A month
later
“Hey Chaitra
one more work ,just make a ppt for this quarter’s
financial report , am mailing you the numbers we've crunched” . She sat back
muttering abuses under her breath, the only bonus she was looking forward to
for this overtime stay is a lift from Kavikrut. It had been a month and they
moved no further than an eye contact or a formal polite smile. “Hey”,Kavikrut
knocked her cubicle,”Do you want me to drop you till the nearest Metro
station??”. Woahh what an arse he is, its 9 in the night and he offers me only till
the station. The feminist inside her decided
not to take his favour ,”Hmm thanks I
think I can manage”.
“Ok then
see you tomorrow bbye” Kavikrut left with a casual indifference
Chaitra
you deserve a HI-fi in your very face with a steel chair, what a waste of time
and decision she cursed herself . She
sat in the auto slumping back into her
memory of the day she first met Kavikrut. She had hurried back to the HR ,"Hi
Kumar am ready to take the offer right away right now ,what are the formalities
to be completed",Kumar gave a quizzical look and continued, “Seriously Miss
Krishnamachari?? I believe you had second thoughts". “Oh well no not at all
just wanted to buy time to discuss with my family but then I walked into the
cafeteria and behold !! there it was the most
divine idly sambhar I feasted on so far
in Delhi and Mr.Kumar I totally live to eat" Chaitra had no clue what she
was muttering.
5 months
later
"What are you??are you playing it
hard or is it that you being two levels
above me in the hierarchy don't want to invite rumors,are you already taken
who is that bitch ?? oh no are you gay by any chance".These thoughts
kept coming as frequently as an Akshay kumar's release
would .“Kavi is
not a message type or chat type of a person, how do you reckon I should proceed
without sounding despo??” Chaitra asked.”Your story is moving
slower than the traffic under this Jankapuri flyover” Arushi said honking. "Pick up some nerve and ask him out else your Roshgulla shall be seized”. The next day she took the advice seriously and walked into the reading room, the only place where he could be found alone.
“Ah what a pleasant surprise to find a HINDU reader, all I usually see
is Hindustan times and TOI across the city, yes except for CAT mongers though
who read it like a bible” she cajoled. Kavikrut smiled “I read it for the
language and the communist take the editorial gives on national issues. I am
attending the HINDU NEWS literary festival,wanna join ??
7 months
later
Mao the unknown
story (Kavi’s description ,"It
shows Mao as a Tyrannist and Empress Dowager in good light), Asura: (“Here
Lord Ram is the antagonist”), Lajja : (“As the name suggests the riots shame”),these
books sat across her table. Kavikrut
loved getting his hands on books that show the ugly and the flip side of what
history has hidden and Chaitra had taken to reading those that made him so
animated and come alive. Hey Karl Marx you better make this guy fall for me as
understanding your theory of Marxism is a pain in the ass she sighed flipping
page 472 of The Communist Manifesto.
New year's
eve office party
Kavi
settled down near Chaitra with his juice. “Finding a guy of this generation who
doesn't drink or smoke totally charms me” she tried making a feeble attempt
at hitting on him and just like all previous attempts this too was met with a casual
smile. “Ever wanted to go to the USA", he asked. “Nopes” she replied still feeling flustered at her inability
to make an impact on him.”What kind of a guy do you like,what kind of long term
expectations do you have”. This question
sent her off guard as Kavi was like a turtle instantly going inside the shell
whenever he spots a danger where the danger being a personal question or an
opinion on love.Before she could respond
the crowd thundered "HAPPY NEW YEAR" with people going helter skelter
wishing each other. Kavi took up the responsibility
of driving his colleagues back to their
homes,"Monica is too drunk i think its better to have her stay put in your
apartment, Chaitra". As he helped Monica up the stairs it sent up pangs of
jealousy in her. "Happy new year
Beta" the neighbouring Raheja aunty beamed. She noticed Kavi taking Monica
inside and exclaimed "This is the same guy that followed you to your
house once. He kept waiting downstairs staring at your window and left only
when you switched off the lights.". "When did this happen
aunty?". "Hmm it happened once recently and once I guess around in May". Chaitra walked in feeling unsure on how to react when you
realize that the guy your mad about actually cares
for you ,she saw Monica lay on her sofa blabbering to herself,"Monica come
inside ,y don't u sleep on my bed",and then it suddenly struck her Shitt is
he inside my room and made a dash to her bedroom
only to find
him watching with bewilderment at his own photo staring back as the wallpaper of her desktop. He turned around and shot that very same intense and baffling gaze that almost killed
her when they first met. At the door while seeing him off, "There is
something i wanted to tell you",Kavi
blurted,Chaitra's anxiety now knew no bounds,"What is it" she almost
leaped turning all red. I saw two rats running
around near your kitchen better use Mortein it works" and
disappeared into the January fog yet again sending mixed signals
