Emotions

BETWEEN THEM
Part 48

Even when the silence broke, they were unaware of it....

The girl in chiffon nudged Shriya.... Kamala was asking her something....

"Have you met Krish before?"

It was Krish who answered....

"We were schoolmates....."

Kamala looked confused.... She turned to Shriya... "But you did not tell me you knew him when you saw the photo"

"I did not recognize," Shriya was wishing Krish would look elsewhere... anywhere.... His eyes were boring into her....

"You mean you did not recognize me?... Maybe you should take something to help your memory, we just met last month"

"No... I mean... I thought it might be you..."

"Oh... You could have asked my gran... She would not minded that question.... Might be you thought she will"

People were staring....

"No... Look, I was not very sure... And I thought I will ask later...."

"I guess you did not even recognize my mother"

She had forgotten about that.....

"I did.... Even spoke to her"

"I think she too was in the photo.... You saw me, her and Aakash and still maybe you did not recognize which family this might be"

"I did not take a very good look.... And when I saw your mother, I knew"

"Knew what? That you were indeed in my house?.... And ......."

"That's enough Krish.... Get in now.... You look like you are tired"

He gave a mock laugh and went in....


She was happy it was over... She knew she had something in her hand... some kind of customary take away articles that they give at Dussera time....
Gauri was right next to her, trying to keep pace with her as she hurried out the door....


"Shriya... Wait... I will have you dropped back home.... Its late enough"

"No... please... Its fine... We will take an auto"

"Maybe you will forget your way back home.... Or maybe you will not be very clear about it....,"Krish was standing by the door, hands folded across his chest, with that mock tone breaking through that cold air.....

"I will not, and anyway Gauri is with me"

"Really?.... And Hi Gauri.... We met... remember?"

"Of course"

It was not the moment to be puzzled over this... Shriya was getting apprehensive....

"So do you always have this kind of weakness Shriya?" He pronounced her name with a careful snigger.

"Weakness?," she was flaring up, "It just happened"

"Yeah... And does it always "just happen" ?

"My grandson is trying to be funny," It was Kamala's turn to be embarrassed....

"No.... Am just trying to be polite"

"We are getting late"

"And you know to read time? Or do you confuse time zones and ....."

"That's enough Krish... Anyone who doesn't know you will think that you are drunk"

"We really need to be going... Thanks a lot for today."

"Yes.... And no problem dear.... Krish can drop you two and another of Preetha's friend"

It was no use protesting.... Before she knew it, Gauri and Sandhya, Preetha's friend, were seated in the back seat....


She sat next to the driver seat.... Next to Krish.... Not a word was uttered after that...

Ominously, It was like all four of them were strangers, and no one bothered to break the silence....

It was evident that even Gauri realized that something was wrong....


It was after the other two got down that Shriya panicked...

He had stopped by her apartment gate and was waiting for her to get down... staring straight ahead with his eyes fixed on the road.....

"You had to do it right?"

"What?"

"You had to insult me that way.... In front of everyone.... "

"Insult?"

"Even more than that... You made me feel down right ashamed"

"Really?"

"Don't answer my questions with questions"

"Look.... Am having enough of all this"

"It wasn't me who started anyway"

"I guess not... After all, all you did was give us the least respect by pretending we were all strangers"

"I really did not know it was your grandmother"

"And you do not know me too"

She was silent...."I wish I did not"

"No wishing.... Its simple.... Get Lost"


She was out of the car when she heard him say it...

He was gone before she walked down to her gate...


The watchman stood puzzled as he saw the girl enter and walk on in a daze... tears streaming down her face.... She did not even bother to wipe them away....

He shrugged and walked around the apartment at his usual slow sluggish pace.....