving herself flight,
let the swing glide as fast as she could... she was wearing a davani today after returning from work,
Amma's bhajan mandli friend had given her a Madurai sungudi material in dark green and crimson... she hummed...
Leysa Parakkudu from Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu played
Wished she could fly off someplace and just be with him... JUST HIM... not worry, not deal with the baggage...
like just sit on the swing and press a button and fly away from the second floor
She stared out... unaware he stood watching her for a few minutes..., her chai cup was empty she
didnt even realize sat there sipping from it and then set it down as an after thought...
He walked over, and stopped her swing, one hand in pocket, he wore his cargos and a tee, not
blessed with such sartorial variety as her... he didnt talk just looked, and picked up her phone and sat down in its spot
"Dressed up?" he muttered
"Santhanam Mami gave me a material" she smiled
"Do you like it?" she prodded
He nodded, leaning back arms behind his head smiling at her, she turned to look
"Reminding urself of times bygone?' he teased gently
"Jab salwar kameez pehan sakte hain to yeh kyon nahi?" she argued "U know all the wrong things about Tamil culture" bristling
(Davani is usually worn in teen years)
"Jaldi aa gaye kya?" she asked
It was 8...
"I had meetings with the Bihar realtors again" he said
"Bihari seekh li?" she asked reaching for her tea cup again
"theres nothing in there II" he said
"How do u know?" she asked startled, then realized he had been observing her before he joined her
"Did u hear me talk and make hand gestures?" she attempted to down play her thoughtful wanderings
"No, just drank from a empty cup multiple times" he said grabbing her hand
"U want chai?" she asked
He never responded to most question just nodded or shook his head
"Is Dad home?" she asked
"Dont know" he said...
"Does he want you to go to Bihar?" she asked
"How did u guess?" he asked startled
"Umm... yahi kaha hoga, he is just making day trips to Ghaziabad and Rohtak showrooms, he can be everywhere" she muttered somberly
"It looks like a dump" he said bluntly about the proposed location in the outskirts of Patna
She nodded...
"Its just too many places" he said unhappily about how overextended Ranjan was, between 36 showrooms already
"It gives him joy to be busy" she interjected softly
"Such joys should be experienced alone" he sniggered
"You would rather fly away to Paris wont you?" she asked chuckling, in jest ofcourse
"No doubt" he said unabashedly, without reserve
She turned to look at him, she wondered if he will ever be OK accepting his Dad and talking to him normally
Titli from Chennai Express played, she hummed the beginning chant, he hit pause... to hear her chant
it she turned and to look and turned away staring out, chanting just for him, but not looking at him
She began to sing as he didnt hit play...
Banke titli dil uda hai kahin door
Chalke khushboo se juda hai
He gently kicked the swing back and forth, just lay back listening to her sing
She breathed audibly at the end, leaning back
"What would you be doing on a Friday evening?" she asked
"Listening to Frank Sinatra maybe?" "Poker night?' he listed the two options
"Have you ever won in poker?" she teased
He wanted to say "strip poker" but he didnt... "Umm sometimes" he said
"U say that a lot" she said catching his bluff
"What?" he asked
"Ummm... sometimes" "I suspect when u dont want to answer something u say sometimes" she said softly
"Ask me another question"
"When did u start wearing cargos?" she giggled, his bare toes were on hers
rotating her toe ring on her left foot, that was the only part that was in contact
"5? 7 years ago?" he said
"U swore off pants?" she picked on him some more
"somewhat like that"
"Who gave u jasmine?" he asked, she wore multiple strings...
"Mahavir said Selvi dropped it off" she said not letting him pull her closer tugging it...
"Ask me another question" he said his eyes mostly closed, left arm folded behind his head
"When did balcony become ur favorite spot?"
"When I made out with a 11th grader" is what he wanted to say... "Ummm... cant remember,... always I think" he lied
He traced the elsatic around the puffed sleeve on her arm...
"Do u have days when you dont go down even once?" she asked
"Mostly I dont" he wanted to say "Ummm ... sometimes" he said...
"II" he coaxed her softly to turn towards him
She didnt...
"How many times has a Iyer quizzed you on this swing?" she asked
"Four" he said
"THATS A LIE" she said smugly
"Oops!" he pretended to have been caught
"Do u love books more than people?" she asked
"Books and music actually" he said
She turned... the response got him what he wanted, she was looking at him now
"Umm... thats Nice" she said flustered... pretending to be "OK" with such a choice
"I like music more than people too" she lied in order to get back at him
"But Nandu Shravu and Lasya more I hope?" he mocked, reminding her
"Oh ya u are right Only them" she warned
NOT YOU.
NEVER YOU
I WILL NEVER MAKE IT TO YOUR LIST
YOU WILL NEVER MAKE IT TO MINE
EVEN IF YOU ARE ON TOP OF MY LIST
YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT
I WILL HIDE AND WILL ONLY LET YOU SEE ROW TWO ONWARDS
RAKSHASAN!!
He pulled her on to his chest, and grabbed her lips fully " Phew!! I was fearing your list was going to have more names" he sniggered, kissing her bruisingly
He tasted like gum, she tasted like chai... she lay across him he held her like he held Lasya the morning after the sleepover
His tongue stroked hers, as if trying to erase their mutual lies
she stiffened trying to control the dizzying pleasure.. tearing her mouth away and landing on his chest
His hand was on her bare midriff, her arms wrapped around his neck
"Do u have poker tonight?" she asked pressing herself on him
he nodded
"Dont go da" she begged
"Go with me" he urged
"Does Sam play?"
"Mostly no" he said
"Dont go" she ordered kissing his neck "Dont go" "Dont go" she kissed him on his chest at various spots, leaving lipstick stains... on his tee
They heard footsteps... he released her reluctantly, getting up and wandering to the rail, she put her feet down and straightened her clothing
Chachu walked up "How are you puttar?" he asked R&B
he smiled
"Beta you look like a Iyer girl" he beamed at II
"Thanks" II got up "Aap kab aaye?"
"Abhi 10 min hua, Bhaisaab said you both are upstairs (DONT GO) so I came" he smiled
"Umm... I, he just came back from work, so was telling me"
"Arey I know everything puttar, I came for that only, I want to send Samar with him to Patna... there is so much work" he shook his head and shuddered
She turned to her husband "I am going down"
They exchanged one last look of longing and frustration...
"So puttarji, I was telling Bhaisaab, the 17.5 acre is the best choice" Harish Bhalla began to yak
She sent beer up for him, and wondered what was for dinner...
Fan Fictions
Anupamaa
