The oven beeped and they broke apart. Sayajirao took out the tray.
“I am making that spicy curry for her...” he declared and
Ravi grinned.
“You know, beti? He is a fine cook..” Dhatri looked at Ravi
wide eyed full of admiration.
“Yeah... !...” he said proudly and asked her casually.
‘How about you?” Dhatri hesitated a bit but then thought of
telling the truth...
“Actually I was in hostel for my engineering... Before that
Rini Didi and Mamma used to do everything.... And after that......” She said sheepishly and Ravi turned winking
at his father...!
“Actually... mamma wanted me to learn .... but then I got
married and ... “ She gulped some air to
gather courage...
“Then I thought, I may not get opportunity to indulge into
.. my mama’s wonderful cooking..!” she said looking away shyly...
“So... ended up learning nothing....!” Ravi completed her
long explanation with the zist that she didn’t know cooking...!
Sayajirao grinned and said happily...
“No worries.... We are here...! We both love cooking...” he
declared and Mrs. Russel chipped in...
“Yeahn.... they both are just too good...! That Spicy Indian
meal....! And Ray bakes exquisite cakes...!” she said laying the plates on the
table. “Roti and Lamb curry...” Dhatri
took in the aroma to her hearts content lifting the lid and kept it back feeling
embarrassed. She suddenly felt
hungry.
“Oh! Wait a minute.... She likes Kheer...!” Ravi said
excitedly.
“Chawal ki kheer....” Dhatri shamelessly specified and he
grinned.
“Yeah... I know... chaval ki kheer with cashew nuts and
saffron sprinkled...” he gave her more details and she nodded happily.
“So give me ten minutes... Dad please soak the chaval...!”
Ravi dashed out with dragging his bag to freshen-up and prepare kheer for
Dhatri. Dhatri sat at the table waiting
for that exquisite dinner.
**** **** ****
“But why did you have to go out?” Ravi asked Dhatri.
Sayajirao looked up. They had a full
dinner and were relaxing with the TV news on.
“Yeah... That too for more than five hours....!” By now they
all knew she didn’t go for shopping and had not carried anything with her. Dhatri drew pattern on the carpet with her
toes feeling embarrassed. She just shook
her head a bit stealing a glance at Sanyogita, who seemed to be forgotten by
everyone else. Her presence was not
worth taking notice. Sanyogita shifted
little apprehensively. But Dhatri had
her own apprehensions... She didn’t want to tell anyone that she was
scared....!
“But where did you go?” Sayajirao asked her curiously. She looked little hesitant ... and then
said...
“Some children part 37 street... up the hill...” Ravi gaped
in disbelief.
“A what? How did you reach there?” he asked. She looked up confused.
“What does he mean how? Of course on my feet...!” She looked
pitying her husband.
“Its seven miles from this place, Dhatri...!” Ravi
clarified. She had ran up the hill and
returned...!
“Oh!.... You must be tired.... You should take rest...”
Sayajirao said with concern. She looked
down....
“Thats impossible... She must have hid somewhere
nearby...Cheap attention seeking tactics...” She thought disdainfully. Dhatri fidgeted little nervously. “Why are these people so shocked...?” She
didn’t know. That wasn’t a big deal for
her....! Running for an hour and coming back...!
“And you found your way back...!” Exclaimed Ravi and she
nodded smiling a bit...!
“Yes... I don’t get disoriented normally...” she spoke
matter-of-factly. Sayajirao gaped.
“You know... 37 – R- Down – R – R – L – R – L – L – R – 7 –
4 – 23.... Haa... And I am back home...!”
She said brightly.
“What is that?” Sayajirao asked sitting upright trying to
crack the puzzle.
“Counting the landmarks.... like came out of the park..took
right turn... down the hill.. then right again right... like that....! I had counted while running up to the
park....” she said simply and Sayajirao joined his hands...!
“You are just unbelievable....” He looked at Ravi for his
reaction, but he seemed to have known her ways...!” He just grinned at his
father...! And then remembering something asked loudly, so that everyone got
alerted.
“Dad... did you request her to stay here till your return?”
Sayajirao was startled by this weird question but Sanyogita got the hind. For a fleeting second she comprehended and
before Sayajirao spoke anything....
“You don’t owe him the answer Saya... Its between you and
me.... I agreed to stay and that's it..!” she said firmly and Sayajirao was more
confused.
“What are you asking....?” He didn’t know what his son was
really asking.
“You talk to me, Sonny... And you don’t have to bother.... I
have already booked my ticket... now that Saya has returned, my duty to look
after this house is over, I believe....” she said with her head held high and
Ravi got up aggressively to confront her.
She held up her hand and stopped him.
“Its between us.... Sonny...!” She waved at Saya and he
gaped with dropped jaw.
“Us? What is between us?” Finally he could utter...!
“Oh! Saya... You don’t bother....!” She flashed an angry
look at Ravi, wrapping her arm around Saya.
Sayajirao moved away...!
“Whats between us?” He asked thoroughly confused. In a hurry of damage control, she said...
“Its between us... that you are my first love and will
always be...” she said chocking with emotions and Ravi gazed in disbelief. Sayajirao looked at his son...! Sanyogita
suddenly turned aggressive, noticing the slipping ground....!
“Fine... you don’t want me here. In my husband’s house.... That's
understood....! But remember Sonny, you are staying here... in our house...!”
she came on to him aggressively. But
before she could utter anything, Dhatri had got up shielding Ravi. Sayajirao
couldn’t assimilate anything... The conversation was so vague....he just couldn’t
stop any one of them...!
“Whats going on?” he asked loudly, sensing the tension. “Saya...” Sanyogita turned to him but he
stopped her raising his hand.
“Please stop this....! Ravi... I hadn’t asked her to stay...
She stayed on her own... And Its my weakness, that I couldn’t say NO!”
Sayajirao confessed....!
“You don’t have to be so scared of him, Saya...! And
Sonny... I told you, I am going...!” Dhatri clutched Ravi’s wrist. The happy evening was spoilt... ! Sayajirao
came forward and taking Ravi’s hand in his, said...”I want to talk to you ,,,!”
Ravi nodded gesturing at the library.
Dhatri turned to her room, tensed up...!
*** *** ***
“Have you lost it? What do you mean quitting...?” Disha
yelled shaking Bhanu holding him by his shoulder. He just looked at the blankly.
“Quitting? And what will you do, Bhanu? Who’s going to pay
half the bills?” she was more worried about the loans and credit cards...!
Bhanu pulled her hands down...!
“Don’t worry, Disha... I won’t run away... I will pay all my
dues...!” he said bitterly and Disha sat with a thud.
“Bhanu... I didn’t mean to hurt you... !” she said softly
glancing at his furious face.
“I am just worried about you...!” she held his hand
gently.
“Oh! Come on... Don’t show your fake concern..!” he spat
back with hatred.
“Bhanu... Please... I didn’t mean it...” she was in
tears...! It was a big blow to her, when he declared that he had quit his
job. The job market was volatile... the
auto companies were closing down... he had some how managed to retain his
job... it was a suicidal move to quit the job at this point of time, according
to her...! They both have already incurred huge expenses on big house in elite
society and expensive cars....!
Disha hid her face in her palms sobbing.
“Oh! Come on... Disha... !” he threw his hands in the air
frustrated...!
“I quit the job, doesn’t mean I won’t earn...!” he said
disdainfully, looking at the state of panicky.
“What will you do, Bhanu?” she asked hopefully that her
husband might have some plan.
“I am talking to a few people...!” he said vaguely not
wanting to give her any details...
“What?” she jumped up
on her feet, shocked.
“You don’t even have a new job in hand?” she asked with
utter shock.
“God!! What are we going to do?” She banged her head and
turning to him asked hurt...
“You don’t even discuss your plans with me...!” He looked
away. There was no point discussing
anything with her. She wouldn’t
understand that he too wanted to plunge into different waters... explore new
horizons...take some risk and hope to be successful...! She wouldn’t understand
his aspirations...! She would be happy only if he brought in a lot of
money....!!
“How are we going to survive, Bhanu? Look at our monthly
expenses....!” she said hopelessly, calculating the burden on her....! They had
already decided to divide the expenses equally... If he didn’t pay.....Her
thoughts stopped in horror.
“How are we ...” Bhanu stopped....!
“Disha... I will pay my share... Don’t worry...!” he said
firmly...! He had saved some and was hoping to earn in a few months time...!
“But Bhanu... Why didn’t you tell me before quitting?” she
asked aghast...! She thought she had a chance to dissuade him from
quitting....! This was disastrous...!
“Ok.... I need some rest now...” Bhanu tried to escape but
Disha was not to leave him so easily... The argument continued culminating in a
bitter fight....!
“You just don’t care about me...aren’t you...!” she sobbed
harder. He just sat there folding his
arms on his chest, wanting to ask her when was the last time she cared for
him...!
“Look, Disha... your worry is only about my share in the
payments, right? I assure you, your requirements will be met...every month,...
without fail...! Is this ok? Can I go and have some sleep?” he asked getting
up, little sternly. Disha just gaped
with a ghost like face...
“And yes...I have deposited my share in our joint account
for next six months...!” he said coldly.
She looked at him thoroughly hurt.
“You think, I am worried about only money?” she asked sadly. He glared at him...
“That is what you were emphasizing all the time, Disha...
You didn’t even ask about my plans...!” he snapped bitterly and Disha hung her
head. Bhanu felt bad for her
tactlessness...! Sighing... he went to his study to spend the night on his
recliner...! Disha collapsed on the sofa losing her strength...What was she
going to do...?
**** ****
“Ravi...” she got up from the bed when he came inside. He looked at her apprehension and then turned
to the table, taking out his laptop. She
sat silently waiting for him...
“I need to finish the work...!” he said turning to her. She merely nodded...
“And you are coming with me...!” he said. He wouldn’t take any chances with her now.
For a moment she felt better, but then she thought she would
be a hindrance, so said considerately...
“No... You go! Finish your work and come back...!”
“Bu...” he opened his mouth... but she said hastily...
“I promise, I will not go out... I will stay at home...” and
looking at his grave face, said
“And stay safe... I promise...!” he sighed and turned. He seemed to have bought her promise.
“Now you work and I will....” she said feeling relieved...
“And? What will you count Dhatri? Hair on my head?” he said
arching his eyebrow and she gave him a silly grin...
“not a bad idea... “ she hopped out of the bed, stood behind
his chair...
“Ok... Start... 1..2..3..4...”Her fingers ran through his
hair, pressing his head to her heart....!
