“I’m serious, Boss, I need advice.” Jatin spoke gravely.
“What’s up?” Sonia asked, instantly concerned.
“It’s Naina. She’s a wonderful girl. Sweet-natured and intelligent. But she has a sister, Priya, who is a nightmare!”
Jatin briefly narrated the previous night’s episode. The horror of his girl-friend’s asthma attack still made the goose pimples rise on his arm.
“Sounds like she’s one stressed-out sister what with no maid and a pile of housework to dig through. Maybe there’s some sense in her argument,” Sonia suggested.
“Perhaps. But it’s the manner in which she speaks. Harsh words, uncaring and insensitive. As if she doesn’t give a damn about her sister. And it brings on Naina’s asthma attacks. That’s not a good thing to happen”
“I agree with you. Did you say that their parents died early?”
“Naina barely remembers them. They died in a plane crash when she was only seven. Priya, who is almost eight years older, raised her on her own. They are very rich, I believe, and they have a huge house on Mumbai-Pune highway. But it’s a dilapidated structure now. Priya has done nothing to maintain it. Naina keeps telling her to do some repairs, but she has a tight hold over the family income, which is all tied up in trusts. She has a tight hold over Naina, too. In fact, Naina is positively terrified of her and I don’t like it at all!”
“With such a big age gap, I wouldn’t be surprised if Priya treated her younger sister more like a daughter. Isn’t she married?”
“No. And I don’t think that she ever will marry.” Jatin spoke in dismay.
“But Naina will,” Sonia pointed out.
“If she is allowed to,” he retorted glumly.
“Come on! Priya is not Naina’s enemy. She wouldn’t want her sister to remain a spinster like her.”
“I hope not.”
“Cheer up, Jatin. Those two do get along, don’t they? I mean, have you not seen them on friendly terms at all?”
Jatin nodded, a little reluctantly. “But I don’t trust Priya. I just have this gut instinct about her. She’s like a volcano ready to erupt. And I hate the fact that Naina has to put up with her temper tantrums. Especially since they make Naina so ill.”
Jatin began pacing the floor. Nidhi peered at him from Sonia’s lap, then, disinterested, resumed her beauty nap.
“You’re really worried, aren’t you?”
“Boss, you should’ve seen what I saw yesterday. It was frightening. It was a good thing that chemist was open. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened otherwise.”
“She’s taking treatment for her asthma, I hope.”
Jatin nodded.
“Tell me something, Jatin, does Priya approve of you?”
“I guess so. I mean, she hasn’t really objected to my dropping over, and generally she’s quite polite. But the two of them argue a lot and I don’t think it’s healthy. In fact, it is downright risky for Naina, if last night was anything to go by. What do I do, Boss?” He stopped pacing, dismay and frustration stamped on his face.
“I don’t think there’s much you can do about it, Jatin. You cannot protect Naina twenty-four hours a day and, anyway, she wouldn’t want you to.”
“Boss, can’t you go over their horoscopes and tell me if this situation will persist? I mean, you can forecast if the two sisters will get along, can’t you? And predict when Naina will get married. ” He blushed.
“Oh-oh.” Sonia smiled, amused. “Now I can see where you’re going.”
Jatin shrugged, abashed, tongue-tied for the first time in his life.
In a more grave tone, Sonia asked, “You seem very serious about her, Jatin. Are you serious enough to consider marriage?” “Not right away, of course. I need more time, but ultimately, yes."
Sonia studied her young Assistant, looking so boyish and eager. And yet she could see the growing maturity in him.
“Get their horoscopes. I’ll see what I can read in them. But be prepared to hear the worst along with the good!”
“Thank you, Boss!” Jatin almost jumped in joy. “And now I’m going to serve you hot chai!”
He sailed out of the room, whistling merrily, and Sonia smiled. Love certainly did change people.
“I really do have to apologise for my behaviour the other night.” Priya spoke with genuine guilt in her voice.
Jatin sat opposite her in the minimally furnished hall. The paint was peeling and cobwebs hung from the high ceiling. The dark corners of the house seemed to echo the neglect it had suffered over the years.
“You don’t need to apologise,” he replied, feeling embarrassed.
“Oh sure, I do. I had no right to accuse you and Naina ofbeing selfish and irresponsible. I’ve already apologised to my sister” Jatin glanced at Naina, who smiled reassuringly at him. She looked dainty in an ice-cream pink Salwar Kameez, with faint rosy cheeks and lips and beautiful dark eyes.
“You were partly right, didi,” Naina told her sister. “I should’ve informed you that I had been invited to Jatins Boss’s house for Ganapati.”
“No, you have every right to go wherever you please. I was just a trifle overwrought with worry and work” Priya passed her sister a fond smile.
Watching the exchange, Jatin felt a wave of relief wash over him. Things were finally being sorted out between the sisters!
“Here, take this!” Priya thrust a white envelope into his hands.
“What is it?”
“Buy yourself a Ganapati festival gift. It’s just a small amount.”
“Oh no!” Jatin exclaimed. “I can’t accept money from you!”
“Why not? You’re Naina’s good friend, aren’t you? I would’ve bought you a gift myself, but I didn’t know your choice, so I thought it better to give you the money. That way you can buy whatever you want. You have to accept the present, because if you don’t, I shall feel that you haven’t forgiven me for my rude behaviour.”
Jatin looked at Naina helplessly.
“Take it,” she suggested,
