The Return - Chapter 5: Ride Back Home

The horns were blaring into the night. The smell of Pav Bhaji hit my senses. The rains added a new dimension to the scene. I was out of Mumbai for a decade. Sure I missed these sights and sounds. But only then did I realize how much. As nostalgia took over, I slipped into the deepest sleep ever.

"Saab Saab, we are home", Hari shook me by my hand. The sun hit my face. Last I knew, Pune was 4 hours from Mumbai.

"What took us so long? We were supposed to be here at night!"

"Saab, Mumbai Trapick saab. What to do?", smiled Hari.

"Where are we? This is not Pune!", I remembered the hamlet we moved into after we sold our Mumbai house. The streets were lined up with McDonalds and Subway billboards. The people all around were dressed in Levi's and Express. Where did the sleepy town of Pune go away?

"Nana! Where's Nana? I mean Malvankar saab"

"Saab, Malvankar saab must be on his morning walk now. I have the keys to his house. Follow me", Hari opened the door for me

"Morning walk? But how can he go on a morning walk so soon? Dr. Shalini said he was serious.", Hari was no where to be seen. He had already taken all my bags into the house.

"Hi this is Dr. Shalini Ruparel from Pune. Malvankar Kaka is my patient. I wanted to talk to you about him. He is serious.", I dialed my voice-mail again to check if I missed something.

It did seem like she left the last sentence incomplete. Why did I not see it the first 100 times I heard that message.

"Hari! What time does Nana get back?", I walked into the kitchen. Everything was as Aai had left it. The steel dabbas with labels on them. The water matka with naturally cool water. The same old Allwyn Fridge. It was as if Aai cooked here even today. I remembered the time, she showed me how to cook Pohe. It was still my lifesaver when I had nothing to take out.

"He generally stops by at the Medical center after his walk. He should be back in a hour though. Saab I have to go drop the car at Shalini Madam's place.", said Hari as he strained tea. Hmm Is that ginger tea? That's my favorite. It's Nana's favorite too.

"Oh do you mean Dr. Ruparel? Can you call her? I need to talk."

"Hello? Shalini Madam?.......Hari shpeaking......Yes Madame we got stuck in trapick....Madame Sandeep Saab wants to talk...One Min."

"Hello Dr. Ruparel, Sandeep here"

"Hi Sandeep. How was your flight?"

"It was"

"Anyways what I was saying was....Malvankar Kaka was not in town when you left me that message", she cut me off.

"Yea about that. Your message actually gave me the impression"

"Don't worry I won't tell him. It will be a good surprise. Hey I gotta go attend a patient. I will talk to you later.", She barged in again. I would have kicked some butt if someone did that to me in a meeting or something. Somehow I didn't mind. It brought a smile on my face. In someways reminded me of Avantika. Wonder how old this Dr. Ruparel is?