Stranger -Three

All things narrated here are fictional!

It was a very fine Sunday morning for Kaaya. She woke up to her mother's call. She was telling Aai that she was almost settled and comfortable in her new world and how cooperative her roommate was. She got invited for dinner at Samartha's house and how fun-loving Uncle Aunt is. Kaaya happened to mention an elderly couple who was residing right across from their flat. "Aai(Kaaya's mom), an elderly couple is residing next to our flat. Aaji (grandmother) is very sweet, and she has a beautiful smile. Every day when I open the door to take a milk bag and newspaper, she happens to draw Rangoli at her doorstep. She reminds me of Aaji (Kaaya's grandmother who passed away when she was in school)." Aai responded to Kaaya, "That's great, so have you introduced yourself to them? Did you interact with them?" Kaaya disappointedly said, "That's the point, Aai, whenever I try to initiate conversation. Her husband shooed me away indirectly. Whenever he hears her saying good morning to me, he purposely calls Aaji, or he'll come outside and will indirectly taunt me not to talk to strangers, or how ill-mannered Kriya is and I might be the same where he never interacted with me or Kriya for that matter. I simply don't understand what's his problem. I mean, it's ok if he doesn't want to interact, but how fair it is to stop her from talking to me?" "Calm down, Kaayu, I understand you, but we cannot force conversation when they don't want to right. Anyway, it's just been a month. Old people are hard to make adjustments and adapt to new people and changes. Let them know you at their pace. You keep trying, but do not cling and be forceful for them to know you." Meanwhile, the doorbell rang. Kaaya asked Aai to call later and she went. 

She opened the door, and to her surprise, there was no one outside. Kaaya saw Kriya taking a Milk bag and newspaper inside 
but still, the bag was full. Kaaya asked Kriya whether she had ordered something and had asked a delivery partner to left at the doorstep. Kriya came from behind, "Arrey, I've already taken a milk bag and newspaper; what's in there? I didn't order anything." Meanwhile Kaaya took out a tiffin from bag. Both were surprised to found a tiffin inside. Kaaya opened the tiffin and found Jalebi inside. They give each other a surprised stare and Kriya found a note sticked. "Look Kaayu there's a note sticked. Lemme read." The note written was,"sweets for sweet tooth." They looked straight at neighbour and Aaji from inside waived her hand and gestured them to have it and closed the main door. 

Both girls smiled and went inside. They were desperately craving homemade food, and the hot and fresh jalebi was their treat. Kriya, with a filled mouth, said, "This is heaven, yummy" Kaaya didn't understand a single word Kriya said, but she could possibly guess what she was trying to say, "I didn't get a single word. Kri, but I'm getting what you're trying to say. This is so delicious. I was legit longing for homemade food and then this, I'm delighted." Girls enjoyed the Jalebi. Later on in the evening, Kriya bought some samosa from the famous Samosa centre nearby. They packed the same in the tiffin they received earlier and left it at their neighbour's doorstep. Again, next Sunday, Aaji left another such tiffin with Dhokla, and this pattern continued for a few weeks. It was the only way where aaji and girls could communicate and they were happy doing that. One day, aajoba caught aaji red handed putting tiffin at their neighbour's doorstep. He furiously snatched it from her hands and asked her to stop all this. Kriya overheard their conversation and let Kaaya knew. They decided not to react for a while.

On the same night Kaaya was awake doing her studies and heard noices coming from neighbour's house. She went to door to check and she was convinced it was coming from aaji's house. She rushed and woke up Kriya. Together they rang doorbell, aaji opened the door and they saw Aajoba had fallen in bathroom and he's stuck in there. Both girls tried to help him but at such time also Aajoba was reluctant to let them help him. He asked them to leave and said bad things. Kaaya got frustrated and yelled at him with concern, "just shhh, you can shout at us once we take you out. Till then shhh no words." Aajoba instantly got silent and he didn't utter a single word after this. The girls were all exhausted trying to take him out in room but they couldn't do so. Kriya went out to call few neighbours on the floor for help. With help of them finally they were able to take Aajoba out. Kriya happened to call known doctor and upon his arrival some first aid was done. He advised aajoba to take rest and show up at clinic for some x-ray. He prescribed medications and he left. It was not possible for aaji to take care of him alone, and she could not run if any emergency hits in mid night. Upon considering the given condition girls offered to stay overnight with aaji and ajoba to which aaji agreed. However Aajoba was in denial and kept arguing and insisted not to have them stay at their place. Kriya said, "Oldie, we're not going to stay here forever. You keep your calm. It is because of Daadi and for her sake we're staying here because we don't want her to have any trouble. You can take help from us, young blood. And if you got so issues with it you can return the favour with one dinner." Aaji and Kaaya smiled while Aajoba was pissed off. Unable to counter Kriya he agreed to let them stay for a night.

The girls slept in hall. Aaji told Aajoba, "I know this is not the right time to say this but I've to. You have been constantly demeaning these girls but look now they're the ones who rushed to help us, help you out without any second thought. Given your nature anyone barely interact with us but today the people of floor and nearby came to help us just over a request made by the girl. You should atleast consider them." Aajoba took out a frame from his drawer and with teary eyes he held the frame close to his heart. It was frame of a cute little girl with aaji aajoba. Aaji wiped his tears, "it is not right to stuck in past and keep visiting past doors. If you keep on visiting them you'll never be able to welcome the present and future that lays in front of you. Do not cut open the wound and let it heal." She took the frame from his hand and put it back inside. Kriya who came to check on them and sneaked into their room happened to hear the conversation. She came back to her place and was having many thoughts whose frame was it? Why were they crying while holding it? 

Whose frame it could be? And does it explains Aajoba's rude behaviour with them?

14/09/2024