Crushed cravings
26. They saw red
Many uncomfortable moments passed before the power came back, and it was then that everyone decided to call it a day. Practice had been eventful but unproductive and lacked the energy and mood that Manu had envisioned. Maya stayed on. To help her brother clear up the room as the cast slowly trickled out. Checking their bags and belongings the group left with a collective sulk on their face, perhaps they had let themselves down…Not really made the best first impression on Manu’s sister. Everyone took heavy steps down to the road, and got in their respective cars and modes of transport. Maliha and Kirtana got in the car and burst the dark cloud around the whole group with hysterical laughter! Funny girls…sometimes a giggling fit really helped make things seem right again. Maliha mocked Kit’s imitation of a girl under attack…and both of them could not help give in to the hysterical laughing. They decided they had a killer craving for kebabs…and the only sensible idea was to head the nearest Kebab place, which also happened to be one of the best ones in town… the night was young, and Kit’s work and Mali’s painting and her quest to figure out her first steps into a non-nomadic life and this whole play practice had made them a little too serious for their own liking.
Rahim’s Kebab studio was located in a newly developed area just outside of the suburb they lived in. It was new on the block but had picked up a very good reputation very quickly, serving up the best Kebab’s – spicy, succulent , melt-in-your mouth pieces of heaven-on-a-stick, strictly not for the diet conscious! The place had also a few other tricks up its sleeve. For one, it had a bar, and the distinct feeling of a music or comedy club, except you got your hands elbow deep in hariyali Kebab, and could wash it down with some authentic Arabic tea, or something stronger if you needed, tequila shots were a plenty. No one could say that the Kebab’s really went with any of this, it was strange at first, but the owners worked very hard at creating an eclectic mix of great kebabs and variety entertainment.
Kit parked her little red car, double checked the locks and looked down at what she had on. Ah yes, a green t-shirt with a peace sign on it, and her best old jeans, fraying in several places…nothing like comfort clothes for some comfort food! Except people usually came a little more dressed up to Rahim’s. Mali had on some sort of mini jumpsuit, off-shoulder and cute as ever, in a deep purple, she looked ready for the place. Whatever. Though Kit. She had learnt to let this kind of stuff go!
They strolled in, still a bit giddy from the giggling in the car and took a low table with a sheesha at its side… On stage was some small made guy in really baggy clothes setting up his sound gear, for what they could only guess was some sort of musical performance. The two ordered a sizable amount of food from the menu, it would rain kebabs on their table, and they would definitely be taking a doggy bag home! Also on the menu were some truly unusually named cocktails, Kit went for Pearl of Persia - this drink had rose and hints of saffron and cardamom together with a light sugary base and real big kick, while Mali had the Sahara Surprise – a date and alcohol mix, sure to be shocking to the palate . Whoever came up with these names! They surveyed the room, the usual mix of college goers and techies filled the space, and the remaining were the Mali-Kit variety.
The guy on stage had meanwhile set up a bar stool and a mike, and some instruments lay on stage – a drum set, a few guitars on a rack and a tambourine.
His name was Jackson, or at least that was what the crowd in the front tables screamed the minute he opened his mouth to sing. There was no denying the guy had skills. His music was dark , yet up-tempo and was nothing like anyone had ever heard…he sang beautifully. Apparently a college kid, his friends were going crazy...then again they would go crazy over a plate of chips at that point, but lucky for them “Jackson” was worth the hooting and cheering.
The kebabs were exquisite. They were cleaned off the table as quickly as they came, and served with an assortment of breads, it was going to me long finger-licking night, if they sat it out!
Soon Jackson got off stage, and the comedy section of the evening began. Here’s how badly open mike night can go at a Kebab joint…. As soon as the owner’s son, made some bizarre introduction to this new impromptu comedy night - people began looking away from the stage, deeply interested in their empty plates and half full glasses…the line to the restroom grew in seconds!
“Cowards” said Mali…she dusted her hands off and straightened herself up, marched straight on stage! Kirtana by now, was quite content, full and slightly tipsy, anything would make her laugh…she thought. People quickly got back to their seats, suddenly regaining interest in what was happening on stage.
Mali began… she was definitely a natural! Was there anything she would not do?? Well apparently, she would not draw the line at making poor Kirtana the butt of her jokes that night… some college kids would be seen with their drinks coming out of their noses… and Mali would joke her way through the last two months with Kit! The crowd was eating it up. Kebabs with a great big serving of laughs.
Was Kirtana mad that night? … the only thing more red than her car, which she went storming to twenty minutes into the show…was her face!! There would be hell to pay!
***
Manu and Maya cleaned up and headed to the roof… they had some catching up to do. “So where did you find this bunch?’’ she asked sarcasm intended and only half jokingly…”Don’t judge them so quickly, they are good people, they probably have no idea just how talented they are! That Kirtana is a great dancer, and her ability on set design is stupendous… Mali is here to render some artistic help, though I really can’t find her place here. Max, Rita and the others are just budding actors. After the work they did for me on my last play, I would be an idiot not to cast them.” said Manu.
“what about Nisha…and Mira was it? Singing, musical duo…what about them?” said Maya…”Long story…but you have to admit there’s a lot of raw talent there..”
“So…little bro..some chemistry in the room I see…sparks flying, and here I thought you were the utmost professional!” said Maya sly and suggesting so much…
Identical to Kirtana’s red face not far off, Manu let himself blush…but immediately jumped to his own defense...”hey! That’s not fair; I’m allowed feelings you know...it’s probably the best part of me…besides, who are you talking about?”
“You know…come on…let’s not play dumb here...” there was a good chance Maya was bluffing, but Manu was not about to let her get away…he called her bluff – “okay my very intuitive sister…who is it?”
0 comments:
Post a Comment