When I'm With You

Chapter 18

     "I took it first," Tiny said aloud.
When Mrs. Masson got a call that the catering van had arrived, she left us with the task of lighting the candlesticks.

"I won't" I said in cold tone,holding up the lighter so she could not snatch it.
"You 're a CHEATER -- LIAR -- ARROGANT---"
" ---YES YES YES. I'M A CHEATER, LIAR, ARROGANT. EVERYTHING."

She tried to snatch the lighter from my hand. Tried to jump, but she's afraid to jump because of her high heels. Size of a squirrel but shouting like a Godzilla.

"I will not give up no matter what you say"
"You tall Amitabh Bachchan, that's mine"
She moaned as she tried to lower my hand.
"Go to the kitchen and get the matchbox."
"No---I Can't--- and Never"
This time she applied a little more force on me. Leaned over me.
I went out of balance, but somehow I didn't fall. Infact, I can understand her 5 Kg Lehenga's weight separately.

The sequence of her lehenga pressed on my wrist. Its pinpoint-like part sank inwards.

Thud

We fell on the new soft carpet that Mrs. Masson laid on the floor. But still, we are On the ego that I will not give, and On the ego that she will not give up.

Oh my Jesus. Now I clearly understand the weight of her and her dress. How these women wear dresses with such weight.
Taking this opportunity, she reached for the lighter.

I held the lighter tightly. She can't get my hand to open with her soft little finger, sorry, very little finger as compared to mine.
Suddenly I felt a tingling sensation in my wrist.

"What the hell you are doing?" I screamed out loudly.
"Shut up" she yelled in a low voice.

She almost got the lighter.

"What are you doing kids?"

Who's that?

All the noise and commotion in the house stopped.

Mrs. Masson was looking at us as dumbstruck with parted lips.

"Nothing ----we're just" Tiny tried to say something to Mrs. Masson. "For this lighter," I said, holding out the lighter.

I looked at the sweet box in Mrs. Masson's hand.
Mrs. Masson shook her head as if she understood a little.
That's when we understood our current idiotic and stupidest position.

We both quickly jumped up and corrected our dress. Mrs. Masson looked at us from head to toe for a few seconds. Rishma's hair was messed up. My suit, which I had ironed neatly and beautifully was now totally wrinkled.

"Don't mess too much," she said in a show-some-mercy look while entering into the kitchen.

The house was decorated before the guests arrived. Still, our quarrels knew no bounds.

"What's your problem?" Rishma spoke loudly, knowing that Mrs. Masson was at home.
"Is that what I want to ask you?" If she can speak louder, why can't I speak louder?
"You 'll come and get the same thing I did," she complained.
"You 're the one picking up the stuff I'm using" I blamed her.
"Yes? Then why you didn't gave me the lighter THAT I TOOK FIRST ?"

" She gave me that lighter before leaving this house. Then it's mine."
"I gave her that lighter before she giving it to you and that's mine."
"You gave her that lighter to use, and she gave me that same lighter to use--"
"--not to use, say 'to hold' in your hand" she interrupted.

"NOOOWWWW WHAAAATTT?" Mrs. Masson stormed into the living room with totally messed up hair and holding a hair dryer in her hand.
"I was the first to pick up this scissor--"
"‐---- No I took it first" I did not allow her to say.

" No I"
" Me "
" Me "
" Me "
" Mine "she took the scissor from teapoy.
" Mine " I tried to grab that from her.

"Stop it," Mrs. Masson tightly closed her eyes and shouted.

Silence

She slowly let out a sigh and opened eyes.
"Everything in this house is mine."
Mrs. Masson stated aloud.

So with a lot of effort and anger we decorated the house together.
The calling bell began to ring continuously.
Each of the guests came. Familiar with seeing some. Some are in the same quarters but have not been seen.

As usual, like all parties, ladies started their main job of gossip. The mens began to complaint about their work pressure. Some students were discussing topics such as exams, lovers, teachers and friends.
In the meantime I met Matthew Sir. Mrs. Masson's Husband. Mr. Matthew Masson. He is working in an office far away from here. He comes when there are any functions like this.

"We're far away but happy." Mr. Matthew said.
I shook my head with a smile. I understood his feelings from his words.
"Normally Angelina always celebrates her birthday with me. This time she wanted to celebrate in St.Petersburg. Her birthday is one of the few days I get to spend alone with her."

The last words actually stuck deep in my mind.

The long distance relationship is really hard.

Leaning against the door of the room
Rishma called me from. I excused to Mr. Matthew and walked over to her.
By then, Mrs. Masson was standing behind her. They both are worried.

"What's happened?" I asked seriously.
"Mrs. Masson gave me the birthday dress to iron. I forgot to take it and left it in the room."
"What?"
"Actually somedays ago Rishma and I went to the nearby Benaras Tales and bought my birthday dress. In the rush she forgot to pick up the dress she had ironed. Will you go and get it?"

"Why should I ? Rishma forgot, so let her go and get it," I said in a cold tone.
"Chris please ...." Rishma pleaded.
"How can I go on wearing such a heavy dress?" She cleared.
"Didn't you come down wearing this same dress?" I stared hard.
She has no answer to my question. But the answer came from behind her.
From her beloved Mrs. Masson who still supports her.
"Chris please, the guests are coming. This isn't the time to argue"

"Can she go in the elevator?" I folded my hands. And looked straight into Tiny's eyes.
"What if the elevator is damaged and I suffocate to death?" She shouted.
"Then what if I die of suffocation in the elevator?" I yelled along too.
"By the Grace of God there is nothing wrong with that elevator now. Will any of you go and get that thing soon?" Mrs. Masson pleaded by placing her hands on chest.

I'm sure anyway Tiny will not go. I looked at her intently and murmured, "It's all because of you." I stopped to leave and she asked angrily, "Me? You're the one in hurry to come. I forgot it in bed because of you." She blamed me.

"You're the one who bought the dress, Ironed, and forgot, and then you are blaming me?"
"Ohhh please stop blaming each other" Mrs. Masson said in a crying manner.
I went outside without stopping to listen or say anything else.

I went into her room and picked up the dressbox she had put on the bed and I quickly came out.

What's that sound?

Was it the time for her phone to ring?

I cursed her phone in my mind.

I went to my room and picked up her phone which is carelessly placed on the table under some heavy books and I hurriedly attended the call without looking at the name.

"Hello Rishma"

It didn't take me a second to understand Rishma's mother's voice.
"Hiii Aunty" I replied little scared.
When Rishma spoke about me to her on the phone, I realized that they had no interest in hearing about me.

I waited for any reply.....