Ranjish | 𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒓𝒂𝒋

XII. camouflaged & drunk

vanraj :

Holiday from work, work day at some stupid fest at Isha's University.

As her unofficial Uber driver, I was busily driving towards the Bhonsale Institute while she sat beside me, Pakhi behind - studying.
Yes, suddenly my daughter was deeply interested in studying.
A welcome change, really.

"So finally.. Fest time.", Isha said drawing in a deep breath, looking rejunevated.
"Iss baar toh aur bhi grand hone wala hai!", Pakhi added beaming.

"And Vanraj Shah.. aap jo saath yeh white t shirt pe red sleeveless jacket chadhakar chal rahe hai.. karne kya wale hai aap?", She asked.

I grinned.
Although Isha was wearing her usual sarees, I had picked my casual wears for today.

"I'm going to pretend to be a Masters student and camouflage when Magarmach arrives.", I said.

"Kuch bhi!", Isha said laughing.
"Rangeen chasme wala Magarmach.", I corrected Rao Saheb's name.
"Pata bhi hai aapse umar mein kitne bade hai woh?", Isha asked grinning.

"So what? Zaroori thodi hai aise elders ko respect dena.", I said immediately.
"Waah. Very sanskari.", Isha said sarcastically.

Pakhi was silently laughing away throughout.
I drove the car into the Bhonsale Institute campus.

"Waise.. Papa aapko pata hai Isha ma'am bhi elder hai aapse?", She asked grinning.

I abruptly stopped the car.

"WHAT?!", I asked, visibly shocked.
Isha pursed her lips, amused.
"Ha Papa. Ma'am celebrates her 50th birthday this year.", She said.

"No way!", I said turning to look at Isha.
"Arrey.. why are you so shocked?", She asked amused.
"You are 50?!", I asked aghast.
"Abhi toh 49 hi hu. I'll be fifty.", She said.

"You look 29 but for logic purposes I thought you're 39!", I said, awkwardly.

"Okay.. I take that as a compliment. Thank you.", She said warmly as she got off the car.
I immediately got out of the car myself as she picked up her bags from the back seat.

"Arrey Papa sab log yehi kehte hai.. Humare class mein toh kitne ladke hai jinko inpar crush hai.", Pakhi said chuckling.
"Okay enough, Pakhi.", Isha said blushing as she shut the door finally,
"Go and join everyone else in the preparations in the auditorium, I'll come after my attendance biometric."

Pakhi nodded, said bye to me and jogged off.
I could not tear my gaze off Isha.

"Tumne birth certificate jhootha banaya hoga. I'm sure.", I said, in pure disbelief.
"Arrey..", She said bewildered.
"Vanraj, stop being stubborn. I am 49. You can't change it."

"Arrey but that means tum mujhe 3 saal badi ho!", I said in rebellion.
"Ha toh? I'm sure you can't call be Didi now.", She said as she walked down to me.
"But..", I mumbled, "Toh tum bhi mujhe 'aap' mat bulao. You're making me sound older."

She beamed.
"Aww.. I thought you liked the respect.", She said.

Somehow ever since met again after that semi - breakup in the wedding, our conversations had eased so much.
We could talk without having to think, could just be who we were to each other.
It was like a peaceful breathing space atleast for my claustrophobic situation in life.