“Remind me to buy cashewnuts and Kokam on our way back,” Sonia remarked, as she spotted a store selling the same items. “Excuse me!”
Sonia called out in Marathi to a lady clad in a green nine- yard sari and flowers adorning sleek oiled hair in a bun. The lady stopped at once.
“Could you tell me the way to the Naik bungalow?”
Others immediately joined the woman to answer Sonia’s question. Everyone seemed to know the Naik bungalow.
“Take the tar road straight down and turn off at the muddy track to the beach and walk the remaining distance,” a man in a white kurta pyjama pointed out the route. Sonia thanked the knot of curious people and Jatin immediately set the vehicle rolling. Sonia watched the houses surrounded and shaded by Coconut and Kokam trees, with their spacious angan - courtyards. Morning activities seemed to keep the locals busy. Smoke swirled through the chool on which huge containers boiled water for bathing. Wooden logs were piled high against the walls of the houses. It was the access to the houses which Sonia found fascinating. Belonging to the era of the Peshwas, a small water canal led to each house, and wooden bridges, like weighbridges, hung over the canals.
“So far, it’s a lovely, rustic place for a honeymoon,” Jatin reflected, and Sonia hid a smile. Jatin would be pretty occupied gazing at things through honeymoon dipped eyes.
The van turned off at a wet muddy track and trundled right up to the beach. Jatin parked the vehicle beside a clump of pine trees. A signboard on one tree read
PROTECT SEA TURTLES. IT IS A CRIME TO KILL SEA TURTLES OR STEAL THEIR EGGS.
PROSPERING SEA TURTLES MEAN A PROSPERING SEA!
The message was issued by the Forest Department of Ratnagiri.
Jatin expelled a low, appreciative whistle as his eyes travelled along the pristine beach. A boat filled with people was making its way slowly across the two shores. The boatman, in a red T-shirt and a knee-high white lungi, manoeuvred the boat with long poles.
In the distance, a little away from the beach, within a clump of coconut and pine trees, stood a tall, magnificent bungalow.
“That’s the place,” Sonia indicated, as they made their way past two high sand-dunes, wet with fresh rain.
A wooden bridge was a little more than a group of logs tied unevenly together to form a platform and another raised log for support. Jatin eyed the bridge suspiciously, shamelessly awaiting Sonia to attempt the first step.
“Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe!” a voice rang out, and they both looked up to see a tall, slim woman in jeans and a black top. “Just hold the top of the bridge for support and don’t look down.”
“Easier said than done,” Jatin muttered but followed his Boss, who nimbly stepped onto the bridge. He avoided looking down at the logs, which had gaping gaps in them, revealing the sea lapping six feet down.
He heaved a sigh when he reached safe, stable land again.
“Hello! I’m Sheetal Naik,” the woman greeted, smiling pleasantly. “Sonia Samarth?”
“That’s right. And this is Jatin. And this must be Tina,” Sonia observed as the shy kid, in a multicoloured knitted skirt and top, hung behind Sheetal. “Hello, Tina!”
“Pankaj is waiting for you. Come along this way.”
“ This is a beautiful place” Sonia spoke by way of conversation as they followed Sheetal towards the house.
“Yes, isn’t it? I loved it the moment I set my eyes on it. The house is beautiful, too. Little did I know that I would one day be living here. Pankaj really cares for his land. I think that’s what’s best about him. What he loves, he loves with his whole heart and soul!” An unconscious pride had crept into her voice.
“Have you been married long?”
“No, actually just a week. It all happened very suddenly. Id been working here for a few months, looking after little Tina. I think Pankaj may tell you all about his first wife’s tragic accident. He had advertised for someone to fill a post of Governess and since I was on the lookout for a job, I thought why not try this out. It’s quite another story that I fell in love with Tina. She’s an adorable child!”
“And in love with the father of the child,” Sonia supplied softly.
Sheetal blushed. “Yes, that came as a surprise. More so because everything happened so quickly. I guess love does strike like lightning.”
They had arrived at the house. Sheetal led them through the garden, up the steps to the spacious porch, and through the wooden doors into a wide hall. Immediately, a tall man in a white shirt and black trousers appeared to meet them.
“Welcome to Kelshi.” Pankaj Naik smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. He had the brown good looks of a man who spent most of his life outdoors - a figure in perfect form, packed with energy. “I’m so glad that you could make it. Should we go straight to my study?”
“I’ll get us some hot tea.” Sheetal moved out of the hall and little Tina followed her.
Pankaj led Sonia and Jatin into another room on the ground floor. The windows overlooked the beach and the sea, giving the room a wonderful feel.
“Your house is beautiful,” Sonia commented, moving to a display of five old statues in a wood-andglass showcase.
“Thank you,” Pankaj replied.
“Are these the antiques you were talking about?”
“Yes. I had about seven of these statues from the epic Ramayana. My grandfather bought them years ago and they are family heirlooms. About five months ago, I discovered that one of the statues
