Estranged | ✓

XVI. true love

vanraj :

I did not remember when I had laughed this much the last time.

Had I even laughed once in the last five years?

I finally stopped, my cheeks hurt.
I never knew Holi could be this much fun.
Anupamaa slowly stood up, clutching onto the side of the rubber tub.
I looked at her.

And couldn't look away.
She brushed her long hair to one side, droplets fell on my face.
Her white kurti now stained with colours made her look even better.
The sun shone right behind her, and she looked almost like a heavenly beauty right from Indra's court, down on earth for a walk.

How did I never realise how beautiful she was all those years?

"Should I help you?", She asked softly.
I nodded, finally.
I gave her my hand as she pulled me up with one yank.
"Damn.. you are strong.", I said, clearly impressed.

"You men don't even realise how strong housewives are.", She said, with a proud smile.
She slowly stepped out of the tub, and so did I.

"I thought you didn't play Holi.", She said dusting her wet kurti, her back towards me.
"I don't.. but—"

Just then I heard from behind,

"Handsome uncle!"

I instantly turned and so did Anupamaa.

Pakhi.
She ran down to me with yellow gulaal in her hand.
I knelt on one knee before her.
"Where were you? I was searching for you since soo long!", She said pouting.

I held my ears, making an apologetic face.
"I'm so sorry.", I said as she instantly broke into a smile.
"It's okie dokie!", She said lovingly.

Slowly raised her hand and smeared the yellow over my left cheek.
"Haappy Holi!", She said.
I took some colour from my cheek with and finger and placed it on her nose.
"Happy holi!", I said smiling away.

Then she looked past me and her smile grew wider.

"Mummy!", She screamed in joy.

I froze.
For moments I felt my heart skip beats.

She ran past me to her mother.
I stood up slowly, and turned.

Anupamaa.

She was looking at me, as Pakhi ran down to her.
"Mummy! I am going back to play with Winter and Toshu Bhai! I gave them the ladoos you made also!", Her daughter said, before running away.

The moment froze between us.

"Toshu.. I think I gave you sandwiches.. yet your tiffin is smeared with what looks like oil and chutney..", I said with a raised brow washing his tiffin box.
He immediately sat up.
"Oh.. Papa, that.. I have a classmate. He's Indian. I shared tiffin.", Toshu said, stammering.
I felt something was off, but I did not care enough.

"The Aunty upstairs sent lunch for us.", Toshu said placing the casarol and tiffin box.
"Why?", I asked still looking into my files busily.
"Oh.. she's my friend's mom na.."
"What's her name though? I haven't met her even after staying a floor below her.", I said, finally looking up.
The colour from Toshu's face left.
"Arrey Papa.. you rarely stay at home and I also don't know her name.", He said as he pushed the casarol towards me.

I took a bite of the thepla and I felt like I had tasted the delicious taste before, but then I brushed off the possibility.

In the parking lot, as Pakhi spoke about her she was the cutest girl in class, I had asked abruptly,
"You talk to me.. a stranger.. your mother doesn't say anything?"
"Nooo.. she says you are like my Papa na.."

The answer had been strange, but I didn't give a thought about it.

And now as I stood before Anupamaa, everything suddenly made sense.
The strange occurrences since the last two years, that had been a breath of joy for me -
The tasty food that came, Toshu's smile when he spoke of his new friend, Pakhi..
It all made sense.

I felt my heart wrench.
She looked at me right in the eye.

I did not know what to feel anymore.
What should I call it?
A bundle of lies
Or
True love?

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