Chapter 05

PRATIBHA

At the airport, Pratibha stepped down from the SUV and smoothed out her dupatta. She waited for her parents and her sister to get out of the vehicle. Damodar instructed the driver to get the luggage inside and then he led everyone towards the lounge.

The muffled conversations of travelers, visitors, and kids’ chitchat filled the surrounding. An occasional loud flight announcement annoyed Pratibha.

“Let me check in the luggage and get the boarding pass,” Pratibha said. After checking in the luggage and making sure the boarding passes were correct, she returned to her parents.

 “Is everything all right?” Damodar asked.

Pratibha nodded. “Yes, all set to depart.”

Usha came near to Pratibha and held her hand. “Akka, you are leaving me alone. I'm going to miss you.”

Pratibha’s heart sank. She put her hand on Usha’s back. “Don’t worry. Papa and Mum are with you.”

“Pratibha,” Arti said. “She will miss your help in getting her assignments done.” She looked at Damodar. “I told you not to allow her to go. We all are going to miss her.”

“Are we going back home, then?” Damodar grimaced.

Everyone chuckled. “Did I say that?” Arti said.

Pratibha needed to clear the air. “It is okay, Mum. I’ll be back in six months. I’ll try to visit Bangalore often so that you won’t feel I’m away.”

“That’s my daughter.” Damodar patted her back.

“Usha, you need to concentrate on your studies and should work hard. Don’t waste your time watching TV series in my absence.”

Usha nodded.

“Promise me you won’t annoy Mum and Papa,” Pratibha demanded.

Usha raised her head to see her sister properly. She nodded again.

Pratibha ruffled her hair. “I will keep calling you to hear the progress you’ve made in your studies.”

“I spoke to the manager at Hyderabad,” Pratibha said, her tone reassuring. “A female employee from Mumbai is already staying in the guest house.”

“That’s good for you,” Arti said.

“It’s good that you’ve someone’s company to feel safe,” Damodar added.

“Don’t venture out alone," Arti said. "And avoid going out of the guest house in the night.”

Pratibha was annoyed at her mother’s preachy words, but quickly realized she suggested correctly. With crime rates in the metropolitan cities on the rise, she shouldn’t risk her life. “Yes, Mum. I will be cautious about it.”

Her glance shifted to the lounge entrance. Rahul, in his white mixed-blue striped shirt, entered the lounge. He smiled and hesitated before approaching her.

She also embarrassed to meet him in front of her parents, but she didn’t want to disappoint him. She smiled back and waved.

Rahul tucked his shirt in and approached her.

“Hi, Rahul,” she said. She looked at Damodar. “Papa, this is my close friend, Rahul.”

Damodar seemed to be astonished. His eyes became red and he swallowed. Is Papa angry meeting Rahul? She needed to calm his nerves. “Papa, I told you he is my best friend. He is a software engineer in electronics city.”

Damodar grew composed after a few moments. “Hi,” he said. He showed an expression of distaste.

Rahul bowed and shook the hand.

“Rahul,” she said, her chest lightened. “Also meet my Mum, and my younger sister, Usha.”

Rahul smiled at them. "It's very nice to meet you."

Arti appeared to be puzzled, but she was composed after Rahul spoke to Damodar. They all exchanged a few pleasantries until the flight announcement was made.

“I’ll call you all soon after reaching Hyderabad.” She grabbed her cabin bag walked towards the terminal gate. She waved at them before she disappeared.

Pratibha sat on her window-side seat, contemplating. She had introduced Rahul as a friend to her parents. Damodar seemed to have considered the matter lightly, without further probing her relationship with Rahul. Arti appeared neutral and didn’t take much interest to converse with him.

It was good that Rahul met her parents. They wouldn’t be surprised when she revealed her interest in him. Rahul also appeared to be contented for meeting her parents.

The flight landed at the Hyderabad airport just before five o’clock. Pratibha collected her bag and walked out of the airport. A few cabmen stared at her with where-to-go expressions. She went to one of the taxis and told him her destination –Majestic Apartments, Hi-Tech City. She sat in the rear side while the driver placed her luggage in the dickey. He slid behind the wheel and headed down the main street.

The evening traffic was heavy. She choked from the smoke and dust emanated from the vehicles; she asked the driver to raise the windows to stop fumes from entering.  She was astonished the way the cabman managed to drive between the local buses, which passed beside her car with a few inches of a gap. The loud honks of heavy vehicles and peep-peep sounds from motorbikes polluted the surroundings.

She hoped she would reach her apartment before the orange-tinted sky became dark.

The taxi driver stopped in front of a tall apartment building. Her glance shifted to the large archway. A huge metallic sign, Majestic Apartments, was engraved on the arcade.

She made sure it was her place and stepped out of the taxi. She collected her baggage, paid the meter charges, and then approached a small room near the gate meant for security guards.

A guard, in his blue uniform, peeped out of the large window. “How can I help you, Madam?”

Pratibha took out her badge and showed it to him.

The guard wrote in a ledger, asked Pratibha to sign on it, then allowed her to enter.

She took the elevator to arrive at her floor and located the mahogany door with an intricate flower pattern engraved on it.

Her manager at Hyderabad, SaiKrishna, had told her a lady by the name of Simran from Mumbai would be at the guest house. Pratibha hoped she would be present. She rang the doorbell. Her heart raced as a woman in her mid-twenties opened the door. Is she Simran?

In her pink mixed-red night dress, Simran looked beautiful. Her skin was fair, like beach sand; her short hair was neatly cut and a few curls dangled just above her ears. Her lips quirked into a smile and her white teeth glittered in the fluorescent light.

“I am Pratibha from Bangalore.”

“I'm Simran.”  They shook hands. “Come on in.” She backed away making room for Pratibha to enter.

Pratibha entered and removed her sandals, inhaling a deep breath.

The house was elegant and well furnished. Two couches sat in the main hall in an L shape. A wooden coffee table was placed in front of them. A flat-screen TV stood opposite to the seats. A small sized ornate chandelier illuminated the hall with its incandescent lights. Two modern art paintings, framed in gold rims, adorned the walls. A red mixed blue carpet soothed Pratibha’s feet. The living room had four doors, which led to three bedrooms and a kitchen.

Pratibha went and sat beside Simran on the couch. “The house is comfortable and beautiful.” She looked around the hall.

Simran nodded. “Sai told me you would be arriving.”

Pratibha looked at her. “He told me about you when I spoke to him yesterday.” She paused for a moment then said, “Are you from Mumbai?”

“Yes.”

“I assume you don’t have any project to work on there.”

“Yes, and that’s the reason I chose to work here.” Simran let out a sigh. “I didn’t want to remain idle at Mumbai.”

“I had a tough time convincing my parents.” Pratibha smiled. “Did your parents protest before approving your assignment?”

Simran looked down for a while before she said, “My mother usually doesn’t interfere in such matters.”

“What about your father?” Pratibha asked.

Simran’s face grew pale.

Pratibha waited for her to answer.

“My mother raised me after Papa died in a road accident.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Pratibha put her hand on Simran’s back. “Please don’t be disappointed. I hope I didn’t upset you.”

“It’s okay.”

Pratibha remained silent for a few moments and then said, “When did you join Sai’s group?”

“Last Monday.”

“Has the work began?”

“We started gathering the requirements two days ago.” Simran rose. “Would you like to have some coffee?”

“Sure.”

 “Let’s talk in the kitchen.”

Pratibha followed her. The place was well equipped with a refrigerator and an electric stove. Above the stove, wooden cabinets were placed on either side. A microwave oven sat just beside the fire extinguisher. The faucet was nestled beside the stove, below the cabinets.

“I like the kitchen,” Pratibha said.

Simran prepared the coffee and gave a cup to her; she led her back to the living room. 

They took a couple of sips.

“How far is our office?” Pratibha asked.

 “Around ten kilometers. We will commute by office cab.” Simran sipped the coffee.

 “Staying alone here feels scary,” Pratibha said.

“I agree. I somehow managed for one week as Sai told me you'll be joining soon.”

Pratibha finished her remaining beverage in one gulp, and said, “I’ll go and freshen up before preparing dinner.”

Simran nodded. “We’ll prepare it together.”

Pratibha strode to an adjoining bedroom. An extended and refreshing warm shower relieved her. She wiped her wet body with a Turkish towel; her shiny, wet and black hair shone in the fluorescent light; she bent her head forward and rubbed the hair with a towel before she tied it into a medium-sized bun.

She came out wrapped in the towel. The cold air from the ceiling fan sent a shiver through her spine. She took out a nightdress – a white mixed blue one - from her bag and donned it.

“Are you comfortable now?” Simran entered, smiling. She held an intricately woven cotton bag.

Pratibha nodded. “Yes. Are you going out?”

“Yes, I’m going to buy some groceries.”

“Where the store is located?”

“Reliance Fresh is next to our building. Would you like to join me?”

Pratibha didn’t want to send her alone as it was already dark outside. “I’ll join you.” Simran was raised by a single parent and that made Pratibha feel compassionate.

They spent the next twenty minutes shopping the groceries and vegetables and returned.

Pratibha sliced the tomatoes and placed the pieces on a plate along with neatly cut onions and green chilies. She gave the plate to Simran.

“Tell me about yourself," Pratibha asked. "Do you have any siblings?”

Simran poured the contents of the plate into the pan and stirred.

Pratibha waited for Simran to answer. Simran seemed to be annoyed to talk about her personal matter. Is there any reason for her to remain silent?

“I have an elder brother.” Simran placed a lid on the pan. "But he is good for nothing."

She held Simran’s shoulder. “I hope your mother is doing well.” She controlled her urge to know more about her brother.

Simran nodded. “It has been tough for me to grow without my father. My mother really cared for me very well. I am missing her here, but I don’t have any other options but to work here.”

“I agree with you,” Pratibha said. “Don’t worry; it’s a matter of six to eight months before we will be transferred back to our places.”

Simran nodded. “I agree with you.”

*****

It was just after nine. Pratibha helped Simran in arranging the dishes on the dining table. The smell of hot, spicy masala and basmati rice wafted in the air.

Pratibha sat opposite Simran, facing the kitchen. “It’s the first time I’m staying away from my parents.” Pratibha served the food to Simran before helping herself.

“Did you complete your education in Bangalore?” Simran gestured for her to start eating.

Pratibha nodded. “My father is a professor at a private college. No chance of job transfer for him.” She took a bite of chapatti mixed with curry.

Simran explained how she completed her engineering at Poona and stayed at the ladies' hostel.

“You have any siblings?” Simran asked.

She told Simran about Usha. She said she would miss Usha for the next six months.

“How is Sai?” Pratibha asked.

Simran looked at her with a questioning expression.

“Is he easy-going? Or tough?”

“He is friendly, but it’s too early for me to say anything about his temperament.”

*****

It was a quarter past ten when they washed the dishes. Pratibha spent a few more minutes with Simran in her bedroom before she went to her room.

She tossed and turned on her bed with her mind filled with Simran. She had missed her Father and Pratibha appreciated her efforts growing up without a father's support. Simran was friendly and showed good ethics during their brief togetherness. She showed her patience while preparing her the food, and behaved well while they ate their dinner. The tough life has taught her to be cordial with others.

Pratibha tried to fall asleep as she needed to report to Sai Krishna tomorrow.