TAXI No: 1212

Chapter 18 -Disillusionment

"So Mummy, ready?" Sidharth started the taxi and asked his mother, who was as gleeful as a small child who was promised a picnic. It was Sunday, the day they were supposed to go for a dinner party at Malhotras.

"Since ages!"Sujata beamed at her son. She was wearing a bright coloured Punjabi suit that Shehnaaz had stitched for her. Sujata had been elated after getting the first formal dinner invite from her erstwhile family.

"You are looking so beautiful Biwi! Ek dum kadak maal!"Sidharth complimented and winked at his wife, who blushed red at the suggestion. Shehnaaz was looking resplendent in a beautiful powder pink organza floral printed saree. Her hair was set in a bun and her arms were full of maroon chura.

"Montu, chal jaldi chala!" Sujata said in exasperation. Sidharth and Shehnaaz exchanged smiles.

One and a half hours later, their taxi stopped outside a row house situated in a posh locality of the Easten suburb of Mumbai.

Shehnaaz looked on as Sidharth took the wheel chair out of the boot and lifted his mother into it.

"Kya soch rahi ho Jaan?"Sidharth asked his wife quizzingly.

"Ji...kuch nahi!"Shehnaaz looked around embarrassed.

"Baby bol de na!"Sidharth whispered in her ears.

They were slowly pushing the wheelchair towards the row house named "Malhotra Sadan'.

"Ji yeh toh 'kothi'(Row house) hai...bunglow nahin!"Shehnaaz said in disillusionment.

"Mummy thoda exaggerate kar deti hain...par Bombay main itna bhi bana lena bahut badi baat hai,"Sidharth told his wife.

"Ohk!"Shehnaaz nodded and smiled in understanding.

"Nani ya Kajal ke saath rehna!Woh biliyon(Arti and Bharti) se door rehna!"Sidharth advised his wife who nodded her head in a yes.

"Meri bahu aa gayi!"Mrs. Shakuntala Malhotra declared and brought out an aarti thali to welcome the newly weds. For a change, everyone at the Malhotra Sadan was happy and welcoming. Sujata's eyes got moist with the warm reception. What Sujata didn't know was that Mrs. Shakuntala Malhotra had given everyone a strict warning to behave cordially since her eldest daughter was coming home after years.

Sidharth too was surprised that his Mama, Mami, Masi and their kids were behaving very nicely with them. Usually by now some or the other scathing comment would have come.

Mrs. Shakuntala Malhotra gave Shehnaaz a round of the house. The rest of the family got busy with the snacks and gossip.

From far off, Shehnaaz could see Sidharth looking uncomfortable with his Mama and his Mama's only son 'Manas'. Both of them were saying something that was making Sidharth clutch his own fingers brutally.

Sidharth lifted his head up and caught Shehnaaz's gaze on himself.

"I am fine!"he mouthed her and she understood it right away.

Soon they were joined by Kajal, her husband Pankaj and Chintu.

Chintu stuck to his Mama, as Pankaj and the rest of the men talked.

Shehnaaz couldn't help but observe that Chintu had provided a happy escape for Sidharth, who looked more at ease now. She realised that Sidharth seemed extremely uncomfortable with all the men there. She remembered asking him the reason.

"I have been so happy since I have met you...especially since we have got married. Let's not jinx it by talking about my relatives. I will tell you one day when I am in the mood for angst,"Sidharth had replied and Shehnaaz had happily dropped the topic.