A Beautiful Mess

Chapter 5

Weeks passed by with no real events after the fresher's party. I threw myself in a huge pile of books both academic, non-academic, and work. Minimal contact with Josh, yeah he'd also been busy making new friends, flirting and going out a bit too often than what was normal. Not that I cared just making a point that he was monumentally busy. While Danish chased Lekha and Lekha brushed him off and Vice versa. Things were normal but knowing Lekha; she liked Dan, she more than liked Dan but both of them were stupid with huge egos and would not admit their real feelings.

Dad came a few days after the party and we spent exactly 2 days together, at our home in silence. Like a good Indian daughter that I am, I cooked for him and we dined together. He did not like me working so I took a few days off and spent them at home. He promised to stay for a week and he did, but most of his time was spent working like always. On his last day, we dined at Gams where we cooked traditional south Indian food on my insistence but the effort went unnoticed as always. Josh looked constipated the whole time; it was hilarious to watch him that way. Yes, that was my dad, always creating an aura of discipline and conservatism. Overall he was a decent man, after mom left something inside of him died and I understood. Hence, I accepted his silence. He loved me in his own ways and I did too. He left after a week and everything went back to normal.

******

You know what happens when you're mostly out and your house is locked most of the time? Pest, yaa that's what happens and that is how you land up in your frenemies bathroom. I packed my stuff and shifted to Gams when pest control hit my house with gases, dangerous weird-smelling gases. Josh as usual made a dirty face when he was told I would be staying at gams, that asshole. The way he looked at me at times made me shrink not literally but it squeezed my heart, so unlike the person who gave me my first gooey moment. What is his problem in life! I really disliked him and thus bathing in his bathroom was torture. His bathroom was empty literally empty with just a bar of soap and some stupid shampoo. Thank god I had my bathroom kit. I showered humming and whistling. After about 30 mins when I was almost dressed I heard a loud thud on the door.

"Get out, I need to piss!" he yelled through his gritted teeth.

I smiled and decided to wait long enough to torture him or better make him piss his pants

"Why don't you use gams room Idiota!" I yelled back.

"You...you...Get Out Venky, I'm in no mood for this foul game of yours..!"He said annoyingly.

"Rude much?!" I teased

"Kalsii, get the fuck out of my bathroom..!" he screamed

"Umm...Josh profanity won't help," I said all too sweetly

"Arghh....!" I heard a frustrated growl

"Fine please just come out I'll do anything you want me to, I promise, "he pleaded

When opportunity knocks open the door and grab it. And that is exactly what I did.

And that is how he chauffeured me around in gams car for that one day.

******

That day he chauffeured her around, keeping his gentleman's promise. His day began at 7 when he took her to school, then to her work where he waited outside for four hours watching her take order after order. It was 5 in the evening and he thought her day was over but only it wasn't. He drove her to MOD where she ordered for 50 donuts chocolate, sugar, sprinklers and all sorts of flavors as if she had memorized the order before. Then they drove to someplace called sunflower and she dictated directions from the back seat, yes she was actually being chauffeured and he understood the plight of a driver with an extremely annoying owner. Josh was clueless as to where exactly they were going but he kept mum. After a few lefts and rights, they reached their destination. A big board read sunflowers and below it, in small letters, it read old age home. The house was huge with warm yellow paint and gave out a very cozy vibe. Josh just looked at Kalsi with a dumb expression. Kalsi grabbed the huge box and marched towards the cozy-looking house. After a while, he heard a few squeals and then lots and lots of chatter. But the view he met with was nothing in comparison to the delighted squeals and chatter he heard. About 20 old aged men and women encircled Kalsi and were chatting with her animatedly trying to grab her attention. She tried her best to talk, to each one of them and thus rapidly twirled around to talk and hug them. He smiled genuinely. After a while, everyone calmed down and started munching on the donuts Kalsi bought.

"Ganga aunty, how's Aida?" Kalsi enquired.

And the woman who looked like the caretaker just shook her head.

Kalsi sighed and began talking to the rest of them.

"Ram uncle only one for you, GM grab that second one from him will you..."

And they all joked and laughed and he just stood there at the door and watched the whole scenario like a little boy. At 7 she got up to leave and one could sense the sadness in the atmosphere. So she quickly said her byes and promised on visiting soon. Josh was already seated in the car when she came out and she was yet again disappointed at his insensitivity.

"Where to now madam?"He asked with a straight face

"Home please."

And thus the day indeed ended.

They were exhausted.

*******

After freshening up they dined together with Gam.

Kalsi told gam all about her visit.

"Gam, Aida isn't recovering is she?"Kalsi asked in a grave tone.

"No, baby doll she isn't, "gam said honestly.

And they dined in silence. Josh did not utter a word after his visit to the sunflowers that's what Kalsi called them

******

Ding dong...

Josh opened the door and a short chubby guy ran into the house calling out Kalsi's name.

"Kalsi Didi, Kalsii Didi..."

I came out of the gams. I was tired and had almost dozed off when I heard Kunal's voice.

"Hi," I croaked

"Thank god you are still up Didi; I need major major help with math "he pleaded

I laughed. That little rascal must have spent his entire day playing and now he needs help.

"Let me guess, you have a math test tomorrow, don't you?"I asked

"Yes, I do he said with an innocent smile.

Hmm...Come "and they sat on the dining table.

"Are you seriously going to help him, I saw him playing out today, and trust me he must have procrastinated the whole day," Josh said seeming irritated.

Kunal made a dirty face at Josh.

"I know Josh, he's sorry for it aren't you Kunal," I asked.

"Yes Didi I am, I promise to be a good boy henceforth," he said faking innocence

"I know you will, "I said and went to the kitchen to get some milk and cookies. Kunal stuck his tongue out and teased Josh he rolled his eyes and fell on the couch watching TV on mute. Kalsi was an idiot he thought and continued watching TV blankly.