The Girl Behind The Door

Part 24 - Chai

"Oi bro, what did you tell aunty and uncle?" I could just make out the muffled voice of Arjun from the background.

Shit. I forgot about my parents for a second. " Urgh...I have no idea man, I'll call them and tell them something, that I've gone for work or something, but can you manage the rest, and everything after that."

"Yeah yeah, dont worry bro, I'll also transfer you some money"

"Oh thank you thank you thank you, I love you my brothers"

"Yeah yeah, now let us sleep"

.....

I pay for the call and step out of the booth back into the cold air.

I look around me, the sun is just starting to rise, and the air is still cold from the crisp morning fog. It seemed as if it was raining last night as the few sprinkles of rain settled as a thin layer of water on my hair. The roads were still empty with only the occasional rickshaw going past, tea vendors were lifting the tarps off their shops, a new day was only just beginning.

I look across the road. Mayuri. Tsk no not mayuri. Anuradha. She is sitting on a bench hugging herself. She had tied her hair into a loose bun, a few strands hung by the side of her face as she looked at the scene around her, a small smile on her face.

(Sē ki tōmāra ba'u?)

"Is she your wife" A nasally voice from my right attracted my attention

"Huh"

"Haha" A hearty chuckle left the mans mouth as he shook his head

(Kichu nā, tumi ki bāṅāli?)

"Nothing, are you Bengali" I didn't understand what he was saying and he somehow seemed to understand

(kya aap bengali hain)

"Are you Bengali"

(are nahin, main mumbee se hai)

" Oh no, I come from Mumbai"

(oh achchha, main 1973 mein ek baar vahaan gaya tha)

" Oh nice, I visited there once, back in 1973"

"Hmm" I give a slight nod and a smile as I look down at the floor, not sure what exactly to do.

"Are you here to stay or are you just visiting"

"Umm I don't know" I give a shrug

"Hahaha" The man give a slight chuckle again " I see you must've eloped then"

What, eloped. This man just saying nonsense but even before I had a chance to reply he hands me two clay cups of hot tea

"Here you go, your first cups of tea in Kolkata"

" Oh thank you" I reply pulling out my purse. Oh god only 1500 rupees, what on earth am I gonna do with that.

" Don't worry, it's on me" It was as if the man could understand my dilemma

Wow god is really showering his luck on me today, I give the man a quick nod and a grateful smile as I make my way across the the road.

....

We are both sitting on the bench letting the hot chai warm us, watching as the world slowly got brighter and the roads became busier and louder.

(kya hai aapka plan)

" What is your plan" I look over Anuradha, she is looking straight ahead, watching the road her lips barely touching the cup as she takes small quick sips.

(mujhe pata nahi... meree chinta mat karo, main kisi tarah manage kar loonga, tumhen ghar vaapas jaana chaahie. mujhe bahar nikalne ke lie dhanyavad)

" I don't know... Don't worry about me, I'll manage somehow, you should go back home. Thank you for getting me out tho '' I watch her as she speaks, she isn't sad, but neither is she happy.

"Hmm" I take a deep sigh followed by a sip of hot tea. I look back at the road. We sat in silence for a few minutes.

(mainne saleem se baat kee, unake yahaan ek chaacha hain, kareem kaaka. usane kaha ki vah hamaare lie rahane kee jagah kee vyavastha karega lekin hamen yah aaj raat hee milega. yah koee loj hai, ek apaartament jagah hai jise main theek se nahin jaanata lekin vartamaan log aaj raat hee khaalee karenge.)

" I talked to Salim, he has an uncle here, Karim Kaka. He said he will arrange for us a place to stay but we will only get it tonight. It's some lodge, an apartment place I don't know exactly but the current people will only vacate tonight."

(bhaavik. aapane mere lie jo kuchh bhee kiya hai, usake lie bahut-bahut dhanyavaad, lekin aapako saach mein aisa karane kee aavashyakata nahin hai)

"Bhavik. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me, but you really don't have to do this" She sounds shocked and from the side of my eye I can tell she is facing me.

(mujhe pata hai... lekin main rahana chaahata hoon)

"I know... But I want to stay "I watch a scooter whiz past me taking another sip from the tea. Again without looking I saw the slight smile that lingered on her face at my words.

(saath hee yah aakhiree baar hai jab main ise kahoonga, phir kabhee mujhe dhanyavaad mat kaho. ham dost hain, aur hamen is formality kee zaroorat nahin hai, samajhe?)

I turn around and look at her. I know my eyebrows are scrunched and the smile vanishes from my lips. I can't stop myself as I point a finger and say in the sternest voice I can " Also this is the last time I will say it, never say thank you to me again. We are friends, and we don't need that formality, do you understand?"

Her eyes widen as a flicker of fear flashes between them, but it soon turns into eyebrows of confusion and a pout of fake anger as I fail to stop myself breaking into laughter.

"You idiot" She replies, laughing while slapping my hand.

"Haaaw, that hurt" I rub my hand with my shocked face

"Good, it was supposed to." We both glared at each other before breaking into smiles.

I hold the clay cup to my cheek trying to stretch its losing warmth

"Bhavik"

"Hmm"

(mujhe nahaana hai)

" I wanna take a shower"

( kya)

"What" I looked over at her shocked at her sudden exclamation.

(mujhe nahaana hai, aur mujhe ek naee sari chaahie)

" I wanna take a shower, and I want a new saree"

I stare at her stunned before I finally register what she said. I nod my head and slap my knees as I force myself to get up from the bench

(theek hai... chalo shopping chalate hain)

"Right... Let's go shopping"

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Okay, the new chapter in Bhavik and Anu's life has officially begun 

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Also if you guys have any songs that work with the vibe of the chapter let me know in the comments.