A bright Sunday morning Helen calls Avi
"My parents are reaching in afternoon and they will be putting up at a guest house in Santa Cruz for a few days"
Avi still rubbing eyes...
"hmm...okh..!"
"My sister and one of our childhood friend will also be there, I need to prepare you, see you at the park in an hr.."
As always Helen reaches before Avi who gets there with a Coke and a packet of Lays
"Man.. you need to work on your timings!!!"
"This much is expected, check the day.. and I got late getting these..."
"Of 'course.. I was dying without them, no? Now will you sit or you need invitation?"
"So.. what is the agenda?"
"You need one? What did I tell you on phone?"
"Of 'course I know ..It's a get together with your family!"
"Will you get serious or are you going to smile this sheepishly there also?"
"Arre.. you said you are going to prepare me.. Don't kill my smile! It works every time..!"
"See its happening very fast, I know, but that is how it is.. time is running.. almost a year I told about us at home.. and now I am feeling the push.. they want to get done with this as soon as it possibly be.."
Meanwhile Avi opens Coke and offers to Helen, she refuses
"Its 11!! Nothing mixed. Safe as coconut!"
"No. I don't want it. Pass me lays."
"You need preparation more than I do.. Coke helps boost confidence level.. comes with adrenaline push. Do you want my lawyer to faint before jury?"
"I am doing good without this. You need this my tiger. I know you will turn goat there anyways.."
"Arre.. you don't know me.. I will handle things my way. Full confidence. My way or highway... Just like that first time.."
"Shut up!!"
"You are getting me wrong..! You forget the mantra I taught you while having beer in the park.. 'Maximum privacy is in public!!'"
"Yes I am getting you wrong.. You won't listen to me, will you? I am half dead thinking how it's going to be today when you meet them and you are in your own world, acting superman!!"
"Is that the new name? I like Tiger!!"
"Enough, now throw that bottle and look at me!"
"As you say.. but we should not litter..?"
"What happened to your second mantra? What are these safaiwala's going to do if you don't litter?"
"I was checking your nervousness.. You are doing good!"
"Hmm...!!"
Both smiling..
"See.. I want you to speak there. Take them into confidence. Tell them that things are in progress at your end and that we need some time.. or rather you need some time.."
"But this will start a stop watch.. no? And you know the status at my end.."
"I know.. Do we have any alternative?"
"Hmm.. what are they here for?"
"New year.."
"Isn't year equally new in Delhi also??"
"Can't they be with their daughter on 31st??"
"But we already went there.. in October, then in November.."
"Why are you stretching..?"
"Just a question.. but why are you not replying properly?"
"I didn't want to tell you this....."
"Tell me what..?"
"Actually a relative suggested someone for me here in Bombay.. and they are coming to visit them..."
"Fantastic.. here comes the surprise..!"
"I also got to know about this yesterday.."
After a minute of silence -
"Anyways, we got to deal with this... You need coke?"
"Can you mix something??"
"Sure.. room is 5 minutes, I can run in 2.. just wait..!"
"Let it be Tiger... am kidding.."
"You got the ground rules?"
"Is it a marathon?"
"Cool dude!! Calm down...! Just dress well. Work on your cover letter. I have told them your pay is better than mine!"
"Don't you worry lady.. I will flatter them..!"
"I know..! Just speak there.... your silence frightens me...."
