PART 5 7 B
Borivili to Vapi
Mumbai Ahmedabad Shatabdi
May 24th Tuesday!
She settled comfortably in her seat. There was nobody in the seat in front. It was a window seat, she took her jooti off and lifted up her feet and slid it thru the crack between the seat and the window. The blue curtain was cold. She adjusted her back to a comfortable position. The blue seats were covered with circular embossing with the letters "Bhartiya Rail-Indian Railways" in English and Hindi.
She smiled and touched a sign. It had been her friend for 8 years now, since she left home for architecture school.
4:52 AM Tuesday FB
He wore tan six pocket trousers and a maroon tee with some UMASS lettering on it. He hadn't shaved she noticed. She was at her door at 4: 52 AM. Ritu got the door when he knocked softly. Like he knew the teens might be asleep.
Kaki and khanak were in the back room, Kaki was doing pooja and the whole house permeated with the scent of agarbattis, there was also a soft ring of the hand held bell. Ritu smiled and hugged him
Shaan: Kya hua? Still sleepy? (rubbing her head)
Ritu: Nahi
Shaan: Is it Khanak?
Ritu: Ugghh I am supposed to hate you right now
Shaan smiles
Ritu: Not funny!
Shaan: You could move in with us if you like!
Shaan: It's a secret. I can only reveal to Khanak (grins)
Ritu: Main to 27th ko ja rahi hoon, Tum Sangeet par to aaogey na?
Shaan: Only if you and Khanak promise to dance!
Ritu: Pakka Pakka!
Shaan smiles and walks over to the sofa
Ritu: Chai?
Shaan: Sure
His eyes search, he cant hear the shower, he knows the voice inside is not hers.
Ritu (hiding a smile) Kuch dhoond rahe ho?
Shaan: Not really!
The chanting stops and Khanak walks out
There is a red teeka on her forehead. He has not seen her like this before.
She walks out with the arti plate. Walks over to Ritu in the kitchen and hands her the prashad.
Returns to the living room and stands in front of him. He gets up from the sofa.
She offers the tray, he does nothing for a few seconds, she is looking for his hand over the flame. It does not appear, she looks up at him
He captures her eyes.😳
Ritu breaks their trance with a "Tumhe doon ek aur chai?" from the kitchen
He brings his hand out and swipes on top of the flame.
She watches it go over his eyes, and then to his hair.
She hands him a piece of burfi, he bites directly from it, and waits to see what she does with it.
She nibbles it slowly and walks away
They haven't said a word to each other yet
Ritu:Khanak? (facing the stove)
Ritu: Kidhar gayi? I thot she was here?
Shaan: Nope!
Khanak and her Kaki appear, he smiles at both
Kaki walks up to him
Kaki: Tum jaldi aa gaye?
Shaan: Jee
Kaki: Chai liya?
Shaan looking at Khanak "Nahi abhi nahi"
Ritu brings the chai
Kaki: Main bachon ko jagaati hoon (goes inside with her tea)
Ritu: I shud take that shower, since I will have to go do the thing that brings the pay check (winks)
Khanak is in the kitchen mixing sugar in hers
Ritu: Kitna cheeni legi? (horrified)
Khanak: isme tumne daali hi nahi
Ritu looking at Shaan conspiratorily " Man! She drinks sugar syrip"
Shaan smiles "Good to know"
Ritu walks away rolling her eyes
Khanak walks back up to the living room
Shaan: Hey! Ready to be married? (one hand in pocket other holding his tea cup)😳
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