Serendipity

35

Anuj was absently twirling his magnets between his fingers.

"It's time for a vote. All in favour of the proposal?"

Five out of the six gentlemen sitting around the table raised their hands to vote in favour of the proposal.

"Mr Kapadia, I assume, you're in favour of the proposal."

Anuj hmmmed, his thoughts laying elsewhere.

The past week, Anuj Kapadia was in Mumbai, attending a global conference for Climate Change. Many big businesses were pledging funds and resources to fight doom and the AK Group was leading the initiative. Two years back, Anuj had had the opportunity to meet with TV Broadcaster David Attenborough and discuss the devastating effects of Climate Change and its implications for generations forward. Convinced of the urgency of the task at hand, Anuj had created a consortium of global business leaders to tackle this at grassroots levels.

"Mr Kapadia," the Chairperson of the forum, nudged him again. We're waiting on your vote."

He stared into blank space for a few moments before excusing himself. "Please send the motion abstracts to my inbox. I'll read through them and we can then vote on these tomorrow."

In such small committees, every vote was crucial. And by abstaining to vote today, Anuj Kapadia had just wasted the time of six extremely influential global leaders.

*****

Anupama and GK were out on a walk. Dinner had been a quiet affair; the absence of Anuj evident in the absence of fun and laughter. He'd been away for three days now, and he wasn't scheduled to return before the end of the week.

Anupama missed him terribly. She craved his company. She worried for his safety. Each time the phone rang, she hoped it would be him. Each time it wasn't, she felt a pang of disappointment. She was surprised at her teenager-ish behaviour. And even then. She smiled. She couldn't help herself.

The days were easier. She spent them at school - teaching. The evenings were the worst. Anuj had left last Sunday and wasn't due back until Monday evening. She dreaded the coming weekend and the increasing anxiety she felt each day she spent without him.

Somehow she'd never felt any of these emotions for Vanraj. He was away for weeks together and all Anupama felt during that time was a sense of relief that there would be no screaming, no shouting, no finger-pointing. She'd prayed for Vanraj's promotions so his travelling would increase. Of course, it was that very same travelling that brought him closer to Kavya. She shook her head to break her reverie. That chapter was now closed.

As she walked around the neighbourhood aimlessly kicking small pebbles around, her mind weaving myriad thoughts and fantasies. What would life have been like if she'd been married to Anuj instead of Vanraj? She imagined herself as Mrs Anuj Kapadia, taking care of him and the house, offering prayers for his continued well-being and success, a house filled with children who called GK Dada, and she smiled.

GK who was quietly observing the emotions flitting across her face smiled.

"What are you thinking about?"

She shook her head. She couldn't admit in front of GK all that she had been fantasizing in her head. It would seem silly. And what if GK misunderstood her?

He smiled at her coyness. "You're missing Anuj. Why don't you say so?"

She blushed and GK laughed. Coming closer to her, he said, "You know the other day, when I insisted that Anuj and you marry forever, I was serious."

"I know Kaka, but I don't know what's in his heart. I don't know why he's stayed single all these years."

"He stayed single because he never found someone who truly loved him for who he was."

"But he's so easy to love."

"Says you. But you have no idea who he truly is. You have no idea about his vast wealth, empire, power and influence. And you're yet to meet Anuj Kapadia - the businessman. I would be surprised if that didn't scare you."

"Oh Kaka, but I have, when he told my landlord and Mr Shah off......"

"Yes but all those times, his anger was not directed at you. It's never going to always be like that. When two people stay together long enough, they're bound to disagree. And when that happens, you should be able to deal with the aftermath."

She remembered their time in the car, after the press conference. Anuj was angry. But even in his anger, he hadn't crossed his limits. She told GK about that. And he chuckled.

"He is truly Anand and Gayatri's son. Gayatri would've smacked his backside if he'd misbehaved with a woman."

"Kaka, you seem so fond of Anuj Ji's parents. Why don't you tell me more about them?"

"Get used to calling them Ma and Papa."

"Ma and Papa," she muttered. She liked the sound of that on her lips. From now on, at least in front of GK, she would call them that.

*****

As he climbed aboard his chopper ready to fly from the roof of the Taj Wellington Mews in South Mumbai, Anuj felt his jacket's breast pocket for the umpteenth time. Nestled close to his heart were a pair of unique meenakari anklets depicting a wedding baraat. Just like a charm bracelet, each of the anklets had different figurines strung together. One the centre of one was a groom with a garland in his hand and around the groom, horses, elephants, umbrellas, torchbearers. The other one had a bride dressed in her bridal outfit, her head lowered for the garland to be placed around her neck. The bride was surrounded by a palanquin, trees, swings and dancers. He'd found them at a small curio shop in Colaba and had promptly had them customized by adding tiny pearls and bells all along the bottom to give them a surreal feel.

He smiled as he imagined placing them on Anupama's feet. They would look gorgeous. He often wondered why she stopped dancing. But every time he felt the urge to ask, he stopped himself. Asking would mean admitting that he remembered her from their college days. And that admission would lead to a lot more questions, ones he wasn't prepared to answer - yet.

He sighed. He never imagined his life would get so complicated. It needn't have. He looked at the dial of his Patek Philippe watch. He would be home in an hour.

He'd worry about everything else once he got home.