Rupali knocked gently, then peeked into the director’s office. Policemen, many administrative staff of the institute, and Paritosh were sitting there.

“Yes?” The director did not appreciate the interruption. But he recognized Rupali.

“Excuse me, Sir. But I am interrupting because I have something important to say about the discussion that is going on here. About Dr. Khanna’s whereabouts last night.”

“Come in.”

“Thank you, Sir. I assume that Dr. Khanna has not yet named anyone who can confirm where he was last night.”

“He hasn’t, Rupali. What do you want to say?”

Paritosh looked horrified, “Rupali. Please!” She ignored him.

“He was with me. We were at The Landmark Hotel.”

“Who are you? And what were you doing there?” one of the policemen asked.

“I’m sorry. I did not introduce myself. My name in Rupali Banerjee. I am a Ph. D. student under Dr. Khanna. We were having dinner there.”

“Till when?”

“Pretty late at night.”

“The restaurant closes at 11.30.” The policeman interrogating her seemed to be familiar with the hotel.

Rupali sighed, “There was a room booked in my name. You can confirm it.”

“Rupali. Stop.”

“This isn’t the time to think of propriety, Dr. Khanna.”

“Rupali. I hope you understand the implication of what you are saying?” the director warned her.

“Absolutely, Sir. And I am an adult. Pursuing Dr. Khanna will be a waste of your time, Inspector, and I would really appreciate some discretion on your part about releasing the information I just gave you. Excuse me.” her mobile vibrated. “Hello Kaku. You are with him? .. Okay. Police are here. Shall I give the phone to someone? … Right.” She turned towards the police officer who appeared most authoritative and handed him her phone, “Police commissioner is on the line.”

“Yes Sir… Right Sir… Yes Sir…” The officer grew nervous on suddenly finding himself speaking to the commissioner. After disconnecting the call he handed the phone back to Rupali, “Thank you, Ms. Banerjee. For clarifying the situation. We need to wait for forensic results before we can pursue other lines of inquiries.”

“You will have our full cooperation.” the director assured him. “I don’t know what to say to both of you,” he burst out at Paritosh and Rupali after the policemen and other people had left the room, “If your defense becomes public, it will be a huge scandal in the campus. But if police had continued to go after you, Paritosh, it would have been an ever bigger scandal. So, I guess… Thank you? Rupali.”

Rupali found the director’s discomfort amusing, but Paritosh stood stiff.

—

Paritosh’ office was still cordoned off. They walked back wordlessly to the lonely park.

“What the hell was that, Rupali?” Paritosh finally spoke, irritably.

“You were worried about her reputation. So, I substituted myself. I don’t care.”

“And if this leaks out?”

“Everyone already thinks it to be true.”

“What?”

“That we are having an affair. That I am hopelessly stuck on you.”

“Great!” Paritosh threw up his hands in despair.

“If you are worried about Mrs. Khanna, I can go talk to her, say sorry, claim it was all a mistake etc. I am sure she will forgive you.”

“Rupali. What you have done is more than enough already. Just stop worrying about it now.”

“You are really annoyed with me, aren’t you?” her tone wasn’t belligerent now, just profoundly sad.

That gave Paritosh a pause. “No. I am annoyed at myself, Rupali,” he said gently, “Not at you. In fact, I have been ungrateful. Between your testimony and your connections you have shielded me from a huge embarrassment and inconvenience. Thank you. Thank you, very much.”

“Why are you annoyed at yourself? If you have feelings for someone…”

Paritosh sighed, “Sit down, Rupali. I will tell you everything. That is the least I owe you.”

—

“Police has found clues. The back door of the department was compromised. Varun’s roommate said he knew how to pick locks. That’s how he entered the department building and the room. It seems he was looking for a copy of the exam papers.”

“And he jumped off when he did not find the paper?” Rupali asked, incredulous.

“The autopsy found drugs in his system. He was perhaps depressed. But jumping off still doesn’t make sense. They do think there was another person in the room. But all the possibilities are pretty bad. Either another student, or possibly a drug dealer. I hope it isn’t the former. But a drug-dealer in the campus will be a media disaster–”

“Media and parents have already made it a story of unreasonable academic pressure and an insensitive professor,” Rupali said with some bitterness.

“Media has to create stories that sell. Parents can’t accept that their ward was in the wrong. Everyone is saving their faces.”

“Except you!” she said in a low, choking voice.

“Rupali!” Paritosh felt concerned for her these days. She had gotten too involved in his affairs. It wasn’t fair on her.

“How are things at home?” she asked.

Paritosh sighed, “Tense.”

“Why don’t you tell her? She has to know someday or the other.”

“Nimrit is still scared. She doesn’t trust anybody.”

“Not even her sister?”

“No. She thinks she will be forced to go back.”

“But this will wreck havoc in your life. Or perhaps already has.”

“No. Not really. You made it easier for me, Rupali.”

“Excuse me?”

“Amrit doesn’t hate me. She hates you.”

“Huh?”

“Varun’s parents can’t accept that their son was at fault. Amrit can not accept that her husband was at fault. It is easier for them to blame me, and for her to blame you.”

Rupali looked thoughtful. Paritosh walked around the table to stand in front of her. He half-sat on the table so that he could look in her eyes. Then he lifted her hands in his. “I am sorry, Rupali,” he croaked while continuing to hold her hands, “You didn’t deserve this mess. Give me some more time–”

“Don’t talk like that,” Rupali felt intoxicated, still surprisingly clear in her head, “I’m not trapped in the situation. Whatever I have done, I have done willingly. And God forbid if we were in that situation again, I will do it again.”

There was a moment of silence in which Paritosh realized that what people said about them, at least about her, was not wrong. She was in love with him!

They were startled by slamming of the door as somebody barged in. Paritosh hastily let go of Rupali’s hand and Rupali jumped out of her chair on seeing Amrit.

—

To be continued