On an Evening in Roma

Prediction

The phone in his office rang when he was in the middle of a meeting with the Burmese delegates. He excused himself thinking it could be something important but the first line out of the callers mouth was enough for him to know that it wasn't anything important...

"Mr. Roy Choudhary app bishwas nahi karenge  maine kaal kya dekha."

Anirudh sighed.

He was in the middle of a meeting...and Durga's voice clearly said whatever she has to say, it was nothing serious... it's most likely something new that she has learned about Italy or something she saw for the first time...she has done this same thing four time's in the last two weeks. It was like she gets a belly ache until she shares them with him.

He was really busy he did not have time for this right now...but he didn't wanted to kill her excitement either. He can practically see her wide eyes twinkling with excitement.

So he excused himself and told Mr Iyer to serve some snacks to their clients. The meeting was running for over an hour anyway.

Besides talking to Durga was the best method of stress relief he had found so far.

When their clients were taken to the meeting room Anirudh asked on phone, "Esa phirse kya dekh liya  tumne  Durga jo mujhe India phone kerke bata rahi ho, phir se."

She must have been eager to share her thoughts that's why she ignored his jabs and quickly delved into her story.

"Woh jab me kaal university se office ja rahi thi maine raste me dekha ke bohot sare...aur bohot matlab bohoooot sare, chote chote kale kale cheez asman ko kale saye me dhakke urr rahe he...aur me na itni daar gayi thi apko me kya kahu...lekin apko pata he meri aas pass ke log bilkul nahi daar rahe the...toh maine unn sabse pucha, phirrr jake pata chala ke woh-"

"Panchi he?" He provided.

"Haww...apko pata tha?" The excitement in her voice died down...he can see her pouting in his minds eye.

"Haan...usko murmuration of starlings kahte he...in fact Rome me kafi common cheez he woh."

"Oh!" She said, the disappointment was quite obvious in her voice, "Apne lunch kia he?"

"Haa kia he."

"Accha thik he toh phir me-" whatever she was going to say was cut short by a loud crashing sound on the background.

"Kya hua?" He asked worriedly.

"Ek minute Mr. Roy Choudhary!" Durga excused herself and started shouting at someone...or someone's

"Vijay uss frames ko samhal ke saaf kero, ager ek bhi frame tuta toh Batuk tumhe jaan se maar dega."

"Francesca, the flower arrangements are not right dear...one lily, three daisies and seven sticks of Forget-me-nots, got it?"

"Signora Jacopo, per favore continua a mescolare il latte, non dovrebbe attaccarsi alla padella.(Mrs. Jacopo, please keep stirring the milk, it shouldn't stick to the pan.)

As she commanded different people in different languages Anirudh's eyes narrowed, Signora Jacopo was the cleaning lady of Batuk's apartment...and Vijay was Batuk's best friend...is she in Batuk's apartment?

When Durga spoke on the phone again the first thing left his mouth was,

"Durga tum kaha se baat ker rahi ho?"

"Batuk ke ghar se."

"Aur tum waha ker kya rahi ho?"

"Bhul gaye aap? Kaal subha puja he yaha...taiyari ker rahi hu...kaam kerte kerte thak gayi thi toh socha chalo apse thora baat ker leti hu."