Chapter 6
Ivya rushed inside followed by Maya while Samay parked the jeep, "Yudi, Aayan, Sanga!
"Attendance leliya rajdulari? Teased Maya, "Chalo bag rako haath muu saaf karo phir milenge.
"Saaf tho dhik rahi hai. Yudi replied picking her up, "Kyun rajdulari?
"Kya saaf lag rahi hai bigado maath meri beti ko Ivya chalo. Both of them left to change when Samay walked in, "Subah uska figure ko dhekne kaafi nahi tha?
"Subah uska vo lambi perfect legs dhek raha tha aab figure dhek raha tha. Yudi replied giving a smirk at the boiling Samay thinking Maya ke haathon se maar kayegi tho patha chalega. Though going inside he changed back to his morning outfit listening to Maya argue with Ivya, "Baby I said pyjamas aap kana ke baadh seedha so jathe hai.
"Candy dress aachi hai. Again he could hear Maya sigh, "Exactly aur agar aap ne isko gandhi karvadhiy tho?
"Teek hai lekin princess vali pehenungi. Teek hai? she asked, "Teek hai baba pehenlena, chalo tume lunch bhi serve karna hai. Aur haan aaj kya hua school par?
"Aaj na candy ma'am bahooth padadhiya. Class main neendh aane lagi lekin vo ruki nahi. Maya gapped at the girl for a minute before continuing, "Tume saach main bahoth neendh aane lagi thi kya?
"Haan! Main tho vo saab kuch jaanthi huun. came the reply laughing Maya pinched her cheek, "Teek hai koi baath nahi vaise bhi ma'am ne kaha kal se aap ko aalag se sikayenge. Meri baath ho chuki hai, kush?
"Hurrey. the girl jumped up and down. Samay walked up and picked up the girl gently giving her a kiss on her cheek, "Chale humare raajdulhari? Kaana tho kaana hai.
"Ok Samey bahoth buuk lagi hai. Aaj kya banaye ho? Maya pinched the child's cheek replying, "Kudh aakar dhek lena.
Maya went to the kitchen and took the lunch dishes. Setting things onto a metal rolling tray's dual layer she pushed it towards the place to eat. Ivya follows behind her holding large cushion mats. "Bache dhan se.
"Main badi hogayi hoon candy main kar sakti huun. Maya did not say anything just leading her away to eat lunch. It was a simple open space set with four stone pillars and clay roof. Four long thick, Kerala lamps hung from the pillars, more were set into the pillars themselves. Inside on the black marble floor with a long lamp. Setting around it were four low bamboo dining tables. Maya and Ivya set the table together finally setting the plates. Yudi who came in first with Samay began opening the food, "Wow, chapathi, fish fry, vegetable kurma, rajma rice, bhuundi ka raitha aur papad bhi? Oh my god tumne apni uss red rice curd rice bhi banadhiya? Vo bhi cucumber and onions ke saath?
"Masi bachao. she turned around to see Ivya running being chased by Sanga, "Mithra muje tandhi karvarahi hai.
"Kuch chahiye tho Masi varna candy? Sanga, aache se tandi karvadhena. she replied instantly the girls began running around, Sanga holding a bottle of juice in her hand. Aayan came behind them carrying some ice laughing at the sight of Ivya and Sanga continued to run around. Just then Maya's phone rang with a number, "Good afternoon Home Style this is Maya Meherothra.
"M-Maya main tumhara Arjun. the pain shot through her as the voice said those words. Composing herself, "Mr. Sharma anything urgent I was going for lunch.
Arjun's excitement reflected in his voice, "Really? Can I join you? Kaisi hotel?
"Apni ghar pe Mr. Sharma. I work from home. She could hear the object he dropped and the disappointment in his voice, "Oh, tho mile kab?
"Milenge kab? she repeated signaling Aayan with her hand, tapping her wrist, he responded with a signal of his own, "Tomorrow, ten?
"D-done. Kahan mile? Tumhari favorite coffee shop main yaah phir breakfast saath karthe? Jahaan tum bolo - continental, south indian, north indian, yah phir tume sirf rajasthani chahiye? Yah phir panjabhi?
"Mr. Sharma, main brakefast and lunch ke liye free nahi huun. I have prior commitments. Aap ke office par milethe hai subadh dus baje. If it is comfortable for you. Arjun instantly agreed, "Aap ko confermation email bijwathi huun. Thank you.
"Maya - Maya. he called but she had already cut the line. Happiness filled his heart, touching her photo behind his seat he smiled running his fingers across her lips, "Bas thodi si dheer aur Maya. Tum meri pas hogi, aur main tumhare paas.
The house was large and typical of a mumbai home. Front lawn with seating area and tight security. He even had a fountain installed to be used when the occasion arises. Even the nameplate was based on white marble with a gold frame work. The white cadillac he drove made everyone turn around... white marble floors were set everywere including the swirling stairs which lead inside the home. It was planned with only one thing in mind - entertaining people... extravagant decorations with carpets and wall built seating areas were set with bright coloured cushions. A large wall clock near the door seemed push the value of time in it's little corner! Paintings, pillars and curtains with more seating areas surrounded the main seating space. One which was dect with care in terms of comfort and colour combinations. Even the central glass table with the large decorative bowl with flowers followed the same scheme. Antique pieces they had collected over the past three years had set the tone further... several layers of stairs in various styles added to the extravagance of the home. The home bar only added further to the space and it's set up. Despite all there seemed to be something left in the home, happiness was not a part of it. Janvi handed him a glass of water, "Arjun tum agaye ho? Ithne jaldhi?
"Office bandh karne ke liye. Waise bhi kuch conference calls hai jisko muje attend karna hoga. Socha brake lelun. Arjun replied sitting down in the large arm chair rubbing his neck, "Prathap Arjun ke kamre main heater switch on karo. Aao main tume malish dhethi huun tho da aaram milega. Kuch kaaya tumne aaj?
"Ja rahre ho tho isko wash ke liye daldho. Arjun tossed his vest and shirt sitting down in his sleeveless baniyan as Janvi rubbed his head. The large arm chair had been nammed as marlish chair, since every evening Janvi would sit on it with Arjun at her feet. "Patha hai aunty aaj Maya ne muje contact kiya.
"Patha hai, Suman se meri baath hochuki hai. she replied, "Hum saab tere saath hai bache jo dhardh hum saab ne Maya ko dhiya vo saab um milkar teek karenge. Bas thodi din aur, iss ghar par bhi bajvaan ke saamne dheep jalayajayega aur vo bhi Maya ke haathon se.
"Bas usi din ka inthizar hai aunty. he leaned against her lap when Saanj walked in, "Duskey kahaan thi tum? Ghar tho saath chalne vaale the na?
"Tu na chahe kithna bhi kamale lekin duffer ke duffer rahega. Main tuje bol kar gayi thi ek conference call ke liye thiyari karna pada. Lekin tume kahan yaadh rehetha hai? Arjun hit his head, "Sorry Duskey, bilkul bhul gaya tha. Koi problem tho nahi hoga na launch main?
"Hoga na jab main tera sar par shagun na nariyal phod lungi na thab. Jab se email aayi hai tu tho udd rahi hai. Hosh main aana ek chance hai agar gayi tho Maya gayi haath se. smileing Arjun replied, "Tu aise nahi vaisi hai patha tha lekin tuje meri biwi se pyar hai.
"Kya? Saanj irritated again hit him on the head, "Tu aur tera bakwas dhek kal yeah saab Maya ke saamne math bolna. Aur haan project ka har detail aache se study kardhena varna. Dhek tu sambal lega na, main tumhare saath nahi aapaungi. Patha nahi aab Maya kaunsi tension main guzar rahi hai kal ka meeting lekar.
"MAYA JAAN JALDHI AAO NA. KITHNA WAQTH LETHI HAI TU, IVYA AUR SAMAY GAYE HAI. Aayan yelled, she rushed down placing a rubber band on the french braided hair and same jeans with vest, "Sorry sorry aagayi, chale?
"Wallet aur phone leliya na? she asked as Aayan took her hand in his, "Haan leliya aur full charge bhi karvadhiya. Thank you humare saath aane ke liye.
"Baar baar thank you bolkar muje paraya math karo jaan. Please, waise bhi tum mere liye ek saheli se bhi badkar ho lekin main tumhare liye ek dosth bhi nahi huun. Sirf tumhare under kaam karne vaala ek team member. Maya looked away with guilt but did not remove her hand from Aayan's hand, "I love you Maya. Aur mera pyar ek aashiq ka nahi aur na main tumhara pathi bane ki kwaish hai. Aab chale?
"Patha hai. she replied linking her fingers with his, "Chale?
Maya took over the driving seat while Aayan sat next to her while Ivya, Yudi, Sanga and Samay took the back seat. Ivya began chattering with Yudi about a game while Sanga and Samay began discussing a movie they wanted to go to. Maya was humming the song while Aayan listened with his eyes closed. The memory of walking into her humming the evening of the godhbarai came to his mind... he loved her voice even that moment despite the anger in his heart. Through the past three years he had ended up finding a strange sense of peace in his mind. He loved her voice and several times he pushed her to record videos of her singing. She always indulged after he pushed her... it was the voice he used to soothe his wounded heart.
The evening was a beautiful one... the beach and the food flowed through them. While Maya was munching away on the roasted corn Sanga bought tender coconuts for everyone... From there the night just seemed to go on. Snacks, hot foods and even sweets. At one point Ivya grabbed Maya's hand and pointed towards a man selling balloons, "Candy muje bhi chahiye.
The words brought back a memory... a little girl holding her mother's arms pointing towards a balloon and asking, "Ma muje bhi chahiye.
Ma... muje bhi chahiye. Ma muje bhi apna bachpan chahiye. She thought to herself... but taking the little girl's hand she asked, "Kaunsi?
Edited by arya.arumugam - 7 years ago
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