Chapter 7:
Read Chapter 6 here
Sunday dawned
bright and sunny. After a hectic and an emotionally stressful week, Tara
decided to laze around in bed for slightly longer than usual. She looked at her
bedside clock and realized she just had an hour before the Marie Claire
photographer showed up. Thinking of Jennifer, Tara remembered the tattoo and a
feeling of foreboding returned. She forced herself to take her mind of it and
realized Shekhar was already up and about, with the sounds coming from the
kitchen. She could hear her darling daughter’s squeals as she dropped yet
another magnet on the floor.
She got up and
went to the kitchen and an adorable mess greeted her sight. Shekhar was on the
floor with Roohi on his back, saying, ‘horsey, move’. Hating herself for it,
Tara asked both of them firmly to please clean up the mess and to get ready for
the photographer. Everything had to be perfect. Shekhar tried imitating a neigh
which resulted in Roohi dissolving in a fit of giggles.
An hour later
the doorbell rang and Tara greeted Jennifer. Jennifer was awed by the meticulous
house. She realized that the house was far bigger than she had imagined it to
be and to have such an apartment, overlooking the sea has to quite an
expenditure. The front door opened to the entry hallway which was decorated
with a Venetian mirror and a vintage wooden table underneath it. Beyond the
hallway was a huge living room where there was a set of beige leather couches
and a glass coffee table and the entrance to the balcony. Next to the area was
the TV section where Tara had put up a pair of lazy boys. Ah! What wouldn't
Jennifer give to sit on one of them. She saw the eight seater dining table with
high backed chairs. To the left of the dining area, Jennifer could see a bit of
the guest room which was converted into a study and to the right she could see
two bedrooms. Behind it were the kitchen and a small prayer room.
The house was
perfect just like the woman standing in front of her with not even a hair
strand out of place. Jennifer realized this is what she wanted to achieve in her
life and imagined Tara to be her mentor and helping her through the tough
times. But little did Jennifer know, Tara had a hard exterior and she had never
let anyone come close to her. Except, maybe,
Shekhar.
Tara in the
meanwhile had followed Jennifer into the living room and could not help but
discreetly look at the tattoo trying to confirm that it was the same one. She
didn't want to. Tara forced a smile as Jennifer turned to her and asked her if she
could please get a glass of water and if it was okay for her to start assembling
her equipment. Tara said, ‘Right away’ as she walked towards the kitchen hoping
she didn't give away too much by glancing at her wrist again.
Shekhar and
Roohi were trying to make a cake amidst laughter and Roohi was content just
licking the batter off the spatula. Anger suddenly boiled inside her and Tara
surprised herself by snapping at them, ‘Can you guys stop it? There is a guest
in this house. I feel I have two children instead of one’. A stunned silence
greeted her and she busied herself with water. Jennifer’s voice came floating in
saying, ‘It is completely fine ma’am. A little laughter has never hurt anybody
and God knows I need it after staying alone.’
The photo session
finally began with Tara sitting in the study and in the balcony. Jennifer then instructed
her to go change into something a little more casual for the rest of the
photographs. Alone, Jennifer started to look at the framed pictures hanging on a
wall in an artistic collage. She saw Tara during her graduation ceremony, young
and beautiful, sharing a laugh with her friends, saw a picture of her and
Shekhar when they had just started dating, saw the wedding and engagement
photos. Jenny was brought back from her reverie when she heard a voice behind
her. ‘Hi I am Shekhar. Tara’s husband’. Jennifer saw a short balding (premature?) man with the smile as in the photo on the wall. ‘Hi I am Jennifer Joseph.
Photographer from Marie Claire. I am here to do get an interview with successful
women and your wife is one of them. Sorry to spoil your Sunday. But tell me,
how do you live with such a beautiful and a successful lady? The men I know
would get intimidated. Don’t you?’ Shekhar smiled and replied, ‘If you were
given this project a few years back, then Tara’s name would have not featured in
your list.’ ‘Why?’ a perplexed Jennifer asked. Shekhar replied, ‘when we got
married, she was just a small medial professional running some errands. Now
with her rise to the top, I am extremely proud of her, not that I wasn't back
then as well. I hope nothing jinxes her career path’. Even though she knew
Shekhar meant it in a good way, Jennifer could not help but feel slightly confused and out of sorts with his statement.
Tara finally
returned to the room dressed in skinny jeans and peach coloured top with her
daughter in tow who was looking adorable with her hair done up in a ponytail
and a sleeveless dress with red strawberries. Jennifer then instructed them for
the poses and started taking the family photos.
An hour later,
they were finally done and sat down for coffee and Jennifer started asking
questions about her background, ‘So your husband tells me that you have risen
to the top thanks to your hard work. How does a successful woman like you
juggle home and work life?’ Tara replied, ‘When I was lowly media personnel, I
used to do a lot of administration and miscellaneous work which the big wigs
couldn’t be bothered with. It was then I had decided to work as hard as I
possibly could and did not let, and I still don’t, let anything come between me
and my career. Yes, handling work and home is difficult at times but I try my
best to be successful at both.’ They heard a snort come in from Shekhar’s
direction which he immediately turned into a cough. After a couple of more
questions, Jennifer got up and thanked the couple. She bid farewell to Roohi
clicking a snap of her trying to sit on the lazy boy. As Jennifer turned to shut
the door she saw Roohi hanging on to her father’s leg asking for ice cream
(‘little brat’, Jennifer smiled to herself) and looked over at Tara who was quiet
and staring into space.
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