02-01-2019, 11:54 AM
Riz entered in, lowered his shoulder bag to the floor and then engulfed me in a tight hug. Digging his face into my shoulder he started simpering. “There, there”, I said patting his back to calm him down but he wouldn’t let off. Though we were in touch over the telephone, we were meeting in person after a couple of years. I heard a small sob emanating.
“Come on Riz”, I said infusing a light note, “If you don’t let go of me; not only will Kajol feel neglected but also she will start wondering about our relationship is.”
That sobered him up. He let go of me and turned to Kajol who was beside me. I could see the moisture in his eyes now. Then he hugged her as well, lightly and drew back. Without a trace of guile or guilt, he wiped the tears from his eyes and then had the first good look at her.
“Kajolji”, he shouted, “You are so, so beautiful……..” He was at a loss for words. Then he lunged at her again and pulled her to him again. Kajol’s face was a sight to watch. Face upturned and mouth open, she was completely unprepared for his assault. Riz had pressed her so tight to his chest that she gasped for breath.
“Enough of the drama, you fucker!”, I said, “Couldn’t find time during the whole of two days and now here, say for ..an hour isn’t it? …. Your flight leaves in a couple of hours and you have come to complete the formalities.”
He came out of the embrace but still held on to her left hand. A smile broke through his face. “Monkey shit”, he addressed me, “I have changed my return program to tomorrow.”
“Really? No shit?”
As he nodded laughing, I picked up his shoulder bag and we made our way to the drawing. I was truly happy for the first time today. God! Finally, I would have a couple of hours of fun today. On his part, he had led Kajol by the wrist and made her sit down besides him on the sofa. Now he was scrutinizing her manicured fingers.
“Kajolji, to say that the snaps that this idiot sent to me, hardly do justice to your beauty” He then started checking out her long tapering fingers. “My goodness, so exquisite. Tell me one thing; how does an apsara like you get married to that monkey?”
“Enough Riz, enough”, I said, “Kajol is very much aware of the number of girls who had made you their rakhi brother at college. Yet, you couldn’t convince a single one to be your girlfriend.”
“Shut up asshole”, he then turned to her, “It was all his fault. Everytime I would even start to patao someone, this monkeyface would rat about me at home. And, curse my family, they had more faith in him than in me.”
Kajol smiled at him and patted his hand that still held her wrist. “But I believe you.”
Riz puffed his chest for effect and tellingly told me, “Kiddo, see? This is what is known as true love.”
All three of us laughed together for in the short interval of time, we had become like children again. Then Kajol got up to leave stating that she had a lot to do in the kitchen. Riz still holding her wanted to know why.
She told him about the evening’s dinner program. “Most of the dishes are already prepared save for last minute warming and garnish. Only, the mutton curry and fish fry remains to be done.”
“You will not spoil these beautiful nails”, he declared. “I will prepare roganjuice and fish-tikka and in a jiffy. You just sit here.” He pulled her down to the sofa again.
“Yes, yes Kajo”, I said, “he is right. Let him make those dishes. He can make excellent dishes.”
For the first time after he had come in, he let go of her hand and dug into his shoulder bag from his he brought out a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes with a sheepish grin. Turning to her he said, “Leave the cooking to me. You just get us the glasses and some snacks.”
Kajol stood up with her hands on her waist. “How do you mean, how do you mean… My guide and his wife are coming over for dinner and you two good-for-nothing loafers are planning to put on a show of being punch drunk when they arrive. No, no, no. Not going to happen.” Her chest was heaving with the outburst.
“Kajol relax”, Riz said, “We will invite him to the party as well….and the madam as well if she agrees to. Don’t tell me that the university professors never drink.”
But Kajol was adamant. “I said, this is simply not on. Neither of the two of you will appear before them with alcohol in your breath.”
Ris’s face fell. He looked at me and spread out his hands in helplessness.
I stepped in. “Ok, ok, ok. This is what we will do. Riz and me will move to the balcony, so no cigarette smoke will come here. Also, put away the whiskey Riz. I will get the bottle of vodka, that I keep for such emergencies. You know Kajo, that doesn’t smell at all and also we will finish our program in an hour, well before they arrive.”
The smile was back on Riz’s face. Kajol went away grumbling, “If either of you guys tumble out of the balcony, I am not going to be the one to call for ambulance. And no nonk-jhonk at any neighboring bhabhis.”
“Kajol, you are an angel”, Riz shouted at her departing back.
We all acted with alacrity. We had settled at the deck beyond our bedroom and under half and hour, both of us had downed three small pegs – small pegs because Kajol was dropping by at times with the fried stuff and omelets and watching sternly at the level in our glasses. Given the rapid intake, in no time we had hit a high.
“What a fiiiiine chick, Kajol!” His voice had become slurred.
“Ahhh, ya”, I replied, “And whose wiife you fool/” I blew a half smoke ring.
“Bah! Today yours,” he took a deep drag, “ …….tomorrow …….mine.” He released the smoke in a whoosh.
Then the talks meandered on. He told me about his sisters, both of whom had moved to the gulf and the parents who refused to come out their village to stay with him. He talked about the moderate success he was having with his startup venture and the future plans that he was contemplating. We then discussed about each and every of our college day glamour doss – those we had crush on – and he updated me about their present status etc. etc. And then we relapsed into companionable silence with cigarettes on.
The sun was going down. He took a look at the watch and suddenly straightened, “Sister fucker, it’s six yaar”, I have to prepare the mutton dish. He stubbed the cigarette butt into the ash-tray and then got out of the lounge chair. I heard him entering our bathroom and having a wash. There after he headed straight for the kitchen.
I propped up my legs on the chair that he had vacated and took another drag. It was so peaceful and certainly the best peace of time I had ever had had for long. As the shadows lengthened, I started feeling little guilty of abandoning both of them to the kitchen chores and reluctantly, went over there.
Both Riz and Kajol were working with a feverish pace. There were dishes lying all around in various states of preparedness, Kajol sprinkling condiments here and there while Riz was furiously stirring the mutton in the pressure cooker.
“Guys”, I teased, “How is it going? Need any help?”
“Wait fucker”, Riz shouted over the hiss of the stoves, “you get to wash all the dishes afterwards.”
Kajol pointed a spatula at me and said, “Go and lay the table, if you want to be helpful.”
“No baba, no”, I declared, “ I don’t know if the great professor will like my table arrangement of not. Don’t want to take the risk!”
“Get out”, she shouted and I withdrew laughing hard. I switched on the tv again. The visitors innings had ended and India’s was about the start. There was a challenging total to chase.
Working in tandem, they had completed the entire dinner with enough time to spare. I watched as Riz handed her the casseroles and other dishes which Kajol carefully laid the table. Then he emerged out of the kitchen wiping his hands on the kitchen towel.
“This is where I leave”, he declared with a short smile.
“What?”, I said.
“Oh no!”, Kajol cried.
“It would be better for both of you couples to get to know each other. I will only be a distraction. Don’t say a word, both of you. And you don’t know this, but I am a complete veggie since the last couple of years.”
Neither Kajol nor me knew what to say and watched in silence as he started collecting his bag. Then she spoke, “In that case, you must promise to come tomorrow for lunch and I will prepare veggie dishes only. Or I wont speak to you for the rest of my life.”
Riz went to her and held her wrist. “In that case I have to promise. I will come.”
“Thank you”, Kajol said softly, “for all the help, really!” There was adoration in her eyes.
He smiled at her and said “I will take a kiss in return” and pointed to his cheek. Kajol lifted up her face to reach to plant a peck and at the exact moment that her lips were to touch his cheek, he turned around and placed his lips on her and gave a loud smooch.
“Now I have got my payment”, he said to a thoroughly flustered Kajol who tried to put up a smile. Then he gave her a tight hug, the same as he had when he had arrived. Then it was my turn to be hugged and he marched out saying ‘till tomorrow’.
The door closed and I turned on her, “You kissed him?”
“No, no. It was actually he who kissed me”, she gave me a wink and went off to get dressed for the guests.
I was left to figure out the difference.
“Come on Riz”, I said infusing a light note, “If you don’t let go of me; not only will Kajol feel neglected but also she will start wondering about our relationship is.”
That sobered him up. He let go of me and turned to Kajol who was beside me. I could see the moisture in his eyes now. Then he hugged her as well, lightly and drew back. Without a trace of guile or guilt, he wiped the tears from his eyes and then had the first good look at her.
“Kajolji”, he shouted, “You are so, so beautiful……..” He was at a loss for words. Then he lunged at her again and pulled her to him again. Kajol’s face was a sight to watch. Face upturned and mouth open, she was completely unprepared for his assault. Riz had pressed her so tight to his chest that she gasped for breath.
“Enough of the drama, you fucker!”, I said, “Couldn’t find time during the whole of two days and now here, say for ..an hour isn’t it? …. Your flight leaves in a couple of hours and you have come to complete the formalities.”
He came out of the embrace but still held on to her left hand. A smile broke through his face. “Monkey shit”, he addressed me, “I have changed my return program to tomorrow.”
“Really? No shit?”
As he nodded laughing, I picked up his shoulder bag and we made our way to the drawing. I was truly happy for the first time today. God! Finally, I would have a couple of hours of fun today. On his part, he had led Kajol by the wrist and made her sit down besides him on the sofa. Now he was scrutinizing her manicured fingers.
“Kajolji, to say that the snaps that this idiot sent to me, hardly do justice to your beauty” He then started checking out her long tapering fingers. “My goodness, so exquisite. Tell me one thing; how does an apsara like you get married to that monkey?”
“Enough Riz, enough”, I said, “Kajol is very much aware of the number of girls who had made you their rakhi brother at college. Yet, you couldn’t convince a single one to be your girlfriend.”
“Shut up asshole”, he then turned to her, “It was all his fault. Everytime I would even start to patao someone, this monkeyface would rat about me at home. And, curse my family, they had more faith in him than in me.”
Kajol smiled at him and patted his hand that still held her wrist. “But I believe you.”
Riz puffed his chest for effect and tellingly told me, “Kiddo, see? This is what is known as true love.”
All three of us laughed together for in the short interval of time, we had become like children again. Then Kajol got up to leave stating that she had a lot to do in the kitchen. Riz still holding her wanted to know why.
She told him about the evening’s dinner program. “Most of the dishes are already prepared save for last minute warming and garnish. Only, the mutton curry and fish fry remains to be done.”
“You will not spoil these beautiful nails”, he declared. “I will prepare roganjuice and fish-tikka and in a jiffy. You just sit here.” He pulled her down to the sofa again.
“Yes, yes Kajo”, I said, “he is right. Let him make those dishes. He can make excellent dishes.”
For the first time after he had come in, he let go of her hand and dug into his shoulder bag from his he brought out a bottle of whiskey and a pack of cigarettes with a sheepish grin. Turning to her he said, “Leave the cooking to me. You just get us the glasses and some snacks.”
Kajol stood up with her hands on her waist. “How do you mean, how do you mean… My guide and his wife are coming over for dinner and you two good-for-nothing loafers are planning to put on a show of being punch drunk when they arrive. No, no, no. Not going to happen.” Her chest was heaving with the outburst.
“Kajol relax”, Riz said, “We will invite him to the party as well….and the madam as well if she agrees to. Don’t tell me that the university professors never drink.”
But Kajol was adamant. “I said, this is simply not on. Neither of the two of you will appear before them with alcohol in your breath.”
Ris’s face fell. He looked at me and spread out his hands in helplessness.
I stepped in. “Ok, ok, ok. This is what we will do. Riz and me will move to the balcony, so no cigarette smoke will come here. Also, put away the whiskey Riz. I will get the bottle of vodka, that I keep for such emergencies. You know Kajo, that doesn’t smell at all and also we will finish our program in an hour, well before they arrive.”
The smile was back on Riz’s face. Kajol went away grumbling, “If either of you guys tumble out of the balcony, I am not going to be the one to call for ambulance. And no nonk-jhonk at any neighboring bhabhis.”
“Kajol, you are an angel”, Riz shouted at her departing back.
We all acted with alacrity. We had settled at the deck beyond our bedroom and under half and hour, both of us had downed three small pegs – small pegs because Kajol was dropping by at times with the fried stuff and omelets and watching sternly at the level in our glasses. Given the rapid intake, in no time we had hit a high.
“What a fiiiiine chick, Kajol!” His voice had become slurred.
“Ahhh, ya”, I replied, “And whose wiife you fool/” I blew a half smoke ring.
“Bah! Today yours,” he took a deep drag, “ …….tomorrow …….mine.” He released the smoke in a whoosh.
Then the talks meandered on. He told me about his sisters, both of whom had moved to the gulf and the parents who refused to come out their village to stay with him. He talked about the moderate success he was having with his startup venture and the future plans that he was contemplating. We then discussed about each and every of our college day glamour doss – those we had crush on – and he updated me about their present status etc. etc. And then we relapsed into companionable silence with cigarettes on.
The sun was going down. He took a look at the watch and suddenly straightened, “Sister fucker, it’s six yaar”, I have to prepare the mutton dish. He stubbed the cigarette butt into the ash-tray and then got out of the lounge chair. I heard him entering our bathroom and having a wash. There after he headed straight for the kitchen.
I propped up my legs on the chair that he had vacated and took another drag. It was so peaceful and certainly the best peace of time I had ever had had for long. As the shadows lengthened, I started feeling little guilty of abandoning both of them to the kitchen chores and reluctantly, went over there.
Both Riz and Kajol were working with a feverish pace. There were dishes lying all around in various states of preparedness, Kajol sprinkling condiments here and there while Riz was furiously stirring the mutton in the pressure cooker.
“Guys”, I teased, “How is it going? Need any help?”
“Wait fucker”, Riz shouted over the hiss of the stoves, “you get to wash all the dishes afterwards.”
Kajol pointed a spatula at me and said, “Go and lay the table, if you want to be helpful.”
“No baba, no”, I declared, “ I don’t know if the great professor will like my table arrangement of not. Don’t want to take the risk!”
“Get out”, she shouted and I withdrew laughing hard. I switched on the tv again. The visitors innings had ended and India’s was about the start. There was a challenging total to chase.
Working in tandem, they had completed the entire dinner with enough time to spare. I watched as Riz handed her the casseroles and other dishes which Kajol carefully laid the table. Then he emerged out of the kitchen wiping his hands on the kitchen towel.
“This is where I leave”, he declared with a short smile.
“What?”, I said.
“Oh no!”, Kajol cried.
“It would be better for both of you couples to get to know each other. I will only be a distraction. Don’t say a word, both of you. And you don’t know this, but I am a complete veggie since the last couple of years.”
Neither Kajol nor me knew what to say and watched in silence as he started collecting his bag. Then she spoke, “In that case, you must promise to come tomorrow for lunch and I will prepare veggie dishes only. Or I wont speak to you for the rest of my life.”
Riz went to her and held her wrist. “In that case I have to promise. I will come.”
“Thank you”, Kajol said softly, “for all the help, really!” There was adoration in her eyes.
He smiled at her and said “I will take a kiss in return” and pointed to his cheek. Kajol lifted up her face to reach to plant a peck and at the exact moment that her lips were to touch his cheek, he turned around and placed his lips on her and gave a loud smooch.
“Now I have got my payment”, he said to a thoroughly flustered Kajol who tried to put up a smile. Then he gave her a tight hug, the same as he had when he had arrived. Then it was my turn to be hugged and he marched out saying ‘till tomorrow’.
The door closed and I turned on her, “You kissed him?”
“No, no. It was actually he who kissed me”, she gave me a wink and went off to get dressed for the guests.
I was left to figure out the difference.
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