02-01-2019, 05:18 PM
Kajol and Four Men : Ep1 - Riz
Riz woke her up, as was his usual practice, with the morning cup of tea. She was loath to get up – last few days she was feeling totally out of sorts – feeling lethargic and bloated. ‘What is wrong with me?’, she wondered, even as she gave Riz a wan smile.
“Thanks Rizu; though I don’t feel like having tea”, she said taking the cup from his hand.
“Drink it, you will feel better. If not, I will take you to a doctor today. Whole of last week, you have been not keeping well. Might have picked up a food allergy”, he said.
She nodded and took a sip. It tasted bitter. She winced her face and put the cup down. It had been like this ever since the fancy dinner that the three of them had taken, just before Ramesh was off to Singapore for his week long orientation. They had a merry night – Riz and Ramesh deciding to drive around half the night. Riz had been so upbeat and they had ended up visiting two night clubs for refills, after dinner at the five star hotel.
“I will pay for this you fucker”, Riz had practically snatched the bill from the waiter.
Ramesh had glared back him and Riz matched that with one of his own.
In the car, at the driving wheel, Riz had suddenly punched him in the arm, “Fucker, I knew it, knew it that someday you will make it big.”
The boys were horsing around in the front, jostling and sharing the same bottle. A couple of times she had remonstrated, but they had paid scant regard to what she said.
“Not everyday, I get the news of your stupid husband going off to America”, Riz had declared, “and see how typical of this loser – pays a visit for only two days to his wife.”
“Arre..”, Ramesh had groaned, for he was repeating his explanation for the umpteenth time. “How many times do I have to tell you that it penetrates your thick skull. Do you know, how much of paperwork is involved for a US visa?”
“Tchh, tchh”, Riz had teased and Ramesh had basted him over the head with the tissue paper box saying, “Bloody bugger” over and over again.
“Seriously”, Riz had continued, “Kajol – why don’t you go back with him now, and uh umm…, pack things etc. for him when he goes.
“No Riz, that’s not necessary”, Ramesh explained patiently, “First I don’t know when the paperwork formalities would be over – and that means an interruption on her thesis preparation. In any case, I would be traveling to Singapore first for the company orientation program and I will have a brief stopover here before pushing off to US. Then again, why the hell shouldn’t I come here – since both of you are here itself?”
Riz had brightened on hearing the last part. Without a care for the traffic; he had turned around and hugged Ramesh, even though the car was doing sixty.
“Careful, both of you”, she had shouted from the back but the lads had laughed. Pointedly, she had turned her face to the window thereafter.
“Hey; what happens to the old job? How did your boss take your quitting?”
Ramesh gave a long winded answer – something like it was a subject that he didn’t care to talk about – the people at his old company didn’t know any of this – he had just put in a hurried resignation and left – even without meeting his boss Mr. Rao. He had even turned around briefly and told her not to discuss with the Raos about his new job at this juncture, if either of them called in to inquire – given that he was switching over to a client without their knowledge – something unethical. She had nodded in acquiescence.
Back in their apartment Riz had shepherded both of them in her room, dramatically shutting the door after them and shouting that Ramesh had enough to drink for the night and didn’t need any more. In any case, he wasn’t going to give company.
They had heard his footsteps recede – he had purposefully left them a couple of hours of privacy. Both of them were too tired – even for speech – and gone to sleep right after changing into night-wears. Morning was hectic as Ramesh had his return flight at eight. Right after both boys had been off to the airport; she had sat down at the dining table to have her breakfast. Midway, she felt sick and she had pushed her plate away. ‘Must have been due to all that wine and – food poisoning maybe’ she thought – she felt like throwing up at once.
Her system had gone out of order. She experienced nausea and listlessness. Her limbs seemed so heavy and so swollen up – she had visiting Prof Bharadwaj since then and couldn’t concentrate on her thesis for any significant period of time – no Rizu was right – she had to see a doctor – today itself …
The lady doctor at the private hospital examined her and asked her to sit up from her lying position on the bench. She disengaged the sthetho from her ears and made some notes while Riz stood with a very worried expression. “Here”, she held out a prescription, “please return after the following blood and urine tests. We may as well carry out an ultrasound. Be sure to drink plenty of water now”, she advised.
The reports were out by late afternoon. Both Riz and Kajol walked in to her chamber and the doctor went through the reports.
“Congratulations”, she said to Riz, “Your wife is pregnant.”
* * *
She had never seen him so happy. Back home, he had hugged her tight and then suddenly remembering her condition – released her with a fearful face. “Sorry, sorry Kajol”, he mumbled and she had said “Its ok, don’t worry.” He led her to the bed and gently made her sit down, “Careful, there”, he whispered.
“I don’t know about this pregnancy thing”, he had said, “but I am right now going to buy a lot of books on that – and all the vitamins and medicines – you must …”
Suddenly he started crying, sitting down on the floor, near her feet. He put his head on her lap and then remembering something, put an ear against her belly.
“You silly”, she pushed his head back laughing, “you don’t hear the heartbeat so early.”
Then he had straightened up and rubbed his hand purposefully. “Give me Ramesh’s number. Let’s call him now.”
“Rizu wait”, she said, “why worry him now? He is to come here in two days time. Let’s surprise him then.”
The idea appealed to him and he nodded. Then he again went and put his arms, very gently this time, around her waist and looking down said “My baby, oh! My baby – You darling – you have made me so happy – can’t wait to hold you when you come out.”
Riz woke her up, as was his usual practice, with the morning cup of tea. She was loath to get up – last few days she was feeling totally out of sorts – feeling lethargic and bloated. ‘What is wrong with me?’, she wondered, even as she gave Riz a wan smile.
“Thanks Rizu; though I don’t feel like having tea”, she said taking the cup from his hand.
“Drink it, you will feel better. If not, I will take you to a doctor today. Whole of last week, you have been not keeping well. Might have picked up a food allergy”, he said.
She nodded and took a sip. It tasted bitter. She winced her face and put the cup down. It had been like this ever since the fancy dinner that the three of them had taken, just before Ramesh was off to Singapore for his week long orientation. They had a merry night – Riz and Ramesh deciding to drive around half the night. Riz had been so upbeat and they had ended up visiting two night clubs for refills, after dinner at the five star hotel.
“I will pay for this you fucker”, Riz had practically snatched the bill from the waiter.
Ramesh had glared back him and Riz matched that with one of his own.
In the car, at the driving wheel, Riz had suddenly punched him in the arm, “Fucker, I knew it, knew it that someday you will make it big.”
The boys were horsing around in the front, jostling and sharing the same bottle. A couple of times she had remonstrated, but they had paid scant regard to what she said.
“Not everyday, I get the news of your stupid husband going off to America”, Riz had declared, “and see how typical of this loser – pays a visit for only two days to his wife.”
“Arre..”, Ramesh had groaned, for he was repeating his explanation for the umpteenth time. “How many times do I have to tell you that it penetrates your thick skull. Do you know, how much of paperwork is involved for a US visa?”
“Tchh, tchh”, Riz had teased and Ramesh had basted him over the head with the tissue paper box saying, “Bloody bugger” over and over again.
“Seriously”, Riz had continued, “Kajol – why don’t you go back with him now, and uh umm…, pack things etc. for him when he goes.
“No Riz, that’s not necessary”, Ramesh explained patiently, “First I don’t know when the paperwork formalities would be over – and that means an interruption on her thesis preparation. In any case, I would be traveling to Singapore first for the company orientation program and I will have a brief stopover here before pushing off to US. Then again, why the hell shouldn’t I come here – since both of you are here itself?”
Riz had brightened on hearing the last part. Without a care for the traffic; he had turned around and hugged Ramesh, even though the car was doing sixty.
“Careful, both of you”, she had shouted from the back but the lads had laughed. Pointedly, she had turned her face to the window thereafter.
“Hey; what happens to the old job? How did your boss take your quitting?”
Ramesh gave a long winded answer – something like it was a subject that he didn’t care to talk about – the people at his old company didn’t know any of this – he had just put in a hurried resignation and left – even without meeting his boss Mr. Rao. He had even turned around briefly and told her not to discuss with the Raos about his new job at this juncture, if either of them called in to inquire – given that he was switching over to a client without their knowledge – something unethical. She had nodded in acquiescence.
Back in their apartment Riz had shepherded both of them in her room, dramatically shutting the door after them and shouting that Ramesh had enough to drink for the night and didn’t need any more. In any case, he wasn’t going to give company.
They had heard his footsteps recede – he had purposefully left them a couple of hours of privacy. Both of them were too tired – even for speech – and gone to sleep right after changing into night-wears. Morning was hectic as Ramesh had his return flight at eight. Right after both boys had been off to the airport; she had sat down at the dining table to have her breakfast. Midway, she felt sick and she had pushed her plate away. ‘Must have been due to all that wine and – food poisoning maybe’ she thought – she felt like throwing up at once.
Her system had gone out of order. She experienced nausea and listlessness. Her limbs seemed so heavy and so swollen up – she had visiting Prof Bharadwaj since then and couldn’t concentrate on her thesis for any significant period of time – no Rizu was right – she had to see a doctor – today itself …
The lady doctor at the private hospital examined her and asked her to sit up from her lying position on the bench. She disengaged the sthetho from her ears and made some notes while Riz stood with a very worried expression. “Here”, she held out a prescription, “please return after the following blood and urine tests. We may as well carry out an ultrasound. Be sure to drink plenty of water now”, she advised.
The reports were out by late afternoon. Both Riz and Kajol walked in to her chamber and the doctor went through the reports.
“Congratulations”, she said to Riz, “Your wife is pregnant.”
* * *
She had never seen him so happy. Back home, he had hugged her tight and then suddenly remembering her condition – released her with a fearful face. “Sorry, sorry Kajol”, he mumbled and she had said “Its ok, don’t worry.” He led her to the bed and gently made her sit down, “Careful, there”, he whispered.
“I don’t know about this pregnancy thing”, he had said, “but I am right now going to buy a lot of books on that – and all the vitamins and medicines – you must …”
Suddenly he started crying, sitting down on the floor, near her feet. He put his head on her lap and then remembering something, put an ear against her belly.
“You silly”, she pushed his head back laughing, “you don’t hear the heartbeat so early.”
Then he had straightened up and rubbed his hand purposefully. “Give me Ramesh’s number. Let’s call him now.”
“Rizu wait”, she said, “why worry him now? He is to come here in two days time. Let’s surprise him then.”
The idea appealed to him and he nodded. Then he again went and put his arms, very gently this time, around her waist and looking down said “My baby, oh! My baby – You darling – you have made me so happy – can’t wait to hold you when you come out.”
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