07-02-2023, 06:09 PM
For the first time since that chocolate lava cake, Reena saw a spark of life on Mansi's face. And although initially she had thought Dutt was being too aggressive, she was impressed at how quickly he had put Mansi at ease.
"So why didn't you pursue it as a career?"
"Pursue art? Forget art, pursue a career?" Mansi smiled sadly. "I don't come from that kind of a family."
"I understand." Dutt sagely nodded. "My own father was very rigid. Anyway, who are your favorite artists? Impresionists? Dadaists? Cubists?"
Mansi felt uncomfortable. He was trying to impress her but she didn't really know any of these words.
"I...I never really learned about art. I don't know the terms and all that. I just know that when I see a painting I like, I like it. A few years ago my husband and I went to an exhibition of Hussain saab. Those were nice."
Dutt gauged her level of knowledge and course-corrected.
"After all, that is what art truly is. Something that speaks to your heart. That's why you can't spell heart without art."
Reena felt like laughing at that corny line, but Mansi seemed to like it.
"Very true."
Dutt nodded and started eating. So did Reena. The waiter had left by then. Mansi looked around the plate. There was no fork or spoon. Just a pair of fancy looking wooden chopsticks. She looked at her two companions. Both were eating with the chopsticks very expertly. The street Chinese food always came with cutlery. She had seen people use chopsticks on food shows on TV but never really had to use them.
"Aunty..." she awkwardly said.
"Yes, dear?" Reena pretended like she didn't know what was going to be the request. It had been Dutt idea, with the assumption that a small town middle class woman would not know how to use chopsticks.
"Is there any cutlery? I can't..." she pointed to the chopsticks.
"Oh god. Those idiot waiters. I told them to bring cutlery as well. Everything has to be told a dozen times." Reena got up and went to the phone.
Mansi again felt out of place as she saw Dutt effortlessly eating even rice with the chopsticks. He looked at her and smiled.
"It is very easy, Mansi." he said. "Here, do what I tell you."
Mansi picked up the chopsticks.
"Now, put one like this sliding from the base of your thumb to the middle of your ring finger. Yes. Like that. Now hold the other one like a pen between the tip of your thumb and index fingers. Yes. Now click them together. Yes. Very good. Now try to lift something."
Mansi followed the instructions exactly. But the sticks slid out of her grip. She tried again.
"Here, let me help you." Dutt said.
And before Mansi could say anything, was swiftly standing behind her, leaning down. he put his big hairy right hand on hers. She felt his breath against her ears as he said.
"Now...one stick like that. Another like that. Relax, it's very easy. You are an artist. This is easier than painting a circle."
Mansi felt an odd sensation as the old stranger's big rough fingers pressed gently on her smooth small ones. She wasn't exactly used to male touch from anyone other than her husband. And even with her husband, actual touching happened very infrequently. But she ignored the strange feeling and focused on the chopsticks.
"Yes, now...try to pick up that dumpling. Yes...perfect. See how easily it comes up? Easier than with a spoon. Now slowly...slowly...open your mouth."
Reena was watching as she was on the phone pretending to ask for cutlery. Again, she was impressed by Dutt's charm and skills. Here was a demure chaste middle class housewife being touched from so close by a man over twice her age. And yet there was nothing in the situation that would make her protest or take offense. It was all set up very naturally.
Mansi's hand, guided by Dutt's slowly put the dumpling in her mouth. Dutt looked at the nervous pretty face right next to his. And felt a surge of thrill and arousal.
"Mmmmmm..." Mansi said happily as she bit into a delicious prawns dumpling. Better than anything you got on the streets.
Looking at her effusive happy expression, Dutt had the strongest desire to make some kind of a move. Maybe try to kiss her. But he restrained himself. Reena had been right. With this one, things had to progress slowly. He could risk upsetting the balance.
So he took his hand off hers and slid back into his seat. Mansi felt a little relieved by that. Although she very naively did not doubt his intentions as anything but helpful, she was getting uncomfortable by the prolonged proximity to another man.
"You're right. This is very easy once you get the hang of it." she said with childlike glee as she rolled up a bunch of noodles and slurped them. And giggled.
Reena came back to see Mansi enjoying her food. Cutlery wasn't mentioned at all.
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"So why didn't you pursue it as a career?"
"Pursue art? Forget art, pursue a career?" Mansi smiled sadly. "I don't come from that kind of a family."
"I understand." Dutt sagely nodded. "My own father was very rigid. Anyway, who are your favorite artists? Impresionists? Dadaists? Cubists?"
Mansi felt uncomfortable. He was trying to impress her but she didn't really know any of these words.
"I...I never really learned about art. I don't know the terms and all that. I just know that when I see a painting I like, I like it. A few years ago my husband and I went to an exhibition of Hussain saab. Those were nice."
Dutt gauged her level of knowledge and course-corrected.
"After all, that is what art truly is. Something that speaks to your heart. That's why you can't spell heart without art."
Reena felt like laughing at that corny line, but Mansi seemed to like it.
"Very true."
Dutt nodded and started eating. So did Reena. The waiter had left by then. Mansi looked around the plate. There was no fork or spoon. Just a pair of fancy looking wooden chopsticks. She looked at her two companions. Both were eating with the chopsticks very expertly. The street Chinese food always came with cutlery. She had seen people use chopsticks on food shows on TV but never really had to use them.
"Aunty..." she awkwardly said.
"Yes, dear?" Reena pretended like she didn't know what was going to be the request. It had been Dutt idea, with the assumption that a small town middle class woman would not know how to use chopsticks.
"Is there any cutlery? I can't..." she pointed to the chopsticks.
"Oh god. Those idiot waiters. I told them to bring cutlery as well. Everything has to be told a dozen times." Reena got up and went to the phone.
Mansi again felt out of place as she saw Dutt effortlessly eating even rice with the chopsticks. He looked at her and smiled.
"It is very easy, Mansi." he said. "Here, do what I tell you."
Mansi picked up the chopsticks.
"Now, put one like this sliding from the base of your thumb to the middle of your ring finger. Yes. Like that. Now hold the other one like a pen between the tip of your thumb and index fingers. Yes. Now click them together. Yes. Very good. Now try to lift something."
Mansi followed the instructions exactly. But the sticks slid out of her grip. She tried again.
"Here, let me help you." Dutt said.
And before Mansi could say anything, was swiftly standing behind her, leaning down. he put his big hairy right hand on hers. She felt his breath against her ears as he said.
"Now...one stick like that. Another like that. Relax, it's very easy. You are an artist. This is easier than painting a circle."
Mansi felt an odd sensation as the old stranger's big rough fingers pressed gently on her smooth small ones. She wasn't exactly used to male touch from anyone other than her husband. And even with her husband, actual touching happened very infrequently. But she ignored the strange feeling and focused on the chopsticks.
"Yes, now...try to pick up that dumpling. Yes...perfect. See how easily it comes up? Easier than with a spoon. Now slowly...slowly...open your mouth."
Reena was watching as she was on the phone pretending to ask for cutlery. Again, she was impressed by Dutt's charm and skills. Here was a demure chaste middle class housewife being touched from so close by a man over twice her age. And yet there was nothing in the situation that would make her protest or take offense. It was all set up very naturally.
Mansi's hand, guided by Dutt's slowly put the dumpling in her mouth. Dutt looked at the nervous pretty face right next to his. And felt a surge of thrill and arousal.
"Mmmmmm..." Mansi said happily as she bit into a delicious prawns dumpling. Better than anything you got on the streets.
Looking at her effusive happy expression, Dutt had the strongest desire to make some kind of a move. Maybe try to kiss her. But he restrained himself. Reena had been right. With this one, things had to progress slowly. He could risk upsetting the balance.
So he took his hand off hers and slid back into his seat. Mansi felt a little relieved by that. Although she very naively did not doubt his intentions as anything but helpful, she was getting uncomfortable by the prolonged proximity to another man.
"You're right. This is very easy once you get the hang of it." she said with childlike glee as she rolled up a bunch of noodles and slurped them. And giggled.
Reena came back to see Mansi enjoying her food. Cutlery wasn't mentioned at all.
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