Chapter 12

Frankly speaking, I just got lost in the crowd, trying my best not to fall with my heavy suitcase. It was crazy and there was a tinge of nostalgia for missing the warmth and helpfulness of the Kolkata people. Common I mean if it would have been Howrah and I would be struggling with my bag, I would definitely have a few Bongs offering to help. I don't remember any help coming my way yesterday, hey but I was always in control of my emotions and myself in my own city. Mumbai...it seemed different. It wasn't my place; I was a newbie or just another girl wanting to live her dreams and create my own space in the hustle-bustle.

I managed to get into a taxi and by the time I sat down I was all sweaty and dishevelled. The taxi driver demanded a hefty twenty extra to load my bags in the carrier...and he didn't even help me. Gosh...I was being so dependent. Where was the independent streak? I seemed to have suddenly lost it completely. The ride to Jivy bua's home was no fun; it was peak hour traffic and the car though not stuck was moving at a snail's pace. The cacophony of the horns was getting on my nerves to an extent that I shut my eyes and ears to escape the torture. I could barely close my eyes and drift when the taxi driver announced my arrival at Duncan Road.

When I finally managed to reach my bua's place I was panting and tired beyond repair. What I wanted was a hot shower and a good few hours of sleep to rest my aching back. Bua greeted me with the customary smile and lots of love that she had showered on us twice when we visited her in Mumbai. My sisters and I had been so taken by her hospitality that we had sworn upon our lives to never come back. It is so right when our elders say never for anything. And, here I was.

She welcomed me wholeheartedly and helped me in getting my luggage. After exchanging our formal pleasantries, she asked me to rest while she prepared lunch for us. I deferred slightly and said I would like to take a bath.

"Umm, there isn't enough water for bathing."

The horror on my face didn't resonate in my words. I meekly accepted that with an "okay, I will rest."

The entire atmosphere was so alien. This was home away from and yet it wasn't. The fatigue of the journey was playing havoc with my emotions. I was homesick barely reaching a few hours in Mumbai. I was missing my ma and was craving for the comfort of talking to her and the delicious warm food served by her. I pushed away all my doubts and decided to give my aching back and overworked mind a little rest. The throbbing backache was dulled by my lying down but the pain in my heart was rising a notch with every passing minute. I tossed myself here and there but did not manage to sleep for a second. I stared at the painstakingly horrible fan moving at a slower speed than a snail. I played down images of the last two days in my mind trying to recollect everything funny and happy about the place I had left. I was constantly trying to forge a connection with my city, the one I had so unabashedly proclaimed to be still and stagnant. For a few seconds, I felt I was stuck just like the city, and what lived within me were the feelings that personified the city.

Jivy bua's house was no one BHK that I had to make an effort to search for anything. It started at the door, followed by the kitchen and living room in the same space and another room that ended in a small balcony -the most exciting place in the house. It reminded me of my favourite place back home. The escape into the beautiful world outside; the blaring horns, the teeming street vendors jostling for every customer's attention. It was bliss. Mumbai unlike Kolkata appealed to all my senses. There was an overbearing effect of the city that made me feel conscious of my humble roots. I felt out of place in the fast-paced, action-packed city.

"Your mom is on the phone," and Jivy bua's words brought me out of the misery of the comparison between the two cities. She lovingly patted me and handed me the phone.

"Hi mom," and in that two words, I had bundled all my love and resignation. My mother picked up my sense of forlorn immediately.

"Everything okay? You sound so dull."

I laughed at my own misery and packed a little bit of punch and sass, "No one to argue with and everything seems so dull when you don't have to fight for anything." I made a goofy face to irritate my mom but sadly she wasn't there to see it.

"Hmm," rolled off her lips in surprise or sadness, I did not know.

"Why didn't you call me earlier?"

"I am sorry ma, just a little bit tired from the journey, plus my back is aching like hell and I can't manage to sleep without a bath. And it is so hot and humid. I am sweating like a pig and..." I was ranting about everything and making no sense.

"Abhilasha, get a grip. Don't throw a tantrum and go on complaining about small little things that aren't even problems. Grow up." I was chastised and put in my place. For a second, I thought she would be laughing at me. I left home with such lofty ideals of finding my way, independence blah, blah blah and here I was sucking like a baby. I had to brace myself.

"Okay. Got to go ma, Jivy bua has prepared lunch and I am famished."

She didn't let me go without a word of advice, "Please don't act like a high ended princess just like you did at home. Help bua in every household work and..."

And before she could go on and on, I interrupted her mid-sentence and said I was aware of my responsibilities and duties and I wouldn't give bua a hard time and would definitely uphold her upbringing and make her proud. Whoa, that was one proclamation. She kept the phone but not without letting me know she loved me a lot and was already missing me within two days of going away from home.

This was home now, Jivy bua's place and I had to adjust to her rules and her ways. No room meant no privacy but the good thing was I wasn't going to be home much except on weekends and on the lonely nights to catch on to my beauty sleep. I will try and be as much help as possible as my work schedules will permit.

Lunch was a simple affair with dal, rice and chapatti. Bua was a great cook and the food was so tasty, I ate more than my tummy could hold. I helped clean the dishes and put them away while bua updated me about her life and uncle's job. When my eyes could hold no more, I slept off dreamily and expectantly of a new life with new rules, lots of fun and whatnot.

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I moved mountains to drag myself out of the heavy stupor, but sleep combatted me within minutes and I dozed off again in no time. The next time I woke up, it was with the shrill voice of my bua in the evening calling out to me to wake up as fast as possible.

"Abhilasha, get up, go take a bath. The water supply has started and it would go off in minutes." And I found myself hurrying with my clothes and toiletries, afraid of missing out on the luxury of a bath. Before I went into the washroom, my bua asked me to be cautious of the water I wasted. I agreed to anything because the feeling of the hot water on my body was just the thing I was craving.

The first few drops of water on my body was pure ecstasy. It soothed me and acted like a balm on my sore back. For a flip second, I was reminded of the stranger but it did not last long. As soon as the hot water washed away my weariness, he was dropped from my thoughts. I felt refreshed and energetic, rearing to go for my next battle. I wanted to go out and explore Mumbai, and however tempting the idea was, I decided to keep my urges to myself as Jivy bua wasn't going to approve of anything. I was lazing around rummaging through my phone with all the text messages when I saw Jivy bua getting ready to make dinner. I offered to help but she declined politely asking me to chill and relax and prepare myself for the next day at work.

Everything was perfect up till now and yet I felt uncomfortable and sensed everything was different. Life was taking a completely different course, a path that I wanted to tread always and yet the fear of the unknown was so paramount that it gripped me and made me freaky. Just at about nine after finishing off all her chores, Jivy bua sat beside me and started talking to me.

"So, where is your office Abhi?

"Umm, Elphinstone Road at KML Towers."

"Okay. I think you should take the local to the office every day. It will be faster and cheaper. Tomorrow is your first day so leave a little early."

"Yeah, I was just thinking that bua and once I am familiar with the route, I will be at ease and can work out my timings accordingly.

"Ask your uncle, he will be more of help since he travels in the local, though not very often. My life is restricted to my home and some social gatherings I attend but only in this part of the town."

"Okay. Bua please let me know of any help you want with your work and also I will try and keep myself out of your way as much as possible."

Bua was horrified by my words. "Tcchh no need to be formal, today is your first day but we will definitely fall into a routine within a few days. Do not worry."

I had a few questions for her and before I could ask them, she answered them herself.

"Abhi, you will have to follow a few rules, now that we are going to stay together." And I simply nodded my head in agreement.

"No late nights please and if at all anything related to your work crops up please call me and inform me." I just looked at her batting my eyes.

"No drinking and smoking." Now that wasn't even required to say. I am a teetotaler and I swear by that rule.

"No bringing boys at home." Hell, how did this even spring up? I wanted to smirk but I controlled the urge completely.

"Bua anymore?" I asked incredulously. And she kept on chatting for some more time and I don't know when I had stopped hearing or drifted into a deep slumber.