Desde sempre e para sempre Chapter 16

Desde sempre e para sempre

Chapter 16

Aaji was lounging on a rocking chair lost in thought. She was facing the window through which she could see the Gateway of India. She was rocking the chair slightly when a pair of hands covered her eyes from behind catching her off guard.

She smiled. The gentle demeanor, the calming presence, the subtle and discreet footsteps…it had to be…

Aaji:  “Davi.”

Davi: “How did you know? How do you always know?”

Aaji: “Because you are the only one who has a calm soul amongst the three.”

Davi: “I am the only one who has a soul amongst the three.”

Aaji: “Well…”

Davi: “Never mind that. Where are the other two?”

Aaji: “Busy busy busy…Leo does not know how to sit still and Breno does not allow himself too…the world is so different when you stop for a second to observe and experience…But, you tell me, how was work?”

Davi: “Work? I left it behind, the moment I boarded the plane to get here. So, let’s not talk about it.”

Aaji smiled: “All three of you are so different! Cannot believe that you are brothers…”

Davi: “Surprises me too.”

He knelt before her and started gently massaging her feet.

Aaji: “You don’t have to do that!”

Davi: “I am doing it for myself…so, please let me. Now, how was your trip?”

Aaji: “Our trip to India was momentous.”

Davi: “How so?”

Aaji: “Breno fell in love.”

Davi was the only one with whom Aaji shared everything. Gael was like a father and Leo like her son. However, Davi was her friend. He was compassionate, calm and patient. He knew how to listen without being judgmental. He was exactly the opposite of what he portrayed on reel.

Davi stopped: “WHAT? Fala sério! You have got to be kidding me!”

Aaji: “I am not! I think Breno fell in love. I did not expect him to be the ‘love at first sight’ types because of his attention to every detail and method everywhere…but then it makes sense. It had to be this way…”

Davi: “Hang on! What? How? When…you know, it does not matter! What’s her name?”

Aaji: “Naina.”

Davi: “Indian?”

Aaji: “Indian Foreign Service Officer.”

Davi shook his head: “Deixa pra lá! Forget it! É impossível!”

Aaji: “She will change your mind the moment you meet her too.”

Davi: “It does not change the fact that she is a diplomat.”

Aaji: “I hate this. Pessimism runs in your blood too?”

Davi: “Not Leo’s.”

Aaji: “He inherited that from Mãe.”

Davi: “As long as we didn't inherit anything from our Pai. And Irmão? Did he inherit anything from his Mãe?”

Aaji: “He had. But he lost everything because of what your Pai did…”

Tears started running down her cheeks as she started sobbing.

Davi: “Hey…Aaji…please…please, don’t cry! It’s been 22 years...I ...I still don’t know what happened! Irmão has forbidden us to even mention it…”

Aaji: “I don’t know! I don’t know anything! He doesn't say anything! He doesn't talk about it…I just don’t know and I know I will never know. He will never share the past with me. Especially, not now…But Davi...(she held her hand in his) He might share it with Naina!”

Davi: “Naina? You are really convinced about this huh? Who is this girl?” Tell me more about her. What can she possibly have that makes you confident that he will spill his guts to her and not to YOU and his brothers…woah…give it to me!”

She gave him her phone.

Aaji: “I asked the airhostess to click a picture of ours together on the plane…she is…”

Davi: “Meu Deus do ceu… ela é linda maravilhosa! She is gorgeous!”

Aaji: “Com certeza! Of course! Your brother has a keen eye for beauty.”

Davi: “Com certeza! But there is something about her…”

Aaji: “With just a picture? Imagine what the real person could do!”

Davi: “É mesmo? Really? Is she really something? Can she really help Irmão?”

Aaji: “All we need to do is to get them to meet again. There goodbye was devastating…”

Davi: “How do we do that?”

Aaji: “I don’t know. Destiny will…”

Davi snorted: “Sure! Fala sério! Those things are just for the books…”

Aaji: “And one day, destiny will take you to yours too… Fique tranquilo, neto. Don’t worry…”

By the time Leo reached home, Davi was in Mumbai. Leo walked inside in a daze, lost in the moments he had spent with her when he bumped into his lookalike and instinctively grabbed his leg. It wasn’t as bad this time…

Davi: “Oi! e aí? Did you find it?”

Leo: “What?”

Davi: “What’s with the leg?”

Leo: “Nada. Fique tranquilo. Just a scratch. No, I didn’t find it. At least, I think I didn't…Aaji filled you in?”

Davi and Leo heard Gael and John entering the living room.

Davi pulled Leo into a room: “You were out the whole day and you think you didn't find it!? What were you doing!? Aaji is so excited! She is waiting for you to come…”

Leo: “But that’s a good thing! Irmão, said that he wants me to find reasons not to take her there. What better reason than it doesn't exist?!”

Davi: “I disagree.”

Leo gasped: “You disagree with Irmão?!”

Davi: “Irmão, is not thinking straight. He doesn't want to let go.”

Leo: “Irmão always thinks straight!”

Davi: “Well, not this time. Things have changed. Aaji wants to go there and I will take her there.”

Leo: “You are going against Irmão!”

Davi: “I am not going against anyone. I am the only one whose judgment is not clouded.”

Davi: “Give me the address.”

Leo: “I am confident, it’s not there anymore.”

Davi: “I will find it!”

Leo: “Are you not listening to me? I just came from that place!”

Davi: “If it’s not there, I will find out why and what happened to it. I am going to give her the truth. And then build a house for her right there if need be! We owe her that much.”

Leo gave him the piece of paper with the address on it shaking his head.

Leo: “What do I tell Irmão?”

Davi: “Nothing. I will talk to him myself when all is settled.”

Davi left the suite and the hotel in search of her home.

Gael turned around and leaned against the wall. He smiled. He had heard everything.

He could always count on Davi to do the right thing. Davi was the righteous of all. He would have been a pope if given the chance. But he loved women a bit too much and maybe acting a bit more. No, he didn't want Aaji to move out. He wanted to wrap her in all the comfort he could afford until her last breath. All the things he couldn't have provided had she…

But Davi was right, he wasn't thinking straight. That is the last thing his Aaji would want.

Gael looked at John.

Gael: “You heard it all?”

John nodded.

Gael: “Good. I want you to follow Davi. He shouldn't find out. Tell me everything that happens. I want to know what happened to that place.”

John nodded and left.

Leo was sitting on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands. He looked up to find Gael leaning on the door frame looking at him.

Gael: “So, I called Coach.”

Leo groaned: “I don’t understand why Coach is so scared of you! Why won’t you both treat me like an adult for once!?”

Gael: “Well, since you aren't actually supposed to be walking on it and yet that’s exactly what you are doing…you want me to continue?”

Leo groaned again but he didn't say anything.

Gael: “By ‘you both’ did you mean Coach and I or Davi and I? I think you know how to make your way around Coach.”

Leo: “I am hungry…”

Gael: “Sure.”

He walked toward Leo and gave him the crutches.

Leo: “Fala sério...I don’t need these!”

Gael: “Thank me later.”

Gael left the room to look for Aaji: “Follow me.”

Aaji: “I don’t believe it. YOU are going to cook for us?!”

Leo and Aaji were staring at Gael, their jaws dropped.

Gael: “Yeah. I don’t see how difficult it can be.”

Leo: “Irmão, I think I just lost my appetite.”

Aaji: “Breno, I know you are a man of many skills but cooking is definitely not one of them.”

Leo: “Do you remember how long you took to chop one onion?”

Gael: “I was a kid then, okay? I am sure I will do it better now. Besides, I am not the only one who succumbs to waterworks when onions are being chopped…”

Leo: “Yeah but none of us looks like we are dying…”

Aaji: “That is not the point. The point is that you seek perfection and cooking is something that needs flexibility…”

Leo: “…OR it’s okay if all your potato cubes are not the exact size.”

Gael: “I will show you what I got and then we will talk. For now just sit down…(he forced them to sit on the tall chairs by the kitchen island and poured them each a glass of red wine) and have a glass of wine…”

Aaji took a sip: “So, what’s on the menu chef?”

Gael: “Coxinha, pao de queijo and Vatapá…”

Leo: “…let’s not get too ambitious over here…”

Gael, when he saw her face: “I am just kidding…not only would it be a disaster, it would also take away from your Indian Holiday.  Dal rice. Just the way you taught us…”

The smile on her face was all he was hoping for. She was so happy! It would be just like the old times. Only this time he would be the one preparing a meal for her. Just like how their roles had been swapped a lot lately. Davi was right. Thay all owed her that much.

Gael put on the apron: “Where’s Davi? I didn't get to meet him when he arrived. I was in a meeting…”

Leo: “LET’S HAVE SOME MUSIC! Ma’am, shall I have the honor of dancing this set with you?”

Gael smirked. Very smooth. He knew Leo didn't want to talk about where Davi was. Leo didn't want anyone to be reminded of Davi or his absence to be more precise.

Gael started making the preparations for the meal.

Aaji giggled and placed her hand in his: “I don’t know how to dance with you and your crutches.”

Leo: “Damn. I forgot about them already.”

Aaji: “Maybe we can watch one of Davi’s movies?”

Leo: “No! I find it weird to see myself die, imprisoned, decapitated, shot, hanged, and burned by the end of every movie…Davi can never get anything right?! He always dies…”

Gael: “And makes more than the heroes.”

Aaji: “Not everything is about the money…”

Leo: “I am just saying that it would be nice to see myself win at least one…”

Gael: “Its not you…its Davi.”

Leo: “He got the looks from me, okay?”

Gael: “Yeah I get it! You were so special that God decided to make two of you.”

Leo: “Right on!”

Aaji laughed: “Oh Leo…”

Gael: “Actually, let’s watch that movie!”

Leo: “Which one?”

Gael: “The one I watched with Naina…”

Leo and Aaji: “Naina?!”

Aaji: “Naina! Oh how I wish I could meet her again…”

Damn, he shouldn't have mentioned her!

Naina? That was the same name as…

Leo: “Naina, who?”