“Welcome back to New York!” he was startled by her voice.

“What are you doing here?” he asked without thinking.

“Last time I checked this was an airport and people are allowed to come here if they want,” Paridhi grinned.

Subrato had landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport a while back, had passed through the customs and was waiting for his luggage near the luggage belt, when Paridhi had surprised him. His two-year contract with IIAM had been over and he had come back to New York, to his old job. Paridhi had been doing her Ph. D. in New York University for last one year.

Subrato smiled, “So, I am getting a dose of my own medicine, eh? You didn’t tell me you would be coming. In fact, you had said something about being away for a conference.”

He noticed that she was wearing a purple dress. It suited her very well. As usual. He wondered if he should compliment her on that. He also wondered if he could hug her. He badly wanted to. They had been talking to each other regularly. But he wasn’t sure where their relationship stood. She needed time, space… She needed to sort out her own life. He thought that trying to push her into a relationship or commitment would be too much for her to handle. Especially given how indebted she felt to him. Despite his admonitions, she could not stop herself every now and then from talking about how much he had helped her and how she would never be able to repay all of it.

“A little surprise doesn’t hurt, does it?” she replied excitedly. Could she hug him, she wondered. She badly wanted to. But he was her mentor, guide… even a guardian. What if she was too… beneath him? She had thought and accused him of wanting her once, but she couldn’t be sure if he did; in particular if he still did after her accusations. And if she presumed anything wrong, it would be awkward afterwards. Probably disastrous too. So, she refrained.

Subrato was elated to see her there. So elated that his heart was racing. He had to try hard to keep his reactions in control. From their phone calls and e-mails, he had come to believe that she was rather casual about his return to New York. As if it was hardly a big deal for her. It had been disappointing, though he hadn’t let it on. But obviously that was not the case. She had been planning a surprise. May be he could hug her, after all.

But he didn’t!

“No it doesn’t. In fact it makes you… happy. Paridhi. I was unsure about the decision. But right now, I feel really happy that I am back.”

“So am I,” she was not restrained in her response, “Has your luggage come yet? Shall we go.”

—

“Hudson Hotel, 58th street,” Subrato gave the address of the hotel to the cab driver outside the airport, then confirmed with Paridhi, “You will come with me, right? You are free?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

They sat silently for a while as the cab drove on. Paridhi broke the silence, “How long are you going to stay in the hotel?”

“They will pay for three weeks. I need to find an apartment by then.”

“Hmm… And what if you didn’t find an apartment by then?”

“Three weeks is long enough. I have already seen some options online…”

“But if you can’t?”

“Paridhi? What do you want to say?”

“I… I… Nothing… Nothing at all.”

“Sure?”

“Yeah.”

“I will find an apartment. Don’t worry.”

“Of course. You will…”

And awkward silence came between them once again.

“You could stay in my apartment,” suddenly she spoke again.

“Excuse me?”

“My roommate has moved out a while back. I haven’t taken anyone else in. I have a spare room. You can… Of course, only if… you want…”

He stared at her for a while before answering, “Why don’t you give the driver your apartment’s address?”

—

The room she led him to was squeaky clean, the bed was made and every piece of furniture was in place.

“Wow! You haven’t been doing Hotel Management here, have you?” he teased her.

“Huh?”

“I thought you weren’t know to keep your room clean. Back in those days, at least.”

She smiled, “I have snatched you away from a luxurious hotel. I hope it is comfortable.”

“It’s the best!”

“Why don’t you freshen up? I will get something to eat and drink. You want to take rest after that?”

“It’s better to stay awake until evening. Will help get over the jet lag faster.”

“Okay. Towels are there in the bathroom. I will make some coffee while you freshen up.”

But when Paridhi came back to the room with coffee, he had fallen asleep. She smiled, covered him with a blanket and stepped out noiselessly to avoid waking him up.

—
“So much for overcoming jet lag quickly,” he came to the hall after waking up.

Paridhi was reading something, “It’s okay. You have to join only on Monday. You will be fine by then. Did you sleep well?”

“Very well.”

“But now you will remain awake the entire night.”

“Truth be told, I am quite accustomed to doing that now.”

“Really? Why?”

“Somebody stole my sleep.”

Paridhi guffawed, albeit nervously, “I feel like I am watching a bollywood movie live with those corny dialogs. Shall I get you some coffee?” Then she regretted changing the subject. What if he did intend to say what she wanted to hear? But it was too late now.

“That’d be great.”

“So, I haven’t asked you yet,” he asked after she had brought coffee, “How have you been?”

“Fine!”

“Don’t you miss India?”

“I miss people.”

“But overall… Are you happy, Paridhi?”

“You mean to ask whether I have done the right thing in taking your advice,” she smiled, “The answer is yes. I couldn’t have taken a better decision. Steve, my guide, is very happy. But you, of course, know that.”

“Why would I know that?”

“Come on. You thought you would be able to keep it a secret from me. Steve told me how strong a recommendation you had given to him for me. And not just the formal one. He obviously knows you very well and respects you a lot.”

“We have worked together in past. And the respect is mutual. But yeah – you caught me. I have, indeed, kept a tab on your work,” he grinned.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t do you a favour or anything Paridhi. You have done well. It proves that you got only what you deserved.”

“Why are you so hyper about proving that you never helped me with anything. You have helped me at every step. What is the harm in accepting it?”

“I wish I could explain. But anyway, aren’t you hungry?”

” I haven’t cooked at home. I still eat at Indian time. But restaurants here will be open for dinner already. If you don’t want to go out, I can order something in.”

“No. In fact, let me take you to a great Indian place in New York. I think you can’t get such nice Indian food even in India.”

“Really? Let’s go.”

—

To be continued