Just Like Work

Chapter 10. Care For a Drink

“Those eyes …” Anthony was in the shower and the images of Maria’s eyes challenging him kept running through his mind . The shower wasn’t bringing him any peace like always , her eyes were bothering him and he hated when he had questions he couldn’t answer .

“What do you want ? ”.

He kept thinking about what he wanted out of her, why he allowed her to mock him, shoo him away like a diseased stray … , and still found himself running back to her . He hadn’t encountered any woman who would hate sharing space with him unless they had something to be afraid of , he hadn't done anything to scare ... "Ah ! Right ."

Nodding at all the times he had invaded her space , how could he forget the shootout at Night Bridge ? It wasn't new to him but for a regular person, not so much .

“She surely knows how to make the most out of things … ?” he smiled recalling how she made him buy a women’s handbag . And she still looks him in the eye after all that . "You are something , Maria ," the name lingered on his tongue like an aftertaste of wine .

He got out of the shower and dressed in comfortable t-shirts and pajamas as he guessed what she would make him buy next time they met .

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“Boss …” There was a knock on the door .

“David !”

“I thought you were sleeping .” David walked in with a bottle of whisky and two glasses . “Care for a drink ?”

“No .” Anthony took a seat on the big white couch .

“Okaayy …” David sat down on the carpet next to him and started pouring drinks .

“Didn’t I say ‘no’ ,” Anthony said as he smacked David’s head .

“You can’t turn me down . You swore, remember ?” David flashed a cheeky grin, showing all his front teeth . “Hold on a second . I asked Mustafa to bring ice .”

“You won’t let me forget it . What a tragic night that was ?” Anthony scoffed . There was sadness in his eyes .

Mustafa arrived with Ice and was invited to join them in a mini-drinking party to celebrate Anthony’s new title of SBG’s president . They drank while talking about old embarrassing and funny incidents . It was mostly David who was talking while Anthony joined in sometimes to confirm David’s words , whereas Mustafa was listening with childlike excitement .

It was all new to him since it had only been a few years since Mustafa had joined them and served with great loyalty to become one of ‘David’s boys’.

It had been over an hour and they were still drinking . Anthony was still on the couch , somewhat sober , and David next to him , sitting on the floor , was swaying back and forth with swollen eyes and Mustafa was in the bathroom , puking .

“This gutless pig … told you not to drink that fast ,” David yelled in the direction of the bathroom . “Flush it all clean . Or I’ll make you sleep there .”

“Weren’t you like that too ?” Anthony snickered .

“When ? I was … never that ill with alcohol .” Offended , David defended his claims . “I have high alcohol tolerance . Didn’t you see how many pegs I just had !”

“Then who was the one who fell asleep next to his vomit …” Anthony mocked .

“Hey … it was all because of you .” David jumped up to sit next to Anthony . “I pushed my limits to keep you company . I wouldn’t have if you weren’t sobbing that day after seeing Nidhi Madam’s boyfriend .”

Anthony went quiet for a second, then replied , “I was crying because I have such a fool for a friend who fell flat after two drinks .”

“I was only 18 and hadn't eaten since morning ,” David screamed and stretched on the floor . “I did you a favor that day . Be glad .”

“And I promised to always join you when drinking . We are even , Ass .” Anthony said and gulped down the last of his drink .

A minute later , Mustafa came back to join him , heaving , eyes red , and with his shirt in his hand , “Who was crying , David sir ?”

“OH , MY BOY !” David pulled him into a hug . “You are alive , I thought you were done for today . Come here , join us .”

“I heard you saying that Boss was crying. Why ? Were you really sleeping in vomit ?”

“EEh ! It wasn’t in vomit . It was BESIDE it . OK . Total of 2 feet away .” David measured the distance with his hands on the floor and re-enacted the incident of how he had measured the distance before falling asleep back then .

“So , now you are agreeing in front of him … Mustafa , be my witness and remember this . In the future , whenever he denies doing this, speak for me ,” Anthony said to Mustafa .

“Yes , BOSS !” Mustafa sat straight , saluting him .

David nodded , glaring at Mustafa . “Then also bear witness to know how it will feel when I cut your tongue after that . Okay ?”

Stunned by the seriousness in David’s voice , Mustafa cowered away from him. But Anthony broke into laughter . His throaty laugh startled others .

“He laughs like a Demon ,” David whispered to Mustafa .

“That’s the Mafia King’s laugh . Very powerful and intimidating .” David said out loud, laughed along with Anthony , and poured another round of drinks .

“David Sir … Who is Nidhi ? I heard you say that name .” Mustafa asked curiously . It wasn’t often that David mentioned any woman other than their ‘Kaaki’ .

“A Regret ,” Anthony said , the atmosphere turned gloomy all of a sudden with his serious expression .

With the tension rising in the room , David cursed himself for bringing up that name . “Boy ! Can you still drink or is it over for you ?” He said , breaking the tension .

“I think I should stop now .” Mustafa smiled apologetically and bowed deeply as he apologized .

David dismissed him and poured another round of drinks for himself and Anthony .

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In Hospital :

Maria and Soumya were sitting in the doctor’s room . They looked tired and unusually quiet .

“I will forward a request . I have filled it out . You need to add the reason for the delay , then sign it and We will send your mother off to the funeral home after getting her clean .” The doctor handed over a file . “How long do you want to wait before cremation ?”

“’til Saturday ,” Maria answered . “Today is Wednesday . It will take two days for our father to arrive . He lives in Kerala . He will be the one performing the rituals .” With a quick change in her tone that made her voice sound hopeless , she added , “Girls can’t perform those …”

Soumya was puzzled by her sister’s words .

“That is far .” The doctor said , pitying the girls who had lost their mother early in the morning .

Maria signed the form and handed it over to the doctor . “Thank you , Doctor .”

“You did everything you could . Her body wasn’t responding to the medicines , there wasn’t more you could have done to help her . Don’t be too sad … She passed away peacefully .” The doctor gave a supportive smile before the girls left the room .

They walked out of the doctor’s cabin . “What father is in Kerala ? One ran away , one is in Kerela … just How many fathers do we have ?” Soumya whispered to Maria .

“Didn’t you see how she was looking at us ? I had to give a strong reason for delaying the cremation .” Maria answered holding in her laughter at Soumya’s comment .

“And why Saturday ? What’s on Saturday ?”

They were walking out of the hospital .

“My half day . I don’t want to disclose this at work .” Maria was planning to tell her colleagues that her mother was well and went to live with her uncle in their family home in the village since the city life wasn't good for her lungs .

“You WILL really cremate her? I thought …” Soumya held back while looking at Maria .

“You thought I wouldn’t ? I am not that bad . Also , I can’t breathe alright unless I see the last of her gone from this world ...” Maria pursed her lips .

“Wait a minute … You don’t think I Should Cremate her ?”

“Do what you want .” Soumya held out her hand for the taxi . “I don’t care . It’s not like I do much , anyway … I just stand and watch .”

Maria had been smiling but it vanished quickly . Her eyes were on her baby sister as her words sank deep into Maria’s consciousness and pulled out the pictures from the past . Was it the frustration in her voice or sorrow or tiredness … It could also have been helplessness , but she didn’t know for sure .

She was reminded of the times when their mother used to have outbursts . They always ended after being directed at Maria … the woman used to yell , cry , blame , and even beat her up depending on how angry or sad she was feeling that day .

Maria would usually blame herself too , sometimes wishing that she was dead or that she would have run away like her father did … but what little Soumya used to do then ? Little Soumya used to watch . when her sister would get dragged by the hair while she was happily playing , when her sister would get scolded or starved because she didn’t wake up on time to do the house chores before leaving for school , when she was called a ‘waste of money’ because she couldn’t score well , when she refused to go to housecleaning because the employer’s son was a pervert , when she started going to college instead of finding work … the moments were countless but little Soumya used to do just one thing – stand and watch .

Once inside the taxi , Soumya asked , “I sent out the email but you haven’t shown me the proof yet .”

“Yes . Remind me when I get back from work .” Maria said tapping her head . “Let’s eat out today .”

“hmm… we can do that ,” Soumya said scrolling on her phone .

“Do you have a place in mind ? Or a dish ?”

“Let’s do a burger night .” Putting away her phone , Soumya said facing her sister . “Everything junk . Burger , fries , cold drink , and then a movie .”

“And then ice cream ,” Maria added , raising her eyebrows and grinning . “You will be leaving soon . Let’s party every weekend ‘til you leave .”

“Granted !” Soumya said swinging her finger in the air like using a magic wand to grant a wish .

“When is your last paper ?”

"Monday”

“Hmm …” Pulling in her baby sister , Maria whispered into her ears , “Let’s drink after that .”

“We can ?”

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