10
Taluk’s father’s cottage was now visible from a distance. Taluk had nothing in his mind, just the final parting words he exchanged with Waikeit.
“…and please, don’t start a fight with the housekeeper there, or else, I won’t marry you.” She tried to laugh to lighten the mood, but Taluk was not up for a laugh.
“I’ll try my best that I don’t start hating you after all this while.” Taluk had nothing more to say.
The car entered the cottage. Taluk looked at the right side, where the horses were waiting for Taluk’s arrival. They started neighing as if welcoming the stranger in the vicinity. Taluk saw the housekeeper in his early twenties sitting in the veranda and not moving an inch on his arrival.
Taluk came out of the car and instructed the housekeeper, “Keep the luggage inside the room.”
“You need to help yourself, Saab.” Was the reply from him.
Taluk was taken aback. He looked at him from head to toe and tried to study his attitude but then realized where he was and what he was supposed to do. He relaxed and, after a pause, walked back to his car, took out the luggage, and slowly moved inside the cottage to his room while eying the housekeeper still sitting in his place.
Taluk got surprised to see the insides of the cottage. It was way bigger than he thought it to be from the outside. There was a passage past the stairs where there were two rooms. The first was a fully functional gym area with not not-so-modern gadgets but enough to keep any gym enthusiast busy; the other was the bedroom. On the left was the living room with a large center table on which he had a projector and a note ready to be read. He ignored it for a while, and then his eyes went to the kitchen. There was an instruction board hung on the wall. After dropping his bags on the floor, he moved towards it to read it.
6 am - Wake up.
7 am - Prayer.
7.30 am - Gym/Yoga
9 am - Feed the horses/Have breakfast.
10 to 12 am - Work.
12.30 pm - Feed the horses/Have lunch.
4 pm - Tea
4.30 to 6 pm - Recreation.
7 to 9 pm - Work.
9 pm - Feed horses/Have dinner.
11 pm - Sleep.
Recreation on weekends.
Taluk smiled while reading the instructions, and then his eyes fell on another note stuck on the fridge. He picked it up and read.
‘For every day you miss on your schedule or break a rule, you need to add a day to your stay, and you have to cook on weekends. Love you loads, and do remember that I am waiting for you.’
The smile on Taluk’s face now vanished. He felt the anger growing inside him. He found the housekeeper waiting at the door and looking at Taluk with no expression on his face.
“What’s your name?” Asked Taluk.
“Sir, Tamam.”
Taluk folded the note and moved towards the center table to read the message stuck on the projector waiting for him. It said, ‘Work/Visual’.
There was a desk on the right corner near the window outside of which he could see green lands all around the cottage. There was an ashtray on the top of the table with a message that read, ‘Only five a day are allowed. He walked around the table and opened the cigarette box. There were only five cigarettes in the box. His eyes then fell on the stairs, which also had a message that read, ‘not to be used.’
Taluk picked up his bags and was about to move towards the bedroom when Tamam said, “Saab, your car keys, phone, wallet, and cigarettes, please.”
Taluk gave everything to Tamam. He had so many things to say, but he had to control his anger, and this was just the beginning of the journey.
Taluk then moved away from Tamam and said to himself, ‘Bloody housekeeper has a better name.’
Taluk smirked at his thoughts.
The next day, he woke up per the rules at 6 am. As per the instructions, he started his day, after taking a bath, by doing prayer. It was the first time after a long period when he tied his hands in front of the Almighty. It felt strange, but he knew it was mandatory. After the prayer, he went to the gym, tried a few pieces of equipment, and lifted a few weights. He felt good about himself, and then was the time that required the most of his strength for him. He went to the stables to feed the horses. He took help from Tamam and understood a few basics of how to do the job correctly. It was a tiresome job. Without taking any break from the schedule, he then moved to his work, then tea, then some more feeding of the horses, and while following the schedule as it was, he called off his day at 11 pm, and the time he landed on the bed, he took no more second to doze off. His body had never worked that rigorously ever.
Then began the other day. He did all the chores, from feeding horses to doing his exercise to working on the projector and everything as per the rules. He was not enjoying anything. But kept on following the rules. For the first few days, it was tough for him to cope with the tight schedule, and boredom was killing him. He had just one person to talk to, and Taluk always tried to avoid him because he always made him angry because of his attitude.
Taluk and Tamam were a good team with horses because it was not one man’s job. It needed a team. Other than that, they always find a way to part their ways. The heat was the prime issue that made Taluk hate the place. The hot scorching sun and tiring job of feeding the horses were taking a toll on him and his health, but he kept doing the things as per the rules. He needed to show Waikeit that he was the man of his word.
Every day, the same schedule. Taluk started to lose his sleep. His body was not ready for such a strict schedule. He began to give up physically, but mentally he kept on going. He never showed anything to Tamam. He was quick with his work, but when he was alone, he panted like a mad dog.
On one random day, as per the routine, he woke up to the ringing of the alarm at sharp 6 am. The horses started neighing and were ready for the day. He left the bed and opened his eyes forcefully. He took a moment to reflect on his life. For him, the routine was not a problem. The problem was more pervasive. Waikeit was an ever-articulate woman. She knew only loneliness could arise compassion and empathy. Maybe she was right, but Taluk was now losing his mind because of this loneliness.
He then left the bedroom and began doing the daily chores. In the afternoon, he reached stables and mechanically tied horses to their hinges. By shortening the length of the rope, he made sure the horses were less mobile. In the barn, Taluk and Tamam took out the horse food and put it in the baskets. Taluk took the baskets out and noticed the sun. He was welcomed with the heatwave and eye-piercing sunlight. He felt like fainting but somehow managed to stand on his feet again. He then again moved inside the cottage shade when he heard his name being called from a distance. He knew the voice.
“Taluk… Taluk…”
It was Waikeit’s voice. Taluk felt the rush of blood in his vein. He looked in the direction from where he heard the voice, but he found no one.
“Taluk, I love you Taluk.”
Came to her voice again. Taluk saw her rounding by the horses and flying fast to the rooftop this time. Taluk followed her. She was there. Taluk smiled at her. There were clouds in the sky now. The sound of thunder shook everything around except Taluk because he was lost in Waikeit.
It was the moment when time froze for them. Nothing mattered except Taluk and Waikeit. The shimmering sun was now hidden behind the clouds, and lightning started in the sky. Waikeit flew around the cottage as her reflection could be seen in the window.
As thunder began, horses started to get restless and started neighing louder.
Taluk was standing still while Tamam was untieing the horses in the heist. It started to rain with thunder. There were clouds in the sky, and it turned everything dark. Taluk came back to his senses and started helping Tamam. This time he was happy doing the work because he saw Waikeit sitting on a sack at the side of the barn with wet and open hair. Taluk felt energized once again.
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