22nd June 2016

    -S H R E E    P R A S A D-    

"Amma I won't wear this sari!" I yell as I open the parcel my Bhamma sent from Hyderabad. It's a sari! A green one too! There's no way I'm wearing this!

"You're wearing that." I hear her yell from the kitchen. "Get ready within ten minutes! We're leaving to the temple before the auspicious time passes!"

"Ha-ha!" Devi gives a mocking laugh from underneath her blanket. "Good luck to you."

"Shut up!" I exclaim rolling my eyes as I look at the sari, "Amma, why isn't this Wonderland getting ready? Isn't she coming with us?"

"She's having her period!" Amma yells, "Get ready! Quick!"

* * * * *

I'm in a temple on a Sunday morning, wearing a sari with my hair flowing loosely, whereas I'm supposed to be sleeping at home.

My life has become very hectic these days with my new job as the secretary for the Deputy CEO of a corporate company. Madhav Sir is so complicated like a million piece jigsaw puzzle! It's so freaking hard to understand what's cooking inside his head!

He's unpredictable as Mumbai's weather. One moment he's calm like the ocean and the next moment he erupts like a volcano and it only takes him one single second to get into two entirely different moods! If he is angry at the beginning of the day then Oh My Mata, everyone around him at a radius of 1km is doomed for the rest of the day, unless you bribe his anger away with a Styrofoam cup of Starbuck's Special Double Espresso, to relieve him.

There's so many phone calls coming at odd office hours, along with fixing and calling off meetings with shareholders and business associates, there's hardly a second for me to sit back and relax. Not to forget all the paperwork!

Devi is lucky. She's peacefully asleep at home while I'm in a temple with Ma, wearing a sari that makes me look twice my age, I suppose.

I'm in an Ahobilam Matth, a temple of God Narsimha, the lion-headed deity. I walk out after offering my prayers to the God. Amma has given me 5000 in cash and wants me to donate it at the temple's donation center for renovation of the temple's eastern wing.

As I walk towards the donation center I run into someone. He's tall, tanned, and slightly muscular. I grunt a quick apology and walk away.

"Ms. Prasad?" I hear a voice, and I turn around to see Madhav Sir. Holy Cow! Did I just run into my boss? He's wearing a denim and a grey shirt that's neatly tucked in. His hair is combed back and neat, and his beard has grown a little. What on earth is he doing in a temple on a Sunday morning? Has he come here to make a business deal or a merger closing with God?

"Good morning sir!" I manage to say, and I feel awkward to be standing infront of him wearing something that makes me feel totally uncomfortable. "What are you doing here in the temple Sir?

"I've come here to buy the land of this temple, demolish the temple and build a fashion outlet for Demure," he says. Fhat the wuck! Is he serious? He does have the potential to do that! I look at him. "I'm joking Ms. Prasad! I've come here to pray of course!"

"Do you come here regularly?"

"I used to as a child with my Ma and sister on Sunday mornings and on special occasions. I hardly have the time nowadays." he says. "I try my best to visit the temple at least on special occasions like today"

What's special today? I wonder and look at him- and it strikes a chord!

"Oh my Mata!" I exclaim like a hyped fan girl who came face to face with Shivaay Singh Oberoi or Christian Grey. Or perhaps both. God! How did it slip my mind! "Happy Birthday Sir!"

He nods appreciatively. "And you are here for?"

"Amma usually comes here on Sundays." I said tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear and he's looking at me intently. "She dragged me along this week, I guess" His eyes fall on the money in my hands. "This is for the renovation. Amma wants me to donate this"

"I hope you know this money is better off invested in some other alternative, Ms. Prasad. You aren't going to earn anything. God doesn't discriminate regarding the place He is established or how His surroundings are decorated. I'll show you how to invest this in a worthy venture" He requests for the money. I give it to him. He pulls out his phone and gives a missed call to someone and the next moment a skinny man, in a beige shirt and trousers walks towards Madhav Sir. He gives the 5000 rupees to the skinny man, along with a 2000 rupees note. "You know what needs to be brought. Do the needful and don't delay, Raj" The skinny man- Raj walks away with the money.

"I have some errands to run, I should be leaving. Do you like to come along?"

"Where are we going?"

"Rainbow Valley Orphanage"

* * * * *

I tell Amma I have to leave right away for some important work with Madhav Sir. I tell her that I spent the money to get something for the poor and she's cool about it. Madhav Sir's black Audi was standing parked near the entrance. Sir opens the door to the back seat for me. As I get in I can see a huge cardboard box that has taken half of the seat. There's another huge box in the seat beside the driver's seat. An old man in a security uniform is in the driver's seat.

"You'll have to squeeze in a bit. Will you be fine with that?" he looks into the car to make some more space. I nod and he gets inside the car closing the door. There's no room between us and half an hour after travelling down the highway, I try to move as I feel his elbow only a millimeter away from unintentionally brushing against my waist.

I make a quick jerk away from him and he looks at me, I give a Cheshire Cat's smile to him. He moves his arm and stretches it across the top of the seat. How did he understand I wasn't feeling comfortable with where his arm was?

He looks at me. "You look beautiful in this sari, Ms. Prasad." I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear and I can't help blushing.

"I thought I looked like the daughter of Hagrid and a Death Eater in this sari." I turn to look at him. His eyes are brimming with life and his lips are curved upwards and- Oh My Mata! He's smiling! What captivates me the most is his eyes, I look in deeper until I see myself in the reflection of his eyes.

Another look deeper and I realize he was saying the truth. I remained still, looking at my reflection, and I failed to notice how close we were, how our breaths mingled together, his gnarled and rough knuckles brushing against my soft jaw as he tucked the stray strands of my hair behind my ear. "It surprises me that you don't know you're beautiful, Ms. Prasad."

I smile.

* * * * *

It takes an hour more to reach the Rainbow Valley Orphanage. The orphanage was a huge brick building, standing amidst a garden and a play area bigger than the main building itself. The old broken windows were open towards the garden, surrounded by tall hedges and taller trees. The white cobbled paths, narrow like a sword's blade guided its way towards the entrance of the main building. Two employees at the orphanage offered to carry the big card board boxes inside the main building, as Madhav Sir and I get off the car. He takes me to the Head Mistress's room and introduces me to her, and after exchanging pleasantries and Madhav sir's hearty donation of five hundred thousand rupees, we are ushered into the bright and spacious foyer of the orphanage.

As we enter we are greeted by one hundred odd little children, each of them holding a gift parcel wrapped in bright blue. A little girl wearing a red skirt and a white tee shirt comes running towards Madhav sir holding her parcel. She's around six years old, with a wheat complexion and shining black hair pulled to pigtails on either sides of her head.

He kneels down, and she wraps her little arms around Madhav sir and places a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Did little Maya love what I packed for you?"

"I love it! I love it! I love it!" she shrieks happily jumping up and down. "Thank you so much! You didn't forget the crayons and the colouring book I asked you last year!"

"How could I forget? And yes we're going to watch Mister Popper's Penguins after Lunch." Madhav sir says in a sweet tone. "Also, there's one more surprise left"

"What is it? What is it?" Maya asks curiously.

"If I tell you it won't be remain a surprise." he says as he tweaks her chubby cheeks, he turns and points at me. "This beautiful lady has made arrangements for that surprise"

Me? I toss a confused look to him and he gestures me to nod, and I nod. Maya's face lights up even more, and she turns to Madhav Sir again. "Who is this lady?"

"Since you're so smart why don't you guess?" Madhav sir teasingly asks.

Maya thinks out loud "She can't be your wife because you promised to make me the Flower Girl for your wedding. And I never remember attending your wedding ceremony. She can't be your daughter because you aren't married and she looks only a few years younger to you. She is definitely not your younger sister because I know you have a younger brother only. If she was your cousin then I'd know by now. She can be your old classmate or a new friend"

This child is super smart for her age! I feel like looking at a miniature female version of Sherlock Holmes. I walk towards her. "I'm his friend"

Madhav sir looks at me, and for a change I give him a nod.

* * * * *

It's almost 4 30pm and we are heading back home in sir's car, and I'm glad there's ample amounts of space, now that we don't have those humongous card board boxes with us. We are seated in the backseat, very much comfortably and far from each other. He is looking into his phone and from the somber and furrowed face he has it's clear that he is involved in a very serious text conversation.

We watched a movie about a man and six penguins, with the children. Madhav Sir had also arranged for lunch for all the children from some reputed caterers. I thought he organised everything in the company's but it wasn't. He used a greater part of his money for this, said the old man driving the car.

It was an awesome day today and I saw him smile yet again, so many times. Why can't he smile like this on regular days? RK sir, who said Madhav sir hasn't smiled in years should have been here todat. Why doesn't he smile often? It's not going to kill him or effect the prices of our shares at the Share Market!

Also the skinny man from the temple came to the orphanage with a truck load of children's books he purchased with the money that I was supposed to donate in the temple. There were books from the popular fictional series like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, and Famous Five along with Aesop's Fables; Stories by Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton; Illustrated retelling of mythological stories and many fairy tales.

I remember RK sir telling me once that Madhav sir preferred to associate with books than people when he was a kid. Books were his truest friends during his time in boarding school as he didn't have much friends to play with. He would sit under the cool shade of the mango tree during every evening and read the books his sister would send for him from home. His favorite book was the torn and tattered copy of The Order of the Phoenix. I've seen the book in one of his office drawers a few days ago. The book was indeed torn and tattered, with the spine of the book crushed and the pages coming loose of the binding. The pages were crumpled and flaky towards the edges. However it didn't look as if it got worn out. It looked as if someone, or Madhav Sir himself, purposefully or unintentionally damaged the book. Who on earth would do such a thing to such a good book!

* * * * *

An hour and half later we arrive at my apartment in Chembur. Madhav sir holds my hand as we cross the street and he comes all the way up to the fourth floor where I live.

"I can go from here." I say smiling as I ring the bell as I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Won't you call me in for a cup of tea?" he asks as he looks at me. He hasn't let go of my hand. "If not at least for a glass of water?"

Devi opens the door and as she looks at Madhav Sir. Her eyes immediately dart towards me. "Uhm- Sir, this is my sister Devi, and Devi, this is my boss, Madhav Sir." I usher him inside and he follows me. Devi offers him a seat on the big couch. I walk into the kitchen to fetch Amma. After managing to pull Amma from the kitchen and into the living room. "Sir, this is Amma, Amma this is Madhav Sir, my boss"

He stands up and greets her. "I also happen to be the same man who splashed mud on your sari, and I am so sorry. I hope Shree told you about it."

No. Amma is surprised at his honesty.

"It's okay!" Amma waves it off casually. "A drop of lemon juice and baking soda took off all the stains. Don't feel bad, the stain is gone and that sari is as good as new."

But Sir's car has a hideous dent at the rear end that'll never go away. I try not to look at him, and I have a strong feeling he's looking at me.

"Would you like to stay back for dinner?" Amma offers.

"Not today Mrs. Prasad" he says. "I should be going. Can I use the restroom though?"

I guide him towards the one in my bedroom, because that's the only bathroom in a good condition.

"I'd like to talk to you about this tomorrow morning in my office." Madhav Sir tells me in a husky whisper that reminds me of Christian Grey.

My bedroom is a mess. The bed sheets are crushed and wrinkled, the pillows and the blankets are strewn around the room. There are newspapers, magazines, mock exam papers on Criminal Law and Garfield Comic Books lying across the floor. Plus, it was yesterday night her glass jar filled with marbles fell down, sending the marbles across the room, and into the mess.

My eyes quickly fall on my pile of the freshly laundered bright coloured bras and panties lying on the bed. Holy Cow! I quickly take them from the bed and toss it under the bed, in one swift move. I hope he hasn't noticed them. "I'm sorry about the mess. It was supposed to be cleaned this morning" Madhav Sir is looking at the doodles by me and Devi that's glued to the wall.

"It's alright." Madhav sir says as he inspects the medals and trophies won by me and Devi during our schooling days. "My brother Shyam's room is even messier. You can find last week's food underneath the bed. Are those Coke Cans?"

He asks pointing at the wind chime I've made of Coke Cans that's hanging through the bar of the four-poster bed. I nod.

He walks to them quickly and as he sets his next foot forward he slips on a few of Devi's marbles and falls. Right above me, on my bed. 

I'm panting heavily as I realize there's no gap between us. We are so close I can smell the cologne he is wearing.

Gazing up at him and I find our lips are so close and he has a firm hold on my shoulders. His eyes are on me, and I get this goosebumps feel as if his eyes have started to drill through my eyes and touch the core of my soul.

Out of nowhere I hear my heartbeat, and it's not the typical lub-dub, it's an erratically uneven beat. Take your eyes off me!

I look away instead and not far from us is a black bra of mine. I can literally see a smirk on that devilish little piece of lingerie. You were supposed to be under the bed! Or perhaps I forgot to shove under the bed along with your comrades. I don't want Madhav Sir to see this, and if I extend my hand to grab it, he'll notice it.

I wrap my arms around his waist and quickly turn. I'm above him and he's underneath, and before he can register anything I grab the black bra on my bed and toss it to the farthest corner of the room. I turn to him as he opens his eyes and my untied hair falls infront like a black curtain that covers his face too.

Madhav Sir looks at me with the same expressionless eyes as he extends a firm hand forward to move my hair to a side. I feel his hands caress my cheeks and I feel my cheeks burn and his heart beat the same erratically uneven beat through almost three layers of clothing. I quickly get off the bed, and start to adjust the pleats and the fall of my sari.

He gets off the bed too and I can't read the expression on his face. It's too complicated. I can see a little bit of surprise, shock, ecstasy and nervousness.

"I-I-I-I'm sorry about wha-wha-what happened sir." I'm stammering. "The bathroom is there!" I point at the door near the window and run outside.

    -M A D H A V   R A M A K R I S H N A-    

It's wonderful to sit on the benches of the beach at midnight. My phone vibrates. Along with 59 missed calls from Mr. RK, there are 43 text messages from Shyam inquiring of my whereabouts and why I haven't showed up at the dinner party Mr. RK has hosted for me. I ignore them all, along with another incoming call from Mr. RK. Surely he would have invited at least two dozen business associates he knows, who would be waiting for me at the party. Also Mr. RK must have been tensed when I sent the car and the driver back home along with the refusal to come home to spend the rest of the few hours left of my birthday.

I don't give a fuck about it. Instead I decide to focus on the fourth cigarette I am smoking. The smoke that's above my head now takes her form. Ms. Prasad's form. My phone vibrates again and it's another call from Mr. RK. My eyes don't leave her. I take my phone to my hand and throw it far from reach. She's swaying to the cool breeze of the beach as she tucks a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, smiling that smile that puts all the Celestial Beauties to shame. I watch her sway to the cool breeze, and suddenly she starts to dissolve.

"No! Don't go!" I'm yelling. And all the smoke suddenly gathers again. A new form appears this time.

Another woman's face. That face I dared not to see again in my life. "Just get the freaking hell out of my life! You and I are over, Maddy!" I crush the cigarette in my palm and throw it towards her. The smoke disappears with a cool breeze but I can still hear her "You and I are over, Maddy!"

To be continued

Glossary
Amma- Mother
Bhamma- Grandmother
Oh my Mata- A term equivalent to Oh my God