I Am AGirl, Not The Flesh- Part 16
Last Nail- Still there is a Rainbow
Gita sat with her post-breakfast tea and picked up the phone. She wanted to speak to Prerna again. Prerna picked up the phone.
"Good morning, Gita. How was the night? I was going to call you in 5 minutes."
"Good morning, Prerna. I am fine, and how are you? Should we connect after 5 minutes?"
"No, no, we can speak now. I am okay. I told you yesterday that I would tell you a story which you probably do not know."
"Yes, Prerna, I remember and am waiting for the same."
And Prerna started narrating.
My first job, which was in the nature of a compensatory job due to my father's death during duty hours, was an encouragement because I worked with his colleagues, who were all very good, especially his(and mine too) boss, whom I even started calling Papa Ji. He injected courage into my personality and empowered me to look in the eyes of all ill intentions, with a challenge of 'an eye for an eye. I could realise that all these predators of female flesh were basically cowards. They knew how to blackmail others, and I never allowed them to blackmail me. Still, one incident, which shook me for life, left me shaken for some time.
Shifting to Indore for me was for peace of mind, though for my mother, it was a loss of her dreams and visualisations. She had always dreamt of a life with her son and daughter-in-law. Now she was consigned to stay with her daughter, sometimes called an agitated spinster.
I became busy with my office as usual in Indore, leaving my mother at home with a 24-hour maid. She started making friends around, and her group increased over time. I got a reasonably good second-hand car and purchased it, as having my own conveyance in a city like Indore was very useful. The public conveyance was not that easy like Delhi or Mumbai.
Around three months in the city, on return from the office one day, I saw a lady, almost of her age, chatting with my mother. I used to drive my car in Indore and was not as tired as one gets in using public transport. Mother introduced me to the lady and said his son will come to pick her up.
After getting freshened up, I joined the senior ladies for a round of cold juices and snacks when his son came. Mother brought juice for him also.
He was a normal man, around my age by looks, mature, with a natural smile, respectful in behaviour, choosy about his words, and deep eyes. Introduced to me as Kailash, working in an office near my office in the city.
I found him in my house on my return from the office in the next week, again to pick up his mother. After a few days, he was again at our place, this time without his mother. He had brought something cooked by his mother for my mother. We exchanged some niceties and spoke on current weather and politics, but there were no more talks. Mother started liking him and asked my views on whether I would be ready to marry him. I did not answer her, but frankly, I did not reject him also due to his sober attitude. He appeared to be one of those who apparently had respect for others inbuilt in their personality. His mother used to come almost regularly, but his visits to the house, which were once a week, started increasing. He used to come to our house mostly to pick up his mother. I started feeling why his mother was coming to our house always, and why they had not invited my mother. The curiosity went unanswered.
One day, when I was getting out of the office and going to the parking, I heard, "Hello Prerna Ji, how are you?"
"Hello Kailash Ji, I am fine, how are you? Do you work in this building?" Knowing well that he was working around 1 km away.
"I am fine, Prerna Ji, and how is your mother? My office is on the next junction, around 1 km, today, I came here to meet a friend and look, I am able to meet you also."
"That is nice, the mother is fine. How is your mother? And yes, good that we met. How have you come?"
'Mother is fine. I have come by public transport. You must have come in your car, as your mother was saying you do not use public transport at all."
"Yes, I have come by my car. Why don't you come with me and meet my mother? She will be happy. You can go home after having a cup of tea at our house."
"Prerna Ji, we had met a couple of times at your home. If you permit, then I want to offer a cup of coffee today at some nearby restaurant. You can go home from there. I am sure it will not take much time."
Since his body language, expressions were all acceptable, I accepted his offer. We went to a coffee shop and spoke one-on-one for the first time. It was also the first time that I was sitting with a man and talking with whom I did not have any official work.
"How much sugar for you?" He asked.
"One, thanks," I said.
He put sugar in both cups and pushed mine towards me.
I was silently stirring the coffee and looking deep inside myself, why I have come here with this man. Yes, he is a likeable person, but I do not know him yet.
He woke me up from my thoughts, "Prerna Ji, are you not comfortable? I have seen a lot of books in your house, and the short conversation which I had with you. I understand you have a depth of thought. And I like to talk to a person like you."
"No, Kailash Ji, there is nothing to be uncomfortable. There is nothing wrong with having a cup of coffee, and I do enjoy my cup. So, you have seen my house and books and have formed some idea about me. But I do not have any idea about you. Why don't you introduce yourself?"
"Yes, you are right, Prerna Ji, let me introduce myself. I am working in a private sector company as a manager. My father expired two years ago. Currently, my mother and I are staying here. My sister is also married in this city itself, but currently, she is staying in Surat as her husband is posted there. She is older than me."
"I, too, have a sister and a brother also, both younger. They are married and staying in Delhi. I am busy with my mother, my work and the books and music I carry with me."
"Yes, books and music are great companions, but somehow I am not quite friendly with them. I can read only small books, not serious literature."
"That is bad, I feel when I am reading literature, the books become my friend and they talk to me. I do not imagine myself without them."
"I want myself to be with human beings, not books. I want to read human, that is my wish. Though many people are so camouflaged that they do not allow others to be understood."
Smiling, I said, "Yes, it is true, it is difficult to look deep inside the camouflaged items. I am not able to understand men and so prefer to keep my distance from them. I am an unsociable type of person, happy with me, my work, my mother and my books."
"Why did you say men, it can be women also", a bit sarcastic in his tone.
"Why not? It can be both. It is a general word I used. Don't get offended." I smiled.
After discussing a bit about the coffee, weather and office work, we wound up for the day. He paid the bill, and I told him that I would owe him a cup of coffee.
After 10 days, he called me towards the closing hours of the office and said he was in the parking lot, waiting for me.
We went to another coffee shop and were a bit freer this time. We avoided any personal talks and spoke on all subjects in the world, including casting jokes on politicians. We appeared to agree on our political views. I was feeling a sense of attraction towards him in this meeting, and could feel his attraction towards me.
That day, I paid for the bill and we shook hands at the end of the meeting, promising another meeting.
We met twice more in one or another coffee shop, and our discussions encompassed our relatives, our mothers who were the centre points of our lives and other mundane things. After the fourth meeting, he invited me to lunch in an upper-class restaurant. I agreed, with hesitation for sure.
On the appointed day, he came in his car and we both parked our cars in the parking lot in that mall. We entered the mall, and before moving to the restaurant, walked slowly in front of some shops. I purchased a dress for myself for which he tried to pay but I vehemently refused. He started praising my choice and said more than once that the dress would suit me. I felt a bit irritated as I never seek the opinion of anyone on how the dress will look on me.
Once in the restaurant, he pushed the menu towards me and waited.
"What about rice lunch, with one chicken and one vegetable?"
"It is your choice, I eat all, and today I am hosting you."
I placed an order accordingly, and then he asked, "Would you love to have a peg of Gin or Vodka? Or something soft with a starter?"
I was aghast at his question. Still, maintained my cool and told, "How did you imagine I could have an alcoholic drink? Neither am I going to have it nor you. You can order soft drinks for both of us."
His face bore a treacherous smile for a moment, and he ordered two soft drinks.
With the soft drink with us, he said, "Prerna Ji, the more I meet you, the more I have started liking you. Would you mind if we call each other by just names and become a bit informal?"
It was the first time a man had told me such things. Asking for alcoholic drinks was a setback in my mind. With that as the immediate canvas and my habit of always keeping men at a distance from me, I said, "Kailash Ji, I think we have a mutual appreciation, and for that reason, we are meeting more than once. But I am not prepared to or think of the informality which you are suggesting."
"No, Prerna Ji, I am not putting any load on you. But I want to get closer to you, and if you give permission, then my mother can talk to your mother."
"Kailash Ji, as I said, I have never thought seriously on these lines. It is true that it is the first time I am out for coffee or lunch with someone, and it was only as a human being. If you want to draw some more conclusions, then we need to stop now. If you are not in a hurry, then frankly, I need to understand the situation a bit more."
The waiter has started serving the dishes, which look nice. In the meantime, a lady came to the restaurant and sat at the adjacent table. She had covered her face fully, like many people do in summer, to evade the heat. She occupied the table, and I was surprised as she had not taken off her face cover. But that was not my business, and I did not think much. But the real surprise was awaiting.
She suddenly came to our table and stood near Kailash. I was surprised, and Kailash looked at her, and he appeared to be frozen, with his lips sealed.
The lady spoke to me, "Do you want to marry him? And why do you want to marry him? My people have been following you for the last two months. I know your office, your age and everything. It seems you want to trap this wretched man, but why? Did you not get anyone else that you are pulling him into the trap? But you will not be successful. Listen, I am his wife. He has filed a divorce case against me; he wants to forfeit all my money, and I will neither allow him to divorce me nor cheat me monetarily. And what can you offer to him? Nothing as compared to me!"
I was dumbfounded, frozen with anger and shame at such behaviour. So this man was married and had been presenting himself as a sober, unmarried man devoted to his mother.
I stood up. The lady shouted, "Where are you going? Who will pay for your food?"
Kailash was still silent.
I opened my purse, signalled the waiter, who was also startled by the change in the event and was just standing motionless, as required by his profession, with an expressionless face.
I took out an Rs.500 note, gave it to the waiter. At that point in time, I made up my mind to react. The lady was still saying something to Kailash, which I was not listening to.
I picked up the glass, drank half of the cold drink, and threw the remaining on Kailash and her. Neither did not expect this, and Kailash stood up with a jerk. The chicken curry was also on the table. I threw the curry on them, kept the bowl on the table and collected all my power in my hand and slapped him with a sound.
I left the restaurant in a jiffy without looking back at that couple. I got into my car, composed myself, synchronised my hands, mind and thoughts and started the car for home directly.
I went straight home, first had a bath to wash myself from the dirty looks and words of that lady.
Mother could sense that something had happened, but there was no use telling her. And she knew that once I refused to tell, I would not tell it. And me, instead of getting bogged down with this spineless man and foul-mouthed lady, would like to still look for the rainbow in my courtyard below the oak tree.
Prerna said, "So, Gita, that is the only time when I thought of thinking about a man in my life dear. As you say, you have never thought of associating with a man; I think I am better, thought of that at least once. Though fortunately stopped thinking on that line even before I could start thinking seriously."
Prerna laughed heartily, and Gita joined her. They then hang up for the day.
The Next part is ready dear
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