Maruva

Chapter 2

It was a Sunday evening and the family was engrossed in the Filmfare Awards broadcast on Sony Set Max. Jeevan proposed going out for dinner. Mridula was thrilled at the idea of not having to cook. Maruva suggested the restaurant ‘Grub’ that served both Indian and Chinese food. Akankash proposed going to ‘Royal Darbaar’ that exclusively served non-vegetarian items. As all fathers are always partial towards daughters, Jeevan went with Maruva’s suggestion.

By 7:30 p.m. they shackled Richu in the dining hall and set off in their glamorous paprika red Ford Ikon. Akankash took the front seat beside Jeevan. Mridula and Maruva sat at the back.

Mridula took the opportunity to remind Akankash on his lack of direction in life, “At least do something useful other than just playing video games and sleeping all day, dumbo!”

Maruva murmured, “Huh! Doesn’t even have many friends. Duffer! But how will a schizophrenic even have any!”

Mridula cautioned and raised her eyebrows at Maruva for labeling her brother schizophrenic. Akankash turned back, gave her a piercing stare and increased the volume of the stereo. The car blared, ‘ Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe… kehne ko ji kehta rahe…’

Jeevan didn’t intervene. He drove in silence like an obedient cab driver.

…

In about half an hour, they reached the restaurant. They took a table in the family AC dining section. As the waiter arrived, Akankash quickly ordered Kalmi Kabab , Chicken Lollypop and Afghani Mutton Biryani - his all-time favorite. Maruva ordered a Hot and Sour Chicken Soup, a large Barbeque Chicken Pizza and Schezwan Noodles. Jeevan went with Butter Nan, Veg Kolhapuri, and a Chettinad Fish Fry. Mridula didn’t order anything in specific and ate from everyoneelse’s portions. Akankash and Maruva agreed to exchange pieces of the Kalmi Kabab and the Barbeque Chicken Pizza. It didn’t take long for them to start fighting over equal shares. Mridula asked Akankash to share his chicken lollypops as well. After a long argument and Akankash getting his share of the Schezwan noodles, the war subsided.

…

Jeevan silently ate his meal like an honest cab driveraccompanying the family. The bill amounted to Rs. 3,250. Mridula was the one who handled the bills and placed Rs. 3,500 on the table, asking the waiter to keep the change as tip. The waiter couldn’t be more pleased. He greeted everyone with a thankful smile.

It was a lavish dinner and a joyful, rejuvenating evening for the family, a break from their monotonous routine. Jeevan would make it a point to take his family out for shopping, movies, dinner or plays at least once every couple of months. He’d also make time for a four to five day trip once a year and made sure they never missed it. Needless to mention he would always be playing his sincere cab driver part.

…

As they were driving back home when Akankash thought of something and asked Mridula, “Mom!”

She replied mockingly, “Yes Pa, intellectual!”

“I have a question but I want a logical answer.”

“Shut up and ask me already!”

Akankash dropped it, “Why do people bargain for a meager discount of Rs. 3-5 with fruit and vegetable vendors, the chai-samosa vendors, people who sell pineapples and cucumbers on trains, and those who sell toys on traffic signals. But the same person doesn’t think twice before handing over generous tips to waiters in restaurants. So tell me, at least in mere outlook, who is actually needy here? At least on the face of it, who do you feel is more hardworking?”

Mridula found herself facing a mixed bag emotions of – happy and sad, entangled and enlightened. Sad because she too belonged to the category her son had just spoken of and happy because she marveled at his thoughts and outlook. Entangled because this was a common practice without any rational explanation and enlightened because she felt how factual, accurate, and legitimate his question was.

She thought, ‘Isn’t this how an actual civilized human being should think? How many of us think that way?’ She looked at him through misty eyes. She was proud of what Akankash had grown up to be.

Maruva murmured, “Mom, he’s schizophrenic. Can’t help it!” She held her finger to her temples and rolled them in circles, indicating Akankash was crazy.

Akankash was lost in thought as he gazed out of the window. He hadn’t noticed his Mom getting teary-eyed and was still waiting for an answer. He was lost in thought. ‘Such a puzzling and confusing world’, he pondered, forgetting the response still pending from the back seat.

Jeevan switched on the parking light and got down to open the gates. Mridula went straight to the master bedroom and slept without switching on the television to watch her usual soap. She dumped herself in bed without changing.

Maruva rolled her eyes as she entered her room, thinking of how insane her brother was and how over-dramatic her mom could be at times.