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‘I don’t agree.’
‘Your wish, it’s okay. Go get ready, we gotta find a PG.’
‘No, do you really mean it?’
‘I am pretty sure of it.’
‘Let it be, na. Where will you go? The maid is used to you now, stay for her sake.’
‘That’s more like it. By the way, if you ever want to stop me, never ask me to do it for yourself.’
‘Sometimes I don’t really get what you say.’
‘No issues, there’s no need to understand everything. Let’s go out somewhere this evening. It’s been a long time since I went to the beach.’
‘Yes, and had chow mein too.’
M for Moment
Sudha fell silent when they were at the beach. Chandar thought she was offended by the ‘live-in’ talk. He asked, she didn’t respond. She kept walking around, her feet wet.
When the sun dissolved into the sea, much like salt, she spoke: ‘Yaar, I think I’ll find a PG after all.’
‘Are you mad at something?’
‘No, that’s not the case. I toh don’t have to get married. But if you stay with me, it will be difficult for you to settle down.’
‘Oh my god, that’s what you’ve been thinking for so long?’
‘No.’
‘Then what have you been pondering over since then?’
‘Walking on the wet sand by the sea stirs up a strange urge. An urge that someone should just hug you tight and never let go. Love is a lot like this wet sand, no? You never get to know when it slips away underneath your feet, and you’re such a fattu that if I ask you to hug me, you’ll bail.’
‘What are you saying? Try asking me.’
‘Then hug me right now the way you used to hug your girlfriend.’
‘Right now?’
‘You’re a fibber, let it be.’
‘I’ll hug you right now.’
‘Let it be, the moment has passed.’
‘I thought you were kidding.’
‘I never joke when I’m near the sea.’
‘Why?’
‘Because the moment passes when you joke about it.’
While walking near the sea, it felt like Sudha was taking in all of life with every breath. She tried not to waste even a single breath as she strolled on the beach.
It is weird, but the more the sea rages, the calmer we become. That’s a lot like life, you can’t find peace unless you reach the peak of nervousness.
