Shiv hadn't felt lonely after meeting Neelu. The woman was a friend she never had. She had always been shy. She had no friends her entire life. She had grown out of her shyness though, she's an adult, a breadwinner. She had fought hard to grow up. Leaving home was the most difficult decision and she wished she won't have to choose between two things she couldn't live without again.
She was content with her after meeting Neelu. The homesickness that seemed to eat her up hasn't knocked her door again. So, here she was for the 17th night, at Neelu's door. She knocked on the brown door, carved with all sorts of designs that add elegance to simplicity. Neelu's house felt homely. Shiv's only meals, every day are the home cooked dinner Neelu made. She never missed a day to call Shiv for dinner.
Shiv sometimes wondered whether Neelu knew that and wanted her to eat at least something or simply she did not like the idea of eating alone, like Shiv. In the past week, the curiosity of meeting Neelu's son dimmed which was insufferable before. Apparently work does that to a person, kill their curiosity. Shiv was fond of her work. She was like that, she got easily attached to things, people, days, memories. And she knew she was attached to Neelu too. Like she got attached to the people in her office.
Usually Neelu opened the door at the second knock, she always knew when it was her. Maybe it was because nobody usually comes at the same time every night other than her. Finally she heard the lock open,
"You took long Neel–" her words hung at the air. Neelu wasn't in sight. Although the deep buried memories, those heavy emotions and all that was forgotten rushed back to her. She was almost certain her heartbeat could be heard from a distance. All the wires in her brain trying to make sense of the reality, from the past, from the present. It fused her light bulb.
"You are late for–" she heard Neelu's faint voice, somewhere. "Why are you standing there?" Neelu came to stand beside him. "Please forgive his manners Shiv, son are you going to move?" when he didn't even budge, she chuckled nervously, "Looks like you have to bulldoze your way in child. This no-emotion man is my son, Abeer." she pinched his arm, neither his arms moved nor his eyes, which were fixated on Shiv. "Abeer, this is Shiv, our new member and our neighbour."
Neelu gave up on moving her son. She felt rather uncomfortable. She understood he disliked people, but Shiv was different. She finally looked at Shiv and was surprised, "Child, you look like you've seen a ghost." she laughed, "Don't fret over Abeer, pretend he is not here."
"Oh I only hope," Shiv muttered, that didn't reach Neelu's ear.
Finally, Abeer moved out of the way, "You're good at pretending, Shiv." the way he said her name cleared every sort of dream she thought it could be.
Neelu pulled Shiv by the arms and led her down the foyer towards the kitchen. It was an open kitchen, there was a dining area but nobody sat there. Neelu and Shiv always had dinner at the kitchen bar. The beige coloured walls were decorated with antiques. The wall above the mantelpiece deserted of any human touch.
It had been the first uncomfortable dinner she had at Neelu's. It sure won't be the last. Now, the thought of her pile of boxes seemed more comforting then the obvious tension mingling in the room. It was hard not to look at him, it had been years. He had changed. The curls that hid his eyes years ago are cut short. Its hard to tell whether his hair was curly or not, it was the least difficult thing about him.
Now that his knowing eyes weren't covered, it was hard to look at him. Shiv was rather in a dilemma, the urge to look at him mixed with the fear of looking at him.
"The food is not to your liking today Shiv?" Neelu spoke, but it didn't reach Shiv's lost senses. "Shiv!"
Shiv snapped out of her reverie, "Yes, Yes Neelu?"
"You seem a little distracted"
"Me," she showed a little too much surprise. "Not at all."
Even a child could see through her exaggeration.
"So you agree with what I said?"
Shiv glanced at Abeer, he was not looking at them. "Yeah. Absolutely."
This time, he did look at Shiv. Her cheeks heated up at being caught, she swiftly shifted her gaze to the empty dinner table, across the bar.
"So you didn't like the food?" Neelu asked, drawing her attention again.
"FOod?" Shiv wondered. "Oh, no no, it's perfect. You never cook a bad meal, Neelu."
For a long time nobody said anything. Like she had been trying during the whole dinner, Neelu spoke again, piercing through the thick tension, "Is it Abeer?" Shiv's eyes widen at that. "Is he making you uncomfortable?"
The question hung in the air. Shiv wanted nothing but to run out of there. How could see tell Neelu, when she wasn't herself sure he would agree with her.
She opened her mouth and closed it again. Did they agreed to hide it? Would he be mad if she tells Neelu the truth,
"Okay, if none of you are admitting anything," Neelu spoke again, "I think you're just shy and please don't mind Abeer, he doesn't like small talk or to talk either way." her efforts to engage them in a conversation seemed to tire her out. "But," she made sure they both were listening, "if you don't have a point to begun at, you must know that you both have a lot in common. You both stay at work more than at home, you both prefer your work then meeting people, you both think about work more then anything, and the best you both share the same neighbourhood–"
"And we went to the same university,"
"and you both went to the same uni– wait!" Neelu and Shiv both were looking at Abeer wide eyed. "You should have said that before you dufus. Was this the reason about all the tension here." she shook her head and went on about how this generation lacks common sense and manners.
"Mom," Abeer said, interrupting her. "We're are not friends. I'm heading to my room. Goodnight."
"Wait, Abeer." Neelu turned to look at Shiv, "Shiv let Abeer see you out, its late, you shouldn't go home alone."
Shiv gaped at Neelu,"its just across the road Neelu. I walk there everyday alone."
Neelu smiled innocently, "but he's here today. And it only makes sense". Abeer didn't need much convincing, although he didn't hide his impatience as he walked ahead towards the foyer. Shiv shook her head at Neelu and followed Abeer,
"You don't have to," Shiv said, trying to keep up with Abeer.
Without responding, he opened the door, and motioned for her to go ahead. "I have to lock the door,"
It took Shiv by surprise. He's blatant honesty, "Right," she muttered. "The door."
But she felt Abeer follow behind
Once she reached the blue iron gate, Shiv turned around. Abeer was watching her. A strange rhythm flowed around her. It was a windy night.
Their eyes seemed to speak the same truth.
Shiv looked down, something similar to guilt tried to force its way up. When she glanced up again, he was gone. She stood still, eyes fixated at the spot he was standing moments ago.
YOU ARE READING
ABOUT LOVE
Storie d'amore"Miss Mathur," he said, voice laced in amusement, "it didn't look like you were ignoring me," Shiv could feel the heat travel all the way through her neck to her face. She cleared her throat, "Aren't you tired of looking at my face." "I'm a man of p...
