Maya Masi Comes For A Visit
Chapter 1
It was the 3rd week of January this year when we got a call from Maya Masi that she and Arun Masa are coming to Delhi for a week, which meant of course that they will be staying with us for the duration. Nobody at home was thrilled with this piece of news. We are not fond of Maya Masi. In fact, very few people are. She is a bitchy, pompous, self-praising idiot. As thin as a stick, with a pinched, thin face and boy-cut hair, she is one of those people who have mastered the art of saying the most hurtful things with a sweet and sincere face. Nobody minds Arun Masa, a quiet and spineless fellow, who seems to exist only to carry out Masi’s orders. There are times when he shows a spark of rebellion but that’s another story.
Well, the day of their arrival came and Papa left for the railway station to receive them. The amount of luggage they brought for one week’s stay was just about enough to fill two cars and so, a taxi was hired to accommodate the extra luggage. Mummy was waiting in the verandah when the two cars drew up. Masi jumped out of the car and hugged Mummy exclaiming, “Lata! How are you sweetheart? You have put on more weight since last year! You know plumpness really suits you! Oh, but before anything else, pay the taxi driver quickly or he will ask you for waiting charges. These Delhi taxiwallas are such thieves! And where are Guddi and Yogi?” And leaving Mummy to pay the taxi driver, and Papa & Masa to bring in the luggage, she entered the house shouting, “Guddeeeee! Yogeeeee!”
Yogi and I were sitting in the small kitchen garden at the back of the house. We heard her calling us and realized we could not put off meeting her any longer. No point pretending we could not hear her when all the neighbours could. We entered the drawing room and were immediately pulled into a bone-crunching hug by Masi. “Oh my little ones, how wonderful to see you again. My God, Guddi you look so much like Lata, do you put on weight also to match hers? And Yogi! How dark you have become! How do you manage it while working the graveyard shifts you do?” None of us answered her. I was busy counting to 10 and from the look in Yogi’s face I figured he was counting to 100. But then Masi wasn’t really expecting an answer, she rarely ever hears any voice other than her own. And so she carried on, “And where is Mataji? Matajeeeee! Matajeeeee!”
As I have mentioned before, Dadi has the best brains in the family. She had the foresight to have an early lunch, lock her bedroom door, stuff her ears with cotton and go to sleep just before Masi and Masa were expected to arrive. Thankfully, Mummy walked in just as Masi was about to holler again. “Mataji is sleeping, she had a slight headache”, said Mummy, “You must be hungry, why don’t you freshen up while I set out the table.” Masi opened her mouth to say God knows what but before she could speak Mummy said firmly, “We’ll talk over lunch”, and guided Masi and Masa to the guest room.
Papa, Yogi and I, left alone, looked at each other. All three of us were thinking the same thing – one full week of THIS! Mummy came back to the drawing room and said, “Look at the bright side. Think how beautiful life will seem once they go back.” Papa took heart from this and said, “Yes kids, God tests us in many ways. We will get through this week together with our dignity and sanity intact.” I doubted it but nodded in agreement, so did Yogi. Crisis like these do bring families closer!
Continued…..
