by Varsha Dixit
‘Jokes apart, your mother tells me you show no interest in any of the eligible boys, she has had to force you to meet, and there have been several.’
‘I guess they weren’t eligible enough!’ Nandini replied, flippantly. ‘Badi Maa, when the right one comes along, I am sure everything will fall in place,’ Nandini mouthed a trite response.
After thinking for a few minutes, Vibha murmured, ‘Maybe I should step in and clear—’
Nandini cut her off. ‘You don’t have to. Let the sleeping dogs lie. Adi is beginning a new phase of life; don’t rake up the past. No one did anything wrong.’
Glum, Vibha dotingly kissed Nandini’s forehead .
‘Here is the mithai! What’s going on?’ Shruti coming in, on seeing their expressions, inquired.
‘Nothing, just telling Nandi that I want to eat this mithai for her... soon,’ Vibha evaded. Nandini grabbed the largest two pieces of mithai from the box.
1520 days equals four years and two months, roughly!
26
Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayi
A couple of days later, the entire Sarin clan, reunited under one roof. Cross-legged, Aditya sat next to his mom and brother. It was no happy occasion—his father’s fourth death anniversary. Peering into the fire, Aditya’s thoughts meandered to another havan, around 1520 days , ago.
‘AB, I am at the airport! There’s no one here, to pick me up,’ Aditya impatiently hollered in his cell.
‘I’ll be there shortly... another ten minutes or so.’ Ajit was only half-listening to his younger sibling. All his thoughts centred on the car he drove, and the wheel he held, so delicately, as if holding a newborn. ‘I have to get this from the old man for good. What a beauty,’ Ajit whispered.
‘What is taking you so long ?’ Aditya, hastily, maneuvered his Mulberry luggage pieces away from a man whose mouth full of tobacco bulged to alarming proportions .
‘Chill little bro! What is the rush? It is not as if you are coming to sin city (Las Vegas). It’s just house warming of the farmhouse, dude!’ Ajit ridiculed.
‘Will you just get here quickly?’ Peeved, Aditya ended the call.
Having put in sixteen-eighteen hours of work, every day, for the last three months or so had definitely taken its toll. His mind and body were bushed. Aditya’s eyes, winced in the sunlight despite the expensive shades he had taken refuge behind. ‘Must be Ulhassnagar material!’ he cursed them.
‘Hi Aditya!’ Aditya turned at the female voice. It was the PYT (pretty young thing), his neighbour from first grade.
‘Can I drop you somewhere?’ she crooned, coyly fluttering her lashes. She reminded Aditya of Betty Boop, but more gauche then classy.
‘Gauche’ – just that word hurtled Aditya into memories that had obsessed and driven him for the last couple of months. Affliction for life – he had happily approved and accepted the idea.
‘Aditya, can I drop you?’ the DBB (desi Betty Boop) persisted. Behind her entrenched was the entire family, the mother, father, another younger and older DBB, with all their salacious eyes on him.
They are in this only because of my last name. In their minds, I am already atop the ghodi, Aditya smirked at his own crude wit. ‘Thanks but my brother is on his way. He should be here any minute.’
The girl took out a smaller than a thumb sized cell phone. If cell phones got any smaller, it would be easier locating a needle in a haystack, than locating a cell in a woman’s purse. ‘Alright! Let’s exchange numbers.’
Lowering his voice, Aditya honestly replied, ‘Let’s not. Sorry, I am taken!’ He grinned at his own words. The sense of belonging, surprisingly, did not feel like a painful paddle in the rear. ‘Finally!’ he breathed, moving toward the Bentley entering the arrivals.
‘Dude, you’re slow!’ Aditya shot, briefly hugging Ajit.
‘Can’t believe you are so eager to get home?’ Ajit said, as their servant quickly lined up the luggage in the trunk. Besides the spare tyre, rich people’s cars always feature a spare human body.
Aditya sank in the comfortable leather, only to eagerly sit up. ‘AB let me drive!’ he implored.
‘Forget it! Dad would have my hide. You know only he and I are allowed to drive this baby.’
The Bentley, one of kind, highly customised and overly loaded was a prized possession of their father. Initially only senior Mr Sarin drove it. However, after much haggling by Seema, Ajit was finally allowed to drive the worshipped machine.
‘It’s not fair, just because you are married doesn’t make you a better driver than me,’ Aditya whined.
‘I agree. Take it up with Dad! Why don’t you?’ Ajit suggested, smugly.
‘I did! The old man was like, “Adi, bada socho toh bada milega!”’ Aditya grumbled.
‘Dad is right; marriage to Seema is bada... bada kaam!’ Ajit countered.
‘AB, Bhabhi is a sweetheart. So where are we going?’ Aditya asked, resting his head against the seat .
‘To the farmhouse. Mom, Dad, Seema, Sharma Aunty and Uncle, almost the entire city is there.’
‘Hmm, wake me up when we get there,’ Aditya murmured, closing his eyes.
After several minutes of silence, Ajit interrupted his slumber. ‘Adi, you’ve been acting strangely for the last few months.’
‘Why?’ Aditya asked keeping his eyes closed. What does AB know, he wondered.
‘You work like a dog and finish the project, impeccably, in impossible time. Reliable sources tell me you are not partying much... there is hardly any mention of you and some woman on Page 3, of any city. Now, to top all that you are panting to get back here; a place which in the past you have more than often called boring and dead,’ Ajit replied.
‘AB, you work hard. Only party with Bhabhi and few friends, and spend all your days holed up either at office or at home. Yet, you find it strange when I do the same things.’
‘But that’s me! I have always been like that. You, on the other hand have always been the social butterfly of our house and country.’
‘Then maybe all your prayers have been answered. I have matured, I guess!’ Aditya knew the reason for the change, but he was not telling... not just yet.
‘Don’t give me that crap. I know you better than that!’ Ajit shot back
‘Mr Shrink, may I sleep for some time?’ Aditya smiled, his eyes refused to open.
‘Is there something going on with you that I should know?’ Ajit nagged.
‘No mother!’ Aditya moved the spotlight away from him. ‘So how’s everyone been? ’
Aditya dropped the interrogation. ‘Same old! Mom has probably seen few more movies. Dad has probably bought some more antiques, and Seema and I probably have had few more arguments... whose left?’
Aditya, mentally, crossed his fingers. ‘Oh yes, Nandini! Nowadays her and our folks, including Seema, have taken upon themselves to get Nandi married. You said something?’ Ajit broke off.
‘Nope, go on!’ Aditya sat up, pulling the shades over his eyes.
Glancing at his watch, Ajit revealed, ‘It’s almost twelve; Nandini is probably meeting one of the first boys as we speak.’
After a few minutes, Aditya tersely muttered, ‘Your speed is insulting to a vehicle of this kind.’
In less than an hour, Ajit heckled by his younger sibling pulled into the lavishly decorated driveway of the farmhouse. ‘Must have definitely broken some record today, what do you think?’ Ajit said, getting out of the car.
Aditya, already half-inside the house, yelled over his shoulder, ‘Wait till I tell the old man how you abused his baby!’
‘You scumbag!’ Ajit called out.
A hurried, harried, Aditya weaved through the crowded foyer, living room, dining room. ‘Damn, how many people are here?’ he cursed.
‘Adi, you’re back. I would like you—’
‘Later Dad!’ waving, Aditya rushed past his father.
Taking a few scant steps, the life threatening faux pass dawned on Aditya. No one, except maybe hi
s mother, dared ignore someone who behaved like Godfather and smiled like Gabbar Singh .
Contrite, Aditya stepped in front of the crowned sovereign of their household; ‘Sorry Dad! Had to kind of go to...’ he lied through his teeth.
‘Okay!’ Paresh’s face lost its frown. ‘Well, then do go on. It is good to have you back, son. We’ll talk work later,’ he said.
Quickly, Aditya did the customary thing of touching his dad’s feet, followed by a brief hug. About to continue he recognised who stood with his father. ‘Hello Uncle!’ Aditya bent and touched Mr Sharma’s feet, thinking, baap pat gaaya toh beti kahaan jayegi?
Nirbhay, taken aback, mumbled, ‘Bless you, Aditya!’ Such traditional gestures were Ajit’s forte not Aditya’s.
‘Where is Mom?’ The pea would not be far from the pod.
‘Probably, outside in the tent, near the tennis court. The havan is about to commence there shortly. Why don’t you go and change?’ Paresh suggested.
Aditya took off in that direction. A well-manicured hand stopped him. ‘My, my, so you are finally back. I was so miserable without you,’ a female voice crooned.
‘I wasn’t!’ exasperated, Aditya brushed the restraining hand away.
Sheela placed it right back. ‘That is no way to talk with someone you were so close to.’ She leaned closer.
For his past errant behaviour and abysmal choices, Aditya visualised kicking himself in the nether areas, visualised being the key word!
‘Got to go Sheela! Do help yourself to the drinks and food. The latter more,’ Aditya said stepping, around her. ‘Try not to live in the past!’ Aditya superciliously advised. Unheard by him, his destiny guffawed.
Finally, he glimpsed his mother. He scanned the group around her – Bhabhi, Mrs Sharma and ten thousand other women (literally) but no sign of her. ‘Damn.’
‘Hi Maa, I’m home.’ Aditya hugged her close. Vibha lovingly caressed his face. ‘Please mom!’ Embarrassed, he straightened.
‘What? I am your mother not your girlfriend.’ Vibha’s coterie, appropriately, snickered.
Aditya could control it no more. ‘So where is—?’
‘Nandini?’ Shruti finished. Aditya nodded.
‘You stay away from her!’ Seema warned.
‘Why?’ The word just sprung out. ‘I mean, is anything special going on?’
‘Nandini is meeting a boy! We sent them away so they could get some alone time,’ Seema revealed.
‘You sent them where?’ Aditya struggled to keep his composure, quashing the urge to shake the three match mongers.
‘To the other side of the house. The gazebo near the pond, it’s quieter there.’ Vibha enlightened.
‘Okay!’Aditya promptly took off in that direction.
‘Adi! Where are you going?’ Vibha called out, sweetly.
‘To my room to freshen up.’
‘Your room is in the other direction?’ Seema pointed.
‘Sorry forgot! I haven’t been here, too many times.’ Aditya, headed inside, towards his room or so they thought.
27
Hum Se Hain Zamana
(flashback continues...)
T aking the longer route, all the way around the golf course, the manicured gardens, the gigantic pool and barbecue area, Aditya finally reached the gazebo. It loomed in front; wherein visible were two figures, seated beyond the white, trellis fence.
Aditya stopped, drinking in the sight. The weary parched traveller finally saw his oasis. His hungry eyes drank in the beautiful girl, adorned in the peach coloured traditional ensemble.
The beautiful, black hair, through which Aditya longed to run his hands, rustled gently in the wind. Mesmerised, Aditya gazed at the pure line of rosy cheeks, the pert nose that crinkled a little at the top when she smiled.
‘God, she is all I ever need, how could I have been so friggin blind?’ Aditya voiced his regret, for the time wasted .
The breeze seemed to carry his words. Nandini lifted her head, shifting slightly to peer at the slope, near the gazebo’s entrance. Her breath lurched in her throat; emotions surged from the heart to the eyes.
Nandini and Aditya’s eyes met, and the rest of the world just fell away. For what seemed like an eternity, they stared at each other... eventually Nandini looked away, flustered and breathless.
Aditya grinned, the smile spilling out of his face. With arms outstretched in true Bollywood style, he wanted to run to her. However, he forced himself to saunter... at full tilt. Unfortunately, they were not alone.
‘Oh gosh!’ Nandini whispered, cupping warm cheeks with cold trembling hands. Why is Aditya looking at me like that? Crap, he knows, he saw it in my face, she panicked.
‘Are you alright?’ Vikram the prospective groom, concerned, came closer. He felt her forehead.
Aditya controlled the raging jealousy. ‘Everything alright?’ he asked, entering the gazebo.
‘Oh hi! You are Aditya Sarin right?’ The other man put his hand out.
‘Ten on ten, but who are you?’ Aditya reluctantly, shook the proffered hand.
‘I am Vikram, Vikram Garg. I am here to meet Nandini,’ Vikram spoke the last part, glancing at Nandini with a sense of ownership.
‘Bh@#%! Yeh to pakka mara!’ Aditya decided. However, all that was trivial.
‘I am gone for merely two months and you are ready to get yourself married off?’ Aditya softly accused, feasting his eyes on Nandini, the decided love of his life .
Nandini could not bring herself to look at Aditya. Even her voice was gone, so made no response.
‘Nandini!’ Aditya took her name softly, almost like a caress. He was completely lost to that face.
‘Nandini! Nandini!’ Vikram called out jarringly, forcing himself between her and Aditya. ‘I don’t think she is feeling alright. Anyway, we are done; I have asked her whatever I needed to.’
Nandini’s bent head, jerked up. Aditya flashed a wicked smile, thinking, good going jackass! He languidly flopped on the marble bench, all set to enjoy the show.
‘In a marriage, the woman and the man are equal; it is not a contract between an employer and a slave,’ scowling, Nandini said, emphasising on every spoken word.
‘What do you mean?’ Vikram asked, taken aback by the tone and expression.
‘What do you mean “by we are done, I have asked her whatever I needed to”? This is not all about you, I have questions too.’ Nandini got up, ticked off by the apparent chauvinism.
Vikram sputtered, ‘I just meant...’
‘What did you mean?’ Nandini heckled.
‘Ya dude! What did you mean?’ Aditya egged.
‘You please stay out of this!’ Nandini pointedly told Aditya off.
‘Everything you say!’ Aditya spoke lightly, but there was nothing light about the way he stared at her. Nandini experienced sudden shortness of breath; with extreme effort, she moved her eyes to Vikram.
‘I don’t know what you are so upset about? I came here to see you— ’
Nandini cut Vikram off, ‘You came here to see me. What am I? The eighth wonder of the world?’
‘All I was trying to say is that traditionally the boy...’ Vikram stammered, red faced.
‘Oh please! Traditions? Sure! Who made these stifling traditions? Men like you! If a woman can give birth, feed her child from her body parts and provide for her family, she is in no way less than a man... if not more!’ Nandini declared, righteously.
Vikram gave a stilted laugh; it sounded more like the squeal of a slaughtered pig. ‘But you do need a man to have a child.’
‘Obviously you haven’t heard of sperm banks,’ was Nandini’s disdainful reply. Aditya with some effort killed the cackle, tripping his throat.
Nandini continued, ‘This is a meeting between two individuals, with equal rights to questions and decision. In fact, my first and only decision as far as you are concerned is that this,’ she pointed fingers at Vikram and herself, ‘is ending right here, right now !’
Stompi
ng her foot, Nandini huffed off in the general direction of the house.
Vikram, bewildered, gawked after her. ‘What did I say?’ he mumbled, sitting down next to Aditya.
Aditya clucked in fake sympathy, for his gender brethren. ‘Understanding this species is like solving the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle or the Yeti. No can do!’
‘You heard what I said. Where did I go wrong?’ Vikram quizzed, rubbing his head.
‘I didn’t see anything wrong with what you said. Maybe it’s that time of the month for her, who knows?’ straight-faced, Aditya offered. ‘Anyway, best of luck with the next one.’ Aditya stood up.
‘Do you think she’ll say no? Maybe I should meet Nandini, again, to make her understand my point of view. You don’t come across such a beautiful girl everyday.’
A twenty-one gun salute went off in Aditya’s head. Manner conspiring, he said, ‘What a shrew! Imagine waking up to that every morning.’
‘I know! Imagine waking up to that every morning,’ Vikram almost drooled repeating Aditya’s words.
‘What the f@*! is wrong with you? The lady has made herself clear. Get off my property and stay away from Nandini. I mean it !’ Aditya shouted at the other man. Vikram appeared apoplectic. Aditya, too, headed inside, winding back to the area where his mother and the other women sat. He spied Nandini there; she was speaking softly to the match mongers, emphatically shaking her head.
Aditya murmured, ‘The ducks are lined, time to make my move before some other idiot comes along.’
At that precise moment, Nandini looked up and spotted him. Aditya gazed at her, his eyes devouring her face. Instantly she mellowed. Nandini broke the eye contact, her already flushed cheeks tinged warmer.
Aditya leaned against the adjoining wall, continuing to gaze at Nandini, his look intent, a soft smile on his lips.
Magnetically, or because of some pull yet undiscovered by science, Nandini again glanced at him. Aditya gently brought his lips close and blew Nandini a kiss.
The soulful eyes widened, briefly, and then Nandini hastily averted her face, not before Aditya saw the nervous smile .
‘What is happening?’ Nandini whispered, anxiously. Her heart raced, breath rushing out in short gasps. Some strong emotion was taking over, forcing her in Aditya’s direction. Nandini could not help but peek again but Aditya was gone. Disconcerted, she looked around, her eyes searching the milieu of people.
