The gossip

She blew rings of smoke from her plucked lips and said in a bored voice, ‘Tell me something interesting yaaa….’
Pea glanced at me and I raised my eyebrows. ‘I have no news…I am very boring just work, pick up my kid and go home.’
‘Stop it yaa’. ‘Same with me,’ said Pea.
‘You shut Pea – gossip is your fodder.’
‘True it used to be but I just do not get any news anymore,’ said Pea sheepishly. ‘Why don’t u tell us some?’
‘Now what? Did I tell you I met Nina and she said that Ivy is getting her second divorce. That girl…could never stick onto anyone.’
Pea looked interested. ‘Any issues? Uh?’
‘Kids? None …saved yaaa.
Oh BTW I must tell u this one…remember Monica?’
I nodded, ‘Yeah of course…she was such fun…completely wild. Remember those sessions in her room?’

‘Yeah but u will be shocked to see her now. She is married and is living bang opposite my in-laws’ place. Saw her yesterday with a most hideous husband. Got a kid also...thin as a stick. She has bloated and looked haggard and was obviously shocked out of her skin to see me. Was kind of uncomfortable when she spoke to me. Said she will catch up but haven’t got a glimpse of her ever since. I did not bother…must be embarrassed to meet me…can’t believe SHE has settled into such middle class domesticity.’

We sipped our peach ice tea in silence and munched on our nachos. ‘So how are you doing?’ I asked her.

She waved her manicured hand and said, ‘Life could not be better …no complains. I have all the I could ask for. Hubby doing so well with his business… extremely chilled out and non interfering…My kid is big enough to wipe his own bottom and fix his own breakfast and is learning swimming, tennis, piano. We have a lovely house…you guys must visit yaa…tickets are so cheap now.’

Pea kicked me under the table. I looked tried to maintain a deadpan face. Lookgn at the time I said, ‘Oops I have to rush – got to pick my kid from the daycare.
I’ll make a move too,’ said Pea almost reluctantly.

We settled the bills and updated our contact details.

She slowly got up and put on her oversized sunglasses. ‘So when can we meet again? I am in the town till this Sunday.’
‘We can call and fix something,’ said Pea
‘Why call? Lets fix it now…let meet on Saturday for lunch.’
Not willing to commit I made vague noises: ‘Dunno …let’s see…will figure out ….’
‘Are you free on Saturday or not? she asked me categorically
‘Yeah.. Maybe’.
‘Ok Sat lunch around 1. You won’t see me till next year so please make an effort.’

‘Saturday 1pm Sounds fine,’ said Pea and gave me a stern look.
‘Let’s meet at the Intercontinental …have been there for ages yaaa’
‘Fine …will be there at the lobby’
‘Better think of juicy gossips to fill me up with …u have 5 days.’ This was directed at me with a prod in my belly. I gave Pea the look. Pea was clumsily extracting a chewing gum from its pack.

‘Hey, do you know the Royes?,’ asked Pea
‘Which Royes?’
‘Well they live in Rideshire too and are apparently your neighbours’
‘Oh yeah …well they are not immediate neighbours. Errr how do u know them?’
‘They are cousins-related to my husband. Very close to us. Visited us recently. It was such a coincidence – I was mentioning to them that I have a good friend in Rideshire and they happen to be your neighbours. Said they know you very well. Strange coincidence uh?’ Pea was smiling - chewing on her gum.
‘Yes bizarre coincidence’. She got busy putting things in her purse.

We stood for a moment outside the café hugging each other ( muaah muaah ) and saying our goodbyes.

‘So we see we meet on Sat then,’ said Pea.
I nodded. We both looked at her for affirmation.
She stood there inscrutable in her oversized sunglasses. ‘Uh let’s keep it open u know…we are flying off the next day so if case there is a family thing…you know with the in laws.’
‘All rightly then we confirm on Friday,’ said Pea in a firm voice.

We parted. I rushed to the car park dragging Pea. ‘I am bloody late P.’
‘Relax five minutes won’t make a different. The kid will be happy to have five minutes extra to play.’
‘Oh, shut up P.’

We were on our way. Pea suddenly said, ‘Sat lunch is off’.
‘Then why did we spent so much time discussing it ? What is your problem now?’

‘Not me …it’s. She will make excuses not to meet.’

I looked at Pea quizzically. ‘I thought she was the one who was most keen on it. Well…is there more to it?’
‘Well nothing much but just that I have heard from the grape wine that what makes her marriage successful is a young ‘lover’.’
‘Your cousins told you. How do they know?’

‘The community there is small and news travels fast. Infact she is much gossiped about for her loud behaviour and flashy ways. The laugh is actually on the husband who works his ass off -money-churning machine and madam gets her kicks elsewhere. Apparently was in the act in the swimming pool and some peeping Tom neighbour happened to witness it.’

‘She would not be so irresponsible with a kid around.’
‘Dahling …kid goes to a bounty of activities post school and is blissfully away till evening.
‘Pea!! Gossip is truly your fodder. This is total sleaze!’

‘Some people are never grateful. Gathering gossip is a work of art. Anyway came to good use today. Did you see her face when I mentioned my cousin’s name?’

‘Yeah she was rather abrupt. Anyway, be careful. Words do their rounds.’
‘They sure do.’

‘Leave her alone Pea. It is none of our business.’
‘What have I done? Don’t be a prig. I am not going to ask her. Just helped the breeze to find its way. Saved you from the Saturday lunch didn’t I?’
‘Oh shut up Pea.’

‘Well at least she will be not pester us for ‘juicy gossips yaaaaaa’’
We both giggled uncontrollably.
---
Saturday morning, both Pea and I got a message on our cell phone:

‘Sorry cannot meet up. Family dinner in the evening – last minute decision. Will be in touch. Au revoir.’

She is still there on my mailing list and sends me common junk mail from time to time. We still talk about her sometimes during our Friday lunches. Pea feels she did a good thing by giving a taste of her own medicine…I feel confused. How will it be when we meet her again - that is if we ever meet her again?