The Preparation - 2

Aanshi

I had my train to Bhopal in the early morning at 3:12 AM. Waking up at midnight to the very annoying mobile alarm was a lethal trade. With sleep-filled eyes, I stretched my nearly numbed hand to grab the buzzing phone sitting on the table adjacent to the bed. Somehow managing to shut that irritating alarm, I tried to sleep for few more minutes again. Clinking sounds outside my bedroom however had a different plan. I woke up finally with rubbing eyes to adore this mercy less life.

“Maa, is that you?” I yelped.

“Tu Uth gayi Beta?” (Did you wake up?) from the kitchen Mom said loud.  

“Hann Maa!! Par app iss waqt kya kar rahe ho?”  (Yes, Mom!! But what are you doing at this time?) I screamed with a very long yawn.

“Chole Bhature bana rahi hun, tujhe kuch auur chahiye” (Making Chole Bhature , do you need anything else?) She said with a much calm voice.

I wondered if she even slept for a minute?

“Itne Raat ko khana kaun banata hai Maa?” (Who cooks at this time in night?) I said sitting on my bed.

“Tujhe kisne kaha tha itne raat ki ticket lene keliye?” (Who asked you to take a midnight ticket for return?) this time her voice was fierce-full.

I opted to remain silent. I understood she had ample mental strains than my mere physical strains.

“Jaldi jaa nahake ajja” (Go quick. Take a bath) she shrieked.

“Take a bath?” C’mon! I would better opt for a headshot than a bath at midnight. Again, I remained silent understanding my “No” would have no value over her strict culture. This has been the culture of our family to take bath, worship God, and eat Prasad before leaving home. I understood because of my one odd routine Mom, Dad, and God everybody was sacrificing their precious part of sleep.

Around 2:40, Dad pulled out his Royal Enfield from the parking garage. Sneaking a peek of Dad through the main door I smiled. He looks the happiest with his hands on Bullet.

“Maa, Papa is ready! I am leaving. Where are you?” I called my mom to inform its finally time for me to leave.

“Tu Ruk , Unko ruuk ne ke liye boll” (you wait, ask him to wait as well) she screamed, in fact, she ordered.

From the kitchen, she finally rushed towards me with a 3-container tiffin in her left hand and a plate with some hot smoky freshly cooked Chole Bhature in right.

“Keep this inside bag” handing me over the tiffin she said.

“And, eat these...” Just when I thought she has nothing else, she ordered pointing the plate on other hand.

“Maa, I am getting late. Don’t you see” I said holding the tiffin.

“Tujhe kisne kaha tha itni derr tak sajne ke liye?” (Who asked you to take such a long to dress?) She shut that arrow again from her never-ending quiver.

I realized she, in fact, all Indian mothers are banks of self-explanatory questions. They have questions for every situation to make you feel guilty or to let you realize your inanity. It is her questions that I receive often as answers and not actual answers.

Before I could speak any further, she stuffed a piece of Bhatura with some overflowing Chhole into my tiny mouth. The taste of fluffy deep-fried sourdough bread, the aroma of blending spices, the feeling of mid-night food, and the love of mother’s hand, all just hijacked my entire delusion of getting late.

“Papa, doo minute wait karo” (Dad, wait for two more minutes) I said aloud with a mouth full of delicious Chole Bhature.

“Tujhe hi late ho rahe the. Mai kahan bhaga jaa raha tha?” (You were rushing, I was not) he mocked me sitting on his Bullet.

“Maa, itna bada tiffin kyun?” (Maa, why such a big tiffin?) I questioned while chewing delicious Chole Bhature.

“Ekk mai Chole hai, Ekk mai Bhature aur ekk mai Poha” (One has Chole, One has Bhature and the other has Poha) she said.

“Indoori Poha?” I asked with blooming eyes.

“Hann” she replied.

It is always a Mom, who understands the happiness of a kid. “Indoori poha” has always been my favourite recipe to start a bright day with. Had I been in the place of her, I could have cooked some Maggies, to my farthest possible dream. And, here is this fair unwearied lady with her knee-length hair standing in front of me with hands full of delicious Chole Bhature and Poha. If Angels were real, I was gazing at one among them.

“I love you Maa, you are the best Mom on earth” I hugged her and whispered.

“Dhyan se jana, safar ke dauran sona nahi” (Be careful and don’t fall asleep during the journey) waiving me final adieu she shredded some tears.

“Beti Bhopal jaa rahi hai, Shadi karke sasural nahi” (She is going to Bhopal, not in-laws by getting married” Dad passed a taunt on Mom and she smiled.

““Shadi” Ohh. Yes!! I have to speak with Payal about Dev” something in me just reminded me about Dev after the word “Shadi” from Dad. I smiled.

Ujjain railway junction is just 10 minutes drive from my home. Pulling out the mobile from my side bag I opened the Rail Yatri application to check the train location. The status for Somnath-Jabalpur Special showed me as “Running 10 minutes delay”. A ten-minute delay is no delay as per Indian railway culture. I kept my phone inside the bag and zipped properly to enjoy the ride with My Super Hero.

As we started, cold breezes pierced some unknown shiver through my spine, they were abundant to take me to a trance. I kept my palms on shoulders of Dad and looked around. Calm and empty streets of Ujjain were expressing it aloud, “It is Humans who make nature such chaotic. Nature in its naked form is calm, composed, and soothing otherwise.” I closed my eyes holding my Dad’s shoulders firmly. The sound of Bullet, the cold breeze, and the utter silence of nature twisted an enigma within me, I started feeling like Avantika the princess of Ujjain.

Parking the bike at the railway parking zone Dad went to get a platform ticket for himself. I quickly checked the train running status, there were still 15 minutes for the train to arrive. Soon we entered inside the platform a loud wide-ranging announcement buzzed from all around and we rushed towards platform no 1. Within few minutes, the Somnath-Jabalpur Special train entered Ujjain junction with its deafening air horn.

“Where’s your wallet?” Dad asked looking at the train.

“It’s in the bag, inside the left side-zip” I quickly replied.

Unzipping my left side backpack he quickly pulled my wallet out.

“Dad, what are you doing? The train is here” I asked hinting him to rush. Somnath-Jabalpur Special train halts hardly for 5 minutes at Ujjain.

“Keep this with you. You may need at any time” tucking a red Two-Thousand note into my wallet he said.

“Dad, I am now earning. Not a student anymore.” Holding his hands, I tried to refrain him.

“Toh kya hua? Tu koi Ambani ban nahi gayi hai” (So what happened? You’ve not become Ambani yet) contravening my words he replied.

That was not him, they were the words of my Mom. For a moment I imagined either Mom has hypnotized the character of my Dad or he is captivating inspirations from her, amid these seriatim thoughts I smiled.

Comforting me on my seat inside the cubicle he looked around and said “Take care, don’t fall asleep, and please do call me once you reach Bhopal”

I entwined my hands across his back and rested my head on his shoulder for a second. The confidence, safety, and comfort that a father’s shoulders offer to a daughter; are parallel to none.

I had booked side lower birth. Somehow, I feel they are the best seats in the Indian railway that offer a maximum dividend. Ujjain to Bhopal is three and half hour’s journey and considering the standards of the Indian railway, it takes around four or sometimes four and a half. Relaxing on the seat, I unbolted the window a bit and inhaled a lung full of magnificent cool breeze.

“You need to speak with Payal today” a voice inside reminded me and I pulled out my phone from my bag to text her.

“Hi, have something very important to tell you”

“I am returning to Bhopal now”

“Can we meet this evening?”

All my messages got a single tick on what’s app. I checked her last seen and it was 12:47 AM. “Probably she is sleeping” I thought. Zipping my phone back, I hauled the book “The Perfect us” by one of my favourite authors Durjoy Datta. Riffling to bookmark I continued reading from page 49 under the dimmed light of the train lobby.

Around 6:30 AM, my phone buzzed loud alerting me for an incoming call. I quickly folded the book inserting the bookmark and hurried to attain the call. It was Payal.

“Hi..” with a lazy sleep full voice she greeted.

“Are you sleeping?” I asked.

“No, dancing!! Stop asking this stupid question. Look at the time” she ridiculed my question.

I smiled.

“I just saw your message. What’s the matter? What something important?” she questioned.

“I can’t tell over the phone, and for that matter, I yet to reach Bhopal, still in train” I replied.

“Is everything fine there?” she questioned again.

“Yes!! everything is fine. It’s something special and I need your help” I said.

“Something special?” she sounded surprised this time.

“Yes!!” I added.

“Aanshi, have they seen any alliance for you?” she projected her prediction.

“Nothing like that. And, please let that devil mind rest” I retorted.

“Are you in Love?” She probed in no time.

I paused, smiled, and gathered some thoughts before answering her.

“I said please let that devil mind rest” I replied with a smile.

“Why am I sensing something like that?” she quizzed.

“Maybe that’s what runs in your mind all day and night” I teased her.

“Shut up!! Tell me the truth” she dragged her urge for me to vomit the secret.

“Can we meet this evening? I’ll tell you everything” I asked pausing her loud voice.

“I am free this afternoon. Let’s meet. Shall I come over?” she replied.

“Hmmm... No! I have something untidy to settle in the office. Let’s stick to the evening plan” I responded.

“Okay, will meet around 7 at our location” she said.

“That’s the Best!” I added.

“Now, good night” she expressed her distress due to half-sleep.

“Good night! And I am about to reach” I reverted.

“Take care” she said before hanging up the call.

Around 1 hour later I landed at Bhopal. The land of work injected some quavering conundrum. On one side Calm, peaceful, and less crowded city of Ujjain, and on the other side chaotic, raucous, and human flooded city of Bhopal have many differences. From the Railway station to my Hostel is 10 minutes drive. I booked an Uber ride to reach faster.

Refreshing myself, I hopped on the tiffin my Rapunzel had given. The delicious Indoori poha seasoned with blood-red pomegranate seeds grabbed all my attention. I quickly packed half of the Cholle Bhatuere in a separate tiffin for Abhoy Dada.

“Dada, Ye appke liye Maa ke haath ka khana” (Dada, this is for you. The food of mother’s hand) handing over a tiffin full of Cholle Bhature to Abhoy Dada I said.

“Ajj to mera dinn ban gaya!” (You made my day!!) a widespread smile on his face said it all.

A tiny effort in appreciation of human beings is all we need to serve; some people treasure them for life.

Evening 6:30

Finishing the draft of a final settlement letter I looked at my watch, it was already 6:30 PM. “Damm!! I will be late” I thought. Shutting down my laptop I quickly booked an Uber ride from the office to Momo café. A year before we both had discovered this place and since then this has been the darling meeting spot for us. We make sure to visit that place at least once a month. Being located inside the DB City Mall in Maharana Pratap Nagar, Momo café – Courtyard Marriot is the heartthrob for all Lucknowi, Nawabi, and Chinese food lovers.

“I’ve left. Where are you?” I texted Payal soon after I got into the white Swift Desire. Mr. Arvind Pujari with 4.9 ratings on Uber was the driver for my evening ride to Momo café.

“I am about to reach!” a reply flashed from Payal in no time.

“Bhaiya, thoda jaldi jana” (Bhaiya! We need to hurry!) looking at Mr. Arvind I requested him to drive a bit faster.

“Don’t worry Ma’am, we will be there within 15-20 minutes” he sounded Gentle. For that matter, I rated him 5 stars later.

“I have reached. Where are you?” after 10 minutes another message from Payal landed on my phone.

“5 more minutes, about to reach” I reverted her back.

“Come straight to where we sat last time. I’ve managed to get that table again” she replied.

“You are a Darling!! I am on my way” I texted her back from the notification slide.

“We’ve reached Ma’am” Mr. Arvind said parking his car just in front of the mall entrance.

Offering him 50 rupees as tips along with travel fare, I thanked him.

“Thank you very much Ma’am” he expressed his happiness with a widespread smile for 50 rupees additional tips.

Entering inside the mall I headed straight to the Momo café. The guard at the entrance welcomed me with a smile, after all, we were regular customers for them. Offering him a smile in return I rushed to meet Payal.

Soon as I stepped in, the grand luxurious golden themed hotel felt like a palace. With more than 50% occupancy, with white and black dressed waiters roaming around, with smooth Bollywood beats, and moreover with decorated food stalls surrounding, the entire interior was a treat to the eyes.

Ignoring them all, my eyes rolled towards the two-seater table on the left corner near a huge round-shaped pillar holding the roof. There she was with a sleeveless square neck white tank top which was exposing her assets to quite some extent with a ripped blue printed denim and a pair of white snickers. Our eyes bumped with each other and I waived a “Hi”. She got up to offer me a hug. We hugged and smiled together.

“Sorry for the late” making my chair I said.

“I don’t need your sorry, tell me what’s the matter?” she directly shot the question. I felt more than me she was excited.

“Hold on!! I am not eloping with someone” I said with a smile.

“Then what’s the matter?” she asked again.

“First! Have you ordered anything?” pausing her a bit I asked.

“Yes! a Cream of Mushroom soup, we both will share half” she said.

“Great! Anything else?” I asked again.

“Not in a mood to have anything heavy for dinner. Probably will go for a Choco Lava” she said.

“Shall we order that now?” I questioned.

“Choco Lava is not eloping either” this time she mocked me.

I smiled.

“For Fuck’s sake!! Will you please come to the point?” she expressed her desperation.

“Okay! I don’t know where to start” taking a sip of water I said.

“Start from the beginning,” she said.

“Okay!! But one thing.” I added.

“Now what?” she asked.

“Don’t judge me until I am completely done with describing” I replied.

“Okay! Now please go ahead” she said folding her hands.

“Do you remember you recently changed your number?”  I asked.

“Yes! It’s been more than a month now. What my number has to do with you?” she replied with a dreadful tone.

“Well, it all started from there” I added.

“What?” she questioned.

“Listen…” I smirked.

“Go on!!!” she commanded this time.

“I had not saved your number to my phone directory. One day when I tried to call your number, I dialed some digits incorrectly and the call landed at a stranger. It was a man from Chennai named Dev” I somehow nudged the topic to start.

“Then?” she asked the very moment I paused to breathe.

“Well!! It’s a long story since then!” I retorted.

“A long story? Tell me more” she responded.

“Initially I actually thought it was Mayur, your boyfriend. And, I went on to call you a “Bitch” on the call” I said plummeting the volume of my voice.

“What!! You said I’m a bitch to a stranger from Chennai?” she shrugged in tremor.

“Yes!  I’m sorry. That was unintentional” I pleaded.

Rescuing me from her further question a waiter appeared like a genie with Soup she had ordered.

“Ma’am, here is your soup. Anything else would you like to order today?” placing two bowels of half-filled soup the waiter asked.

“Give us some time. Will call you” before I could speak anything Payal hinted the waiter to leave.

“Thank you, Ma’am. Enjoy your soup” the waiter offered a cheerful smile and left the place.

“And then what happened?” she asked on the very moment waiter turned back.

“When I came to know it’s a wrong number call, I wanted to hang up. But that man on the other side was sounding being in some agony. He later went on to confess” I continued from where I left.

“Confess? Since when you’ve started understanding Tamil?” she asked.

“Does everyone who stays in Chennai Speak Tamil?” I questioned her back.

“Ohh!! So, the Hero here, speaks multiple languages then?” she asked.

“He speaks very sophisticated English” I replied.

“Sexy!! By the way, what was the confession?” she interrogated back.

“Hmmm... It was about some of his agonies and pain he was going through in personal life” I said.

“How can a person confess Infront of a stranger, that’s too, over a wrong-number call?” She questioned with a ridiculing tone.

“That’s why I said not to judge until I am completely done” I reminded her.

“Okay, go on!” she said pausing a bit.

“Sometimes we don’t understand this very creation that we are a part of, Do we? When fate is not in our hands; sometimes, we need to accept the present as it is, isn’t it?” I added.

“C’mon! stop your philosophy. Come to the point, then what happened?” she said scorning me.

“Then, a lot many things happened after that day call” I replied.

“A lot many things? What does that even mean? Did you meet him? Did you find him attractive? Did you both have sex?” she poured multiple questions.

“Hold on! Hold on! Not everybody’s world moves such fast as your” cutting her short I said.

“Then?” she asked.

“I called him again after a week and since then we are in constant touch” I responded.

“Are you in touch with a complete stranger? Have you seen his photo at least?” she questioned back.

“No, I don’t have his photo. In fact, we don’t want to see each other virtually before our first meet” I replied.

“For that matter, when are you guys meeting then?” she inquired.

“For that, I need your help! And for that I am here” I said with a smile.

“Bhaiya..” raising her hands she called the same waiter who served us delicious Cream of Mushroom soup.

In no time the same gentleman appeared at our table with a smartphone in hand.

“Yes! Ma’am. Would you like to order something now?” he asked with utmost gentleness.

“Yes! a Mediterranean Quinoa Salad” she said.

“We have Chef Ravish’s special blended Pani poori this evening. Would you like to have it Ma’am?” he promoted the evening’s special.

“Aanshi.. anything would you like to have?” looking at me she asked.

“Just get anything you like; I am in no mood to eat” I said.

“How about some sweets then? Subh kaam se pehle kuch meetha ho jaye?” she asked with a broad smile.

I joined her to smile.

“Add one Kesari Rasmalai” she ordered to the waiter.

“Anything else Ma’am?” the waiter asked again.

“No, bring us these two” she replied.

“Thank you, Ma’am. It will take 15 minutes to prepare the Salad” he conveyed the estimated time we had to wait for the salad to arrive.

“Take 20 minutes” Finally I replied to him.

He smiled and left the table leaving us alone.

“Why didn’t you order Choco Lava?” I asked Payal as soon as the waiter left.

“Forget about that!! What do you need me to do?” she dragged the conversation to where we left.

I inhaled a deep breath.

“Next month he is moving to Mumbai for a new job and around the same time I am traveling there as well for a week with family” I said.

“Ohh!! so you have the plan ready?” she asked.

“It's not planned. Everything is just mere coincident” I added.

“I don’t believe you now. You’ve gone long ahead” she said.

“God’s promise! Everything is a mere coincidence. Even thinking of all these events chronologically I feel surprised.” I said the truth.

“What do you want me to do now?” she questioned.

“Well!! Can you join me to Mumbai?” finally I supplicated.

“Have you gone crazy? That’s your family vacation what am I going to do there?” she screamed unpredictably.

“C’mon. you are not a stranger to my family. At least come for a couple of days” I requested.

“Couple of days? Last week I bunked my office for a day. My manager is not granting me leave again until someone dies” she said.

“I desperately need you to accompany me to meet Dev” I said.

“Why are you so desperate to meet him?” she asked.

“I don’t know. His voice feels like someone I know. Every time I speak with him, I feel more relaxed and happier. I don’t know what it is, but it feels like I have some invisible bond with that man” from bottom of my heart I uttered these words.

“Are you in Love with a stranger?” she questioned vividly.

“I said I don’t know what it is but I genuinely want to meet him once” I said.

“Here is your Mediterranean Quinoa Salad” nearing our table the waiter said with a delighted tone.

“Thank you” I greeted him.

The salad he served that evening was plenty for both of us. Taking the first fork full of green delicious salad Payal said, “Look, you’ve to kill someone”

“What!” I shockingly voiced.

“You heard me, right!!”  she said with a mouth full of Quinoa.

“Have you gone crazy?” I asked with the same tone.

“No! Not more than you at the moment. I am not craving for a stranger” she said to mock me.

“Ohh! Please. After all, every known was once a stranger” I replied to her.

“How about you kill my Grand Mother?” she asked with a naughty smile.

“Your grandmother? You don’t even have one” I said.

“That’s why it’s easy to kill her” she replied.

“I am not understanding” I sounded confused.

“Look, it’s simple. Before a day of our travel, you’ve to call my manager from my number and inform like my grandmother passed away” She vomited the devil spirit hidden inside.

The only word I heard is “Our travel” in her entire statement. “Do you think this will work?” I asked her back.

“Hmm!! It will. But again, everything will be in your hand how good you manage to convince him” she replied.

“Well!!  That’s the only thing I am good at ‘Convincing people’ after all that’s what I do every day” I smiled this time accepting her plan.

“But I won’t stay there for a week-long. I can only join you for a day or two” she said.

“Challega , aree chalega kya daudega… I just need you with me at that very moment” I wanted to hug her that very moment, somehow I stopped myself from doing so.

“What are you going to tell uncle and aunt about me?” she questioned after a pause.

“Leave that to me. Something I’ll cook up” I said with great joy.

“Aanshi, you must quit this job! Your profession is making you a devil!” she teased me with a smile.

“Now you please stop this philosophy!” I replied in an equal manner.

We both laughed loud ignoring the crowd surrounding us completely.

Later that evening we enjoyed the delicious Kesari Rasmalai and tipped the waiter 100 rupees for being so kind to us. We both booked separate Uber rides again and while waiting in the parking zone for our Uber to arrive, Payal said, “Look! My up and down tickets are on you”  

“That’s all your demand!! Your next honeymoon ticket is on me as well!! Just join me” I said without a second thought.

We both laughed again and hugged to bid adieu.

That evening, I reached the hostel around 9:30. I was so happy thinking about how the day went. It was a perfect day. I wanted to convey everything to Dev but again thought “Better to keep this as secret”

The next moment when I unlocked my phone, there were a couple of messages from Dev.

“Hey! Did you manage to speak with Payal?”

“Did she agree?”

My emotions pushed me hard to reply to him and I went against my desire of keeping that a secret.

“Yes!! She did, Dev Baabu” I replied.

“This is how a day should end! 😊” a reply from him read as within a minute.

“Truly!😍" I replied.

Jumping on the bed I closed my eyes after thanking the almighty for everything.