Serendipity

49

Time was running out. Three days later, Alka had gently reminded Anupama that it might be best to find an orphanage to house Kinjal. She could see the way the girl was being treated. Nothing was being said explicitly, and yet the gestures and behaviour of her family members were speaking loud and clear - Kinjal was overstaying her welcome.

Anupama had begged Alka to keep her for another four days.

"Monday, Alka, I promise. On Monday, we'll have a definite direction forward for her. Until then, please."

Alka had sighed. She felt like a monster, throwing an orphaned child out on the street. But she was helpless. Between the growing disdain her family was showing Kinjal, and the unknown challenges that existed for that girl on the street, Alka was willing to hedge her bets with the latter option.

Her husband and she had had a full-blown argument regarding Kinjal, and for the first time in their fourteen years of marriage, Alka had been made to feel insufficient, because she hadn't borne him a child.

Anupama understood Alka's predicament. Two years ago, she probably would have done the same. But things for her had changed. Anuj had walked into her life as a blessing and changed her circumstances and perspective. And now, she wanted to pass that on, make a difference in someone's life.

Anuj... The name brought a smile to her face. She'd discussed Kinjal's situation with Kaka. And while Kaka had been on board with bringing the child home immediately, Anupama had stalled. She didn't want to do anything without Anuj's knowledge and consent.

"So speak to him tonight," Kaka had urged. And Anupama had stayed awake until 2 am, waiting for Anuj to get back home. She didn't know when she fell asleep on the couch, she didn't remember when she was placed on her bed. All she remembered was by the time she got up in the morning, Anuj had made his way back to work.

She'd texted him an angry emoji. And he'd sent responded with a sorry emoji. She'd picked up her phone, dialed his number, and disconnected immediately. This conversation needed to be had in person.

Sighing, she picked up her bag and made her way to his office. She wished the conversation could wait. But she'd promised Alka a definite solution in four days. The only solution-oriented person she knew was Anuj Kapadia.

*****

It had been two hours since she'd been waiting for Anuj in his cabin. His secretary had popped in at least three times apologizing for Anuj's delay and offering tea, coffee, and biscuits.

Anupama wrung her hands and began fiddling with her bangles. Part of her wanted to run away with Kinjal, another part reasoned with her, a third encouraged her to calm down and wait for Anuj to come. Agitated and confused, she turned to look at the setting sun against the Ahmedabad skyline, taking deep breaths to calm her hammering heart.

Why was she feeling so nervous? What of hers was at stake? Images of her mother, her mother-in-law, Pakhi, Kavya, Toshu, and Vanraj flashed through her mind. Memories of incidents, betrayals - her mother fixing her marriage with Vanraj without her consent, she throwing her anklets into the well at their family deity visit, Leela taunting Anupama that she was not good enough for her husband, Vanraj purposely avoiding her at business meetings, Pakhi feeling uncomfortable introducing Anupama as her mother to her friends, and she catching Vanraj and Kavya together in their bedroom, on their anniversary. She closed her eyes and willed her mind to keep quiet. These disconnected thoughts were making her jittery.

"Anuj," she whispered.

"Anuj," she whispered again, using his name as a chant to keep her distracting thoughts at bay.