A fresh breath

A bunch of fresh, crisp Rs. 100 notes pop out of the thin slot in a sudden, swift motion; still hanging onto the machine. The shrill beeps of the machine threatening to take it right back in. A hand lunges forward and grabs the notes and cursorily counts them. We now see the man glancing outside the glass cubicle. We see a petite young lady standing next to a parked auto, anxiety written on her face. The machine has churned out something else now; a white paper slip is hanging out of another of its many orifices. This is grabbed with even lesser concern as the man gets out of the box. In the process he has managed to stuff the notes in his wallet.

For the first time we see his full form. He is a handsome young man in his late twenties, the satisfaction he has found in life glowing beneath his skin. He is dressed casually, in a bright orange tee shirt and flannel pants. We see his watch glimmering in the sunlight as he runs towards the auto while pocketing his wallet. The lady gets into the auto while the driver starts the engine. We see the man bending and getting into the auto and the auto turns around to get back onto the road.

We see there isn’t much traffic on the road on the rather dusty road; intermittently, we come across shops and houses.

M: Ok, what’s the time?

W: It’s four. Don’t worry; we have another half an hour to get there. We’ll make it. .. if the traffic permits that is.

She is a pretty young woman in her twenties, looks confident and assertive yet diffident in her own special way. Her hair is tied loose but is now all over her peach top, her face and some even managing to get to her sweetheart’s face. She quickly removes a patterned silk scarf from her leather-look-alike handbag and ties it around her neck in an effort to police her unruly hair. She looks at him and asks, knowing very well what she is going to hear; she needs to listen to it anyway.

W: We will reach in time rite?

He is used to these sort of questions and replies patiently, but is not able to hide his amusement at his wife’s persistent anxiety. Wife – he still finds himself glowing whenever he thinks of it, after all these years he gets to be her husband. They are just shy of their second wedding anniversary.

M: Yes darling. We will. (trying to muffle a laugh) You look like. . (starts laughing ).

She is also used to him poking fun at her and braces herself, wondering what he is going to ridicule today.

W: Ok, what is it … It’s my scarf rite ?

M: Yeah .. you look like some rowdy, the way you’ve tied it around your neck .

She is rather offended that the remark was about the manner in which she tied the scarf rather than the scarf itself; had it been the latter – the blame could’ve been passed onto the scarcity of good scarves.

W: I guess you can tie it better. Anyway, utility is the key here. Why , do I have to bother how I look even while in the auto ?

M: It looks good. That’s what I am saying, you fit the role perfectly…

He notices the expression on her face moving into an area where he doesn’t want her to go and quickly recants.

M: Ok, ok… am kidding! Can’t I pull my sweetheart’s leg?

To his relief, he was just in time. It would’ve taken much more effort to bring her back if she had ventured further into one of her grey moods.

CUT TO

The road seems more crowded now; there is a lot more noise. The conversation is minimum since one would have to speak particularly loud to be heard.

M: Wow! That’s a NICE car. Tell me, which color would you prefer – steel grey or midnight blue?

W: Umm. Midnight blue. But that’s like a very distant dream hon. Shouldn’t we start with something smaller?

M: Yeah ...but no so distant. ….We should try and make that trip home happen this month.

The auto stutters to a halt. They are right next to the mall which houses the multiples. This road is completely different from where they started. The traffic on the road, the buildings lining the road and the people on it seem to be competing for some unknown glory, all at their best. The man removes his wallet and hands the first of the crisp notes to the auto driver. The auto driver hands back the change and puts the crisp note along with some not-so-crisp ones in a bunch and pockets it.

CUT TO

We see a small room which clearly serves as a home for three; each corner of the room serving a different purpose. In one corner sits a boy of seven – writing something down slowly in his notebook, with a wonder that only ones learning something new can experience, especially when that knowledge is hard to come by. We see the mother getting up from their small stove and walking to the door. We see the same auto driver walking towards her with a small cover containing greens and a few vegetables.

W: How come you are coming home now at this time?

M: Got a bargain till the main road. So thought I’d drop in. And Mahesh wanted to buy some book. Where is he?

W: That is a pretty expensive one. Shouldn’t we wait till the month end?

The man walks past her into the house. The son looks up at his father and smiles.

S: See, I solved all these sums on my own. The teacher hasn’t yet taught all this.

The man takes the book and pretends to grasp the wonder that his boy sees. He always wanted to but it’s too late for him now.

M: Excellent, son! This is brilliant. Come, let’s get you that book.

S: Really, you are getting me that book now?

M: Yes! I don’t joke about these things.

He turns around and looks at his wife. She is smiling at father and son, the joy on Mahesh’s face is what keeps her going. She was married off at the tender age of 19. He had seemed like a guy who could do stuff – he was the first to venture out of the farming profession in their community and settle in the city. She had big dreams about living in the city.

It wasn’t easy in the beginning; they could hardly make ends meet. He would seek solace in alcohol and sometimes in her. For her the relationship meant making meals and cleaning up the whole day and then putting up with her drunk, voracious husband in bed. She would face worse if she returned to her village. The arrival of Mahesh bettered the situation. Her husband a part of him that had been dormant since the days he spent with his baby sister. Both their lives had a purpose now – to make Mahesh what they never could be.

(…to be continued)