Unlocked Feelings

She tentatively walked down the steps lugging the empty yet heavy gas cylinder. She hadn’t really interacted with her landlord often. He never seemed forthcoming, but today was a different day.

The city was in lockdown mode. It had been 4 months since Maya had moved here. Amit had been promoted, with the promotion had come a transfer. While she was happy for her husband, she wasn’t too pleased with the idea of relocating for her daughter or herself.

She was happy teaching singing in Jaipur. She had always been successful as a student. Her wish was to to work but marriage has changed her destiny. Fortunately she had found music. Singing was meditative for her. Listening to music also brought her happiness.

Now she had still felt lost in the cacophony of the big bad metropolis of Mumbai. People did not seem to be forthcoming here. Over the last few days she had started to find her rhythm with the pulse of the city and then the lockdown happened. It had helped that she had managed to find this rare nice cosy home in the city. It was a charming two storeyed villa. The owner was finicky. He was quite clear that he wanted to rent to a small family. Vehicles wouldn’t be allowed in the villa. No parties. The list was full of do nots.

She had met him with her husband twice for some paperwork twice. He had always seemed distracted. She had heard his voice once when his driver was on the receiving end.

So many thoughts brimmed her mind as she arrived at the landlord’s door, not sure if she should press the bell.

She knew she had no choice. She wondered if she had another way out to change her gas cylinder while the city was under siege.

Mr Khanna, energetically opened the door, curious who could it at his door be on such a day.

“Good Morning” Maya said softly

“ Morning” responded Mr Khanna. It took him a few seconds to realise that his tenant was at her door. He also sort of realised the challenge at hand.

“My gas cylinder is empty, wonder if you could help?” enquired Maya, expecting a curt reply.

“Not sure if I can spare mine” responded Mr Khanna looking at the heavy piece of metal. In his mind he already trying to decide if Maya was voluptuous or just curvaceous. He decided curvaceous. “But I could treat you for a meal” said Mr Khanna thoughtfully. “To begin with let me give you ...chai, come in?”

Before she could decide, Mr Khanna had already decided that she would come in. She wasn’t going to lug up the cylinder anyway. He left the door open and pulled the cylinder in. Maya entered. She felt that her opinion about Mr Khanna was probably an over-reaction. She always thought he was authoritive, fit, tall and handsome, now he seemed charming too. She also liked the vintage vibe of the villa and this house. Uncluttered and airy. The home suited Mr Khanna she concluded.

“Coffee, if that’s an option” Maya finally decided that she had no other choice but to get comfortable with the situation.

“Yes, since my chef is on leave, why don’t you just make two coffees. My chef has gone and so has your gas cylinder. My kitchen, your efforts. Perfectly fair I think?” suggested Mr Khanna

“Seems like a fair idea and I’ll also get the coffee I prefer” chipped in Maya, she was now getting comfortable.

“Perfect, I like my coffee Indian, with full milk and sugar. As regards your coffee, I’ll leave that to the new chef” smiled Mr Khanna.

As Maya ran her eyes through the kitchen, she started putting the ingredients together. She heard Mr Khanna speak out “Need any help, I am right here though I believe that too many cooks spoil the broth so I am best away”

Just as the fragrance of fresh coffee naturally drifted through the hall, so did Mr Khanna’s eyes naturally drift to Maya’s silhouette. She stood right in between the glare of the kitchen window and the living room. Mr Khanna could only appreciate her full curves.

She came back with the coffees. Khanna observed that the cups looked better in her hands than my chef’s. Probably it had to do with her well defined nails.

As Maya looked around, Mr Khanna on cue placed the coasters on the table. Maya placed the the cups and Maya settled down.

Mr Khanna suggested “Want to play cards?”

“Okay” said Maya. It would help make the stay comfortable. He fetched the cards and dropped them on the table. He decisively added “Rummy”. Maya opened the deck and shuffled.

“Now that you are shuffling, you wont have an excuse when you lose” said Mr Khanna.

“Yeah true, but you are already preparing your excuse” the words slipped out of Maya’s smiling lips.

As the game was laid out, Maya’s phone rang. She picked the phone 1st and then the cards.

She signalled a minute’s break as she lovingly said “Hello baba, Good Morning”. After hearing for a while she replied “Yeah Nani (maternal grand mother) is a super cook too” ...

Mr Khanna was quietly observing the conversation or more so Maya’s body language. He liked the glow on her smiling cheek bones. There was a certain rhythm in her voice. Each time she moved, his eyes reflexively dipped on her healthy endowment. He consciously didn’t linger there. He didn’t like the idea of being called a lech!

“Okay play” she broke his train of thought. He looked up and then at the card she had thrown. As he played he mentioned “ looks like we’ll have a good meal on the table today”

“Depends on who assists me” she countered.

“So you cant manage alone?” he responded

“Senior chefs keep the basic work for their juniors, that’s how they get trained” she logically said.

They bantered as the game continued and she finally won. “Okay, the loser is at your service. Tell me what are we eating” Mr Khanna fairly offered.

“Okay, let me freshen up and come back, Mr Khanna” she got up extending to pick up the cups. Mr Khanna reflexively put her hand on her wrist signalled her not to. “I’ll manage. You come back quick. My name is Jay”

As she was about to tell reply, her phone rang. She immediately stiffened. She signalled Jay to keep quiet as she walked to the door. Jay could hear her tell hello, as she walked up the stairs.

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