Propensity to worry
“Busy day?” she smiled at Raanav, when they relaxed outside with the patio heater
“Not really, a little stressed about Dad’s tests but it was mostly OK”
She reached for his hand, she was crouching on the rattan chair inside a voluminous shawl
“That looks comfy, your hand is warm” he whispered squeezing her fingers
His eyes sparkled like citrine in the glow of the heater
They looked at each other quietly
“I might not last long outside, I am going to haul you inside” he whispered softly
“Oh mujhe chalna nahi padega?” she acted dense
“You love doing that don’t you?”
“Kya?”
“What did u order this morning?”
“Since I had eaten dinner like 4 hours ago at Lohri, maine kam khaaya” she laughed hysterically
He stared at the long column of her neck
“Dekh lo abhi, mujhe lagta hai, my double chin flub is going to occupy this real estate” she rubbed her neck, laughing awakwardly
“Are you getting self conscious”
“What do u think” she looked down at his feet
“I will do it some more”
She yanked her fingers off his grip, but couldn’t
“I loved what you were wearing last night”
“It’s a mix between a saree and a lehenga, I didn’t wear what your Mom gave me”
“what did she give you” he looked at her with curiosity
“A bunch of cotton sarees, I mean I don’t even know how to describe them, straight from the loom”
“Ah”
“Tumne kaha unko?”
“About?”
“I love wearing sarees?”
“no I told her Ive ordered you to wear only sarees, your skin is easier to get to”
“RAANAV” she clamped her eyes shut
“Did u think she thought we are just platonic?”
“Pata nahi who kya soch rahin hain, you didn’t have to be so explicit”
“she has heard worse from Rakshit”
“Both of you are gross”
“Don’t u talk like that?”
“NOT TO MY MA OR PAPA” she shouted outraged but laughing
“My Dad wants grandkids so he will be in a constant state of longing” he muttered his eyes half closed
She imagined being pregnant
She had never fantasized about it… well she had, with Abhishek, she had wondered what area the kid would pick for college
“Are Rakshit and Lekha thinking of starting a family?”
“I am going to say, they have been “thinking” for 5 or 7 years now” he cracked himself up
“Don’t be coy” she ordered
“Fine” he laughed
“Its great their love is so enduring” she said trying not to look in the direction of the verandah outside their suite
They weren’t there
“It is” he nodded sighing
“I spoke with Insurance today, they will partially cover the damage on her car since its so expensive”
“that’s fine” he shrugged
“I am thinking I will just do it out of pocket” she mumbled
“It happened on the drive way of this house Viveka Mathur I need to take care of it”
He did the equivalent of an American parent using the full name when mad
“Tumhe chidne ki zaroorat nahi hai, I wont take your money” “The insurance and the car is in my parents name they will not allow you to pay for it” she said softly
“Can you not argue with me for once” he said directly
“I am sorry I will speak my mind”
She tried to pull her hand away
He held it firmly
“No Vi, nobody gets the couch tonight” (warning) “Neither you or I” he promised huskily
“Don’t worry I am not about to have a headache”
“Thanks?” he mocked
He got up swiftly and gently pulled her up
“Andar chalkar ladna hai tumhe?”
“Did your parents ever fight outside the house?”
“many times when we were little, from who is to hold whose hand, to when to cross the road, to who wants to carry the heavy grocery bag, both would fight over wanting to carry it”
He gently pushed her against the glass door
“To meri sadak par ladne ki stamina high hai, aur mere genes bhi achha hain”
He nuzzled her neck
“Raa”
“Keep talking”
“Ma Papa ko lekar?”
She squirmed at what his hands were doing
“You better start wearing saree at night”
His cool fingers went back and forth on her waist
She shuddered audibly
“Lets not fight about Lekha’s car, mujhe kar lene do please”
“Ive said it, you can check with my Dad on my propensity to change my mind”
“That’s a term we use in Econ”
“Well… some of us know it too”
“Aaj…” she thought of asking about Naina
They heard a rumble upstairs
“Why would your PARENTS be upstairs? It doesn’t make sense to me…. Especially Dad with his inability to walk without a cane”
“Well my Mum loves to have her coffee in the balcony, she sleeps poorly so she sits out in the balcony and drinks her coffee”
“Does she sleep poorly aaj kal?” Viveka was curious, feeling a moment of compassion
“Umm.. yes and no… she is a worrier”
“Tum?”
he smiled
“I think you know how I sleep” he smiled mischievously
“U sleep like a … I shouldn’t say baby… u sleep well at night if u get la—you sleep well into the morning if you get l—”
“You got it!” he laughed
“Raa..”
“I don’t want to talk about the car or anything”
“KK…” she let herself be seduced
Real Estate
Anupamaa
