It was a Saturday, a
normal day-off for everybody else that she had gone to the office with the
dying hope of her project meeting its deadline, that they actually met. Both
have been working in the same offices for quite some time, more like a couple
of years, even sitting in the adjacent cubicles but they had barely interacted;
except from the occasional hi’s and the good mornings’. There was always a
reluctance, a sheer hesitation in his eyes even when they would rise in order
to wish her the same. To everybody, he was just another workaholic who would
move out of his cubicle, make a beeline to the pantry, take coffee, and make
another beeline back to his place. So, that day, just for company’s sake over
lunch, she asked Vishal to join her. And since then, everything had started
falling out of place.
She had expected it to be
a sour company, a dull conversation if at-all. Out of courtesy,they
offered each other, Vidya offering him her self-made matar-paneer and
him offering her the parantha-s that he had her Bai prepare
them for him. They exchanged bits. She would take a spoonful of the gravy
near her mouth, lick it first and then take a proper pounce at the spoon
relishing every bit of the delectable matar-paneer that she
had prepared herself so diligently in the morning. He kept staring at her,
everytime watching her do the same over and over. He had an element of
unbelieving-ness in his eyes. He suddenly shifted in his chair and
inadvertently said, “This is exactly how Anu used to do.” She stood aback with
the sudden interruption but couldn't stop herself from asking, “Who
is Anu?” She had seen something innocuous lit up in his eyes once he mentioned
the name. And, there it was, the rain of the scathing memories
from his life like the dollar bills squirted at a stripper drowning her as to
mock her for making him dive-back into the world that he has been running from.
You've got awkward down! Stripper as simile is pretty funny, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope 'good' funny ....And Thanks for reading ! :)
DeleteLovely narration.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it :) Thanks for reading !
DeleteI have to wonder if she was subconsciously inviting his comments with that licking ;) Great piece!
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention, can be a possibility ... but she's just a foodie :) Thanks for reading !
DeleteI love that last sentence! Brilliant writing-you've expressed so well how cruel memories can be!
ReplyDeleteThanks Valerie ! Me too ... the last sentence ! So glad you liked it ... ! :)
ReplyDeleteHa!ha!I loved the way she eats-seems too fond of her own culinary skills-I like that;-)But poor thing,must have had no idea that she was going to get a "dekko" into his past!Looking forward to the next installment Shreya-hope he finds solace in her friendship & that their love story ki "gaddi" moves ahead:-)
ReplyDeleteYea ... she sure is :) Thanks for reading Atreyee !
DeleteHmmm...there's something to be said for eating alone :) Only kidding, but I think she got more than she bargained for here!
ReplyDeleteYea I think so too ... Stay tuned for more Jenna :)
DeleteI love how you use the phrase "fall out of place" - Great write. I love the image of her tasting from the spoon.
ReplyDeleteSo Glad you liked it ... Thanks ! Keep reading :)
DeleteYou've got me hankering for Indian food.
ReplyDeleteyou shouldn't waste a second now and let some good Indian dishes serve you right :) ... Thanks for reading Trifecta !
DeleteThanks Ruby ! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going back to read your earlier posts. Curious how you are going to resolve his reaction. I love how you used the prompt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann ... So glad you liked it ! (:
Delete