“Do laga dijiye[45],” Samar said.
Amaal observed as he took a long knife, opened his pot and started slicing what looked like a whole rock of ice cream. He collected the slices in a bowl of dried leaves and set them on his weighing scale. He then chopped it into even smaller pieces, buried a wooden spoon in and handed it to her. She waited for him to make Samar’s bowl, bringing the ice cream close to her nose for a whiff. Milk, cardamom and cold air. Lovely.
“Ye lo, betaji.[46]” The old man raised his bowl to Samar, and a streak of headlights fell right on Samar’s face. The old man’s shuddering hand froze. “Daaxsaab?”
Samar immediately set his hand under the old man’s, picking the bowl up. And then, his eyes softened, his mouth spreading in a small smile — “Ram Ram, Panditji.”
“Ram Ram, Ram Ram,” his hunched back straightened, his mouth grinning. “Ghar aa gaye?[47]”
“Aata-jaata rehta hoon. Aapki aankhein kaisi hai?[48]”
Panditji smiled, waving him off with his hand, then glancing at her — “Chalti rehti hai. Aapki patni hai?[49]” He asked Samar.
Amaal’s breath hitched. She glanced at Samar but he didn’t even skip a beat before answering — “Saath kaam karti hai.[50]”
Panditji laughed. “Kha lo isse pehle pighal jaaye, phir dusri lagata hoon.[51]”
Samar’s smile widened at him. And Amaal couldn’t see anything else under the tiny street light illuminating that impervious face. His smile was so childlike. And when he scooped a piece of ice cream and stuffed it into his mouth, that puffing of his cheeks was so innocent. His gaze came to her, and the smile melted. He tipped his chin at her bowl. She nodded, scooping a piece and biting into it.
“Ummm… bohot acchi hai, Panditji.[52]”
“Achhi lagi na? Asli desi khoye se banti hai. Khao, khao, garmi mein issi se taakat aati hai.[53]”
“Main puri dukaan kha jaaoongi.[54]”
He wheezed out a laugh. “Dusri lagata hoon.[55]”
“Nahi, bas![56]”
“Meri ek laga dijiye.[57]” Samar’s deep voice slid into their conversation, as did his hand, with his empty bowl. It was filled in no time, without being weighed this time, and Samar had to stop him from adding more.
After they were done eating, a long tussle ensued between them about payment. Panditji wouldn’t accept Samar’s money, and Samar wouldn’t let him push it back into his pocket.
“Aap se paise loonga, Daaxsaab?[58]”
“Lene toh padenge.[59]”
Amaal snorted, seeing the bossy side of Samar. Usually, he did not express it.
“Bilkul nahi![60]”
“Panditji…”
She reached inside her purse from the open car window, took out the cash and slid it under Panditji’s pot while he was turned away, arguing with Samar. She saw Samar note it, and his hand instantly pulled back from arguing.
“Theek hai.[61]” He slid his notes back into his pocket. Panditji grinned, patting his arm.
“Phir kab aayenge?[62]” He asked her.
“Kashmir lautne se pehle zaroor aayenge[63],” she promised, opening her side of the car door and settling inside. Samar got in, started the car, turned the wheel, and then pushed his head towards her window. She pasted herself back into her seat, feeling him so close.
“Panditji?” He called out.
“Haan?”
“Matke ke niche dekh lijiyega.[64]”
Amaal held back her laugh as the old man patted blindly, finding her money. He began to open his mouth to scold them when Samar pressed on the accelerator and raced it out of there, laughing softly. She couldn’t hold back now and broke into proud giggles, throwing her head back.
