Recap: Episode-1, Episode-2
0608 to 0806 Hours:
As I closed my eyes, questions of life that I left behind started rolling in circles...
“What do I tell my parents honey?”
“I don't know, ok? I never… I mean… Why did you even tell your parents… See.. Look… I can’t do this! I mean come on, we know… or at least I do…”
“Don't you love me anymore?”
“It’s not… Ok.. It’s complicated, all right! The factors between us have kinda changed, you know… I think. Beyond Love, and You and Me…”
“Why don't you message me anymore and who the eff is Yogita on your wall?”
“Why did I not message you? You mean in the past 12 hours? Are you seriously asking me that question? And Yogita is my friend, and that's just Facebook, Archie. Its not as though she’s at home with me, or something!”
“So are you going to meet me or not?”
“I... I don't know”
“What the hell is wrong with you? When are you leaving? And is it because of me?
“I DON'T KNOW… i really don’t KNOW… GOD!”
“What do you want me to tell my parents and... Ugh. Do you want this to work?”
“I don't… Look m..maybe I do know…”
The answer lies in a thud. A large thud.
“Don't say my name.”
Thus again comes a thud. Wait… Why is there a thud? That’s not a thud, that's a knock a knock on the door. Do I have any doors?
I woke up again, this time totally glued on to the plastic wrapper on the mattress. I kept hearing the knock, and though it was real, my body was too drowsy to recognize and get up. I slowly looked at my watch. It was quarter past 7 o clock and well past my standard alarm time. And then I remembered it, and sprang up. I'd forgotten all about my mobile phone going dead, and that explained why my 06:30 AM chirping bird alarm never went off.
I opened the door and saw Geetika on the other side. She had changed her dress, by then, to that of a long whitish kurti, still retaining the blue jeans underneath.
“Hii! I was wondering if you'd like some coffee. I'm making some myself, so I thought I'd ask”.
She let out a lovely smile, which slowly started to grow on me. She changed her hairstyle too, to that of a more freely flowing one, and unbound by a rubber band or a bun.
“Hmm, coffee? Yeah, that would be great, thanks!” I said, trying to look as alert as I could. Though, I was sure that I came across looking like Gollum from the Lord of the Rings - bloodshot eyes, mattress design patterns on one of my cheeks, and not to mention the overall distraught look of the whole outfit. I still tried my best to look mildly presentable. She walked away into the kitchen, as I politely closed the door. I put my mobile on charge, and dashed into the bathroom to free myself and begin my day.
I freshened up, but left the stubble intact - just to leave that look of a rugged, deep and serious, profoundly intellectual person. It was a totally different matter, whether I was actually that or not. I changed into a t-shirt and a track pant, walked out to the hall, where Geetika was already sipping on to her coffee and looking at something on her mobile.
“Hii! Thank you so much for the coffee, Geetika!”
I picked up the other coffee cup which she had placed in one of the empty racks. I took the chair in front of her, though at a fairly safe distance away
“No problem at all. And thank me after you've tasted the coffee, because I'm not really sure you'd like it, Ha Ha!”
She let out a chuckle. On the other hand however, I found that forewarning, to put me in a slight bit of a fix. And after the first sip, I realized that Coffee could be greatly despised too. There was a bad coffee and then there was this. A whole new level of ruining. One word. Yukkk!!!
“It’s nice, yeah!” I said politely under my breath, still looking at another three quarters of some kind of Bitter Gourd Potion in my cup, which she absurdly called “Coffee”.
“Oh is it? Really? ", she said eyeing me suspiciously. I had to turbo dash to some other less controversial topic, ASAP.
“Yeah. So Sudheer's your cousin? You don't really… look like him, must be a far-off relation?"
The silent sunrise brought with itself a wave of golden rays, which shimmered through the window pane, right beside Geetika.
“Not really far. He's a cousin on my father's side, and I look more like my mother. I've been told that we have similar jawline”
She moved her head up and slid her fingers showing her jaw below the cheek, "Almost here, see?”
“Well, I don't know. Maybe, yeah, can't be sure though”
It suddenly struck me that the feature that was really distinct about her, was the eyes. She had these really dark brown eyes, which provided a singular sort of attraction about her, in combination with a slightly dusky skin tone.
“Both of us have the jawline of one of our common uncles, so maybe...", she said trailing off, to look at her mobile, which suddenly announced a notification.
The sun rays from the window fell partly on her face, giving her a half Gothic look, only making her look even more gorgeous. She put away her mobile phone, and silently swivelled her Coffee cup.
I felt morally obliged somehow, to create a conversation at this point, and avoid the awkwardness that was about to creep in
“So, how's the water here?” I blurted out. Yeah, that's what I could manage to come up with. I cursed myself on retrospect. What a lame question to ask. Water is water. And not any Red Bull energy drink.
"I'm sorry?” she said looking up, as a subtle smile returned on her face.
“I mean, how good is the water here?”
“It’s good, I guess”
“Cool” I said, once again distracted by the black thread above her ankle. This time however I was careful not to stare at it for long and turned to look at the boxes. There were around 20 of them, apart from the usual luggage suitcases and a couple of college bags as well.
“How do you know Sudheer?” she said placing her coffee cup on the nearest empty rack beside her, which she could reach.
“So you are a CA like Sudheer?” she asked unmindful of the dread, that simple question posed to my whole conscience.
“Not entirely. I'm a semi qualified. A fancy name for those who haven't yet cleared the final examinations. Though I do have only a group to go, but yeah... "
“So you are here for a job?”
“Yeah, well, there are many jobs for a semi qualified in the city. I've got one too, As an audit assistant, in an area called Begumpet?. Don't know where that is, though!” I said, finally completing my cup of coffee. Phew.
“Oh Begumpet! That's not far from here...”
“Yeah... Near Ronald Ross Institute, somewhere beside the old airport, I do have the exact address, so finding it won't be a problem, hopefully”
“...Ross Institute, oh, yes yes, there is a police station, right after you pass the airport road. It should be somewhere around there, I guess. Would take you, 15 minutes. 20 at max.”
“Is it? Thanks, uh.. Geetika. Also, I need to start early tomorrow morning, at around this time, so maybe I'll just take an auto, you know... So, you've been in the city for long? "
“Well, not so long. A shade more than 5 years. I arrived here after completing my degree and have been here since"
“ So.. where's home then, if I may?” I asked her adding the victorian convention at the last moment, not to sound too intruding.
“Ha-ha, you may. Anyway, well, near Madurai. Yeah I'm a Tamilian and that's where my folks are. That's home. Though Hyderabad is my home now, I guess. I feel like a total Telugu girl, I can even speak the language and, prepare the cuisine as well, so yeah that's that!"
She held a sparkle in her eyes that was hard to miss. Add to that the glistening golden sunrays playing with her striking features - And that more than made up for the poor rendition of Coffee.
“That’s ironic, you know. Cause, I can't do either. Though I'm basically from Andhra, I can hardly speak the language. Though, I do understand what's being spoken at times, but I'd have to super alert to catch that. And cuisine, well no way that's happening. I did dabble with a brinjal curry once, what's it called? Uh.. Vankai right?"
I paused before I further embarrass myself. She nodded and listened intently, which somehow put me under some sort of pressure and I continued
“Vankai, yeah! I did try doing that, guided by a YouTube video, but it didn't quite turn out well. That was the end of it”
I ended my story without making much of an impression.
“Yeah, the videos aren't going to do any good. Before you start taking me for a condescending woman, I'll have to tell you that I'm a Chef! ", she said, with a hint of honour and pride seeping somewhere in there.
“You are a Chef? Are you serious?” I asked her, though I believed her, despite the awful coffee.
“Sadly yes. Though coffee is just not my thing. Coffee, Bread and Chocolate, are my, ugh.. what do you call it? ", she closed her eyes, evidently in the search for a word
“Shortcomings? Demons? Something of that sort? "
“Something of that sort, yeah. But I'm really very good in Indian Cuisine! ", she smiled shyly and pushing back a few strands of her hair from her face to place behind her ear.
“Yeah happens. Anyway, am I keeping you from your plans?", I said suddenly remembering that she was supposed to go out with her friends. If there ever was a doubt that, I could be incredibly dumb at times, that question just nailed it. I had to ask. I had to ruin everything!!
“Oh no no. Not yet. I'm supposed to meet my buddies at around 10. But before that, I need to have some breakfast first... So, what are your plans for today?” She said sounding quite normal despite my stupidity.
“Well, I don't have any plans yet. I was thinking of booking a cab, and going for a city tour and probably come back by nightfall. Sudheer said that he'd meet me here at around 8 tonight, after he's done with his office. So yeah that's the plan!” I confided
“That sounds good. You are welcome to join me at breakfast, if you want! There is this really nice place down the street, which has some delicious South Indian breakfast to offer. I can take you there and then you can take a cab!” she said getting up from the chair, and picking up the two coffee cups. I looked back at her, and stood up as well.
“Are you sure? I mean I could get a cab from here as well, right? ".
She shrugged and smiled.
“Sure… Cool ", I walked back into my room and checked my mobile. 52 percent charge, 8 AM, and 32 unread messages, all from the same number, the count of which, would only grow endless, in time to come...
Chai Bisket’s Story Series – Double Ka Meetha (Part – 3)
