Arun and I spent a couple of uneventful months after his parents left. I tried to live by aunty's words but I was not successful. I went as far as taking a couple of girls out for dinner and a movie nights but could not get too far with them. Girls at work were in a stage where they were looking for a life partner. There were a few promising prospects among the older married women but none responded to my advances.
Arun visited his parents during a festival week and came back with a horde of homemade sweets and snacks. He also had an important looking document with him which he said had to be given to his sister, Neeta, within a couple of days. Since he was going to be busy at work catching up from his days off, he requested me to go give it to her and get her signature on the documents ASAP.
That Monday morning I boarded a local train that took me close to Neeta's house. She was expecting me but when she opened the door, I immediately knew something was wrong.
"Oh, Hii Ramu. Come in," she said, without any enthusiasm.
I heard a male voice calling out from within the house.
"Hey, my breakfast is cold! I told you to keep it warm! Can't you just do as I tell you? Do you want me to repeat it a MILLION times? You know I don't like cold food. And why did you not iron the blue shirt? I am not going to wear this white one. Go iron the blue one and get it ready. Are my shoes polished?"
What the hell? Who the fuck was that? Was that her husband? The one she fell in love and got married to?
Neeta and I walked into the house and she tried to introduce me to him. "Hey Vishal, this is Ramu. We grew up together in Trichy and Delhi. I have talked about him many ..."
"OK. OK. Yeah, Yeah, " Vishal answered gruffly, just glancing at me.
Neeta added, "He and Arun are sharing a house in..."
"Fine. You have told it a hundred times before. Go get my blue shirt ready quickly. Hurry! I have no time. The car will be here any second!"
Neete picked up his place to reheat his food. At this Vishal shouted again, "Hey, where are you going? I NEED MY SHIRT!"
"I .. I thought you wanted your food warm...," Neeta stammered.
"OH forget the food now. What can I do? I will eat it cold. My fate. Because of your stupidity, look what all I have to endure!"
I looked at Neeta and said, "Hey Neeta, let me handle the food." I took the plate into the kitchen and warmed the food for Vishal and gave it to him. He started eating, but immediately started whining and complaining. "Oh oh.. Too much salt. She can never get it right! Damn! Fuck it!" He abruptly got up without finishing his food.
Just then Neeta came in with his ironed shirt and gave it to him. He grabbed it and as he put it on her said, "Too much salt again today. Can you not get it right? Hmmph! Are my shoes polished? The brown ones..."
I felt sorry for Neeta. And I did not want to see her in this situation. "Hey, Neeta," I said. "You know what? I have to go to our local office. I will come back during lunch and get the doc from you."
We both knew it was a lie, but she looked at me with a grateful smile and nodded.
I went across the street to a coffee shop and waited till Vishal's taxi took him away to the airport. Then I went back to her house. She was not surprised to see me.
"I am sorry you had to see all that bullshit this morning. He can be an asshole sometimes. Actually, all the time. Nowadays I am glad he is not at home. My next torture will begin on Friday when he comes back."
She looked at me with tears in her eyes. My heart melted.
I said, "Hey, Neeta. Let's go get some brunch in some place nice and have a good coffee. I think you need a break. C'mon, it will be fun."
She shook her head rather quickly. "No, I don't feel like it. Stay. I will cook something quick."
"No. No. I will help. Let's just chat for a bit then. We can cook together."
At this she brightened a bit. "OK!"
We sat down and started talking about our days in the South and in Delhi. We chatted for the most part of an hour but could not ignore the six-hundred pound gorilla in the room. I finally asked her, "Hey, Neeta. Why? Why him?"
"Ramu, how was I to know. He seemed nice and sweet in college. He comes from a good family - amma and appa approved. How quickly he changed. He wants me to be like his mother. He doesn't want me to work. What can I do?"
"Leave him," I said, too quickly, and surprised both of us.
'What!"