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This love that feels right – Book Review

this love that feels right

 

If you were to be stranded on an island with only three people – a woman and two men, one of whom is lost in his own world to find his way back and pays no attention to you and you are not interested in the woman since you are straight, the other man gives required attention, who would you fall for?

Isn’t the answer obvious….Naina – fell for Aarav in This Love that Feels Right…

Ravinder Singh in This Love that Feels Right tries to bring in a dreamy relationship and half heartedly tries to justify why Naina’s crush feels right.

What I liked about the book.

1. The plot – the subject is interesting

2. The language – is easy to follow and understand

3. The flow of the story – is pleasant and peppy

4. It is crisp and short – a quick read

What I did not like about the novel or I beg to differ

1. What is the novel about?

It is not adultery as adultery is defined as voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse.

It is not infidelity as Naina had no on going affair with Aarav neither did she or he confess love or have even a paragraph which remotely relates to the feeling of love.

For me it is infatuation and I will tell you why. Most of the novel Naina talks about her feelings for Aarav and how she wants him to react or do things that will please him.

I thought the later part of the story is very rushed.

2. Only Naina’s life is well portrayed, very little is spoken of Malvika’s (Nain’s friend) life and nothing is spoken of Aarav. I wanted to know more about him, his appearance, his life, his past and more so his feelings. Most part of the novel he plays the just character of “its natural…and its ok”

3. I had a major problem with Naina’s thinking. We are talking of a young woman (who apparently

shies to let the readers know her age and weight) from our capital DELHI which is a metropolitan

and a modern city. I was aghast at reading sentences like “I have never been with a man in a room

alone” or all through she questions herself on things which are so normal in today’s world like an instructor taking measurements at a gym. I was basically in complete conflict of thought process with Naina.

4. It is portrayed as a love story….but where is the love story? There are very few scenes of Aarav

and Naina together and when we feel now they will talk of love, either of them backs out.

5. There are pages and pages of conversation, either a monologue of Naina’s thought process or

she talks of moral policing Malvika’s life – it became boring to just read through their endless debate.

6. The END – so you know you are in love with someone and you know that you don’t love the

person who you are married to – you make a choice! She chooses to stick to her marriage – fair

enough – but what is the reasoning? The novel still goes on saying Naina tried to reason with her

husband but he didn’t change his ways. So I was unable to understand why she was stuck to him, I

was fine with the choice but not the reasoning at all.

7. Malvika has an open marriage – ok so? Why is it made such a hype? Understand it is not that

common in India but she is portrayed as a very modern woman still the novel feels open marriage

is like a wrong thing to do.

Should you read it?

I suggest everyone to read it to understand my review. I have read a love story of a woman who falls in love outside marriage it is a classic “ the Bridges of Maddison County – Robert James Waller published in 1992” Read that too on my recommendation and then you will precisely know what I am referring to in this review.

Good reads: 3.6/5

Sunshineandzephyr review: 2.0/5

Blurb: Life would have been easier had it been possible for us to plan falling in love more importantly avoid falling in love . . . Love is not for you she told herself. Inside just like any girl she desired to be loved. She had accepted her life the way it was till one day love showed up unannounced uninvited That s the thing with love. It doesn’t take permission. It s in its very nature to gatecrash into our lives. Standing face-to-face with love she finds herself asking Is this love right? The answer is not simple. It never was . . . This intense love story will shake every belief you have ever had about love. About the Author Ravinder Singh is the bestselling author of I Too Had a Love Story Can Love Happen Twice? Like It Happened Yesterday and Your Dreams Are Mine Now.

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The Perfect Date – A fiction

Tuxedo? na! A double breasted suit would be perfect…so would that be just a casual jacket and denim. Rohan was never the one to make decisions in a go he would always be ambivalent of things when it came to Ani. It had been three years together but still he did all to impress her.

While Ananya was meticulous it wasn’t so difficult to impress her. She would see him smile and just say you look amazing Rohan and build heart felt praises till he blushed.

Rohan had taken Ani for many dates but this was the first time she had popped the question while walking hand in hand at Marine Drive on Saturday.

“Rohan…” she always paused after taking his name

“ÿeah Ani” he responded casually walking

“I wanted to ask you out on a date?” she was already blushing

Rohan stopped in his tracks turned and looked at her and beamed, paused and walked after a minute of no exchange of words he turned again and smile, “Would love to!”

Rohan scrolled his WhatsApp and checked the date and venue, Tuesday, Albert hall, 20.00. His addled brain was trying to guess, preempt on what it could be at a hall that big. He set his hair one more time, breathed on his palm to check his breath and left for Albert Hall.

Just as he parked his car another message pinged, the first hall on the right corner, 1st floor sealed with a kiss emocon. The venue was a tall medieval kind of a building with a huge entrance which opened in a big hall with a very broad staircase in the centre. He hurried to the said hall on the right first floor. It was dark as his footsteps echoed in the room. He walked to the centre of the huge hall but no sign of Ananya. He looked around as the sunset beam of summer lightly lit the room through the glass windows.The huge golden drapes fell silkily down the windows and the panelled walls shimmered in gold tapestry. He was mesmerised looking around when he hit a spotlight right in front of him.

Ananya stood there in a sensuous flowing white chiffon see through dress looking seductively at him. The corset dress had a plunging neckline showing her cleavage that had his heart thumping. Her hair left lose set shiny brown in the spotlight as her grace needed no other accessory. He absorbed her in a moment admiring her elegance. She walked on her toes as the spot light followed her and stopped just a heartbeat away from Rohan.

He managed a whispered hi under his racing heart as she placed her finger over his lips and smiled. He delicately kissed her finger and breathed deep to her lavender fragrance. She walked back just a step when the music played a romantic song. She flicked her legs getting closer and held his hand to dance. Rohan held her hand and matched her moves. Ananya’s hip swung as he lightly lifted her and she rolled under his hand hugging him from behind and swinging to the groove. Her eyes kissed him and hands caressed as she danced with him sensuously on salsa moves. Romance was personified and love twisted on the crisp turns as he held her curves every time they moved. Lost in each other she was luscious and nubile to him and he alluring and desirable.

ed2

They danced forgetting the world in each others arms till he held her close and placed her on the piano. She looked at him ravenously her back straight as his hand lazily moved on her bare back. Ananya exhaled on Rohan’s lips holding his face close and he thumb on his cheek and finger brushing his neck. She teased him gently stroking his lips barely kissing them. He closed his eyes when she moaned feeling his hands tighten around and her lips parted. He took over and gently tilted his face to kiss her. The kissed completing each other, they kissed baring it all and they kissed embracing the imperfections to make them one.They made a beautiful “US” and fitted perfectly.

edThe evening passed over a quiet dinner telling each other the little things they loved in their perfect world. Rohan loved her woman to sweep him off his feat and Ananya was the real woman who needed no weapons she was armoured enough to know what her man wanted and possessed his keys.

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Sharmaji gets Stylish.

 
„Hold the mirror up on the right side Loveleen, I can’t see a thing.” Sharmaji said irritatingly.
“Oh ho, I really don’t understand this ritual of yours every month.” Said Loveleen frustrated.
“Cutting ones hair is a bad thing right?” Sharmaji quizzed.
“No, it isn’t. But trying to save 25 rupees and doing it at home is the issue. And be very careful the scissor is razer sharp.”
“Ok, ok I get that, now will you hold the mirror right so that I can manage the cut well.”
Loveleen kept holding the mirror as Sharmaji adjusted his face looking closely at the mirror in from of him and getting a rear view of his hair as Loveleen held the one behind him.
He was about to get a measure and cut when Loveleen shouted, “Ohhhhhh nooooooo, my dal, its burning….the cooker.” She dashed the mirror on the washbasin and ran to the kitchen.
Sharmaji gave an angry look, “I don’t understand her at all”, and he told himself nodding his head.
He picked up the mirror in one hand and tried to get a look of his locks above his nape and continued.
“OH MY GOD, Loveleen.” He cried out in terror.
Loveleen came back running and so did his younger daughter Gutti.
Loveleen shrieked, “Sharmaji, what have you done?” Gutti tried hard but could not contain her laughter. She immediately picked her phone and clicked him and sent it to her elder sister Pinky on whatapp with a caption, Dad spotted in a new look LOL and two winky smilees.”
“Is it all gone?” Sharmaji was now tensed.
Loveleen held his face examining his hair, “No, a big chunk of it till I can see your skull, hmmmm may be the size of a motichoor laddoo.”
Sharmaji started sweating as he tried feeling the portion of his head where he accidentally grazed a major chunk of his hair.
“You can’t do that with scissors, what did you do?”
“Well, you see this!” He picked up the automatic razor and displayed it to them, the girls had given me on my birthday to get rid of my nose, ears and chest hair….I used that thinking it would be quicker than the scissors, I didn’t in my dream think, it would do this.”
By this time Gutti had run into her room and was literally rolling on the floor with laughter.
“What do we do now Loveleen? Sharmaji moved his head from left to right to get a stock of the damage done.
“Do you want to consider getting rid of it all completely?
“You mean bald…”
“You already have a receding hairline, try it.”
“What try it, my father and your father in law is still alive ok, don’t you ever say try it…”He said utterly frustrated at this suggestion.
Gutti ran to the scene again, trying to maintain a serious face but burst out again as she saw him. Loveleen looked at her with big eyes and she stopped, gulping her chuckle uttered, “Dad I think, Di is not going to like it, I mean it’s her Arangetram (*it is a public graduation performance for a dance form) tomorrow. And you would be called on stage too! You know what I mean?” She somehow managed saying that without laughing.
“How about wearing a wig?” She continued trying to sound serious.
Sharmaji and Loveleen looked at her startled. “His hair is still there, not gone, it’s just the rear right which is bald…well not bald but…” She stopped realizing the panic Sharmaji was in. Sharmaji had just  stabilized and was accepting the fact of what had happened.
All three stood looking at each other in the bathroom. “Isn’t it stuffy here.” Gutti said breaking the silence, “Can we at least move out of this place.” Gutti said walking slowly out of the bathroom. Loveleen and Sharmaji followed.
Just then Pinky rushed in, dropped her bag near the door and “Dad, what did you do? I mean it’s my function tomorrow. I have been waiting so long for this day.” She immediately stopped looking at Sharmaji’s embarrassed face.
He turned back to display his doing to Pinky. It was now feeling like what a model feels on the ramp when there is a wardrobe malfunction. Pinky’s jaw dropped at the faux pas she was witnessing. She could visualize her friends mocking and laughing at her.
Half an hour into the drama and things were sinking in. Great ideas came up.
How about putting in some fake hair and sticking it there? – Pinky
Can we just take some brush bristles and cover the big patch? – of course Gutti
The Dhony look, it’s in vogue! – Pinky, trying to make his father look cool and mod.
A cap or a hat, you like Dev Anand, isn’t it, but would that cover the required? – puzzled Loveleen.
Sharmaji closed his eyes and sat there on the sofa. With renewed determination he got up like a soldier who has made up his mind to win the battle or like the way Archimedes would have said “Eureka!”
He went into the bathroom and locked himself for 1.5 hours. The girls roamed up and down in the living room trying to guard their neighbor Leena coming home and Loveleen knocked the door sometimes concerned and sometimes giving a pep talk. Later all were quiet and got back to their chores.
Sharmaji walked confidently to the living room, his demeanor was different. He had colored his hair all black after 10 years. He wore the shirt, trouser and blazer that he was to wear for the function and the biggest change was he rolled a woolen scarf that matched the blazer, hit the patch successfully and overall looked splendid.
There was pin drop silence, he looked at all three of them, finally his confidence was giving in and nervously he said, “What, not ok?”
All three unanimously said, “Sharmaji, you look awesome and so young. Love you.” As all three hugged him altogether.
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The unwanted.



„What about these scars doctor? “she asked holding the mirror looking at her face.

“That’s alright; some scars take a lifetime to heal.” said Dr. Sunil in a pacifying tone.

“When can I leave, doctor?” She stared at the open window seeing the children play in the garden as the morning rays of sun fell on the freshly mowed garden.

“In a day or two Ananya.” exclaimed Dr. Sunil looking at the reports.

“Does she have the address?” he asked Bela privately. Bela nodded.

She gave one look at the hospital where she spent almost 18 months and picked up the bag filled with toys, a gift pack and a pair of her clothes that Bela had gifted her on Diwali.

“If you expect nothing from anybody, you’re never disappointed.”

“With closed ones too?”

“You don’t expect from strangers do you?”

She would have pulled the stuffed kangaroo and felt it and put it in her bag several times in the 5 hour train journey. She inquisitively looked outside the window thinking of how things get to normalcy, just didn’t seem that the state had the worst terrorist attack just 18 months back.

She was excited and nervous at the same time.

“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.”

“But that’s my family; they will support me and make me confident.”

“Hopefully, Amen.”

She reached the front courtyard, ‘Nayaks’ the name plate made by her still hung there. She felt it with her fingers before opening the gate to the front courtyard. She had replayed the scene of her daughter running to her, her husband so happy and pleasant hugging her so many times that she actually knew her words and had rehearsed them several times.

The door was open; as she entered she could see the toys lying in the living room giving her the assurance of her daughter will be in her arms in no time now. Her aunt came down the stairs and was frozen after seeing her. She took several minutes to react, followed by a forced hug.

“Aunty, aren’t you happy, surprised to see me?” Said Ananya looking at her aunt’s expressionless face.

After a long pause, “yes, Ananya, I am, in fact we did get a letter from the hospital just a day back of your return. Come sit in the living room.”

That wasn’t her aunt’s natural self. Why I am treated like an outsider, thought Ananya. She entered the living room; one look around felt as if the house was being taken care of. She each day would think how would they manage without her. In one corner she saw a small picture of her placed on the side table. She remembered the words of being confident and positive and after all it was natural for them to think she lost her life in the blast that took place when she had been to the market.

She sat on the edge of her sofa quietly rubbing her one feet on another, nervously clinging to her bag wanting nothing but to see her husband and daughter, she must have been 4 years by now.

After a while her daughter, Ira rushed in the living room, Ananya could no longer contain herself and broke down in tears as she grabbed her and hugged her hard. She swiftly removed all the toys she had got for her and placed her on her lap.

“Ira, did you miss mumma, my princess?”

Ira immediately rushed to her father and wrapped to his leg dropping the stuffed kangaroo on the way.

“Ananya.” called out Rohan.

She rose.

“How have you been?”

She was jolted by the formality that wrapped the question. It was nothing like what she had thought it to be.

“One ought to hold on to one’s heart; for if one lets it go, one soon loses control of the head too.”

“Why would I want to think with my head, my family needs my heart?”

“Depends on the situation and the circumstance, now you will always need both.”

She brought herself to reality and handed the gift she had got in his hands.

“Rohan, honey, are you home?” she said as she entered the house.

The voice sounded familiar as she walked straight to the living room and stood next to Rohan.

“Oh…” giving a startled look, “Ananya….it’s you.” She looked at Ananya and immediately glanced at Rohan.

That was Ruchi, her first cousin, but what was she doing in my house? Her addressing Rohan as honey, Ananya was trying to put the puzzle pieces in place when her aunt broke the ice, “I think you must be tired Ananya, why don’t you rest?”

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”

“What if I don’t like the change?”

“Then think what if you do not have a choice of changing the change?”

She picked her bag still blank at what was happening looking at the faces around knowing she was the unwanted one. She knew that Ruchi would have come to support her child as she was too young, but she had to know more. Ananya being an orphan was raised by her aunt and was not among those  jump at things and seek explanations.

“We tried really hard to find you for several months. Hospitals, police, posters all, but no trace. We finally placed your picture on the market square and even joined the candle march to force government to act.” Rohan said trying hard to sound convincing at the dinner table.

“It was generous of Ruchi, to then come here and take up the family responsibility for Ira….”added her aunt.

“And Rohan…” Ruchi completed pressing Rohan’s hand sitting next to him at the dinning.

“Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.”

“Can reality hurt?”

“Depends if what you want out of reality is not a dream.”

She had not uttered a word but been a silent listener. The pain she had lived in the past few hours was more than what she went through in her treatment of 18 months. She passed by to keep her plate when she overheard…

“How long has she come for?” Ruchi said in a hushed tone.

“I don’t know, I don’t think you need to overreact.” Rohan replied.

“And did you see her face, it’s full of scars, Ira will have nightmares every night. I can’t let her be here in my house. Get that straight.” She came out slamming the door behind her.

Ananya washed her plate and tip toed to the room. She sat on the bed and picked up the book with the grey writings of her conversations with Bela over the 18 months which Bela had penned and handed over before her leaving. The last page was an address and two notes of INR 1000 each.

“If you ever reach this page and feel the need, the doors are open and you have the address.”

Next day there was no trace of Ananya in the Nayak’s house.

She left a note, “I wasn’t a pile on Rohan and will never be; now my life awaits me.”

She came back to the hospital and Dr. Sunil employed her as an intern at his hospital. Her life had just begun.

 

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Sharmaji ka Happy Birthday!

„Hello Madam “Sharmaji yelled, looking up from his balcony at the flat above. “You, madam, yellow sari. Stop drying your clothes here, all water drops on my plants. My coriander has died twice.” He tried looking up again when a splash of water fell on his face along with the blouse that rested straight on his spectacles.

“Aye, uncle, whom are you calling yellow sari. If I don’t dry my clothes in balcony where do I?” Leena stretched her vocals to reach Sharma’s ears.

Loveleen ran to the balcony and pushed Sharmaji, “Arre Leenaji, please do dry your clothes and don’t mind what Sharmaji just said.”

She held him by his arm and as he moved the piece of cloth and tried cleaning the lens “Don’t you realise she gives us curd, sugar when we run out of it, I have few friends don’t you get cross at her.”

Sharmaji got busy reading the maintenance bill dated 25thJuly, 2014 (today) adjusting his spectacles not heeding to any of what his wife said.

Meet Vinod Sharma, 44 year old, sorry 43 years, 11 months and 29 days old insurance agent with State bank of India.  He stays in a 1 BHK house in Dadar with his wife Loveleen (38) and 2 daughters Pinky (16) and Gutti (12).

“Oh that Tiwari has again charged me interest on maintenance; I will show him now and teach him what he has not learnt in his MBA.” He murmured frustrated wearing his shirt.

“Sharmaji, don’t wear the shirt out and comb your hair before going. No doubt people call me your eldest daughter. Do get your medical report before coming.”

Sharmaji opened the door “I will get that tomorrow, Loveleen” and Pinky barged in, “Hi dad.”

“Call me papa.” He muttered still engrossed reading the bill walking out.

“Mom, we will have a surprise party for dad’s birthday day after. My friend, Joe has started a DJ and catering service. I have promised him to be his first good luck customer.” Pinky exclaimed in a typical teenager tone.

“Do what you like, we have a budget of Rs. 2000 including gift. You have to manage in that.” Loveleen warned.

**********************************************************************************

“Hello, myself Vinod Sharma, have my reports arrived?” Sharmaji enquired at the hospital.

“Gupte, get me Sharma’s report, put on today’s date, 26thJuly; 2014” retorted the plump lab assistant of DR. Shroff.  Gupte, a 68 year old admin found Sharmaji’s report among the lot that was stacked and handed it to the assistant.

“Take the report and wait for the doctor, he wants to meet you.” She directed Sharmaji.

Sharmaji sat on the posh leather sofa thinking these hospitals are no less than a 5 star hotels. He looked at the semi-nude paintings from a renowned painter what they these days call as investments. The 3 Sony LEDs played different channels as people in the waiting room got glued to each of them. The audience was clear, the 50 plus to the screen playing news, the women on the daily soap operas and the youngsters which had a B grade hero moving his booty to a C grade song, which after putting on spectacles read TOOH, whatever it meant.

“Vinod Sharma, third cabin from left.” the lab assistant called out.

“Sharmaji, do you have a very hectic life, are you too stressed?” Dr. Shroff was a leading Oncologist in town. Sharmaji has a family history of cancer and thus had a norm of getting a yearly regular check-up.

“No, why doctor.I mean who doesn’t these days.” Sharmaji asked puzzled.

“See it happens, life these days is stressful and there are treatments for everything.” said the doctor patiently.

“Doctor, what are you talking about? What has happened to me? Be clear before my heart pops out of my body.” Sharmaji said nervously fidgeting with his shirt corner.

“Ok, you have a rare cancer; it is grade III and stage III. Not much can be done but treatment and hope.”

Sharmaji could not believe what he had just heard. There was no point in doubting the doctor. The drudgeries of life had made him restless, anxious and to an extent pessimist.

“How much time do I have, doctor?” The typical filmy question, as he wiped the sweat of his brow and tears that had welled up under his glasses.

“4-6 months, with treatment we can delay it, don’t you worry.” Doctor placed his hand on Sharmaji’s trying to give hope.

“I am a dying man, what difference does it make 6 months or a year” Sharmaji stood up dejected, picked up his report and turned to leave.

He kept reading the report  which made no sense to him listening to zindagi kaisi hai paheli haaye that played the autorickshaw…..thinking of his investments and insurance policy that he can leave for his family.

Sharma reached home, did not eat lunch and had a few morsels for dinner. He started looking more ill than he felt. His voice mellowed with every response to his family. He kissed his daughters again and again.

*****************************************************************************

“How many times have I told you, do not watch movies early morning?” He yelled at Gutti.

“Dad, it’s not morning, its 10 am and its 27th July, 2014, a Sunday!” She energetically said.

Brought back to reality, Sharma opened his diary (he decided to keep one since he left the doctors) and marked the day in tally mark III, “yes beta, Please watch, by the way what movie are you watching.” He said in the softest tone his daughter had ever heard.

“Eh?” she said surprised at his tone. “Dasvidaniya, meaning goodbye, the best part is the hero puts on the list of ten things to be done before death.” She replies her eyes glued to the TV.

“Oh, who can relate it more than me?” He whispered to himself, thinking no one remembers his birthday.. Well good for them, they will get over my loss soon, thinking to himself.

**********************************************************************************

Sharmaji had slept more in the last three days than he had in the entire month. After all he was suffering from a fatal disease and had only some time left. He got up from his bed at 7.00 pm and walked to the living room.

“Happpppyyyy Birthday Dad!!!!¨” cheered Pinky among all the relatives and friends.

“Call me pa….You can call me dad” he said with a half-smile as people surrounded to wish him.

He was overwhelmed, nervous, and sad but had thought of keeping all happy for whatever of him was left.

Relatives made merry, talked to him and his answers got even more philosophical.

The DJ blew the speakers as his daughters and friends danced to TOOH. Loveleen served starters as Sharmaji sat at the table looking at the burning candles on the cake.

“Sharmaji, I am extremely sorry, I will not dry my clothes in the balcony now and you can eat your coriander.” Leena chuckled.

“Your clothes have more life than I do, I am a dying coriander.” said Sharmaji.

“Oh you are a humorous man.” Leena replied.

What a dying man has but humor, Sharma thought to himself when Loveleen gestured him to attend a phone call for him.  

He picked up with a more than sad “Hello, myself Vinod Sharma.”

“Sharmaji, I am lab assistant from Dr. Shroff’s hospital, I am really sorry the report you have is of another patient. Your reports are normal and you have no cancer. Our admin, Gupte, not being good at computers, typed the wrong name and mixed it. We are really sorry. Please forgive this. You have no disease.” The line cut abruptly.

Sharma could not believe what he has just heard. On one hand he was angry at the so called high class hospitals but the happiness exceeded his anger, he ran to the room like a guy in his 20’s and shouted out of happiness. He relished the starters and the cake, joked and lightly flirted with Leena and even danced to TOOH. However Vinod Sharma being him, did not forget to ask the DJ how much had his daughters blew cash on his birthday.

 
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It takes two to Tango!

“The tea is on the table. “ She said in a disconcerting tone as she sat on the adjacent chair of the round dining table with 4 chairs.
“You know I have never had tea without you, Ananya.” He replied in a consoling tone.

“So?” She exclaimed.

“Why do you always think I am at fault? Is asking for your time and hearing you are busy my lookout? You should have never got married if you didn’t have time for me.” She grabbed her breath by the time the last words came out of her mouth.

“I promise I will take care, Ananya. I will try really hard to live up to your expectations.” He lovingly said picking up the yellow lilies and presenting it to her. “I love you, now hug me.” He demanded.

“No, you hug me.” She hushed, looking at the flowers and smelling them.

He got up and embraced her tight.

******************************************************************************

Ananya sat at the table looking at the phone; she picked it up the 17th time to check for messages. All she saw was he last sent, “You never have time for me, all I hear is I am busy.”

She put the phone down again, wishing there were an alarm that warned, “You are seeing your phone too much!”

Restless and anxious she walked up and down the living room, glancing at the tea cup, phone, chair and door…as she paced up through the room….tea cup, phone, chair, door…tea cup, phone, chair and door..tea cup, phone, chair and door!
She played the scene again and again in her mind to the extent that she edited it and was ready for a hug the minute the doorbell would ring.

The doorbell rang; she rushed to open it…

Door open!

Arms almost ready!

“Madam, bag, sahib aayenge abhi!” I just missed a faux pas, she thought to herself.

She dejectedly tuned to walk back, tea cup, phone, chair…

Footsteps…

She turned!

“Sharma, I don’t know anything, you got to make the payment available. I am answerable to my senior.” He rushed in talking to someone, straight to his bed room!

Ananya sat at the chair and sipped the tea, scrolling through the WhatsApp forwards on her phone!
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Relationships and more……..

Revati tried hard to find the key hole but the number of
drinks she had that evening were impairing her vision. After some struggle she
managed to open the door of her 5000 sq. feet duplex apartment at Malabar hill.
The motion sensors detected she was around and lights flashed as she looked
around the lavish living room, all things in order and at the right place. The 16
seater pure leather imported sofa and the huge crystal chandelier were as
lifeless as the Guido Daniele painting of the woman posed on a bench
overlooking Slizza river in Italy. She flung her Louis Vuitton bag on the
sofa and balanced her way leaving her stilettos on the way towards the bed
room.
Revati was a socialite wife of Raghu, V. N. Raghupati CEO of
Assureinvest a venture capitalist firm. A simple but sharp soul, Raghu was complete
opposite of his spouse. Punctual and a man of few words he had strong family
values. Their marriage happiness of 8 years was inversely proportional to Raghu’s
bank balance. This was the very reason Raghu preferred to spend more time at
work than return to an empty house.
Raghu at work was a no non-sense person and appreciated
intelligence over hard work. His new hire Deepshikha was just the dependable
resource Raghu was looking for. She had to be told little and she understood
her work well. Assureinvest was Deepshi’s third job in a career of 6 years. She
understood the pulse of the job market well and knew when to switch to get paid
better. Her sole motive was a higher figure on the salary slip and with her diligence
she knew how to get that. Deepshi and Gaurav met at business school and lost
their hearts to each other. Gaurav loved Deepshi’s sharpness and Deepshi purely
fell for Gaurav’s looks and his Salsa moves. Both tied the knot against parent’s
wishes and moved to a 3 bedroom flat at Goregoan. An Emi of 70,000 and a car
loan made Deepshi change her job often and Gaurav take up salsa classes after
work. Gaurav’s clientele were crème de la crème of Mumbai most of them
socialites including Revati. Gaurav and Deepshi’s 6 years of marriage became a
transactional relationship of money transfers to bank accounts and sticky notes
on the refrigerator the only way of communication between them.  Sometimes the messages were communicated by
Seema their maid who kept a set of house key to complete the house hold chores
without disturbing Gaurav who would return home past midnight.
Seema was with Deepshi since her marriage, she was
trustworthy but in a painful relation with Govind. Govind was Seema’s husband’s
friend and moved with her as a support after her husband died leaving two
children behind. Govind turned alcoholic and would rob Seema of all the money
she earned.  He had just landed an office
boy’s job when Deepshi referred him to Raghu in order to reduce Seema burden.
It was the evening of 16th March 2012 when Deepshi
was preparing for the quarterly audit with Govind moving busily out of Raghu’s
cabin taking signatures on relevant papers. It was around mid-night when
Deepshi entered Raghu’s cabin, he was sitting on the wide parapet of the office
his back facing an open window, his legs rested on an Osim massager chair with
a glass of Glenlivet in his hand. Deepshi reluctant turned to leave when Raghu
asked her to sit. She noticed the generally dressed in a suit Raghu today in a
shirt crumpled around the waist as if it was pulled hard. His eyes were red,
this was the first time she noticed the handsome man that Raghu was. His ruffled
hair, slight grey side locks, his strong arms showed under his sleeves rolled
till the elbow. Feeling uncomfortable with the silence she rose once again to
leave when the wheels of the chair which Raghu rested his feet on moved and he
lost his balance. Deepshi ran towards him and pulled his hand to stop him
from falling off the window. He fell on her triggering the dearth of physical
touch he had faced in the past years. He hugged her tight; Deepshi did not
resist and gave in to his dominance.
Seema rushed to the hospital as her son had fallen off stairs
and needed to be admitted. Not knowing where to go she reached Deepshi’s apartment
to ask for money. She opened the flat with the set of keys she had and rushed
in. Her pace slowed as she saw the stilettoes lying on the floor, as she moved
further she saw a Burberry evening gown flung on the ground, she understood
that wasn’t Deepshi’s.  She could hear
giggles and whispers from the bed room. Not knowing what to do, she decided to
leave when she glanced on the open bag on the dinning. She could see a
bundle of notes, she tip toed and grabbed the money and moved out to save her
son.
Flash forward….October 2013, Deepshi changed the music to classical
as Raghu started his Audi Q5. He grabbed Deepshi’s hand and kissed it before
buckling his seat belt. They reached the apartment; she waited in the car as
Raghu went to Revati’s 16th floor apartment to deliver the signed
divorce papers. He was about to ring the bell when he heard Gaurav and Revati
arguing over something. He chose to leave the papers at the door. On the way
back they dropped in at Seema’s to deliver the Diwali bonus. Now the 5000 sq.
feet house name plate reads Deepshi and Raghu’s. May be now it’s not just a
house, its home!
Will leave you with one of my favorite songs…
रिश्ते तोह नहीं रिश्तों की पर्छैयाँ मिले 
यह कैसी भीड़ है बस यहाँ तन्हाईयाँ मिले।
इक छत के तले अजनबी हो जाते हैं रिश्ते 
बिस्तर पे चादरों से चुप हो जातें है रिश्ते।
ढूंढे से भी इनमें नहीं गर्मियाँ मिले।
यह कैसी भीड़ है बस यहाँ तन्हाईयाँ मिले।
जिसको भी देखिये वो अधूरासा है यहाँ 
जैसे कहीं हो और वो आधा रखा हुआ।
हो जब जहाँ जुड़े वही जुदाइयाँ मिले 
यह कैसी भीड़ है बस यहाँ तन्हाईयाँ मिले।