• Second Chances •

20. Of Lunches And Gifts

"This, this, this, this and this..." Brinda handed the clothes to the attendant and instructed, "Pack it. Keep it aside, I will collect it in half an hour." 

Then she smiled. "Thanks."

Looping her arm with Priya's, Brinda dragged her out of the shop. "Come. Let's have some lunch now. I am so tired." 

Priya had nothing to say. She didn't even remember the last time she had gone shopping. Neither did she ever feel like shopping could be fun. For her, shopping was a task. A dreaded one at that. Priya remembered the constant anxiety of having to peek in her purse, heckle with the shoppers for more discounts and dealing with the chaos of the market. But this, it was different. The mall was spacious, air-conditioned, Brinda was not fighting with anyone and Priya was just walking along with her. It felt good; Priya didn't want to lie. 

"Okay..." Priya nodded much to Brinda's delight. 

Both of them made their way to a hoity-toity restaurant. Priya told herself to not question it, to just go with the flow. She was allowed to not be a slave to her values and principles for one day. Brinda meant well; Priya repeated in her mind like a mantra. She was not going to be angry. 

"Brinda," Priya said while toying with the elaborate menu. "You only order. I don't know what is nice here."

"Alright!" Brinda didn't fight it either. "You won't face this problem with Ram. If he can, he will eat even the restaurant's roof too. You will see his antics on the trip."

It made Priya smile. His love for food was quite something. "Mr. Kapoor really loves to eat. Isn't it?" 

Brinda sighed. "Yeah. It's his coping mechanism. Like mine is shopping. Adi goes quiet. And you cope with anger and detachment."

Priya's smile faded. It was true that she used her anger as a way to protect herself. But part of her anger came from the fact that she could never really detach herself from anything. It came from the fact that she in fact attached herself to people a lot quicker and her actions were never reciprocated.   

Sensing that she crossed a line, Brinda apologized. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have said this."

Priya sighed. "No. Don't be. We are friends. And it's better if you say things on my face than behind my back." 

Brinda grinned. "Atta girl! Thank you and I am so glad that you consider me a friend." 

She pushed her hair back and said, "You see, Ram is like the brother I never had. I want to pamper and love his wife too."

She took the liberty to hold Priya's hand and give it a squeeze. "But don't think that I am doing this because you are going to be his wife. I would do it for you too. You are so nice."

"Thank you..." mumbled Priya, visibly embarrassed. She still couldn't get used to such open displays of affection. She had to change the topic to something that didn't have her in the spotlight. 

A thought crossed her mind. Clearing her throat, she asked, "Brinda, why were you calling Mr. Kapoor so much that night?" 

"When?" Brinda knitted her brows in thought. 

"The night before he left for Delhi?" questioned Priya.  

"Delhi? Oh yeah! That..." Brinda moved her head as understanding dawned on her. "Adi had told me that Ram's BP had fluctuated dangerously that afternoon. He was experiencing severe chest pain and headache. That's why I was worried."

Priya sat up straight on hearing that. Ram didn't look like the kind who could have such a thing. If one overlooked his crazy, pill-popping habit, he seemed healthy. But then again, looks could be deceptive. Who knew what happened behind closed doors?