by Varsha Dixit
‘No, don’t you dare cancel on me. I was really looking forward to it tonight!’ Nandini asserted, craving to inhale Advey’s baby smell, listen to his innocent sweet chatter as he curled up in her lap.
‘Nandi, what’s going on?’ demanded Sneha, taking the receiver from her husband .
‘I’ll fill you in later... gtg! The psycho’s on my tail,’ grinning wryly and still on the phone Nandini shifted. Instantly, she froze.
Aditya stood inside the room, holding the door open for his PA, who entered with a pot of coffee. ‘I’ll call you later,’ Nandini hung up.
From Aditya’s livid expression, Nandini knew he had heard the last part. Wrong! He had shamelessly eavesdropped on the entire conversation.
Aditya waited for the older woman to exit the room, which she did after a quick hurried, ‘Goodnight’. He then turned to face Nandini, who had retreated some distance further in the room.
‘If I ever find you lose mouthing me or anyone else working here, to your boyfriend, you will dearly regret it ,’ Aditya threatened, darkly.
Nandini realised he had misunderstood. ‘That was—’
Aditya rudely cut her off, ‘Save it for someone who cares.’ He sharply exited the conference room.
Nandini watched him gather his briefcase from Simone’s desk, began, enacting the famous DDLJ scene, as she whispered, ‘Palat, palat!’
Aditya slung his laptop bag on the shoulder. ‘Abe palat!’
Aditya got in the elevator. ‘Pleaseeee palat!
The elevator door shut and not once did Aditya look at her.
‘Go to hell! As if I care!’ Nandini kicked the table. Wincing, she sank in a chair, depressed and alone.
Coming out of the building, Aditya curtly fobbed off a few reporters. Security guards made way for him. Angrily, he slammed the door of his Audi convertible, harshly. Even in the blaze of red he winced at his carelessness to the car.
‘Why are you so pissed that she is dating someone?’ cursing that thought, Aditya pressed the accelerator hard. Screeching, the car took off.
15
Bombay
F inally, at 8.50 in the night, an exhausted Nandini staggered inside the Verma residence. ‘You look like crap!’ Sneha said, opening the door.
‘Gee thanks! You made my day,’ Nandini muttered.
Massaging Nandini’s shoulders, Sneha propelled her towards the sofa. ‘Oh that feels good Sneh. You won’t believe what that man made me do.’ Nandini stretched her tired form on the leather sofa.
‘Oh no... what?’ Sneha asked, cupping her face, in utter shock
‘Cut it out drama queen! Aditya gave me truckloads of work to finish before I left tonight.’
Sneha clucked sympathetically.
‘Anyway, you guys please feel free to leave, where’s my little munchkins?’ Nandini inquired .
‘You obviously haven’t checked your messages. We cancelled our plans. Advey has fever.’
‘Darn! How much is it?’ Nandini asked, sitting up concerned.
‘A little less than hundred. Hopefully, he’ll be okay after a goodnight’s sleep. Why don’t I pour us a glass of chilled wine, order some food and rent a good movie? Let’s have an impromptu ladies-night-in,’ Sneha suggested.
‘Perfect! But are you sure Ankit won’t mind?’
‘Kit is not here. We were supposed to meet some long lost college bud of his, so I sent him by himself. Chungfa or Anaicha?’ Sneha asked, upholding up two home-delivery menus.
‘Chungfa. Be sure to order the chicken lollypop,’ Nandini said, picking up the editorial page lying on the sofa. ‘What are you reading?’
Sneha, a newspaper glutton, subscribed to numerous papers and actually read each page, start to finish. ‘There was a very interesting article, on that molestation incident which happened a few months ago in Mumbai on new year’s eve,’ Sneha replied, fetching the wine.
‘Can’t believe few groups had the audacity to hold the women’s attire responsible for the depravity,’ Nandini recalled, bummed.
Sneha rudely snorted. ‘When women covered from head to toe or draped in six yards of cloth are not safe from determined perverts, how dare any of us think any different?’
Nandini shook her head. ‘It’s absolutely depressing! For instance, someone in front of you accidentally drops a thousand bucks. Whether you steal the money or give it back is a reflection of your character, not the person who dropped it.’
‘Point melord?’ Sneha asked .
‘Similarly, if a man assaults a woman wearing a mini skirt and ignores a fully clad female, that is a reflection of his character and not the woman’s. The man is the pervert, the criminal, not the woman. She is a victim!’ Nandini asserted.
‘That’s true!’ Sneha agreed, handing Nandini the wine.
‘No one really cares anymore for what is right and what is wrong. All sides have political ambitions, vested interests or too damn busy lives to bother. Anyhow, I am going to hug Advey. I need to hold him.’ Nandini got to her feet.
‘I want all the details of what happened between you and Mr Midas. Every single sordid bit,’ Sneha called out, using one of the tags the press had anointed Aditya with.
‘I knew there had to be a selfish reason for you to offer me food,’ taunted Nandini disappearing in the little tot’s room.
‘I’m not paying either.’
Finally, close to 11.30 pm, Nandini got to her house. Her mother was up, dutifully watching the last from her regimen of TV soaps. One would think the doctor prescribed them.
‘Now, who died or had plastic surgery?’ Nandini teased lying down on the sofa, resting her head in Shruti’s lap.
Contrary to popular belief and their frequent squabbles, Nandini was quite close to her mom and vice versa. Only neither of them said it, probably waiting to spot a pig whizzing around.
Shruti stroking her hair murmured, ‘Tired, Nandi?’
‘Hmmm!’ Nandini shut her eyes, enjoying the relaxing strokes. There was something about a mother’s touch. It always eased whatever the ailment.
‘You work so hard in the office and then have to baby sit for your friends,’ Shruti grumbled, massaging her almost asleep daughter’s scalp .
‘Maa, you know I do it because I want to. I love Advey.’
‘When will you have kids of your own and get married?’
‘Cool mom, very modern,’ Nandini remarked.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Have a kid and then get married, very bold and beautiful types!’ Nandini teased.
Shruti had to laugh. ‘Be serious, Nandi!’
‘Please can we change the topic? Kindly tell me what was the highlight of your and papa’s day.’ Nandini snuggled deeper in her mother’s lap.
‘Nothing really! Oh yes, Adi called.’
Nandini’s eyes shot open and she stiffly sat up. ‘Aditya Sarin called?’
‘Yes, Aditya Sarin of course! Who else do we know by that name?’
‘So why did he call?’ Nandini asked, keeping her mother focused.
‘What do you mean why did he call? He called to say hello, talked to your father and me for quite some time. We also discussed plans of receiving Vibha didi at the airport.’
‘That’s all!’
‘Adi told me something else missy!’ Shruti playfully whacked her on the arm.
‘What was that for?’ Nandini muttered.
‘Why didn’t you call up and tell us that Adi bought Ace Advertising Agency?’ Shruti rebuked.
‘Sorry! The new takeover really kept me busy.’ You cannot imagine how, Nandini contemplated.
‘Well anyway, I told him everything about your good-for-nothing company!’ Shruti confessed, sagely .
‘What did you tell him?’ Nandini demanded, all imaginary antennas buzzing.
‘About how that Mrs Shukla makes you work so hard, for mere peanuts; about the lack of communication and creativity in the higher management of the company.’ Shruti’s expression was smug.
‘Mom, sometimes you speak too much!’ Nandini flared.
‘That’s the thanks I get.’
‘Whatever! Please do tell what Aditya’s response was?’
‘Verbatim?’ Shruti teased.
‘Maa !’
‘Adi said, “now that I’m there, I’ll make sure Nandini gets everything she truly deserves.” See what a thoughtful boy,’ Shruti chattered, as Nandini abruptly got up, heading towards her bedroom.
‘Thoughtful? Yeah sure! Even Dr Hannibal Lector was very thoughtful. Killing and eating his victims, was all he thought about,’ Nandini muttered, drawing the covers over her head.
16
Main Hoon Na
(Flashback – in a dream; Nandini’s!)
Aditya strolled in the family room to see his mother and Mrs Sharma perusing something in a magazine.
Nandini engrossed in a book, extended on a recliner. ‘What are you reading, Chicken Soup for the Fool? ’ mocked Aditya, dropping down on the plush ottoman next to her.
‘Nope. I am reading 101 ways of recognising a nut!’ Nandini shot back, still reading.
‘Self-awareness! That’s good reading!’
For an answer, Nandini, slyly, rubbed her chin with her middle finger. Grinning, Aditya turned to his mother. ‘Mom, I’m going away for three months!’
‘Finally some good news! What are the charges?’ Nandini piped, slamming the book shut.
‘Attempted murder of a brainless wonder!’
‘Ooh! You mean suicide! ’
‘Will you both please stop this nonsense?’ Vibha interrupted.
‘Nandini, let Adi speak,’ Shruti said, her tone sharp.
Nandini opened her mouth to protest, but Aditya cut her off. ‘Dad and AB want me to spearhead the new project for our manufacturing sector. For that, offices have to be set up in Big Apple and Dubai. There will be a lot of travel back and forth, so staying here doesn’t really make sense. I’ll be working out of our Mumbai HQ.’
‘When do you have to leave?’ Vibha questioned, her expression glum.
‘Tomorrow morning. Mom please, don’t look like that, it’s just few months.’
‘You won’t understand what a mother feels when a child goes away,’ an empathising Shruti offered. Namit and Meghna had recently moved to Mumbai.
‘Badi Maa, it’s no big deal. GRBR yaar! We’ll have more fun without him.’ Nandini added.
‘GRBR? What does that mean?’ Aditya asked.
‘GRBR means, good riddance to bad rubbish,’ replied Nandini, her tone condescending.
Aditya shook his head. ‘You are so lame! Why do I even talk to you?’
‘Because you’re so needy and pathetic! And because no one else will talk to you. I am just doing charity.’
‘Needy and pathetic! Big words for someone like you. Charity is what I do when I let you sit next to me or touch my CDs and blue rays, which you literally beg for!’
‘The only thing I’ll ever beg for is a knife, so I can do you-know-what- to-you— ’
Aditya cut in, ‘How about, I first demonstrate you-know-what-to-you with a knife then?’
‘Enough, both of you!’ Shruti and Vibha hollered simultaneously.
‘Do you both even realise that there are other people around you?’ said Vibha, ticked.
‘If no one else steps in, these two could go on for days without a break,’ said Shruti, shaking her head.
Nandini experienced some awkwardness, so did Aditya. He got to his feet. ‘Mom, I’ll be in the gym. Bye Aunty, bye brainless wonder!’ he said, exiting. This time I win the ‘last insult’ contest, thought Aditya. He broke into a brief victory dance on his way to the gym.
Next day, around 9 am, the phone in the Sharma household rang.
‘Chotu, it’s Adi. He wants to talk you,’ Nirbhay broadcasted to his daughter.
Nandini was engrossed in seeing a sea sponge beat the dear life out of a squid while a squirrel with her head stuffed in a glass bowl, looked on. Sponge Bob Square pants sillies! Nandini watched either cartoons or news while having breakfast.
‘Adi wants to talk to me? He’s on his deathbed or what?’ she whispered, grabbing the receiver from her father who always saw humour in her silly jokes.
‘I heard that!’ Aditya retorted.
‘Good! What do you want?’ Nandini asked.
‘Why aren’t you here yet? I am leaving in twenty minutes!’
‘Your highness, am I supposed to carry your bags to the car?’
‘Not for me, for mom!’ Aditya barked, hanging up .
‘Papa, I’m going over to the white house (Nandini’s nickname for the Sarin mansion). Aditya is leaving for a few months and I think Badi Maa is depressed.’ Nandini hurried out.
‘Ask her over for lunch. After that maybe all you ladies can catch a movie or something,’ Nirbhay shouted.
‘That’s a great idea!’ Vibha, Shruti and Nandini, did not miss a single movie in the theatres – Hindi, English or with subtitles. No amount of teasing and mocking by the rest of the clan could encumber the movie struck trio.
On entering the living room, Nandini spied Aditya hauling his luggage down the stairs. He looked up on hearing footsteps.
‘Where’s Badi Maa?’
‘In her room.’ Aditya opened and started putting a few things laid on the dining table into his suitcase. Nandini observed him, bemused; she had assumed the servants packed for him or lugged his stuff around.
Aditya looked up. ‘What?’
Nandini shrugged her shoulders and looked away. On cue, Vibha and Paresh appeared from their room. ‘Hello Nandi,’ Paresh warmly greeted her. ‘You’re ready to leave, son?’ he asked Aditya.
‘Yup, where’s AB?’
‘We’ll pick him up from the office. Let’s go!’
Seema bhabhi got a small bowl of dahi and cheeni, which she handed to her Vibha.
‘Take care of yourself; make sure you eat your food on time. Come back soon Adi,’ Vibha sniffed, feeding her beloved son.
‘Mom please! You are so filmy,’ Aditya hugged her.
Next, Aditya hugged his sister-in-law. ‘Seema, take care of yourself... for me.’ In good humour, he received an elbow in the ribs .
Nandini standing next to Seema bit her lip. What should I do if he hugs me, she thought.
Aditya gave her a quick side-glance. He stepped towards her. Nandini stiffened.
‘Take care!’ was all Aditya said and did.
‘You too,’ Nandini murmured, slackening; the fleeting disappointment confounding.
The servants carried the bags to the awaiting car. Everyone except Aditya, who was yapping on his cell, headed outside.
Few minutes later, his father impatiently said, ‘Seema beta, see what is taking Adi so long?’
Seema, a serious horticulturist, was at some distance inspecting the newly laid grass with her mother-in-law.
Poised close to the main door, Nandini offered, ‘I’ll go and check.’ She ventured inside and glanced around. There was no sign of him.
‘Aditya, Aditya, Uncle is calling you!’
‘I’m right here!’ sounded Aditya’s voice.
Startled, Nandini whirled around. Aditya stood close behind, his eyes fixed on her.
‘Uncle is calling you. You’re... getting late!’ Nandini stuttered, unnerved by the sudden proximity.
Aditya languidly hooked a finger under Nandini’s chin, tipping her face to his. Wary, she stared back.
After a few, kind of like waiting-for-the-needle-to-pause on the weighing scale, breathless seconds of Nandini’s life, Aditya murmured, ‘Try not to miss me too much!’ Briefly, his thumb caressed her chin, the touch so brief that Nandini felt she had imagined it.
Speedily Aditya headed out. Nandini touched her chin, struggling to comprehend the melancholy stoking her .
‘What nonsense! It was nothing!’ Nandini challenged the empty hall, shaking her head trying to free it of someone. When she finally emerged outside, Nandini saw the car lea
ving the driveway. Her eyes fell on Badi Maa who forlornly gazed at it.
‘Badi Maa, it’s time to open the champagne bottle!’
‘Adi has been away for so many years, I was just beginning to enjoy being a mother to two sons. Now, he is gone again.’
‘It’s no big D, four months will fly like this,’ Nandini snapped her fingers, ‘plus you have me to keep you busy. Remember ME?’
‘Even you’ll get married and go away one day. Then again I’ll be alone!’ Vibha grumbled.
‘Please, now you are purposely thinking of reasons to get sad. Let us go home. Mom is waiting for us. We all are going for a movie after lunch. Shahrukh’s Khan’s latest, Main Hoon Na,’ Nandini said, imitating the ‘hair flicking shoulder touching’ immensely popular move.
‘Oohhh! I like Shahrukh Khan,’ Mrs Sarin, squealed, like a giddy headed teenager.
‘Oohhh! I like him too!’ Nandini squealed right back.
17
Dil, Dosti, etc.
(Flashback continues...)
A s days passed into weeks, Nandini became a zombie-sans human flesh devouring part. She began losing interest in everything... food, books, even movies! No company was spiriting enough and her ten-hour sleep was down to seven.
Constant binges on chocolates and ice creams became a way of life. Every sunset seen through the pollution-laden air, brought a sigh to her lips. Her heart always skipped a beat at the sudden jangle of the phone and the brief moment before the email inbox popped open.
‘If I tell anyone, I’ll surely be committed,’ Nandini agonised, lying prone on her bed.
‘Nandi you weirdo, where are you?’ Sneha’s voice resounded outside her door. Like a banshee, Nandini streaked across her room. The relief to her malady was here .
‘I’m so glad you’re back! What took you so long... you b#%!?’ she fired, almost lifting Sneha off her feet.
‘Hey! Get off me! I was gone for mere three weeks,’ said Sneha, glowing fresh on her return, from a family vacation to Europe.
‘Sneh, I think I’m seriously ill! Something is really off woman!’ Nandini pulled the other girl inside her room, firmly bolting the door behind them.