The wait for the end... Part 3

The pre-monsoon showers had just begun in Mumbai. The city was bustling with even more energy. Men went to work early to avoid the rains and the subsequent traffic commotion. House wives made desperate attempts to dry off clothes. Children didn't spare a single puddle; they jumped into them and brought them to life. Life seemed to be faster to anyone who looked at the city from outside.

But the rains didn't seem to agree with Neeti. She made all possible attempts to avoid getting wet. Unfortunately, all the tactics she used went in vain. The rain poured down when she left for office and back for home. She had no respite. She despised travelling to her office, especially during this season.

"Ramu I hate rains" One day, she suddenly proclaimed. The lull in the office was broken and people gazed at her like she had declared that she was going to change her citizenship.

"Aiyo Neeti Amma, rains are good. They help the environment, clean the city. They are our farmers' best friends." Ramaswamy made a futile attempt to convince her. He wanted to cheer her up. After all, he had noticed that since past 15-20 days Neeti received a phone call and ultimately landed up crying. The rains only added to her misery. He sometimes let her mock his accent. In fact, on rare occasions, he even mocked himself. Neeti laughed but he knew it was ineffectual.

"OK Ramu, I'm leaving. Have to cover the Mumbaikar's shopping spree during monsoon. I wish they wouldn't shop, at least during heavy downpours. Like that I wouldn't have to cover them." And she laughed, really loud. She bid a bye to Ramaswamy and hopped her way down the stairs.

She helped her camera catch glimpses of people in Bandra, Dadar, Churchgate shopping away to glory. The rain never seemed to exist to them. A group of young women in saris, presumably newly married , came out of the BSNL office. They bobbed about the stairways, chattering and laughing, unaware of the fact that Neeti was stealthily clicking their pictures.

Around 6 pm, Neeti reached the Marine Lines. There was no rain now. And the sky had turned slightly red. She clicked a few pictures of the setting sun and the sky. She was very tired and decided to spend some time alone there, watching the waves hit the shore. Within no time, her cell rang. She saw the number and recognised it.

"Hmmm. Hi, how are you?" said Neeti without even listening to the caller.

"Neeti, my love. Yaar I'm very busy. You should understand. There is no need to be irritated. Whenever possible I call you. What else do you expect?"

"I don't know what to say to you. I fail in the every attempt I make you know. I am fed up."

"Why are you always cribbing like this? Is there nothing better you can do? Yaar my job is not as simple as yours. All you do is click pictures here and there. You have your freedom. As for me, I have to meet targets. Set examples to my sub-ordinates. Make reports. Present quarterly reports. It gets on my nerves sometimes"

"Hmmm. Anyways. Have you called for anything in specific?"

"Well yes! I need a favor yaar. I won't be able to meet you tomorrow and all I want you to do is understand. Please Neetu bacha."

By now, Neeti choked. She was swallowing her tears. All she could utter was "OK".

"Oh you know you're my darling. Thanks girl. You're an angel!" The line cut without any goodbyes.

Neeti remained still. Her face did not twitch. But her tears gushed down. She didn't put an effort to wipe her face. She was still motionless.

From no where, she found a hand on her shoulder. She turned back to see an elderly woman.
The woman smiled and sat next to Neeti. Neeti suddenly felt quite awkward and hurriedly wiped her face. The woman didn't speak a word. Neeti made a feeble try to convince her that everything was alright.

"Aunty its’ all ok. Situation under control!" Neeti laughed.

The two of them saw the Arabian Sea engulf the Sun. After a few minutes, Neeti stood up to go back home. She picked her things, put her camera back and began to walk.

After two steps, she turned back and said, "Thank you Aunty. I felt nice. Goodnight."

The woman smiled brightly and said "God bless you. Goodnight."

By the time Neeti reached home, she was drenched. Her shoes were soiled. She quickly cleaned up and prepared a soup. The cell phone rang.

"Hello Madam I'm calling from TTFC bank. We're offering you a loan for ..." The female voice was a typical one. She spoke endlessly.

"Well my dear, I'm ready to take your loan but you will have to come and cook for me. Chalega?" Bang! Neeti laughed. The phone rang again.

"Neeti! Kaise ho aap? Lagta hain hume koi bhool gaya."

"Kashif! Oh my God! Its' you. Wow. Pata hain main aaj kaafi akela feel kar rahi thi. Aaj ka din acha nahin tha. Matlab acha tha but acha nahin bhi tha."

"Neeti aap ko coffee ki sakt zarurath hain." Kashif spared no moment. He laughed.

"Chance pe dance." Neeti laughed. "Chalo aa jao Bandra."

"Main wahin hun. Aap ke ghar ke neeche. Aao jao aap jaldi se."

"Yaar you are tho too good... Ek dum TGV ki tarah."

"TGV? Acha woh!!! Haan haan. Sahi. Abh please neeche aa jao."

"Pehle admit karo ki aap ko TGV nahin samjha."

"Ji?"

"Haan meko pata hain. Chalo bolo."

"Aree magar... OK tik hain... Nahin samjha."

"Coming!"

Neeti quickly rushed down. Kashif saw her and his mouth opened doors to at least a million flies. Neeti was uber casually dressed in blue pyjamas and an over-sized T-shirt. She looked stunning. No kohl. No lip balm. Nothing. She was in her natural form. Kashif saw that she had a few dark-circles. But that only added to her light skin tone. Her hair was left untied, probably even uncombed, and blew with the wind as she hopped towards his car.

"Sorry Kashif, meko firse change karne ka mann nahin kiya so..."

"Ya Khuda! Itni khoobsurati kaise sochi tune... Tayar ho ke aaye tho janab hum katle-aam ho jaate."

Neeti smiled. She sat in the car and again smiled at Kashif.

Kashif wished to run away from the female at once. He wished he would have never called her in the first place. He drove like he was in a trance. The woman next to him was the most beautiful creation, he felt, of the Almighty. Every single opportunity he got, he tried looking at her from the corner of his eye.

After a long drive, they pulled over at a coffee shop. Neeti ordered for a cappuccino and Kashif decided to sip on tea. They spoke very little. He noticed that Neeti was not jabbering today. They spoke mostly about platonic stuff. Kashif found it difficult to catch up with her. He listened more.

And then suddenly.
"Meko koi acha lagta hain. But shayad usse main abh pasand nahin. Hum dono 3 saal pehle mile." Neeti looked down. Her lips couldn't decide whether to smile or not.

"Mujhe aise laga tha."

"Fir bhi?"

"Aap mujhe achi lagti hain."

That justification seemed enough, although it was very contradictory.

"Magar..." They both fell silent.

Neeti looked outside the window and saw the distant sea. The waves hit the bottom harshly. The sea was rough.

"Neeti aap dono ke beech kya problem hua"

"Uske paas mere liye time nahin hain. Woh todna chahta hain. Main jodne ki koshish kar rahi hun. But nothing seems to work. Hum dikhava karte hain. Woh mujhe phone kare tho ehsaan jatata hain. Main baat karun tho woh phone rakhne ki jaldi mein rehta hain."

"Neeti kuch cheezein Khuda pe chod deni chahiye. Woh jo sab se acha hain, wahi karega."

"Hmmm. But fir bhi main koshish karungi..."

"Kab tak?"

Neeti looked at him with wide eyes and realised she had no answer. There was silence. Only the sound of the distant waves.

She turned to look back at the sea. The waves seemed to be whispering something.

Kashif kept looking at her. He didn't know what next was in store. All he knew was that he was head over heels.

He was in love...