"I spy you!" - 4

The rains continued. Funnily there were no thunders or lightning. It was like music to the ears. The wick in the lanterns which were placed next to him started slowly shaking. She could see his shadow grown and the head of the shadow was on the roof shaking.

“So you remember my name at least!” teased Pushpahaasa with a smile in his voice. It was the manliest voice Vasupradha had ever heard. The body was matching with the voice then. He was very handsome. It was easy to get cheated by him. He was looking the most trustworthy person. Even with his lean frame now, he looked the same trustworthy. She had trusted him to the core the last time she was with him and it had left her with a wound enough to last for a lifetime. She had then felt that it was the last of him she had seen.

But the fate laughed at her ignorance. It had hell bent on putting them together again.

“Come on Pushpahaasa! How can I forget you? As far as you, no one who comes across you can forget you?” she said eating a piece of Chapati along with Bhindi curry and continued, “Let me get this straight. Why are you here?” she asked him looking at him directly.

Pushpahaasa matched her stare and said, “For the same reason as yours I am sure”

“Where is your son?” She taunted him.

“My son? Are you joking? Don’t you remember about ou... my son?” the slip of the tongue was deliberate.

“That is why I asked. I am taking my son to the hospital. He is not well.” Her voice had become very dull.

“What is wrong with him?” Pushpahaasa asked. There was a glass of brown colored drink. She supposed that he was drinking liquor.

“I don’t know. He is very dull, almost dead to the world” seeing Pushpahaasa’s expression, “No, no, he is not in coma. He is not ready to move. I am unable to wake him. The local doctors could not do anything. So taking him to the city” she inhaled heavily and concentrated on her eating chapatti and bhindi curry.

There was a sound in the corner. The owner Upendra had come to check how they are faring. The dachshund came behind him and snuggled under Vasupradha’s feet.

The dog’s body heat was very soothing for the underneath of Vasupradha’s feet.

“Now! Tell me the truth! Why are you here?” She reiterated her sentence.

Pushpahaasa got up and started roaming in the dining hall area. He was looking everywhere except at her. He just said, “When it’s the right time, you will understand” and walked away from there into the rains towards the other end.