David's sister, Sandra, was quite excited about his new venture and encouraged him to work hard. Simon, her husband, however, was very concerned about his living alone and had more caution to offer than encouragement. Every time he visited them, he took on his usual occupation of instructing David. He told him that excessive laziness engenders obstacles to growth, that drinking and driving were misuses of civil liberty, that late-night commitments work against health and discipline, that eating well leads to better emotional well-being, and that one achieves a great deal by hard labor. Sandra, however, was not too impressed with all this and asked David to ignore Simon outright, maintaining that he had not lived the best of his life as a young boy and was only envious of him. Though the persuasion to dismiss the instructions was strong, David received them calmly and assured Simon of his good conduct.
But as soon as he returned to his apartment, his original nature took charge. He sparingly attended to his laundry, scarcely cleaned his house, and spent many hours on worthless pursuits. His attitude to food and health remained sluggish. He skipped his meals and made no attempts at cooking, often taking recourse to nearby eateries or the meagre provisions of snacks deposited in the kitchen cabinet.
He slept late at night and woke up at high noon, often reporting late for work. And if it happened to be a weekend, the duration was slightly prolonged. But this was only if his notorious adversaries living next door did not frantically ring his doorbell in their playful curiosity about him. Though for many weeks David had been entertaining the thought of taking them to task, he often called off the mission at the last moment on account of the dog, who, through its rapacious growls, had always insisted on tearing him apart and shedding no remorse for it. On one particular Saturday, however, when the frantic ringing persisted for an unusually long time, David left his bed and charged toward the door. As he bit his nails and rubbed his eyes, he wondered which part of his body would be gnawed at first by the dog. But as he opened up, he saw his mother standing at the door.
'Hurry and open up,' she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulders. 'Why are you staring at me? Don't you see it's been a taxing day, and the sun is fierce? Open up soon. I can't stand the heat. I feel like a vehicle without fuel.'
Terminating this initial observation, she turned behind to address the security guard, who—as David could tell by his endearing pants moving across his heaving chest—was more than exhausted. But despite the agony, he stood cheerfully and gleamed with excessive pride.
'You may carry on, Sir,' continued the lady. 'Thank you for bearing me company. I appreciate your help.'
'No problem, Madam,' replied the watchman, pulling a towel from his pocket and wiping his face. 'It's indeed been a tiring day for all of us. I'm glad you acknowledged my help. We are rarely commended.'
'I mean it, Sir. I know you have important duties at the gate.'
'You have said it right, Madam.' He boasted in his selfish gaiety. 'Of course, I have important duties at the gate. And surely, I was disturbed; but rarely upset. So please don't be sorry. My job is to help the lost, though it isn't a custom these days. But you acknowledged it, and I appreciate that. If you're lost again, you'll always have me around. But I hope that does not happen.' He turned to David. 'So, time for me to leave, Sir. You can thank me if you like. It was an act of great courage on my part. Madam, any word from you would help.'
At his insistence, the lady whispered something to David, and he pulled out a hundred-rupee note from his wallet and gave it to him. Delighted by the entitlement, the guard deposited the reward in his shirt pocket.
'This is to my benefit,' he said, tapping his chest. 'But being careful next time will be to your benefit. People easily get lost here. Many say the ducts and sewers have swallowed a great number of people. Watch your steps, therefore. That's all I have to say.'
These were the last words before the watchman left, tapping his shirt pocket to check if the exchange was still there.
Shortly after he was gone, the lady entered the house and threw herself on the chair.
'Is it not too early for you to come here?' David said to her. 'It's only eight-thirty.'
'Take it easy, Son. It's not very early for me.'
'And why did he say you were lost? Did you not have the address?'
'I was not lost,' she calmly returned. 'Only aghast by continuous walking. The guard saw me resting by the pillar and offered to help me. He picked up my bag, asked for the address, and led me on. I wouldn't have minded any assistance so long he led me to the right tower. But don't worry about me too much. I'm old enough to know what belongs where. I've been traveling from Katni to Jabalpur, back and forth, since my youth.'
Achieving the little rest she needed, she turned to David, astounded by his appearance.
'Look at you!' She said. 'Not very gay, your image. Not quite like how I'd like to see you. Haven't you been keeping healthy? You look so lean. I can see our collarbones. And your hair! Messy and disorderly! All this in just four weeks! And why do you not wear the rosary around your neck? And where's the altar? Have you not been saying your prayers?'
'I have a busy life.' David casually returned. 'They do not take priority on easy days, let alone when care occupies me. I'm still trying to settle and have much to do every day. It's not easy managing things alone. And now, with this new project, I have been working two shifts. I'm sorry you find me like this. But it's still early morning, and I'm sleepy. I wonder what the need was to come this early.'
'Well, I was too eager to see you,' returned the lady, 'and couldn't have waited till high noon for that. You know I'm quite impetuous in these matters. Anyway, let me see how you have been living.'
After she had said this, she arose and went to the rooms for an inspection. At length, having spent half an hour in scrutiny—beating the curtains, sliding the windows open, checking the arrangement of clothes in the closet, and hovering over the kitchen countertop to look for any unattended dry food stains—she returned to David, who lounged on his chair lazily.
'You did not do well, Sir. It's not a good beginning.'
'What's wrong?' He rubbed his eyes and yawned.
'Everything is. Did you see the food stains in the kitchen? It seems they have been there for ages. When do you plan to clean them?' She took a pause. 'Now I know why you don't cook. Because you don't clean. You've become very lazy, Son. I'm sure you've been missing Sunday Mass too.'
'Sometimes,' he answered carelessly.
'Woe to you for saying that!' She raved. 'I will not tolerate all this. You don't clean, you don't cook, you are lazy, and you don't say your prayers. This will not do. You have to better yourself. Not everyone will accept this behavior. A mother will tolerate it, but a wife will not. Remember, you're soon to be married. Girls do not entertain such mannerisms. Eva will certainly not.'
'Who's Eva?' asked David, disturbed by the reference.
'A daughter to a friend,' she answered, suddenly softening. 'Do you remember Uncle Johnny from the neighbor in Katni? Eva is his daughter. Do you remember her? You both climbed up the mango tree together after school. She was very fond of you then.'
Saying this, she looked down at her watch and was arrested by an unusual hurry.
'Oh, it's nine already! They should be here any time. We should prepare ourselves. Go and get ready. Wash your face and change your clothes. Comb your hair and look decent. And when you meet them, be decent and talk properly.'
'They come now?' David asked lazily.
'They do,' replied his mother.
'And why would they meet me?.'
'You'd know it soon.'
'I don't think I'd be interested,' said David, still stretching himself despite the anxiety his mother was led into. 'Besides, I have to leave for work now.'
But his mother rebuked him. 'Take a leave or miss your duties. I don't care. But you have to meet them. And now, go and get ready. I have much to clean and put in order. Dress up well and be presentable.'
Shortly after David had departed into his room, the doorbell rang.
'Welcome, Johnny,' said the lady. 'Set foot in, please. You too, my dear. Walk in. How well you look! I'm sure your father's been taking good care of you. I'm thrilled to see you being made a woman.'
The guests greeted her back and took their seats.
'Well, then,' said the lady after they had settled. 'Let me get you something to eat and drink.'
The offer accepted, she hurried into the kitchen and returned with a jar of mango juice and sweets. And after she had served them, she sat down next to Eva.
'What have you been doing these days, my dear?'
'Working for an NGO.' Eva had a dainty, soft voice.
'What work you do?'
'Take tuition for poor people who can't afford education.'
'And where do you find people to teach?'
'In local villages. There are plenty of uneducated people around us. We just don't have the eyes to see them. I'm assigned to a local village for six months.'
'Very impressive! But is that sustainable?'
'I don't get paid there,' answered Eva. 'I do this only to help. As for my profession, I teach Enlish, Hindi, and Sanskrit at a government school. That's truly my bread and butter. And yes, it's quite sustainable.'
Though the lady nodded after every sentence Eva said, as if predisposed to commend her for everything, she didn't pay sincere attention to her; for her mind and heart were inside the room where sat, holding his head in his hands, her clumsy boy refusing to be a man.
'Whatever you do,' the lady continued, reinstating her attention on the guests, 'I know you do it well. You have always been a capable girl. I had seen how responsible you were even as a child. I had a great fondness for you then. You would often walk into my house at any hour to play with me. What a great time we had spent as neighbors!
'You said it right, Sister,' interposed Johnny. 'We indeed had a great time. But let me surprise you. We still are neighbors to you. We live in the fourth building on this street. Thanks to Aunt Betty for giving your reference. Otherwise, I would not have known you were here.'
David could hear the guests being attended to with pleasure and courtesy. And he was not surprised, for he knew his mother often exhibited the best of herself in these matters. The subjects of love and betrothal were always to her liking. He was certain that the arrival of Johnny and Eva would make his mother feel at home, not merely in the light of her immense love for hospitality and delight in seeing couples flourish, but because it was her son who was to be discussed.
The creaking of the cupboard and clinking of glasses were soon heard in the kitchen. The time spent in eager waiting was helped by tea, snacks, laughter, excuses for the messy house, and remarks on David's nonsensical delay, which continued to make his mother anxious. After being sufficiently refreshed by the articles and drinks presented, Johnny insisted the boy be brought out of the room.
'Bring him to us and let us see him. Make it soon. It's ten o'clock, and I have an urgent business.'
'A little more time, Johnny,' said the lady nervously. 'He should be here soon.'
'Pardon me, but I think we've waited too long. Eva goes to her school after this and then to her charity. She has quite a distance to travel. I hope you don't mind.'
Offended by the remark, the lady executed a violent summon. And, at once, her clumsy boy, wearing a black shirt and looking like a clumsy black sheep, came out of his chamber and stood against the wall in front of them. With his face gleaming with oil and his hair parted to one side, he attempted to greet them with a smile. But the act turned out so grotesque that they all wondered if he was not frowning and making faces at them.
'Quite a handsome young fellow!' said his mother, looking at the guests. 'Look on more, Johnny. He does not mind. You too, my dear girl. You can ask him whatever you want to. He does not mind much. Lift your eyes, Miss. Don't be shy. And spare those fingers. Don't bite them. He's the same Dave of whom you were so fond.'
She then said to David.
'This, Dave, is Uncle Johnny. Do you remember how he pulled your logs when you climbed the mango tree with Eva and her sister and pushed them both down, ensuring they fell on their heads? He's the same fierce fellow, though he seems to have given up on those whiskers and is balder. And what great blows he gave to you when you broke off a branch from the tree you sat on and threw it at his wife! Do you remember all that? He's the man you detest. Ha ha. Greet him, Son.'
Having examined David in great detail, Johnny nodded his approval to the lady. Then turning to Eva, he asked her what she had to say. But Eva was shaking with her hands pressed to her mouth, suffering a violent laughter. And when Johnny gently nudged her, she pointed at David and returned to her convulsions.
Having followed the direction of her fingers, the lady glared at her clumsy sheep and then immediately turned to the guests.
'Please pardon him, Johnny,' she said to them hesitantly. 'I shall have it attended to right away. It isn't his fault. I pressed him too much. Please don't be embarrassed. I'll get this corrected.'
Turning to David sharply again, she hinted, with her angry eyes, at his white vest protruding from beneath his loose black shirt and sneaking between its ends above his belt. The clumsy black sheep had a patch sheared off.
'Quite disgraceful, Sir! What were you trying to cover up? Go away and update yourself. No, no, not here. In your room.'
Though Johnny remained unaffected by the episode, he too must have laughed in his heart. But he assured the lady he wouldn't mind the error so long it was rectified.
'I urge you not to worry much, Sister,' he said. 'I'm not embarrassed. You must also not be. This is the habit of the nervous. My daughter is worse than him. Not even slightly better. She's always in disarray. She leaves home for work with her hair falling over her shoulders. She wears vague colors to school and makes a circus of her English lessons. And when her mother points out her errors, she says that only the heart matters these days. You don't know what persuasion was needed to get her dressed today. So, don't worry. These things happen. By the by, I'm glad he did not mess up with his pants, for that would have been outrageous.'
The remark, executed only to cheer the lady up, activated such hysteria in Eva that she bit her hands and nearly choked herself out of breath. Ashamed by her uninterrupted laughter, for which the man had only himself to blame, he nudged her shoulder again, which partially subdued her passion. While all this went on, the lady, having made up her mind in silence, suddenly called off the proceedings.
'Are we not expecting him?' asked Johnny, surprised. 'I thought we could get done with this today.'
'I don't think it'd be today,' answered the lady sorrily. 'I feel embarrassed. My boy has disgraced me. Can we plan this for a later day?'
'Do let us know when,' said Johnny. 'We live close by. Give us a call, and we will be here.'
The arrangement agreed upon, Johnny arose and was soon at the doorpost. Eva followed him to the exit with her hands inside her mouth. But as they were about to leave, the lady insisted on leaving with them.
'Wouldn't you stay for the night?' asked Johnny. 'You've just arrived. David may not like it.'
'I'd rather not. Let him stay alone for a while. He has no respect for me. Drop me at the bus station, please.'
Saying these words, she walked out of the apartment, and the guests followed her.