In the utter chill of the evening hours, the soft music seemed to ooze a little warmth in the air. She rested her head on the pillow, the tender quilt keeping the heat from rushing out. A madness in the air as was the madness in the song.
“bavra mann dekhne chala ek sapna ..
bavrese mann ki dekho bavri hain baatein
bavrisi dhadkane hain bavri hain saanse
bavrisi karwanto se nindiya kyon bhaage
bavrese nain chahe bawre zarokhon se bavre naazaroon ko takna
bavra mann dekhne chala ek sapna“
She felt her body temperature rising as the effects of the medicines wore out. The palpating unease on her forehead returned. As she sunk deeper into the bed, the doorbell rung.
Irritated by the very idea of having to climb out of her little quilt igloo, regardless, she whisked out gracefully, her long straight hair cascading down her back. She seemed ready to scowl at the visitor as she opened the door.
“I brought soup and dumplings!” He exclaimed extending a bag towards her, standing on the other side of the door. It was necessary, he thought, that he not look too deeply into her eyes. It would be regrettable if she rendered him smitten even before he could explain himself, as to his sudden appearance at her doorstep. He was after all rehearsing it throughout his way there.
“You mentioned feeling feverish and since you were alone at home, in your position, I would rather have someone do the cooking for me. But since I do not possess such culinary skills, I brought food with me. I can, however, make great ginger tea, if you so wish it.” He said, hoping he didn’t say it all out too quick and jumbled. No one else could do this to him, what her mere eyes could. “This is madness.” He thought to himself, forcing the best smile his face came with.
Even in the mild twilight, he could see her expression soften a little.
“I also brought a book you could read and my laptop if you wish to watch a movie with me. I brought the book incase you wanted me gone immediately.” Again, smiling the best smile he had.
She looked at him thoughtfully. “What if all I wanted to do was sleep and be left alone?” She asked, raising one eyebrow.
Deflecting the powers of her eyebrow maneuvers, he rolled his eyes to the side. “I also have rum.” He said, extending his other hand, with half a smile, allowing the idea to bloom and blossom in her mind.
“You should have started with that.” She said moving aside to usher him in. “Always saying in excess what could be said in a few words.” She continued, as the bolted up the door, allowing the cold air that came in with their conversation to gradually turn warm.
“Should I sit in this room or..”
“Just keep quiet and follow me.” She cut him short.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She walked forward while he let her swaying black hair hypnotize him just a little. She was so beautiful, he thought. All angles included. Nothing he would change had he been her creator.
“Sit.” She said, as they walked into her room.
“Should I sit on the bed or on the chair?” He asked, turning back to face her at the door.
“Just sit anywhere.”
“I was thinking the bed would…”
“Just sit!” She exclaimed. Almost laughing.
“Yes, ma’am.”
As she walked away to the kitchen, he sat gently on the chair, but then rose and sat on her bed instead.
She walked in with two glasses in her hand and a plate.
“Really? You waltz into my room and right on my bed?” She said, almost suppressing a smile.
“I – I’m sorry..” He almost jumped up.
“Sit, you idiot. I’m just messing with you.” She laughed.
She sat next to him and crossed her legs onto the bed. “Pour the stuff.” She said pointing at the empty glass. “Dumplings too.” She pushed the plate towards him.
Sitting in her room, sipping the rum, he looked around. Books everywhere. The entire volume of Harry Potter, arranged together like treasure. Several other books on her desk. He tried squinting at the titles, trying to read them, so he could strike a conversation about them if they ran out of topics.
He looked at her. She seemed to be enjoying the combination of what they were having. He had requested the vendor to make the dumplings more spicy than he usually did.
Grabbing the quilt, he placed it over her lap.
“Don’t want you to be any colder than you already are.” He said.
“Aren’t you the knight in shining armor.” She smiled brightly.
“What if your mum found out a knight just walked into her house?”
“She’d probably tell you to stop thinking too much.” She said, grooving with the music, effortlessly.
“Bet she would tell me to think long and hard before just appearing in her house ever again.” He thought to myself. “This is madness. She’s gonna hate me.”
“What did you with your day?” She asked, taking a long sip.
“Well I was planning this. Repeatedly in my head. Evaluating every scenario and calculating how I would make it better and better.”
He didn’t say that though. He believed it would behoove him better if she thought this idea was spontaneous. He thought that would be more attractive.
“You know, the usual stuff.” He finally said. “What about you?”
As she went on about her day, it was his queue to notice her closely. Every drop and rise of her voice. The movements of her fingers, her eyes, her lips. She was such a powerful presence in his life. The very idea of her existence gave him hope. Sometimes all one needs is hope. He wasn’t much in front of her. If he was a 6, she was a 12. And that was out of 10. There was little possibility of anything materializing between them, he believed. All he ever wanted was to look at her and listen to her speak, all day for the rest of his life.
Yet, there were traces of overlap between their personalities. She could nourish him intellectually. For an introvert, she was his only human who could make him talk for otherwise arduous lengths of time. She could make him understand first hand the basis of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. An hour with her passed by feeling like only a few minutes. Maybe that’s what love does, he often thought. It made the length of a long and meaningless life, short and worthwhile.
Their empty glasses sat on the bed. He knew this was his turn to announce his departure.
“Thank you for letting me in.” He said, warmly.
“If it wasn’t for the drinks, I’d probably reconsider letting you in.” She said smiling.
He looked down at his hands.
“I’m just kidding. I’d never do that.”
“I know.” He whispered looking up at her. Perhaps it was the spirit letting him grow bold. “You’re not as severe as you portray yourself to be. Yet I wouldn’t change one aspect of who you are.”
He gently rose up. “I’ll wash these. Don’t want you touching cold water.” He said, quickly tidying up their evening’s activities before she could protest.
She leaned on the door, arms crossed, as he he washed the dishes clean.
As he walked out of her house, he gave her his hand. Handshakes were the only form of intimacy between them. She however, took his evening to the stars as she embraced him tightly.
“Thank you.” She whispered warmly, loosening her embrace.
“A-Anything for you.” He stammered.
Making his way to the car, he stole another glance at her before strapping himself up in the driver’s seat. He turned the radio on to the music concluding his evening..
“bavrese is jahan mein bawra ek saath ho
is saayani bheed mein bass haathon mein tera haath ho
bavrisi dhun ho koi bavra ek raag ho
bavrisi dhun ho koi bavra ek raag ho
bavrese pair chahe bawre tarano ke bavrese bol pe thirkana
bavra mann dekhne chala ek sapna
bavrasa ho andhera bavri khamoshiyaan
thartharati lav ho matthamm bavri madhoshiyaan
bavra ek gunghata chaye hole hole dinn batayein
bavra ek gunghata chaye hole hole dinn batayein
bavrese mukhadese saraktaa
bavra mann dekhne chala ek sapna“
Lush 