She placed her feet together trying to get the initial pose before she could start dancing.She was dressed in green as usual.Another reason for me to like her.Childish with neck high hair,she pushed it back back with a wave of her hand.Oblivious to my presence, she continued with her routine.
Could I see tears in her eyes?I didnt know.There was this icy wall right now which made no sense.Priya broke the news to me. "You know Archie is getting married?"For a minute I could not believe what I was hearing.In a moment my hair was wet, darkening the blue shirt collar of mine.Devastated.Was it the right word?I didnt know!How did it matter at all.Just the previous evening they had shared a cup of coffee at the new place that had opened downtown. A writer by choice, I found conversations with her very engaging; providing enough input for my columns.As usual her talk is intellectual,soft and endearing.We talk about what big dreamers we are,about what we wanted out of our lives,pending assignments and my desire to learn classical carnatic music.We never talked about weddings!
On impulse I wanted to shout at Archana and storm out of her bedroom.I still had the cup of coffee Anjali had given me.It was still hot.I had given up coffee as it was messing up with my health. Somehow it had been drummed into me that coffee and cigarettes go well with writers.However I was a big NO-NO to cigarettes. The last visit to the hospital had opened my eyes even more. I saw an addict suffer with a broken back and an unsatiable urge to smoke. But i was beginning to get back to coffee. Slowing rotating the cup in my hand I asked in a very low tone:"Is it true?".Archie continues with her performance. No expression what soever evident on her face.Her feet move faster and faster. Her eyes look into the not so distant spaces of the room.
I place the cup on the floor. I get my jacket and move towards the door. That would probably be my last visit to Westcreek apartments.As I open the door someone tugs me.I turn around and Archie collapses into my arms wailing:"Nanda,dont leave me.Dont ever leave me.Please.I will call home today"
The weather at lexington had been horrible for over a week now.April 15th was dark,cloudy and wet.
All of a sudden I am reminded of the special seminar at 11Am. I had been waiting for this lecture for so long.Hydrodyamics, radiative transport and all that jazz. I scramble for my phone,manage to dislodge two books from the table and yell:"My God,its 10:25". Hell, that is a good ending but I guess I didnt have much time to dream.
It was almost 8pm in Vijayanagaram.The cool evening breeze carried the sea with it. Jyothi was tired.Exhausted by the tons of rituals she had to go through. Sarath was by her side chatting away with her relatives. "I am a happy man", he tells them."I have Jyothi".She had taken away the garlands and changed into a more comfortable attire. She was happy to see all her batch mates attend her wedding.It was nice.Atlast married.She went through the list of people who had not attended the wedding.It was Sunday,April 15th.There was no reason for people to miss it!Suddenly she realised she was missing someone.Nanda had not called.
