Match Made In Hotel | Ruturaj Gaikwad ✓

The Gatekeepers

"Mi, tu, tumhi, apan. Mi, tu, tumhi, apan." I do a quick revision in the lift of Nandu's building. 

Personal pronouns done, now I am supposed to revise the two sentences I had asked Nikhar to translate. 

"Mi tula awadte....no wait it was t m a....ah yes, tu mala awadte." 

For the last seven days I have busied myself by going to Nikhar's place for quick lessons on Marathi and then to Nandu's place for checking up on Sri uncle. And as Amma says, a close knit circle of friends can warm you through any gloomy phase of your life. 

The doors of the elevator open and I already feel my nerves calming down as my eyes fall on the familiar Nair nameplate. 

Nandu opens the door with a cautious finger on his lips gesture, telling me that Sri uncle is sleeping. I nod. We meet a tired but smiling Anitha Aunty in the kitchen and volunteer to help her with the dinner. 

After a lot of persuasion and puppy eyed pleading, she allows us to make dinner and retires to her bedroom to watch her husband sleep peacefully. When I catch her pat Sri uncle's forehead, her tenderness reminds me of Rutu. I wonder how tenderness flows through the veins of some people. And I sigh. Time to refocus before it gets too melancholic. 

Nandu. I ask him about his day. We exchange pleasant experiences with a light in our eyes and forgettable ones with receding heaviness in our hearts. 

"It's strange to think that when I was young I had never thought that I would go on to pursue law." 

"Yeah I can imagine! I remember all your excited talks about becoming a bigger household name than Sanjeev Kapoor." 

He chuckles at that and I can't help but pause and watch him closely as he kneads the dough. He always wanted to be a chef. Always.

Some childhood dreams wither with time but some aren't so fickle. I can see the twinkle in his eyes even today. Cooking has always been therapy to him. His muse. His escape. His first love. Is he truly happy as a lawyer? 

Before I can ask the question, his phone rings and he laughs at his dough clad hands. I smile as I move close to hold the phone for him. Its a call from work and he looks at me apologetically as he is forced to explain certain things on the spot. I assure him with my eyes, it's okay, I can hold the phone for as long as you have to talk.

I leave the Nair house with a full stomach and a fuller heart. Nikhar and Nandish haven't acted as distractors but gatekeepers. Gatekeepers of how much sadness and pain is allowed in their friend's life. I find myself smiling as I enter my house. 

Appa is sitting in the living room with a newspaper today. Like the usual times. Strange. 

"Ponnu...." He calls me. I doubt if I've heard right but when I look at his face, all my doubts vanish. There's sadness in his eyes but a smile on his lips. The dichotomous look of a parent significant of their sacrifice. 

I approach him slowly. At each step, I wai to see if he changes his decision. 

But he opens his hands for an embrace and I run to him. 

"You love him a lot. And I love you. Now I've only got to see how much he loves my little girl." 

I can't speak through the snot and tears. But he understands. I hug him tighter. This is it. I no longer have to fight and pretend to be okay. 

Because right at this moment I am a little girl who has her Appa's support. And with his support, she can fight every damn demon in this world. 

*******

A/n - Dedicated to all the fathers. And their daughters. May you always find strength in each other.