BEING TOGETHER, PART II - AGONY UNCLE

  

Tea was served on my desk in the office. It was late afternoon of a typical Friday. I stretched my legs and felt happy that next two days would be relaxing as I had no plans of moving out of the house. I had some domestic work lined up. I started working on my weekly sales figures and projections for the next week.

I got a text message on my mobile. I looked at it and the message was “Free in next one hour? – Chandana”.

I send the reply “Can make time for you”

“Come to the coffee shop near the multiplex by 5 pm. Will be waiting for you”

Chandana Rao and her husband Nandan Rao are our family friends. They are a very well to do family and recently we had attended their house warming ceremony.

I went through my sales analysis fast and packed up and left the office by 4.30 PM. I reached the coffee shop and saw Chandana waiting for me outside.

“Hi” she said and walked into the coffee shop. I followed her.

We sat in a corner where no people were around.

I could notice that she was upset. The usual smiling Chandana looked tensed up.

“Relax and tell me what is bothering you” I said.

She immediately replied “It is him again”

“What did my friend Nandan do this time” I asked.

“Sir, what shall I serve you?” the steward interrupted politely.

“Two coffee please” I said looking at him.

He smiled and went away.

“Continue” I said.

“How was the party we arranged in our house couple of days ago?” she asked.

They had organized an excellent party couple of days ago. Nandan with his flamboyant style and impeccable dressing sense and Chandana with her warm smile and care made the party unforgettable.

“Your party was excellent as usual. You new house is huge and very beautifully done unlike my house which is smaller” I said.

She replied “Please do not compare as comparison steals joy.

 Everyone says the party was good. But he would never admit. He finds fault with me”.

I was confused. What was I supposed to do when they both had a problem of not appreciating one another? She had called me since she had faith that I would resolve the issue.

Reluctantly I jumped into the discussion and said

“I did not get you. Did he get annoyed?”

She replied “You know that our house is pretty big and on that day one of the servant maids did not come and I had to do lot of physical work also. I was telling the people to move the chairs to the proper locations. I had to arrange for extra chairs in one room and he wanted it somewhere else and the issue of placing the extra wall hangings, etc”

I drew a blank face and wondered what value I could add in resolving.

 I told her “continue”

She said “Over the years I do not care anymore whatsoever. But what irritated me were the comments he made”.

I said “What comments? I was there in the party until the end”

She continued “You were not there when he made the comments. The Sharma couple from New Delhi had come. You know that they are a bit show off type and I am not comfortable with them.

We were talking to them and Sudeep came running to me and started crying. Sometimes Nandan loses his sense of location and he started ordering me in a louder tone to handle Sudeep and console him. He told me that he was with the Sharmas and I should take care of the kid.

Tell me how I would have felt at that time. Mrs. Sharma was immediate in telling that her son would not have cried like that in a party.

I felt very bad and the next day I told Nandan about it. He did not care and walked away to office”

There was silence for couple of minutes. The coffee was served on the table. I started sipping it. I broke the silence and said “Come on do not take things so seriously. We all know Nandan very well. He is a top guy in his company and he is known to be a task master. He likes you very much and you should let this incident go”.

She gave me a nasty stare and said “Did I do a mistake by telling you all this?”

“No you did not. In fact I want to help you guys to come out of it” I said.

She continued “I am not a child and I know this may appear like a silly incident to others. But I know what I have gone through. A lady who takes pain in organizing such a party cannot be brushed aside like that. It is hitting my ego very hard. Today morning he got ready and went to office as if nothing had happened”

She started sobbing. I could see some tears in her eyes. I found it very difficult to say anything. Handling a woman was the most difficult thing in the world. She was my friend’s wife too.

“Let us call him here and talk it over” I said.

She looked up and there was a huge smile on her face and she said “It took you so long to take this decision. Call him now”

I called Nandan on his mobile and said “Hi dude will you come to the coffee shop near the multiplex? I am waiting for you”

His office was about 200 meters away from the coffee shop. He replied “ I will be there in next 15 minutes”.

15 minutes later he arrived and walked in. I waved and he saw me. He sat on the chair and commented “So Madam is also here. Tell me what the complaint is?”

“Look this is his style and he is so predictable” She chipped in immediately.

“Hey guys cool down” I said.

I explained how Chandana felt about the comments he had made during the party.

Nandan looked surprised and said “I never said anything harsh to her and of late I take good care to be polite and nice to her”

“You will never remember. You make such comments and then forget” she replied.

I  looked at Nandan and said “Friend, I am sorry to talk about your personal issues. We are close friends and there should be no issue in sharing disputes with one another. That is the reason why Chandana called me over.

I know that you take care of your family very well and you earn very handsomely. But sometimes we men should look at family and life beyond financial stability and assurances we give them.

We forget to understand that we are rich if we have more things with us which money cannot buy.

It may appear silly to you but it has affected Chandana so much that she is still talking about the incident”.

Nandan was looking at the mobile kept on his lap. He was busy sending some text message.

“Nandan did you hear me” I said.

He looked up. I could see that he was feeling bad about the incident.

He said “I did not mean anything to hurt her”.

He turned to Chandana and said “I love you the way I loved you before”.

Her face blossomed and I could understand that they got connected again.

Nandan looked at me and said “Thank you for being a good friend. You can leave now. I do not want you to disturb our romance”

I realised that it was time to go out. I looked at Chandana. She said “I second his comments”.

I was happy that the ending was good. I said bye and started walking away.

Chandana held me hand and with a feeling of gratitude said “Thank you for being my Agony Uncle”.

I smiled and walked out. I could see from the window that they both were laughing and having their coffee.

I was walking towards the parking area to take my car out. I saw an old couple on the other side of the road. They were in their late seventies. The old lady was walking and the old man had kept his hand on her shoulder and was having a walking stick in the other hand.

 I felt “The love between partners should always remain intact as long as they live together”