VIBGYOR

by Keerthana Jayaraj

  “Dan…” Jacob’s voice, choked and tear-filled called out. His eyes were as dry but I could see that he was trying to swallow a lot of things – tears perhaps and whole lot of emotions he didn’t want to let out in front of Anasuya.

  Shiva, was staring at him, her mouth half open. Her eyes traveled to Anasuya too, this time the shock on her face replaced by deep disgust. Any other person would have flinched at the way things were turning out but not Anasuya. Her skin was remarkably thick. It might be good in some cases but in this particular instance it just translated into shameless.’

  “Oh really! Now he’s saying that I dumped him? Seriously? After he stalked me for years?”

  The remaining colour on Jacob’s face drained away. I heard him murmur the word ‘stalked’. Dan looked ready to strangle Anasuya on the spot. From the way he clenched his fists he would have too, if Nandan hadn’t decided to interfere. He had been so silent till then that I had forgotten he was there.

  “What is this all this talk about stalking? Anasuya…You didn’t say a word to me about this.” The mild reproach in his voice reminded me of Anasuys’s tantrum at the engagement. What a girl! She made a big stink and called Nandan a liar when she, the artful hypocrite, was a greater liar. Great girl to marry indeed! Great!

  Apparently, she had expected the question and was ready for it too. She made a perfect sad face and produced the shaking voice and teary eyes of the damsel in distress.

  “I was going to tell you today.” She said, sobbing lightly. “It started about the time you got married to Shivani. Jacob Lewis The big singing sensation. I went to one of his programs to get an autograph. He followed me around. Took my pictures and send his programs to get an autograph. He followed me around. Took my pictures and sendVIBGYOR

  me music CD’s. I told him to stop but he didn’t. He said he loved me…He said he wanted to marry me…But I…I told him I was I love with somebody else but he wouldn’t go away. I know I should have gone to the police but……Even though he was mad I didn’t want to ruin him. But he…He just kept on doing it…Even after he had that accident and got confined onto a wheelchair…He’s been using his friend to do the same things…”

  There was a resounding sound as Dan’s hand landed on Anasuya’s cheek. “YOU KNOW WHAT…” He started but was cut off by a gentle sound of Dan’s. “Dan please…Come back…Please…”

  “JACOB!!!! WE DON’T HAVE TO BEAR HER LIES…”

  Dan raised his hand to strike again but Nandan moved between them.

  “Enough!!!! You and your friend have caused my Anu enough pain. I’m not going to stand for this anymore. If he comes within a five mile radius of my fiancée, I’m calling the cops.”

  Anasuya stood massaging her cheek, angry tears springing out of her eyes. A tiny drop of blood was blossoming on the side of her lips.

  “Nandan…call the security and get them out of here…” She cried. “He ruined…He ruined…”

  “No, love.” Nandan put an arm around her shoulder. “No one is going to ruin anything. Not my crazy ex-wife.” His eyes darted slyly towards Shivani. Dan, who was on the verge of a blow up deflated like a punctured bicycle tire. His eyes fell on Shivani, who looked supremely unconcerned.

  “Nor your stalker. Let’s go darling. We’ll eat somewhere else.” He took a small handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the blood drop on her lips. She smiled sweetly and rested her head on her shoulder. Together, arm in arm, they walked out of the room.

  A stunned silence remained after they left. A silence with reeking of the past like decaying garbage.

  A waiter trotted into the room. He looked agitated, rather like a frightened rabbit. “Er…The receptionist said that there was sound of raised voices coming from this room and…”

  Obviously, fistfights didn’t very often at the Cuisine International. Neither did loud arguments or slapping. I wonder what the elite did when they wanted to let off some arguments or slapping. I wonder what the elite did when they wanted to let off some steam. I guess they would just have to swallow it and bear it.

  Dan turned red. He murmured something that nobody heard properly. The waiter looked more confused than ever.

  “A gentleman and lady were here a little while ago.” There was something dignified about the way Shivani got up to meet the waiter. Her voice was refined and well-bred for once, not the soft and upset kind that I usually heard.

  “I think they were on a lunch date but it didn’t work out. They had a fight and left.” “Oh! I’m sorry gentlemen and er…” He looked at Shivani for a moment. “er…lady. Er…If anyone here has an order to place…”

  “I’ll have…” Shivani reached for a menu on the nearest table and rattled off a few names that sounded too fancy for me. The waiter scribbled furiously on a notepad and rushed out.

  Shivani smiled as she took her seat again.

  “Thanks.”

  It was Dan and he was a lot redder than before. “I kind of lost it and they would have probably kicked me out.” Shivani nodded curtly and went back to exploring the menu. Jacob didn’t speak even after Dan sat down next to him. He was not angry by the way he looked, just overwhelmed and lost for words.

  Dan wasn’t used to an icy silence from his dear friend. “Look Jacob…” he began slowly clearing his throat. “I’m sorry I made a scene and I probably shouldn’t have….But you know…I couldn’t when she…She was lying and I of lost…”

  “Thank you, Dan.” Jacob’s voice was so soft that I almost didn’t catch what he said. Dan almost didn’t too. His exclamation of surprise came right in the middle of never ending blabber mode.

  “I was so angry she was being so…WHAT?”

  “For being the best kind of friend a person could hope for.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Shiva had come over to the table.

  “May I take a moment to talk to you?”

  Jacob and Dan didn’t look too upset at someone invading their table. In fact, their looks told me they would have gone to speak to her if she hadn’t come to them. “There is something you should know about that woman. I mean…The one you are in love with.” Dan glanced quickly at his friend, before interrupting.

  “What she said isn’t true. Not true….”

  “I know. I can guess.”

  Shiva sat down briskly. Neither Jacob nor Dan objected.

  “I went to school with her. Right from high school she was in love with the man you saw with her just now. My…” “Your ex-husband.”

  Shiva nodded.

  “Yes. She said at the engagement that she had been waiting for him, not getting into any relationships at all. Obviously a lie. But what I wanted to say was this. She is as shallow as a toddler pool. I wouldn’t take the things she said to heart. I’’ve heard her say worse. I wouldn’t be sad that I lost her either.”

  There was a burst of laughter from Jacob.

  “If you want to say ‘I’m sorry for you.’ go ahead and say it.””

  Shiva bit her lip and turned a delicate shade of pink.

  “You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

  “Definitely not.” Jacob smiled

  The door opened and the waiter walked in, laden with a heavy silver tray. He looked at the only occupied table, confused.

  “She’s an acquaintance.” Jacob said quickly. “We’’re having lunch together so you can leave the tray over here.” The waited did just that and left the room quickly.

  “We might as well eat together.” Jacob suggested.

  “Sure.”

  The lunch took a while. Dan fed Jacob before beginning on his lunch. It was rather endearing. I wondered how and when they met. Especially since Dan told Anasuya that it was the first time he was seeing her.

  The mood lit up as the conversation moved away from Anasuya and Nandan. “I don’t like the song they picked, you know. I like the other one. The sad version.”

  Shiva said as she ate a spoonful of noodles. I don’t know why but that stuff particul
arly disgusted me. Maybe the fact that it looked like cooked worms had something to do with it.

  Jacob took a sip of juice and looked thoughtful.

  “’I lost you?”

  Shiva smiled.

  “I like sad songs.”

  Jacob smiled too.

  “Many people so.” He turned to face Dan.

  “Hey! Why don’t we put in a request? For the lady?”

  Dan looked doubtful.

  “That’s not…”

  “Oh! Come one Dan! Just go and put in a request.”

  Dan started to rise but Shiva stopped him.

  “I don’t think you need to hear that today.” Shiva bit her lip. “Considering the circu…”

  “Don’t bother.” Jacob grinned. “I’’m not going to cry my eyes out when I hear it. Dan! Please go and put in that request. Dan left and by the time he returned the song had started to play.

  I lost you…I lost you…I lost you when it rained…

  You loved my warmth and my sunshine but never my rain

  Not my rain.

  The clouds turned grey and you were gone…Taking my sun and spring with you. I lost you…I lost you…I lost you when it rained

  Nobody spoke the whole time the song played. There was just the mild clicking of spoons as they picked at their food.

  “It’s one of the most beautiful pieces I gave my voice to.” Jacob said dreamily. “Too bad I didn’t appreciate it at that time.” “I’m guessing you liked the first one better. I mean…then.”

  Jacob sighed.

  “I sang that for her. I thought of her ever minute…as the music hit and I was singing into the mic…I could see her in every corner of the recording room……” He leaned back against the wheelchair, his empty eyes fixed somewhere on the ceiling. “Guess that makes me a total idiot.”

  Dan took his friends hand.

  “Of course not!” he said fiercely.

  “She can be charming when she likes.” Shiva said. “And people fell for it too. I don’t think you have anything to blame yourself for.”

  The waiter came with the bill. Shiva opened her handbag and paid. Dan fished out a wallet and paid for the two of them.

  As the door closed behind waiter’s retreating back, the three of them fell silent again. It was time to leave. Shiva broke the silence as she stood up from her chair.

  “I guess I’ll be going.”

  “We should be going too.” Jacob said.

  Dan stood up to take his friend’s wheelchair.

  “Er…Bye then.” He told Shivani.

  Just as Shiva was out of the door, Jacob hailed her.

  “Why don’t we walk together?”

  Shiva shrugged. “Why not.”

  The three of them left the hotel together, earning a few curious stares from the pretty receptionist. The walk to Jacob’s apartment wasn’t a long one and they were there in no time.

  “Why don’t you come in?”

  Dan asked at the parking lot. “If you’re not busy or anything…”

  “I can spare the time.” Shiva smiled.

  Jacob’s apartment, on the top floor was what they called the penthouse. Flashy and luxurious, it shouted out ‘grandour!’ with every item. Be it the exotic indoor plants, rare flowers, the crystal chandelier in the living room and the shiny, highly polished furniture. Oddly, Shiva in her new attire didn’t feel such a misfit here as she did in her own home.

  “Nice place.” Shiva commented. “I don’t know about that. We moved in here from my family home just a few blocks away. The house was grand and all but it was kind of big for two people so I thought we’s move somewhere smaller.”

  Shiva raised an eyebrow. “Two?”

  “It’s a long story.” Jacob told her curtly. “Why don’’t you sit down?” “What makes you think I haven’t already done so?” Shiva asked smiling. “Am I such an idiot as to miss sounds in my own house?”

  “Guess not.”

  Shiva laughed as she took a seat. Dan hurried into the kitchen leaving Jacob with Shivani.

  “You should not have stopped singing.” Shiva said awkwardly. Hmmm….The more I looked at her, the more I was convinced that she had once been a fangirl. The round eyes, the traces of awe in manner and voice, it was all there.

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t given up anything after your breakup.” I was kind of curious about that one too. What kind of person had Shiva been before Nandan broke her heart? She might be something of a wet blanket but still…My gut instincts told me there was something more to Shivani.

  “It was not anything remarkable. Unlike you…”

  “I wasn’t anything remarkable.” Jacob said, wiping the preparation from his forehead. “Famous yes…Remarkable no.”

  “I don’t know why you think that.”

  “Blind eyes have clearer vision.”

  Dan came racing out of the kitchen. Two glasses full of apple juice wobbled dangerously on the tray.

  “Careful…You work too fast.” The words were barely out of Jacob’s mouth when Dan’s feet tripped on something on the floor. The glasses went flying crashed on the floor, dispersing into a thousand tiny fragments. Most of the fruit juice unfortunately ended up on Jacob.

  “Oh!!”

  Shiva was up before Dan even moved. She fetched the towel on the table and wiped most of the juice on Jacob’s shirt. “Are you ok?”

  “I thought you were Dan.” He said with a small smile when he heard her voice. “I’m here.”

  Dan’s voice came from the kitchen. There were some noises as if he was searching for something and then there was a bang followed by a scream.

  “Oh dear…” Shiva ran over to help him. At first she couldn’t see Dan anywhere in the spotless kitchen. Then, after a lot of calling and searching she heard his tiny voice from inside the store room.

  “He…” Shivani switched on the low voltage bulb in the tiny room to see a mass of tins crashed down and their contents spilled on the floor. On top of them was a broom. I kind of saw what happened. Hilarious when you see on TV. Not so funny when it happened to you.

  “I’m here…” Dan’s voice was from under them. Shivani hurried over and moved the heavier tins, cardboard boxes and broom. She saw Dan’s legs and gradually, underneath a big tin full of chilli powder(that wouldn’t be good), Dan’s face.

  “What in the world were you doing?”

  She asked. A typical girl expression when guys mess up the things they do quickly and easily. Not necessarily chores but homework…revision…methodical stuff like that. You know, I don’t really get why people like Shiva’s father act all superior. Something about him tells me that he wouldn’t make it through a day without his wife.

  “I was getting the…What’s…my face……”

  Dan sat up, one side of his face orange. It didn’t take much to guess what that was. He started to rub his eyes but Shiva stopped him.

  “No!!!!” She exclaimed, helping his up. “Come with me. Wash your face. No. Don’t rub. It’s get worse.”

  Leaving Dan by the wash basin to soak his face in the clear cold water, Shiva returned to Jacob. He seemed totally unfazed by his sticky shirt.

  “What’s up with Dan?” He asked.

  “I think he was trying to get a broom to clean up the glass. But something when wrong I guess…”

  “Won’t be the first time.” Jacob laughed. “I keep telling him to be careful. I can’t exactly help him if he falls down and breaks a leg.” Something about his voice was rather sad. Shiva must have sensed it too. “Is it just the two of you?”

  Jacob nodded as a dripping Dan appeared from the bathroom, looking thoroughly disgruntled.

  “All the times I could have messed up…” he muttered darkly. “I had to do it in front of a guest.”

  “If there wasn’t a guest…How exactly would you have gotten out of a mess?” Jacob was grinning. “My dear man, if you break a leg, both of us are stuck in here till one of my relatives comes to check. That could be this
year…The next year or perhaps eight years later…”

  “A servant wouldn’t be too bad.” Shiva suggested.

  Dan laughed. He shook himself like a dog spilling water drops everywhere. “We tried. Jacob kicked her off on the first day.”

  I couldn’t imagine Jacob kicking anyone, let alone a helpless servant girl. It just didn’t suit him. Shiva seemed to be thinking along the same lines. “What?”

  Jacob picked at his sticky shirt with his fingers as he answered.

  “Would you pay for a lady, who loiters around without doing any actual work?” “Well she did watch TV all morning because I made breakfast before…”

  Laziness…Not a crime. More like a disease. Some people enjoyed the scent of money. Especially when it came for a minimum labour. I wished they would employ someone. I could so the ‘supervising’ part.

  “See…” Jacob said pointedly. “He works too hard for me. Should I actually let him work for a stranger too?”

  TICK TICK CLANG BANG CLANG

  I nearly jumped at the racket. What in the big wide world…Shiva looked pretty shaken too. “It’s just the grandfather clock.”

  Jacob said.

  The clock…The word must have triggered something unpleasant in Shiva’s mind. She took one glance at her clock and then at her watch. “I must go…I really wish I could have helped but…”

  Both Dan and Jacob protested loudly at her apologies.

  “You helped quite a bit.”

  “No. Don’t…”

  Shiva waved goodbye and left, just as the last clang escaped from the ancient clock. “Nice girl…”

  Dan said, slowly as the door closed. “Only an idiot would ditch her for Anasuya.” “She looking pretty now?”

  A mischievous smile lit up Jacob’s face.

  Dan turned red.

  “I told you she’s not that pretty.”

  Jacob laughed teasingly as Dan went off. After the footsteps faded away, the laughing stopped. He leaned back in his wheelchair and smiled to himself.

  CHAPTER 8

  I had been home for almost fifteen minutes before she came in, whistling a little tune. Her eyes were alight although her lips were not smiling. “Mom!” She called out. “I’m home.””