You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

Two Strangers… One Lockdown! 
{1}

I let out a long-drawn sigh and looked at the receptionist. He kept staring at his desktop screen while tapping his fingers over the counter. He looked more frustrated and worried. Finally, after two whole minutes he turned his eyes on me. He did not have to say anything, the helplessness of his gaze said it all.

‘I am extremely sorry, madam. But we have received orders to vacate all the guests from the hotel. I checked with all our other properties and some other allies too, but the response has been the same. The management does not want to take chances. You have till tomorrow afternoon to vacate your room.’

I felt anger and pity at the same time for the receptionist. This was the same man who had welcomed me with a smile three days ago. Taking a look at his badge, I nodded my head.

‘Thank you Sooraj.’ I had almost turned to leave, but I stopped.

‘I really appreciate your concern and efforts for me.’

I could not help giving him a smile and he smiled back at me. Probably this was his first smile in a hectic day. He had done everything within and beyond his capacity to help me. After returning to my room, I simply sat down unable to move. This was not something that I had expected, or anybody had expected. Entire country had gone into a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And I was stuck in a city where I practically did not want to spend another day. What was worse, all the domestic flight operations would be suspended from tomorrow night. When I last checked, all the flights to Mumbai were full. Even the few seats which were available were ridiculously expensive. Moreover, airports were so crowded that I almost feared stepping into one of them, lest I should catch the virus. So far, only older people affected from COVID-19 had succumbed to it, obviously I would not be able to forgive myself if I gave the virus to my grandmother at home.

The first option of heading home was ruled out. I did have a few acquaintances in Bengaluru, but I did not want to burden them with my stay. This lockdown was announced for 21 days but looking at the global crisis, I guess it could be extended. There was so much uncertainty around it and I was literally going crazy stuck in an unknown city. For a moment, I almost had a panic attack when my phone began to ring. No surprises, my father was calling me.

‘Hello papa.’

‘Hi Sharu, where are you?’

‘I am in the hotel room. They have told me to vacate the room by tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Tomorrow afternoon? But… where will you go?’

Good question. I was also asking myself the same.

‘The situation at airports is not very great otherwise I would have simply booked your flight ticket right now. On a second thought, I still think that you should just come home,’ he said in a controlled voice. I could almost hear the storm raging behind his calm façade.

‘No papa. It is not safe. Give me some time and I will figure out what to do. Maybe, my office could arrange for some alternative accommodation in their guest-house.’

‘Okay. Take care, child. Please call me in case you need anything. See you soon.’

‘Take care, papa.’

I was glad that it was not my mother speaking to me. She must be really worried and that is why she made my father speak to me. Mother’s voice is capable of bringing tears to your eyes, no matter how strong you are. Switching on the TV, I browsed through the news channels. They were flooded with grim news about the pandemic and lockdowns around the world. It almost reminded me of Ken Follett’s trilogy on World Wars. My stomach growled lightly reminding me that I had skipped my lunch too. I was in no mood to eat but my empty stomach was indeed making it difficult for me to focus. Calling the room service, I ordered for two sandwiches.

Meanwhile, I called my office manager and explained the situation to him. He sounded genuinely concerned and assured me that he would get back to me with alternative arrangement for my stay. We both agreed that it was very wrong timing to keep the client meeting on that day. But we both had no choice because the client was a difficult one and we did not want to give him another opportunity to criticize us. The reputation of our firm was under stake and I took the initiative to travel for the meeting. After disconnecting the call, I fell back on the bed and let my eyes close. I don’t know for how long I was lying there because the next thing I heard was my phone ringing. For a moment, I could the recognize where I was. I had fallen asleep.

‘Hello papa. What happened?’

‘Sharu, please don’t get angry with me. Just listen to me carefully…’

This was not right. I knew that I was going to hate his next words. When I disconnected the call, I was almost reeling under shock. I could not believe that my father had done something so absurd. And it is absolutely unfair when he asks me to do something for him and that something is what I hate the most in my life. I did not say anything in reply and simply disconnected the call. But my father knows that I would do it for him.

I will never forgive you for this, papa…

Reluctantly, I began packing my bags. I was fervently hoping that my manager would be successful in finding a place for me. At least I could use that as an excuse with papa! The sandwiches had still not arrived, and I had now lost my appetite too. I was scrolling through my WhatsApp messages when the door bell rang. I opened the door half-expecting it to be the room service boy.

‘Hi.’

I froze. Staring back at me, were a pair of chocolate brown eyes in a face that was too familiar, yet distant. His face was leaner, enhancing his sharp features. The moustache suited him well over his thick lips which were set into a hard line.

‘Your father called me.’

His deep voice rang through my entire being. I hated that his voice was still my weakness. Steeling myself, I gave him a cold stare.

‘Hi.’

It was him. Atharva, my husband.

No. My Ex-husband.

To be continued...