BreathlessAnt's Blog

Chapter Five - CELEBRATION TIME

“Hey Kavya, I got it - on the spot too!” Kavita could not stop smiling as she spoke to her elder sister, her excitement palpable even through the cellphone. The sharer of her joys and sorrows, Kavya was a veterinarian, who lived in Colaba with her neurologist husband Anand, their one year old daughter - the apple of Kavita’s eye Aara. Not to forget their two year old chihuahua Chiva. “Yes, of course, let’s have a blast on Friday night!”

As she got ready to go to Copper Chimney in Worli that evening, Kavita remembered her earlier conversation with her sister. It was always a pleasure to meet up with Kavya and her family. They met often as they all loved to dine out. The sisters had always been close throughout their childhood, and had grown even closer after the sudden death in an accident of both their parents, a year ago. Kavya had tried her utmost to persuade her younger sister to come and stay with them in Colaba. However, Kavita had been absolutely adamant in her refusal. Despite feeling terribly lost in the parental home, she did not want to be the ‘kabab me haddi’ in her sister’s house. Besides, their parents had brought up both the girls to be independent and she wanted to retain complete control over her own life.

Clad in a stylish western outfit of fitted pants, a brown figure hugging tee shirt and a loose fitting light plaid jacket pulled on top, Kavita stepped into her high heeled shoes. A touch of dark eye shadow deepened her almond shaped eyes, shimmering rose blusher accentuated her cheekbones, and lustrous chocolate lipstick highlighted her smiling lips. The only accessories she wore were a dainty gold chain, matching bracelet and tiny ear studs. The faintest whiff of Coty’s Nuance perfume fanned out as she pulled the door shut behind her.

At 8 pm, traffic was comfortably light as she headed in a direction opposite from the hordes heading for their home in the suburbs. She reached the restaurant within 20 min and handed her car keys to the valet at the door, as she headed inside. She immediately spotted Kavya waving out to her from their favourite table in the far corner. She noted that, unknowingly as always, she and her sister had worn colour co-ordinated outfits. It had been a joke throughout their college years. Perhaps they were soul sisters connected to each other telepathically!

Ever the gentleman, Anand got up from his seat and held out a chair for her. Smiling her thanks as she shook hands with him, Kavita sat across from her sister and reached out to run her fingers through little Aara’s curls. Seated on the high stool, Aara had a bowl of home made mashed banana into which she had already made considerable inroads. Baby Aara was so much like Kavita - people often thought Kavita to be her mom and Kavya the aunt! The waiter immediately brought in the drinks - Anand had as always ordered their usual. He was a single malt man, while both Kavya and Kavita were unashamed rum drinkers. This time they decided to shift from their favourite Old Monk to Bacardi Reserva. After all, it was celebration time!

Kavya wanted to know all the gory details of the happenings at Style Street after the new development. As Kavita made her way into her story, it suddenly dawned on her that how soon the past week had passed! She had handed in her letter of resignation the day after the interview and job offer. She still remembered the look of dismay on her boss Padma’s face. Maybe she was going to miss Kavita?! After all, whom could she scavenge on now? Her superboss Ravindran - the gentleman that he was, had tried to talk her out of leaving, but had not pushed too hard. After all, he had not been blind to the goings-on in the department, and had personally kept tabs on some assignments in a bid to minimize Padma’s evil machinations. Superboss had reluctantly accepted her resignation, and now she just had to work through the month’s notice period.

Meanwhile, Kavya had also sought to know why Monica (Kavita’s best friend) was not with them for dinner tonight - she was necessarily a part of all their major do’s. “She’s gone to Darjeeling to visit her family, and won’t be back until Monday” explained Kavita. Luckily, her old office and the new one were in the same Mills complex, so she would get to meet Monica as well as her other friends and colleagues even after the job hop. Several of them had already sought dates for farewell parties, and she was heading for a series of luncheons and dinners. Anand teased her about how she’d bloat out of recognition by the time she joined Rainbow dreams!

As the conversation flowed smoothly along, they were munching on their favourite starters reshmi kababs - so tender, succulent and tasty. Anand always took a back seat when the sisters were together, and watched their interchange with admiration and humour writ large on his face. It was rare to see such bonhomie and camaraderie between sisters. Baby Aara had meanwhile gotten through her food, and her eyelids slowly drooping down over her sleepy eyes, she had been moved to lie on her mom’s lap. Pretty soon, she lay asleep on the sofa next to her mom. She was such a well-behaved child; she constantly amazed them all.

Anand meanwhile had ordered another round of repeat drinks for all three of them, as the piping hot plate of seekh kababs arrived. They oohed and aahed as usual as they dug into their favourite dish. It was an unsaid deal between them that whenever they had drinks (once in a while, on special occasions only), they would just have starters followed by a sinful dessert. Both the sisters had jawsful of sweet teeth. Chattering on about the latest events in their lives and those of several common friends, they were really having the time of their lives. It was close to 10 pm, when the girls ordered their favourity nutty ice creams - blandly ignoring Anand’s teasing. Chuckling at their girlish enthusiasm, he sat back sipping on his black coffee and interspersed with his laconic comments. Pretty soon, they were through and Kavita turned to the waiter, gave him a straight look and asked for the tab. Paying for the dinner with her credit card gave her cheap thrills even today. , she smiled at her favourite (and only) brother-in-law. That vital chore taken care of, Anand rose to pick up Aara, and they all headed for the doorway.

The valet had already brought her car there. Kavita accepted her sister’s warm hug and peck on the cheek, and Anand’s “All the Best to you, Kid!” accompanied by the anticipated shoulder thump. Taking care not to disturb Aara who was fast asleep, Kavita got into her car, and happily sped towards ‘home, sweet home’.

To be continued

  share this

Post a Comment