3. Eli Re Eli, Kya Hai Yeh Paheli
— RITU —
Babies were the best friends one could have. They did not look at you with anything other than love, they always laughed after a cry, they always forgot what had gone wrong a second ago, they flung their arms around you and hugged you when you asked, and when they rested in the cocoon of your arms — they madeyoufeel safe.
Ritu glanced at the little baby girl resting on her chest, her curls fluttering in the whirring fan, her thumb in her mouth, eyelashes tittering over her skin as they slowly went down. Early morning had been a meltdown. She had woken up to MM screaming murder and then Maya’s soothing voice. Ritu had stayed in her room for another hour, showering, getting ready, dissecting her stuff for some decent work clothes. She had just carried one work tunic and one shirt to India, expecting zero professional commitments for the next three months.
Now she was stuck with three days a week of OPD consultations and emergency interventional procedures.Thank you, Dr. Shravan.
After changing into her white oversized shirt over a pair of black stretchy leggings that would have to do as professional attire until she ordered a few trousers, Ritu had come downstairs. Only to find Gautam working on his laptop perched precariously on the hand rest of the sofa, MM stuck to his chest like a limpet, wide awake but quiet with the pacifier in her mouth.
She had instantly taken over baby duty as he had gone up to get ready.
After half an hour of playing, jumping on the sofa, tight huggies and raspberry kisses, MM was on her way to sleep and Ritu didn’t want to move. Even when the clock struck 8. She gaped at the hour hand. If she wanted to reach town on time, she would have to book an Uber now.
“Maasi!” Maya’s whisper shout made her eyes whirl up to the stairs.
“What?” She whispered back.
“You are supposed to get up late and enjoy this holiday! Why is this G making you babysit?! G!!!” She whisper-shouted upstairs.
“Maya!” She called out, mindful of the baby that had already gone to sleep.
“What?!”
Ritu pointed at herself. She was ready for the day already. Maya rolled her eyes, coming down the stairs, still in her pyjamas. She carefully took MM from her chest and laid her on the sofa, picking cushions off the lounger and barricading her. Then she came and lay down beside her, her head half on her thigh — “Why are you ready already?”
Ritu flicked her forehead — “I have appointments.”
“Today is new year.”
“And I’ll be home by afternoon.”
Maya pouted. “Your Shravan sir is playing dirty. He knows you are on vacation and is still making you take over.”
“His sister got TB, Maya. He can’t leave her. He can’t leave his patients in a lurch either. Come on. It’s just mornings, thrice a week. And anyway, I have nothing to do here except eat my weight in roadside kachra, get loosies, then do another bingefest.”
“Lunch is at home today, by the way, even G is coming back.”
“Isn’t your office closed until tomorrow?”
“He has a client meeting. On new year morning!” Maya widened her eyes. Then — “Oh!” She jumped to her feet and folded her hands together, bending down to touch her feet and tickle them. “Saal Mubarak.” Ritu laughed, trying to push her off. Maya just grabbed her foot and held it up, pushing her to her back, like they used to do as kids.
“You are a mom! Grow up,” Ritu playfully kicked her, still half-lying, reaching down into her tote bag for a hundred rupee note.
“Here,” she held it out.
“You are a world-famous cardiologist, pay the kids more!” Maya held the folded hundred-rupee note up.
“Correct, sorry.” Ritu reached into her change pocket and grabbed a one rupee coin and placed it in Maya’s open palm — “It’s always 101. Enjoy.”
“You are such a kanjoos with me! You got me only one suitcase of stuff and got two for MM.”
“Who is the baby between you two?”
“Kanjoos. I find all kanjooses in my life!”
“Excuse me?” Gautam came down the stairs, ready in his formals.
