GOSSIP THERAPY

“Did you hear about Mrs Khanna? Her husband might leave her anytime.” Mrs Bedi took her tea cup from the table. “What? Why?” Mrs Naik adjusted her broad hips on the chair. Waved around her gold-coloured hand fan. “I tell you this woman.” Said Mrs Verma, “She focused on her career. Her husband had a well paid job, wasn’t that enough?” “Oh no” Mrs Bedi said, “Her husband had an affair with another woman and Mrs Khanna got to know of it, so now he has to pay 50% of his earnings every month after the divorce gets finalized.” “How do you know?” Mrs Naik sipped her cup of tea. “My husband is her husband’s lawyer.” Mrs Bedi laughed, “Or ex-husband.” “Of course he would have an affair. What did she expect? Why do you think I sit at home? I have to monitor our kids and my husband.” Said Mrs Naik “Yes but your husband travels out of the country for business. How are you able to monitor what he does?” Asked Mrs Verma “Or who he does?” Mrs Bedi swung her tea cup in laughter. Two sips sank into the grass. “Housewives manage better.” Frowned Mrs Naik “Do you two not agree with me?” “Forget Mrs Khanna.” Mrs Bedi insisted, “Her marriage is doomed. Did you know that Rahul’s mother caught him on drugs?” “Oh My! Really?” Mrs Naik smiled with eyes widened, “How did that happen?” “Yes I heard that he came home from school with white powder around his nose.” Mrs Verma raised an eyebrow, “What happened to smart and good son, better than all? Remember she said that the previous Diwali we met her?” “Yes” Mrs Bedi laughed, “Her smart good son snorted his studies down the drain.” She struggled on two fingers around the handle of the tea cup. “Dolly Ahuja?” Mrs Naik fanned away the mosquitoes stuck to the grass beneath her feet. “She is pregnant.” “Again?” Said Mrs Verma, “Draw a line.” “I know.” Mrs Naik rolled her eyes, “Show offs.” “Three children in six years. I think they should stop.” Said Mrs Verma “Tell that to her husband.” Laughed Mrs Bedi. Her cup had to pick a side. Four sips wasted on her bright red dress “What about Minisha? Where she goes, who she meets; I say get this girl married before she ruins the family name.” Mrs Verma’s fan shined against her acne. “This generation is better off married at 18.” A tray of sweets and salted snacks made its way to the table in the garden. “Sorry ladies, I hope the three of you didn’t miss me?” “Oh we waited for you Anisha but didn’t know when the time went by.” Mrs Bedi struggled with her empty tea cup. “Another round of tea?” “Odomos. These mosquitoes sucked my blood to the litre.” Mrs Verma fanned her legs. “Why don’t we step inside.” Anisha said, “The sun is about to set.” “Yes, let’s go inside.” said Mrs Bedi, “I want Masala Tea Anisha.” “My dietitian advised me to have Ginger Tea. Anisha, tell your maid to make it for me.” Said Mrs Naik Their high-priced sandals clapped the floor. The house received raised eyebrows downcast on whatever crossed its path. “The last time we came, furniture filled your house. Did you sell some items Anisha?” “We gave away what we didn’t need.” “OLX? Financial problems?” Said Mrs Verma. “Repaint your walls into a brighter colour. White fades into grey.” “Where’s Minisha?” Mrs Naik winked at Mrs Bedi “She’s with Rahul. Studies keep them busy for the finals.” “With Rahul?” Mrs Bedi laughed. “He was caught on drugs outside school. Ask his mother.” Said Mrs Verma “He ate two powdered sugar donuts bought from the school canteen. He told Minisha about the laugh he and his mother had after that.” “Donuts?” Mrs Naik looked at Mrs Bedi for an explanation. “Did you hear about Mrs Ahuja’s fourth pregnancy?” Mrs Bedi asked. “Yes, she’s blessed to have another.” “Don’t you think a fourth child crosses the line?” Said Mrs Verma “If they want more children, it’s their choice.” Anisha helped the maid place the Masala and Ginger Tea on the teapoy. “Mrs Khanna is set for a divorce.” Mrs Bedi looked wide-eyed with her chin up at Anisha “Yes, that’s sad.” “Her husband had an affair. That bastard. What will happen to their daughter?” Said Mrs Bedi “Hope it gets sorted.” Said Anisha “Anisha, you must be very busy. Both work and the house. Why do you need to work?” Asked Mrs Verma “I love my job. I can’t say it doesn’t get hectic. It does.” “It’s a privilege to be a housewife.” Mrs Naik slurped on ginger tea. “Indeed Mrs Naik. I agree.” Anisha heard footsteps, “Oh there’s Minisha and Rahul. Come say hello.” “Are you done with your studies?” Asked Mrs Verma. Her fan covered her face every two seconds. “Yes aunty.” “You travel out more than expected Minisha. You should focus your time in the house. It will help when you become a wife and mother some day.” “Not at all Mrs Bedi. I want my daughter to travel places. In fact, her higher studies are planned abroad.” “Oh is it? I don’t see how that can happen. Friends tend to take away the focus needed on studies.” Mrs Naik looked at Rahul “Aunty, I was at Coffee Bucks three days ago, I didn’t know uncle and Mrs Bedi were such good friends.” Minisha smiled at Mrs Naik. “What?” Mrs Naik frowned and looked at Mrs Bedi, “What do you mean?” “I saw Mr Naik and Mrs Bedi meet up at Coffee Bucks three days ago.” “Minisha, I’m home at noon. What would I do with Mr Naik at a coffee shop?” “Noon? Oh no aunty, 5 pm to be exact. Uncle consoled you. You must have been sad about something.” “Then why didn’t you come meet us?” Mrs Bedi searched for words, “I mean no such thing happened. You’re mistaken.” “Aunty you wore the same red salwar kameez that you’ve worn today.” “What do you mean ‘consoled’?” Mrs Naik sank into the sofa. “Uncle touched aunty’s hand and aunty touched uncle’s hand.” “Outrageous. Anisha, tell your daughter to shut up.” Mrs Bedi lifted herself up, red in the face. “I won’t listen to anymore of this nonsense.” “Mrs Bedi” Anisha stood up and called out, “Wait.” Her words fell onto the red bum that shook out of the house. Mrs Naik stood up and looked at Minisha, “Young girl, you better be wrong about this or maybe not. Either way, you’re in big trouble.” She stormed out of the house. Everyone looked at each other until the silence broke among the four. “You should keep track of your daughters’ whereabouts. See what she’s done.” Said Mrs Verma “Aunty, Puneet stands behind the school every day for ten minutes. He smokes with his friends.” Said Minisha “Nonsense, my son would never do that.” “Aunty check his school bag” Rahul interrupted, “There’s a small hole inside the inner cloth of it. He hides cigarette packets in there. He wanted me to join his group but I didn’t.” “Where did time fly?” Mrs Verma laughed with her hand on her mouth. She threw the golden fan into her hand bag, “My husband will be home any moment now. I have to rush.” Her hips glided out the door faster than a local train. “We won’t see them anymore.” Anisha looked at her daughter, “You break open the truth when least expected.” “I didn’t know we’d be a crowd they couldn’t handle.” Minisha said “The gossips sounded better than our studies.” Rahul said “Get back to your studies. You’ll have your entire life to gossip.” Anisha smiled.