We sat there at the dinner table facing each other, my mind still replaying the conversation with Aarnav's dad. He seemed to be a good hearted person, having taken the trouble to contact me. "There is a badminton academy here, I want to enrol him, but he feels its a good place for Adi also to be. The training is very structured and they also have their own regular school and balance badminton and academics. Our company has tie ups with them, and mam you may want to consider sending Adi, I can save a place for him". If Adi was in good health, he wouldnt need anyone saving a place for him, I wanted to say. But he seemed to have called with good intentions. I explained the last couple of weeks of our family and he seemed very compassionate. He said I could send Adi whenever he was ready. All this was ok, but there was one thing, perhaps thats why he had called me, that Aarnav wanted to talk to Adi.
"Hey Tara, everything ok?" "Yes yes. Everything is. I need some soup" i didnt want to start or relay the conversation with Aarnav's dad to KP. I mean not that he would not listen or that I'm not comfortable sharing it with him, but just that I wanted to have some conversation with him outside of all this. I will eventually deal with everything, just the matter of time, but dinner out doesnt come by that often. "Hey Tara, do you like it here?" "Yes yes the food here is very good" "oh no no. I meant do you like Qatar, as in the life here".
Our soup was served and as the hot fluid slid down my throat, I felt some kind of a new energy emanating from within. "Yes, I like it here. So many things, the culture, the strict rules, the hot summers and the windy winters, my job, the home that we live in is just perfect and going back there every night makes me feel belonged. I know everything is a routine, you may call it monotonous, but every day has its own challenges and in my capacity, I do my best and I am glad we go through to the next day. I love it here"
I look at him unable to read his expression, I mean was it some kind of a test? I move on to the other dishes and we have some light talk, some passing jokes (I actually laughed loud for a couple of them) and even before we realise, its time to leave. He asks for the bill and I take my phone out to call Kannamma to ask if they are home, only to find my phone switched off. "Hey KP, I need to call Kannamma, my phone is blank". He hands me over his phone "2507 is the password, I'll pay the bill and wait outside, you finish talking and come" "I wont be long KP". I go to the restroom and wash my hands, take his phone and enter the password. The homescreen has a message notification and I accidentally open it - your visa interview is scheduled for.... I feel embarrassed, mark the message as unread and call Kannamma. They were home and waiting for me.
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