‘I don’t know how I kept myself from coming back here?’
Kavya gushed wide eyed at the beach house which kept appearing, disappearing and then reappearing like a dream behind the thick gangs of playful trees as they drove along. The route involved a number of crosses, turns and bends. The moment one reached this part of the city, the beach house would be visible. A tiny structure from the distance. But it took quite some time navigating the serpentine road to reach its gate. The setting sun was sliding down its slanting roofs like the girls used to, often, in their yellow dresses.
‘Really?
To me it looks worn.’ Penny shrugged fixing her eyes on the road. ‘All my fault, though.’
‘Still, it tugs somehow.’ The house beamed coyly in sunshine in response to the compliment. ‘Hey, isn’t that the same chikkiwala?’ Kavya shot her finger in front, slightly on the left. ‘Aaargh … what was his name?’ She tapped hard her hand on her head and clenched her teeth but none of these helped her recall.
‘Stop! Stop!’ Kavya plonked her hand on Penny’s arm. Khandala chikki – the board on his kiosk announced. ‘Oh yes, now I remember.’ Kavya chirped.
Penny stopped the jeep next to him.
‘Khandala bhaiyya. Kaise hain aap?’ They had never asked for his real name, Kavya suddenly realised. ‘You used to be right next to our beach house. No?’
‘Arre bititya? aap log? Arre wah!’ He beamed at them taking off his red checkered gamchha which was as greasy as before. The whites in the check had not seen their true color ever.
A shade of frizzy white had taken over his beard though. ‘Ab kya karein? Noone goes to that part of the beach now. Veerana sa ho gaya hai. So, I shifted here.’ His face drooped and he began sifting through his small wooden cartons.
‘Yeh lijiye aapki favourite. Wohi swaad hai ab bhi'. He handed over a packet to Kavya and Penny. ‘Aur yeh un bitiya ki.’ Kavya took it and looked back. Alaya was still under her hat.
‘Woh thoda thaki huyi hai. We will give her later’. Penny munched her words.
‘Bitiya is ghar ko ya toh bech do ya phir kuch binbi jaisa bana lo?’ He suggested while scratching his frizzy beard.
‘Binbi?’ Penny shrugged her shoulders in confusion, rather in distraction. Her eyes and fingers were busy locating the crunchiest peanuts.
‘Arre woh hota hai na ghar se jyada aur hotel se kam?’ Chikkiwala tried to solve the confusion.
The girls looked at each other puzzled when a voice from under the hat squeaked. ‘Airbnb, he means,’ and jumped up to grab her chikki giggling.
‘Ohhhhhhh!,’ They laughed admiringly at his still innocent toothy smile. At least someone had managed to stay the same.
‘Let’s see.’ Penny looked up. ‘I tried once renting for a film shoot. They came and shot but the next day left without a reason. I guess without any caretaker the whole area has probably become inhospitable’.
‘I told you. Not worth going.’ Alaya groaned while crushing her half-finished packet. ‘Not again please.’ Kavya placed a hand on her mouth and snatched her chikki for a bite. There is something about sweets especially childhood sweets. They are probably the most inexpensive time machines to run back to the bliss.
‘Hearing all these stories, I am scared now. Hope it is at least clean or should I call Urban Clap or something?’ Alaya shot up another of her volleys.
‘No, you don’t need to. I have already asked the local dealer to send a help. Someone who knows the place well and can stay all along would be much better. Waise bhi it’s just a matter of few days.’
‘And what after that?’ Kavya raised her gaze.
Penny put on her sunglasses and got back to the wheel.
The Jeep stopped at the destination – beach house. The rusty gate fully covered now with weeds welcomed them. The outside railings, windows and their favourite swing had turned brown. Kavya tried recalling their earlier colors and hues. The jhoola was painted green at least, she was sure.
‘Guys really?’ Alaya howled. ‘I mean, I would die sneezing here. Look at the dust. It’s all so rusty.’
‘Chal na!’ Kavya and Penny shook their heads bemused and grabbed her hands to pull her out of the jeep. The girl who would rush in to be the first to take a dip had covered her face with her silk bandana all around. With the sunglasses on her eyes not even a speck of her face was visible. One needed to cross the courtyard to reach the sandy beach on the other side. Back then, the girls would throw their bags, get a quick change and run out. But today the feet were hesitant. It had been years. Alaya skimmed her index finger over the courtyard armchair and turned it towards them. A sigh of relief found life in the girls as she got rid of her scary dacoit look. Someone had cleaned up here.
‘Hello. Is anyone there?’ Penny shouted. The door to the living room right in front of us, was ajar. It still had the crayon scribblings of the three of them giving speech at Miss India pageant.
‘We must have been 8 or 9 then, right?’ Kavya caressed the tiara on her head with her right finger where she stood shyly in the middle.
‘Yeah… but where is this help?’ Alaya grumbled scurrying her eyes around. ‘I need a quick hot bath. I hope you get clean towels here’.
‘Aaaargh!’ Penny furrowed her brows at her. She walked in to the living room to check. ‘Stop throwing tantrums Alaya.’ Kavya tried taking over. ‘You are not Mrs. Singhania here. Get back to your old self.’
‘What the hell? Who got it here? Is there anyone? How dare you? Let me call that bloody dealer? Hello. Hello…’. Before Alaya could retort back Penny rushed out. Her eyes were blood shot. She was heaving.
‘What happened?’ Kavya asked. Penny raised her hand signaling them to keep mum and pulled out her phone from her pocket. She ran out. Kavya and Alaya rushed in unaware.
It was there. Right there. In front of their eyes. Right in the living room where they were supposed to spend their next few days. The brown mahogany table. The table with leaves and flowers carved which were further adorned with scribbles of pencils and crayons trying to overpower them with the girls’ style. But the mahogany smiled back royally as always, at them, at the little girls’ foolings’, even today, as it stood on its elephantiasis (as they called them then) legs. It was low in height. They would sit around for board games and the game which they played their lives with.
‘Who got it here? Tell me…’ Penny was shouting on the phone probably to the dealer.
‘I did it.’ A strong yet humble voice entered the living room.
‘I am Jennifer. I will be taking care of you here.’
An elderly lady, probably in her 50’s entered the living room with a tray. Her hair were rough frizzy gray, a wilted and abundantly warted skin reluctantly covered her all over. For her medium height and a malnourished waist, the black dress with yellow flowers seemed sorry and covering up. The eyes did not say much. But for all that, her voice gayly pulled the girls out to acknowledge her.
‘It was lying wasted in the store. I couldn’t imagine why someone would keep such a beautiful piece in the garbage. I thought I will better use it here to serve.’
‘Here, hot soup and cinnamon bread. I baked it just now.’ She touched a piece of bread. ‘See still warm and soft.’
She placed the tray on the table in wait of their response. It was a black metal tray. It made a stern clanking sound as it hit the table.
‘I am sorry. I never realised you were new here. I over reacted.’ Penny looked around and bit her lip.
‘But just put it back wherever it was and don’t get it out ever again. I hope I am clear.’ She instructed without looking at her or the girls.
‘Guys, I am going for a nap.’ She turned towards them. ‘See you in the evening. You can take any of the rooms.’
‘But what about the swim?’ Kavya did not want to miss their childhood ritual. Penny stood thinking for a moment. Her hands were wringing each other.
‘I can’t sleep at night. I usually work. So, I have to.’ She picked up her bag staring in to Kavya and left.
Kavya looked at Alaya next.
‘I can sleep very well at night but right now…..’ She smiled a wicked one, put on her headphones and went in the room next to the kitchen.
‘Madam at least have the soup. You must be tired’.
‘It’s ok Jennifer. But thank you for being so thoughtful. You put it in the fridge, we will have it in the evening’.
‘Anything else you need?’ She asked Kavya.
‘No. You also go and take rest’.
With the bow of a dedicated housekeeper, she went back to the kitchen.
Kavya entered the room on her left and placed her bag on the bed. The three of them had never stayed separate. They were always glued to each other. Many around in the town didn’t even know or bother to know their individual names. The girls often insisted and made them learn perforce, still they would call them - Vijay’s girls. As Kavya stood there, the hollowness of the walls raked in a strong yearning in her for someone to call them the same again. She slid in the arm chair. The huge bed on her side reeked of loneliness and fear. Much had happened here. The fresh breeze from the window tapped her. The window was hitting the wall with every rush of air. She got up to close it. The sea was roaring. She shut the window and pulled over a bed sheet.
*
‘Stop snoring A.’ Kavya slammed her hand on Alaya’s face. ‘Get off!’ Alaya cried and pushed her over. Kavya was almost on the floor when she realised both of their hands clinging on to her as they lay snuggled on the two chairs right next to hers, on each side. Alaya was back to her snoring while Penny lay quiet, unmoved like dead. Kavya could not have asked for more and snuggled back in to the warmth of them - Vijay’s girls. The walls hugged them in, in tandem.
‘Madams’ please have something now. It is getting dark.’ After a few knocks and ‘can I come ins’ Jenifer pushed the door in.
‘Yeah Jennifer, or Jenny if I could call you. Give us a minute. We are coming.’ Kavya lifted the two elbows her neck was entangled in.
‘Sure Madam and call me Jenny. I like it. And you stay here only. I will get everything here.’
She turned back. ‘By the way, I have thrown that troublesome table back to where it came from.’ ‘I am sorry for that.’ Penny and Alaya were up by now.
‘It’s ok Jenny.’ Kavya looked at them.
‘Tell her to throw it in the sea or take it away.’ Alaya whispered.
‘Sure, I will take it to my place. It is a beautiful mahogany. There is something about it’.
She came back with a tray of wine and cashews.
‘Now that’s my Jenny!’ Penny jumped. ‘I am so proud of you.’
‘But why waste that soup and bread?’ Kavya exhorted. She had always hated wastage of food. More than any environmental concern it was out of her habit of saving some for the next meal when she cooked for her father. She would often take back the leftovers from Vijay Uncle’s place to at least cover her part of meal.
‘No madam, don’t embarrass me. I just don’t want your first meal to be a stale one here.’
‘Hmmm. Smart Jenny.’ Penny had already taken her first sip while Alaya was busy smirking at Kavya’s objection.
‘Let me open the window for some fresh breeze.’ Jenny walked past them after a moment.
‘But why?’ Penny retorted. ‘It is nice and cozy here.’
‘It’s okay P.’ Kavya put a hand on her shoulder and gestured Jenny to open it. Someone had to do it.
She came back and stood next to them to serve.
‘So, what do you do Jenny? I mean you speak so well, this job does not suit you.’ Kavya asked.
‘You got it right madam. I am an accountant. I had been working at the local store nearby all my life’.
‘Then?’
‘My husband got killed. My in-laws blamed me and instigated the whole village. Nobody gives me a job now’.
‘Why don’t you go to some other place?’
‘I have my house, my kids, my memories here. I won’t leave it. Plus, there are certain things I need to finish.’ She looked out of the window.
‘Do you miss him, your husband?’
‘No, in fact I am happy.’ She sat down on the corner of the bed and crossed her legs. ‘He would beat me every night. ‘Good riddance.’ She beamed a wide smile.
‘Yeah, good riddance and cheers to that.’ Penny held up her glass in the air.
Kavya got up and offered Jenny a drink.
‘Thanks, but I will have it in my kitchen’.
‘But why not here?’ Kavya insisted as she was pouring one for her.
‘What is this madam?’ Jenny meanwhile had walked up to Alaya and her fingers were an inch away from the golden pendant Alaya was wearing around her neck. ‘It looks so beautiful.’
‘Stop.. don’t touch, you bitch!’ Alaya jerked up and threw off Jenny’s hand.
‘Calm down, Alaya.’ Kavya shouted.
You can’t treat her like that.’ Penny reprimanded.
‘No, I didn’t mean that ways.’ Alaya lowered her eyes and took a deep breath in. ‘I am sorry. But please don’t touch it.’ She twisted her face at Jenny.
‘It has been given to me by my Guruji. I can’t sleep without it. I hope you understand.’ Jenny nodded and stepped back in silence.
‘Now Guruji and all also A?’ Kavya teased to ease the air in the room. ‘Must be that seven star one?’ She nudged Alaya with her elbow.
‘Of course!’ Alaya could not stop her smile. ‘Not that jadi booti middle class one like yours…’
*
‘Why are you here?’ Jenny took a sip and cut the conversation sternly. She was a different Jenny, standing next to the window with a hand on her waist. Wine had worked magic on her. Her black dress did not seem sorry. The girls looked at each other and then this new avatar in front of them.
‘Why the hell are you asking?’ Alaya took the reins while gingerly caressing her pendant.
‘Just like that. No one ever comes here so I was just curious.’ She stood there in wait staring at the sea as the girls cowered back in their chairs.