The key turned in the hole. Nadia opened the door to her apartment. Crossing her fingers, she stepped into her flat wishing she wouldn’t be distressed again. The entrance of her apartment looked the same - untouched by her 8 hour absence. No trace of any disaster yet. Placing her things on the table, she walked around to survey the house casually. She entered her kitchen nonchalantly, when she realized that something was missing. The little wretch was at it again.
Nadia stormed out of her apartment and walked down the winding staircase. They better have an explanation this time around. She remembered telling the watchman to get her a handyman. But all the watchman did when anyone came was snore away to glory and scan visitors with closed eyes. ‘What’s the use of staying in such a place if I can’t get access to basic amenities?’ She pondered as she stood outside the door. Her fingers were about to hit the doorbell as she heard the sound of the door knob open.
Nadia looked into the apartment when she saw its tail disappearing behind the kitchen door.
Nadia walked in uncertainly scrutinizing the apartment for the little wretch. She thought she would just deal with the little wretch and leave. She didn’t want to disturb Ms. Naik.
The voice of the old lady stunned Nadia. She stepped back as the lady approached her.
Ms. Naik was the oldest resident in the colony. Ever since her husband passed away, Ms. Naik kept herself busy helping people in need. Therefore keeping her mind forever active and preoccupied. Tinu was her recent pre-occupation.
‘ Nadia… what a pleasant surprise…come sit…’ the old lady said as she called out to the servant maid to bring some tea and crumpets. Nadia politely declined but the lady was only too happy to oblige. Rarely did she receive company.
‘ Come come…girls your age should eat. Look how lanky you’ve become. Boys like girls with shapely figures…’ Nadia knew where the topic was headed and smiled wishing she could just disappear from the face of the earth.
She was about to get up and excuse herself when she heard a tiny pair of feet approaching her with a tray in hand. Ms. Naik laughed and said, ‘ ahh. …Tinu has finally learned the trick of balancing the tray’.
As Tinu proffered her tea and biscuits, Nadia sat down. She took the tea off the tray as she watched in amazement how little tinu placed the rest of the items on the table. She walked away slowly swaying her butt from side to side. She looked so feminine in her gait that Nadia forgot that it was a monkey.
‘ She’s adorable, isn’t she?’ Ms. Naik said proudly. ‘ Poor thing, she often gets bored sitting in the house.’
Nadia listened to her as she saw the items on the table. There was orange cream Britannia biscuits, some triangular shaped fresh samosas and on a separate plate a familiar looking banana.
She saw a pair of eyes peering from behind the door. As Nadia took the banana, she saw small teeth marks on the banana skin. She watched Tinu watch her in anticipation. For once, Nadia didn’t feel reproachful. She called out to Tinu. Tinu hid behind the door, as she knew her little secret was out.
‘ Tinu, this is not the way to behave with guests. Please come.’ Ms. Naik said.
Tinu walked slowly towards Nadia. Her big brown eyes eyeing the banana she held in her hand. Nadia offered her the fruit, ‘ this is yours…I know it is’
Tinu looked at her in an astonished manner. Nadia thanked Ms. Naik for the tea and walked away.
Since then, Nadia had unconsciously made peace with Tinu. She never called the handyman to repair the window. After all it was just the matter of a missing banana.
No comments:
Post a Comment