Chapter 2
Varnit started narrating to Pieter. It was a wintry day in January, the first day of the new year 2023. Varnit usually cannot catch up with Katherine. Though nobody might convince Varnit that he is a fast horse, today, He has to run almost(at least as per his standards) to merely manage to walk side by side with her. He was virtually sweaty in Artic’s cap and heavy neck scarf when he reached back to the department building. He felt satisfied with the quality of winter gear owned as a part of the New Year’s sale.
Wairnitt, I am going back to the room, baai bai!! (That’s how she pronounces his name). While checking the phone, Kath bade goodbye to him and passed towards the main gate, where he was maneuvering his IC card to the card reader. Varnit always gets mixed emotions of annoyance and anger from this card reader. It was pathetic. Every day, the drill starts like this. He first tried using the card kept inside his wallet from multiple angles. Then, he fails every single time, and he has to surrender by taking out the card and touch with complete opposition with the box. If he doesn’t want to spend his life outside the gate and enter the department building.
He pressed the elevator switch for the fifth floor, arranging the shopping bag and estimating the expenses for New Year shopping simultaneously.
(The phone rings, and he comes back to the real world)
After confiscating all the pockets in the cargo overcoat, Varnit found the phone. While struggling to remove the glove to pick up the call, he switched on the lights in the student room. In a tired voice, he replied: “Hello Sir, sorry… I just entered the room.”Where are you? You became too busy to even pick up the call. Save some time for me also… ha ha ha.’
arey ! aa jane do naa, pehle; fir batein banana! [Oh! Common. Let him arrive first, then may have gossip.]
She was cautious about how chit-chat could start between his husband and Varnit. A known voice interrupted his talk, and he concluded we were waiting here and hung up. And, after a pretentious complaint, He guffawed with delight before he hung up. I just returned from Yadobashi, and they poured half of the city’s population in. Varnit doesn’t have any specific shopping goals. But as Shastri sir told, seeing the shouting salesmen, swarms of shoppers, huge discounts, deals like free gifts… and more than anything, Sir (his wife precisely) agreed to get a new TV.
Getting a new TV was Niharika-san’s most valuable mission, which was proper for Varnit.Apparently, the news of getting a new 4K TV rejuvenated Varnit. he just dropped all the purchased stuff on his table there. He rushed back to the Zara store at Ichibancho, where they asked him to meet. Ichibancho is the most happening place around. It has all the convenience of any shopping mall, yet open and airy. It justifies its name, The Sun Mall. Natives of Sendai also often get confused by almost similar-looking shopping lanes inside shiny and upmarket brands. Even after spending eight months, Varnit still trusts maps than his place cells in the hippocampus. After starting navigation on his phone, he enjoyed the New Year decorations.
Turns towards Marble Road, the navigation shouted in headphones, and he obeyed the command. The chaotic scene was full of loud announcements, people chatting, and sales associates hooting, giving a unique experience. While he was still scanning the thick crowd for them, suddenly, someone patted him. He smiled as they found him. He bowed to them and removed the headphones.
‘Happy New Year, sir!’ He told in a soft voice mixed with a semicircular smile. This time, they were meeting after a long period.
‘Happy New Year in Japan… ha ha ha!’ Sir replied and finally exchanged gazes and smiles as they moved towards Yadobashi.
Yay..Ha! Finally hum TV le rahe hain, Papa maan gaya.
[Yay, Finally, we are getting TV, Father agreed. Yes, his daughter has a little tough spot in speaking Hindi, but yeah, she mostly understands]
She could barely finish the statement and end it with brusque laughter.
Niharika-san expressed her elation about the TV, and as always, I ignored her incorrect Hindi. I somehow accepted that inadvertent mistake in her Hindi language skills, as she was born and raised in Japan.
After formal greeting exchanges, they started moving toward their destination. Though Varnit had been to the same place just some two hours before, it seemed the herds of shoppers multiplied as well.
Sumima sen…. Sumimaaaaaa sen… and maybe with other Japanese sounds and phrases with a mix of loud chorus sounds from promotional speakers, announcements, and shoppers trying hard to get the best deal. Indeed, it was a surprising experience. Varnit is irascible and touchy, with a narrow comfort zone, but instead of whining and quibbling about all this. He unusually ignores and chats with Nandika-san about the events back in her hope.
Suddenly, they notice that an instruction came just for them. Not there, left side. Madam, like a guided missile approaching a TV segment there. Sir, please let’s pick up 65 at least; we have just. We have a 100-inch 4K SONY TV in our refresh room. It is magical. Evidently, that display won Varnit’s heart. No. We have determined that the TV cabinet can only be 50-55 inches, so there is no question. Seems Sir’s wife gave the final verdict. Niharika-san and I looked at each other helplessly. Now, we focus on the best we can get in this condition.
Finally, we got a 55″ TV with EL. Varnit is not even remotely tech-savvy. What is this EL; finally, he asked Sir. EL means black will be completely black, and colours will be brighter. Niharika-san gave wisdom. Varnit nodded, and with a fake smile, he tried to hide the embarrassment resulting from ignorance. Technically, it seems complicated to put into words, but the choice was clear for eyes. The EL variant was gratifying for the eyes, and the visuals were enchanting. Discussions are going on between the husband and wife. Then, to keep us in discussion, Sir sometimes asks his daughter for her opinion.
After one hour, focusing on the technical discussion needed to be more exciting and challenging. Varnit silently alienated himself from there. After inspecting all the TVs displayed when he returned, the debate continued.
‘What is now? Like what they are discussing so intensely.’ He almost whispered to Niharika-san.
Uhm.. there are some serious disagreements. Everyone has some preference, and both are rigid about it. And nobody seems to be compromised. Nandika-san replied with an impassive face and a tired voice. Varnit can also perceive the tension in the environment. Ultimately, the Aqous 55″ EL TV was selected, and paperwork started for the billing. Let’s watch ‘Top Gun Maverick’ once they install the TV in the home; his wife sought to diffuse the tense phase and changed the topic.
Achha! [Fine] let me check on the Netflix. Varnit gets some life and participation back.
It’s not there, He replied in frustration. Don’t worry, I know the ways. It must be somewhere in the net. His wife tried to reuse her plan. Sir, let’s eat something. I am starving. Varnit almost begged him for dinner.
Tumhari friend ne kuch khilaya nahin tab kya lunch me? [Did your friend didn’t feed you well at lunch?].
She just made you walk for her shopping. Just be careful; the situation is how it will appear in the future. She may be training you for the upcoming days. Sir, we had something, but it was lunch. (Varnit stress on lunch, word) Seemingly, Varnit loses interest in everything when he is hungry. Now he is tired as well.
So, he gave a response. Alright, let’s go nearby. Sendai station building was the next destination. Just at the entrance, there was a decent cafeteria shop. Let’s see the options, His wife said. Please check for vegetarian options here.
Bachhe kahan chalen? [Kiddo, where should we go?]
Sir requested Niharika-san for help. Since she was born and raised here, she has been a kind of native, and they always rely on her. They scan the menu displayed outside. Since all of them are vegetarian, getting food is an arduous task. There are usually one or two choices at most. One good thing is that they also display an actual-sized serving portion. It facilitates decision-making. They got nothing exciting and excited after repeating the drill in three places. Let’s go there, Varnit pointed left towards a big greyish building.
‘Biwi’?! Sir tried to conform, perhaps.
Yes, Sir, please let’s go. This was the first building where I entered Sendai. I had my first food in Japan. Cheng told me about that when I came here; it has a place with decent vegetarian options. Ah, nice. Let’s go then! Perhaps his wife perceived my hunger and nostalgia for the place.
Where did you have lunch? He inquired.
Varnit instantly replied with a smile; The Saizeria.
Let’s go, I hope you would like to meet them again; his wife also joined the conversation.
They entered and tried to find the place.
Where is it? His daughter asked.
I can remember it’s not on the ground floor, I think…. Before Varnit would complete the sentence, Niharika-san interrupted him. There are no ground floors in Japan. It started at first, and I started laughing. Japanese are likely more into Matlab, so start indexing from 1. And we are Pythonic… ha ha ha ha. It seemed like a dry joke, but at least Varnit and he enjoyed it. Here, Varnit swiftly moved towards the escalator.
Where is it? Sir asked after trying to find the board for Saizeria.
It was somewhere on the right side; I can remember that much.
I think it was on the first floor, oh sorry, the second floor, Varnit corrected himself while giggling towards Niharika-San.
Here! She announced and pointed simultaneously. Varnit headed, and others followed in the direction she pointed towards.
[P.S. Sorry for my absence last week; I was on a pilgrimage. I have a bonus story from there.]