‘Was that just twenty? I thought we walked for ages.’
‘The wait always seems longer.’
‘You can keep your philosophical quotes for later. Let’s have a look at this place now. It’s so bright! So airy!’
‘Wah! I’m happy you’re finally paying attention to the natural elements. Congratulations! I thought you’d get down on your knees and start measuring the exact dimensions of the rooms.’
‘We should, in fact. We have to pay a lot of money each month. Don’t you measure cloth before buying it in a shop?’
‘I know. I also know the amount of time I had to stand there while you bargained for an extra two and a half.’
‘Stop it now! I can see the builder coming.’
‘Kalpana, get up. I’ve made tea.’
‘What is this?’
‘Why, what happened?’
‘I’ve told you so many times, haven’t I?’
‘What?’
‘To wake me up the moment you do.’
‘Why should I?’
‘Don’t I have to do my morning chores?’
‘Oh, that’s not a good enough reason. I can’t wake you up for such trivial things.’
‘Why?’
‘There’s a difference between waking up and being woken up, isn’t there?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Kalpana, don’t get upset so early in the morning. I didn’t mean to irritate you. Getting up on one’s own is a natural process, but waking someone up is a forcible one. You know I love natural things. I got up today as I normally do on most days.’
‘But we slept pretty late last night, didn’t we?’
‘Glad that you reminded me. It was fun. I love the way sleep overtook me later!’
‘Now don’t tease me.’
‘Oh, so it seems I was the only one who enjoyed it, eh?’
‘I’m going to kill you…’
‘This is what I want! This happiness, this joy, this gentle flirting.’
‘Promise me something.’
‘What?’
‘That you’ll wake me up early tomorrow.’
‘I can’t.’
‘I knew you’d be adamant. You know I can’t get up on my own. Otherwise I wouldn’t have asked you.’
‘I am being adamant. I don’t expect you to get up when I do. I can’t sleep beyond five, you know that!’
‘But why?’
‘…’
‘Anyway, don’t tell me if you don’t want to.’
‘It’s not that.’
‘Then tell me.’
‘I had told you once.’
‘When?’
‘On Chowpatty beach, remember? I’d spent my entire life “adjusting” before I found love, beauty, satisfaction and unfettered happiness. My entire life was measured in these adjustments I made. It was when Dada* got married. You know the size of our house in Dadar … Aai, Baba, Dada, me. And Dada’s newly wedded wife! The basic question was, who should sleep where? Dada and Vahini decided to sleep in the kitchen. The others had to find their own place. I was left with nowhere to sleep. Every evening at ten, I’d go to my friend’s house in Parel and sleep there. I would return home at seven.’
‘But why so early?’
‘It was my job to get milk from the booth. Dada is very short-tempered. You’ve seen the way he reprimands Mother in the presence of others. He won’t think twice before calling anyone a bastard – even her! He’d decided that he wouldn’t get the milk under any circumstance. So the task obviously fell to me.’
‘What about your vahini?’
‘Vahini was nice, friendly and sweet before she became a vahini. It didn’t take long for her to notice how her husband was treating his own mother. She’d stay in bed until seven or even later.’
‘Didn’t anyone try to reason with them?’
‘Reason with Dada? Are you mad? He couldn’t care less. I had to stay at my friend’s place in Parel even when I had fever.’
‘Isn’t that ridiculous?’
‘He didn’t want to spoil his nights – which my presence would have. I got used to getting up at five sharp, even if I slept at four in the morning. It’s a habit I’ve developed over eight years.’
‘Shouldn’t you give yourself some rest now?’
‘The mind needs rest as much as the body does. I can’t rest. And there’s no need to. Earlier, I used to get up reluctantly and travel from Parel to Dadar. Now I’m in my own house. I know how enjoyable sleeping through the early morning is. I want you to experience it. I was forced to give it up for Dada and Vahini. But I feel you should get to enjoy it.’
‘But…’
‘Don’t feel embarrassed. It’s a matter of convenience. You have to leave home at eight-thirty. I leave much later, at ten. And I can come back whenever I feel like it … Anyway, let it be. The tea is getting cold. Come on, now.’
‘Did you take a good look at the kitchen this morning?’
‘Why?’
‘The kitchen slab is looking so clean. It looks like our maid has done a good job.’
‘…’
‘Why are you laughing?’
‘I cleaned the slab.’
‘Why?’
‘For a lark!’
‘Why do you do all this? You just want to embarrass me.’
‘Kalpana, are you sure this embarrasses you?’
‘…’
‘I won’t scold you, but don’t make such stupid accusations. It’s possible you don’t know all my traits. I don’t expect it either. You may not want to know the reason behind some of my actions, or may not try to. But don’t jump to conclusions.’
‘Oh god! Shekhar, you are burning up with fever.’
‘Yes.’
‘How long has it been?’
‘Since this morning, I suspect.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me, then?’
‘I didn’t want to.’
‘But why?’
‘You won’t like it.’
‘I won’t mind. Why are you staring at me?’
‘Kalpana… Let it be.’
‘No. You have to tell me.’
‘Kalpana, the moment I entered the shop, my Parsi salesman asked me if I was not feeling well.’
‘So what’s surprising about that?’
‘That’s precisely why I didn’t tell you. He was able to guess at a glance. Without being told. You’re my wife. Why should I have to tell you? You should have guessed when I touched you this morning.’
‘Isn’t it possible that I might have missed it? The moment I get up, the only thing that occupies my mind is office work.’
‘It happens.’
‘You can say what you want to.’
‘I will. But then don’t accuse me of quoting Vedanta.’
‘I’ve been slogging away for nine hours. Tell me if you want to. Don’t get angry and make snide remarks.’
‘I’m not angry. And
