Chapter 18 -- Coffee to Colors

 

Chapter 18

Coffee to Colors

Jessica the girl with the name Jeni in Sathish’s story. Sathish had wrote a story ‘Love is a Stepping Stone’. In that Sathish a great Cartoonist wish to start writing a novel. At first he wrote a crime thriller story and it reached a particular set of fans. Then his second book was the ‘Love is a Stepping Stone’, a romantic book which was sold very few in counts.

Jessica just read it for the sake of Sathish as she knew him. But, that made her to change up her mind about past incidents. Jesi was currently in a relationship and she didn’t wanted to be Sathish’s girlfriend. She wanted to be a well wisher and she was ready to meet him in straight to ask for an apology.

In the chill zone, filled with mist and the bright sun struggling to warm that hilly zone. A house was situated at a sloppy side which has plenty of area around it. Jessica came out form that house wearing an orange color sweater and a dark red scarf. She had a Blue American Tourister bag on her back. Jessica’s boyfriend arrived at her house drive way. She got in and she held her bag on her lap.

“Is this the same bag from that story”, her boyfriend asked a question.

“No I prefer this brand and the color. I donated that bag to someone”, Jesi said and opened her bag and checked the items in the bag.

“Re-union or re-relationship?”, he asked with a teasing tone.

“If you kept on talking like this, then surely it will be a re-relationship”, Jesi said with a smile. He started to move the car from the home. He gave a little beat on Jessica’s lap and said, “Just be safe. Wherever you go”

“Are you scared of sending me alone?”

“Not scared just am caring”, he said with a pleased voice and he looked into Jessica’s eyes for a moment. Jessica smiled and said, “Wherever I go, I know you are with me. Don’t worry I am just going to apologize and I will never leave you”. She gave him additional trust by keeping her hand over his hand. Then, she took off her hand on a curve.

“Where you gonna stay?” He asked.

“Near my old house”, she said.

“The house near Susan’s right?”, he cleared his doubt and she nodded for it. He then continued, “Hey, I forgot ask what was the real name of Susan in that story?”

“It was Susan”, Jessica said.

“Madhu?”, he asked. She said it was the real name of Madhu too. He confused and asked, “Then why he changed your name?”

“He is so descent. So that he didn’t mentioned my name”, she praised Sathish. He laughed on the next moment. “What?” Jessica asked.

“Nothing”, he said and continue driving. “Just say”, she insisted him.

“Very descent with Jeni over Jesi”, he continued his laugh. It was not a joke for Jessica. She said, “He is good that is the only thing I realize now and I wonder who would be that Sathya”

“I can guess. It must be Susan. She was his bestie right? Madhu must have broke up with Susan. That Sathish guy would have put an application for Susan. Later Susan must have realize it was wrong so she must broke Sathish too. How was my thesis”, Jesi’s boy tried to analyze something.

“Marvelous. I wish you to write a novel too”, Jesi said with an ugly praise. “Where should I start from school or college?” he asked a question.

“It would be better if you write nothing”, she said.

“I too wish meeting my exssssssssssss”, he stressed the word ex in plural form. She gave a staring look. He giggled and diverted by asking, “Who gave you this book?”

“Why you ask?”

“I mean, it was not good at sale and you too read rarely. That’s why I asked”, he cleared his words to her.

“Madhesh. He is the one recommended a book ‘The Dark Hours’ to me a year ago.But I bought it a month before. It was written by Sathish only. Later, at the back of the book there was the name of publications. So I just browsed about the other works from that publications and I saw this. Then, I bought it. Read it”.

“Nice back story for buying that book”, he said and continued, “You could ask him where Nithish was?”

“He is Sathish not Nithish”, she corrected him.

“That character was in mind, whatever you could figure that as him right? Then don’t make it big”, he said.

“I told Madhu that I was coming and he will receive me once I reached my town”, she said the start of what her plan was.

“Why can’t you contact Nithish to straight?” he used the fictional name again. Jesi got tensed.

“YOU SHOULD NOT TALK TO ME UNTIL I RETURN HOME”, Jessica made a loud and thunder like voice. He became silent. He dropped her at bus stand and made her to board a bus. Then he went off. Jessica was traveling to meet Sathish. She was texting her boyfriend and she was updating him on ever place she crosses.

That day Eve, She reached her destination, where she done her schooling and she got down from the bus. She was expecting for Madhesh and she was searching him all around. She have seen him six years ago. Suddenly, she spotted a girl, she has rabbit like tooth and she had a pale skin tone. She confirmed who it was. Yes, it was Susan.

Jessica walked slowly near her but, Susan hadn’t noticed Jesi. Jesi stood before Susan and Susan could recognize Jessica. Before Susan calls out Jessica’s name, Jessica hugged her and said, “I am really very very sorry dear. I should have talked with you”. Jessica apologized and Susan hugged her back and said in a low voice, “You are my friend and I know about you well”.

“Why you haven’t spoke with me these days?” Jessica made a possessive dialouge.

“Did you messaged me?” Susan questioned back.

“You know I was adamant. So you must have talked and consoled me”

“That day you were not on your feet, and you saw me as a person who favour Madhu. Just the situations made you to think in that way”, Susan said in a low smiling voice.

“How you know, I was coming?” Jessica asked and she answered herself, “Madhesh told you right?” Susan nodded and she said, “How is your boyfriend?”

“Madhesh told that uh?” Jessica said with little shy

“He didn’t. I know”, Susan said.

“How?”

“Because, I will be the one to use his FB account and I was the one texting you these days”, Susan said with a laugh. “Then wasn’t it Madhu?”

“He too. If I saw the message, I would have texted, if he saw the message he would text. So simple”, Susan said and waved hand to a direction on their right. There was Madhu stood with french beard, bald and wore a cap. He looked like a movie artist.

“Why was he like this?” Jessica laughed at him.

“He just wore this cap to greet you”, Susan said. “Greet me? Why?”

“Just ask him”, Susan said with a smile. Madhu came. Susan was still giggling.

“What happened to your hair?” Jessica asked Madhu.

“I just lost in a bet with this idiot”, he said by pointing to Susan and continued, “Just leave those stuff, it’s long story”

“You guys haven’t changed”, Jessica murmured.

“Why you came here suddenly?” Madhu asked Jessica. Susan was also curious in looking towards the answer for that question.

“Just to meet you guys and ask sorry for what I did”, Jessica said. “You read that book uh?” Susan laughed. Madhu seemed to be confused. Jessica nodded.

“What book?” Madhu asked.

“Love is stepping stone”, Susan replied.

“What’s in it?” He asked.

“It was written by Sathish. He sent us the book. Didn’t you read it?” Susan asked him particularly. He nodded off.

“It had no images and I hate reading books without images. So I kept it aside”, he opened up his frank words.

“Fool it is a book in which he had mentioned the days with us”, Jessica scolded him. Madhu just took that easily and said, “Ok what’s for that?”

“Don’t talk with this idiot, he never understand anything easily”, Susan helped Jessica to get out from that unwanted conversation.

“I need to meet Sathish, can you take me to him?” Jessica requested. Susan hugged her.

“Don’t feel yourself guilty and just stay as you are”, Susan said by freeing from hug. Madhu opened his hands to Jessica for a hug and said, “I will take you to him”.

Jessica made a scaring look on Madhu. Susan beat his hand and made them to rest down by saying, “Jesi, I will take you to Sathish”. Susan took the mobile and made a call to a contact named Sat. The mobile was switched off.

Susan said her, “His mobile was switched off its better to check him at home. He will often turn off his mobile while doing cartoons”. Jessica said, “Should we disturb him?”

“If I go alone, he would consider at a disturbance. If he saw you with me. It will never be a disturbance for him. I know him well”, Susan said with a confidence.

“I too know him well than you”, Madhu interrupted.

“Yes, that is the reason, you should drive the car”, Susan threw a key to him. “You have a car?” Jessica exclaimed. They got in the car and Madhu was driving to Sathish house. Both girls were sitting at the back seats

“How parents are doing Jesi?” Susan asked.

“Yeah all are fine. What about your parents?” Jesi asked her back.

“Yeah everyone are fine here”, Susan said with a smile and said slowly, “I am engaged with this idiot”. Jesi hugged her again and congratulated her. Madhu was driving with a mouth full of smiles.

“Did you told your parents?” Jesi asked.

“We did together. Dad too accepted as he is a known guy and he still thinks he is a genuine and gentle man”, Susan face palmed and continued, “Madhesh father refused first. Later Madhesh’s mother convinced him to accept us. Now, I really love his family than him”.

“She hates me only when some is around me”, Madhu said this line by looking at the mirror. Susan said nothing and but replied with a smile. Susan said in a low voice, “Jesi”, Jesi turned to Susan and Susan continued, “Sathish father is no more”, with a sad and hesitated voice.

“What happened?” Jesi asked with a pity.

“Heart attack. Over pressure, Sathish fainted on that day and we faced many problems on that day”, Madhu spoke and continued, “Jesi and please don’t ask him about this, he will faint. Nowadays it became a problem for him when he started to think about his father. Sometimes he faint while drawing too”

“We know it was because of stress, but we also consulted a doctor. He too said the same”, Susan said she added a question, “Jesi what you doing now? You did engineering right?”

“Yeah, now I am doing masters in Business”, Jesi answered and the car reached Sathish house. Madhu became serious at that moment and repeated, “Don’t ever talk about his father. Don’t make him feel sad too. I am just reminding you”. Jessica nodded.

All three got down from the car, Madhu walked front and he opened the gate. The door was closed and Jessica pointed to a cycle and showed it to Susan, “I remember that one”. By saying Jessica moved near the cycle. It was little dusty. She just tapped over the seat and the dust flew in the air along with the sound TAP TAP TAP.

There was a little piece of dirt cloth near a car. She took it and she waved it over the carrier of the cycle. The dust over the carrier of the cycle was cleaned up and she sat over it. Madhu noticed her and smiled. “Olden memories”, Jessica said to herself.

Sathish’s mother opened the door in that meantime. She greeted Madhu, Susan and Jessica. Madhu asked, “Where is he? We planned to take him somewhere”

“He was not in home. He went to Mumbai for office purpose. He will be coming back only day after tomorrow”, she said after thinking a moment. Sathish’s mother added, “Wait, I will bring you coffee”.

“Okay aunty we will visit again. We have our old friend, she want’s to meet everyone so we are in a hurry”, Madhu made her to stop making coffees and they came out after saying byes.

Jessica husked near Susan’s ear, “Madhu is behaving so gentle with others then why he is crazy with us?”

“It is Madhu. He will behave gentle where he should and he will try to entertain us and it will be an irritation”, Susan said and they walked back to the car. Madhu drove the car to the juice shop where they often visit.

Madhu started the conversation by saying, “It would be a memorable day if Sathish was here”. Susan nodded. Madhu continued, “I could say that Susan was very good to him rather than me. Sometimes, I wish to be selfish but Susan will be staying with him and talked with him. After you and Sathish got broke up. She requested a girl to act like loving him”

“Shit”, Jessica said with a hated tone. “Yeah. Sathish ended up as a shit then”, Madhu said and Susan grinned on thinking old days. Jessica said slowly, “Who is that Sathya?”

“Who is that?” Madhu questioned back.

“Fool, it was the name mentioned in the book”, Jessica reminded him, but she forgot that Madhu hadn’t touched that book.

“Yeah, I asked Sathish who it was, he said it was imaginary, then we didn’t talked about it further”, Susan said.

“No, Sue. There must be someone of that name. You are the one gave him intro right? Say who it is?” Jessica put a thinkable question.

“Yes, I remember. I introduced two persons. One was my relation Sandra and other was Nithya”, Susan spelt two names.

“Not even a single boy?” Madhu asked.

“I know only girls”, Susan said sharply. Madhu replied, “Me too”. Jessica cut him by saying, “Madhu please be serious and don’t speak rubbish”.

“I know it was Nithya”, Madhu ended up shortly.

“How you say that?” Jessica asked him.

“He once told that he has crush on her, so she must be. He also came to Chennai to accompany that girl to meet her sister so I am just saying it might be her”.

“Susan, he was right there was a chapter mentioning that. So it was not imaginary. So we need to meet that girl Nithya”, Jessica hurried her words. “Why should we?” Susan tried to free herself from the situation.

“There might be something. Something bothers me and I wish to meet her”, Jessica said. Jessica asked Susan if she know where Nithiya’s house was. Susan gave a positive answer for that.

Susan got the key from Madhu and she took the driver seat of the car. Susan told that that it take only minutes from here and she drove with steady. Jessica was very excited and she was opening the book. She was looking over the chapter ‘A Day to Mark in my life’.

After some travel, Susan stopped at a house and said it was Nithya’s house. Jessica walked front at this time and she a lady standing at the front yard and watering the plants with a baby on her hand. Jessica had a hesitation to call her at first. She called out that lady, “Excuse me”.

The baby in the hand turned first followed by the lady. She was little fat and she had a fair skin. A beautiful smile filled over her face. “Yes”, the lady said.

“Nithya?”, Jessica made a questioning of searching Nithya. The lady smiled and said, “Yes, it is her house. What can I do for you?”

“We are her friends in school. We just came to meet her”, Jessica smiled. She kept the watering pot aside and opened the gate by welcoming them. She lowered the kid and told him to play without disturbing anyone.

She introduced herself as Nithya’s sister and she asked everyone to enter the house. Jessica was seeking all around the house and it was very similar as Sathish mentioned. There were many paintings all over the all.

“The house is very nice”, Susan gave a compliment, Nithya’s sister said, “I don’t know what these paintings are. I just keep all the place greener and clean. Nithya is the only person to beautify the place around her”.

“Yeah, she always do”, Madhu added even he know nothing about Nithya and added, “Sister, can we have a cup of coffee?” Susan jostled him with her hand to mind the words.

“Ofcourse dear, why coffee. It’s already time so it would be better if you have dinner”, Nithya’s sister said.

“Where is Nithya?” Jessica asked out.

“She is out with Dad to buy some things. They will reach sooner”, she said and she asked them to wait a moment. Nithya’s sister hurried to kitchen to fetch them coffee.

At that mean time, the kid walked near Jessica and said, “Will you play with me?” Nithya’s sister came with a tray with three cups of coffee and she said, “Vivek should not disturb them. Play somewhere else”.

“Wow Coffee!” kid exclaimed and took a cup from that tray. “Vivek it’s for those aunties”, Nithya’s sister scolded him.

“Aunties. Aunties”, Madhu giggled by looking over Susan’s face. That kid pointed to Madhu and said, “Uncle can I take your cup?” Susan and Jessica burst into laughs.

“Go inside”, Nithya’s sister ordered him and made that kid to go inside a room and she apologized, “Sorry, sweethearts. He is so naughty”.

“It’s cute”, Susan said and also said, “We can realize we are growing only when we see the next generation”. Jessica asked, “I usually don’t prefer coffee much. I want him to have this cup. May I?” Jessica melted on seeing that kid.

“I will make him another cup, just have yours”, Nithya’s sister tried to make Jessica drink that coffee. But Jessica refused and said, “I wish to give this cup to him. I wanted to play with him please”.

“Why should you please for this. He is all yours”, Nithya’s sister said with a smile. She took a cup that was taken by the kid Vivek. She walked into the room where the kid was sitting in the middle of the toys.

“Hello, hero”, Jessica entered the room of that kid. “I am not hero. I am super hero”, that kid said with an energetic voice by raising his hand above. “I bought some extra boost for this super hero”, Jessica showed that cup and asked “Do you like coffee?”

He nodded faster. Jessica smiled and gave it to him.

“Did you drink?” He asked.

“Yeah, I did”

“Aunty, you should not lie. If a person drink coffee, there will be a mustache. We can share this”, he extended the cup with her after drinking some. Jessica melted down completely for him and she hugged that little kid with her long hands. She kissed him on cheek and said, “You are so cute baby.”

“Thank you”, he said and added, “Nithya aunty always ask me say thank you when someone said I was cute. I am saying whenever everyone says this”.

Jessica was enjoying the company with him. She sat with him and she forgot why she came there for. She asked, “Can we play?”

“Ok”, he said and thought a moment then he said, “Do you know to draw?”

“A little”, Jessica said.

“Can you draw a castle for me. Nithya aunty drew the superheroes for me in morning. She told that she will be drawing the castle today. But grandpa took her out”.

“I will try and I will draw a little castle for you, Okay?”, Jessica asked out and he shook his head in the sign of acceptance with great interest. He took a A4 sheet and gave it to Jessica. Then he was walking all around the room in search of something.

“What are you searching for. I have pencil in my hand”, Jessica said to that boy. Jessica started to draw something on that paper. He kept on searching something and he said, “Nithya aunty have some painting colors she will use them for drawing and it will be colorful”

He was roaming all around for some minutes. Jessica drew something that could be acceptable as a castle. She showed that to him and asked, “How is it?”

He looked deep inside the castle and said, “It look like grandpa movies. Put some color aunty”, he insisted again. She smiled and she asked where was the colors. He told that he don’t know.

Jessica went to Nithya’s sister and asked her about the colors. “Nithya will hide those colors from him, other wise he will pour them all over the floor and he will trouble us a lot”.

“Don’t worry, I will handle it”, Jessica gave her word.

“I will make a coffee for you”, Nithya’s sister said but Jesi replied, “I prefer Colors to Coffee now”. Nithya’s sister smiled and told that Nithya had hidden those colors under her cot in a box and also reminded her not to expose the place to him.

Jessica went inside the room and said him, “You should enter the room once I asked you to”.

“Why?”

“I am going to do a magic”, She was fooling that kid. He said, “I saw you asking mommy where it is. It was in the box right?” Jessica laughed herself and nodded. She also said, “I will take you those colors but you should not waste them on floor okay?”

He nodded like a good boy. Jessica pulled a box below the cot. It was little heavy but she managed to pull them. She opened it, it was filled with books and magazines. Over them there was colors perfectly arranged one over the other. Jessica took those colors out, She could spot something inside the box. It was the book, ‘Love is a Stepping stone’.

She took that book out, there was some papers rolled inside. She opened it and there was a painting of some snack items. There was a cup of popcorn and some pops are spilled around, two cups of rose milk and the straw from both are crossing each other and the sandwich was between them. The chapter Jessica read in the book crossed her mind. Then there was another painting on that there was the cover picture of the book. But Nithya had altered the drawing. On that paper, the boy was sitting next to a girl on the stone bench. But in the book cover, the boy was standing away from that bench.

She sat at the place with the book in her hand. That kid, “Aunty come lets color the castle”. Those words didn’t reached her ears. She opened the book, on the first page Nithya wrote her name at the right top.

Jessica opened the book, she saw the name Jeni in which ‘ ’was stroke out in all pages and it was corrected with ‘s’. Jesi was found in all places of Jeni and also stroke Nithish and changed to Sathish.

Jessica turned the pages faster from start to end, the names were corrected in every page. Jessica also found that there were many writing besides every chapter. Nithya had wrote something at the end of every chapter. For the chapters with no blank space. Nithya had wrote at the place where she could.

Jessica was curious to read them but the kid Vivek was longing her to paint the castle. She called out Susan by staying in the room. Susan came in and asked why Jessica called out. She just opened the snack painting and the book cover altered painting. Susan was curious too. “Give me them”, Susan asked. Jessica gave the paintings.

“Help him to color this castle, I will be back soon”, Jessica said and she sat at the cot and started to read the book. Jessica was reading very faster she could, she wish to reach the last page sooner. But she wanted to read in order. It took her some minutes to read.

Susan was coloring that castle but she was looking at Jessica for every minute. Jessica eyes opened out with tears. She wiped it all a sudden and she walked out of the room. Nithya’s sister was sitting and talking with Madhu. Madhu was talking about his relationship story in a dramatic way.

Jessica said, “Madhu please wait”, Jessica had a weeping voice. Both looked at her in a weird way. Jessica opened her bag and took the copy of book she had. Jessica handed over to Nithya’s sister and said, “Please read this book within today. Please”

“Why?”

“Please read this but read this when you are out of sight from Nithya”, Jessica stressed her conditions and added, “Once you completed you must read this too”. Jessica handed over the copy that was scribbled by Nithya.

“I don’t understand why you are doing this”, Nithya’s sister said with a doubt. But she accepted. Jessica also said, “And don’t mention her we were here. Call me at morning and this is my contact number”. Jessica wrote her contact over a paper and gave it to Nithya’s sister.

Nithya’s sister could not realize what was happening but she nodded. Jessica called Susan out and they were ready to leave that place. “Why we are in a hurry?” Madhu asked with a confusion.

“It would be better if we give Nithya’s sister enough time to think”, Jessica said. “Time to what?” Susan asked. Jessica was calm at that moment, “Nithya still loves him and she still misses him till this day”.

“How you know?” Susan asked back.

“She wrote every word by herself in that book and it shows the real ending of the story”, Jessica said.

“Then why you didn’t allowed me to read it?”, Susan asked. “It’s not important now, you can read at any time. If Nithya’s sister read it now, she could act accordingly and take decisions”, Jessica said.

Jessica decided to stay with Susan’s family that day and Jessica was greeted with great warmth. At the same time, in Nithya’s house. Nithya and her father reached home after a while from the time Jessica and her friends left. Nithya’s sister didn’t told Nithya about their visit.

Nithya’s sister also hid the colors so that Nithya won’t identify the lost of book. Nithya slept sooner that night. Nithya’s sister sat at the living room and she held two books. She kept the Nithya’s copy aside and she opened the Jessica’s copy. To see what was in Nithya’s copy? She opened Nithya’s copy it was full of additional scribbles. She could understand something relate-able with Nithya.

Nithya’s sister opened the first book and the clock stoke at 9. To her luck everyone slept early on that day. She got curious when she read a chapter. She could realize that Sathya was her sister at a chapter in which, Sathya visits her sister. Clock stroke 1 o clock, she completed the first book and she opened the Nithya’s copy. She started to read the scribbles of Nithya.