Rupali bore Radha’s anxious inquiries after her well-being gracefully. She didn’t know who had informed her. Paritosh or Moitras. She hadn’t remembered to.

“Poor you,” she patted Rupali’s head, “And his unfortunate parents. Why has the boy turned out like that? But there always were signs…”

“Radha. Please,” she pleaded, “There is no point talking about it.”

“Of course. I am sorry. You must be tired. Shall I get you dinner?”

“I had it at Dr. Khanna’s place. I will just take a bath and sleep.”

“I will get the hot water.”

By now she was so exhausted that all her confusions and anxiety could not keep her awake. She fell asleep immediately after hitting the bed.

She woke up at five in the morning. It was slow and natural awakening. Not like the nightmare-induced ones she often had in past. She had been asleep by 8.30 last evening. She felt energized and fresh. She got down from the bed and opened one of the large, colonial windows of her house. The hot, humidity of Kolkata weather had not yet dawned. The air was cool and she could feel it on her face. Then she thought about Paritosh. About their conversation last night. If someone had ever received unconditional love in this world, she had. The last night was an undeniable proof. Accepting what he had offered might be selfish on her part. But he wanted it too. And if it wasn’t right for future, she could still take the risk for the present. She was a fighter, wasn’t she? She had survived the death of her parents, the atrocities of Rohan… Couldn’t she survive and make the best out of love? Couldn’t she try to make it right for the future as well? Why be afraid? What was there to be afraid now? And she smiled. A smile free of any pain behind it!

—

Paritosh was about to start his breakfast, when Rupali walked in.

“Hi,” he greeted her anxiously.

“Good morning, Dr. Khanna. I thought I could have breakfast here.”

“Sure,” he beamed, “Sit down. There are cereals. Do you want some eggs?”

“I will ask the housekeeper to make some half-fry. Do you want some too?”

“No. I will skip eggs. Thanks.”

“I love half-fry. But for some reason Radha doesn’t make them very well,” Rupali said after she had been served eggs, “She didn’t used to cook much at Kaku’s place. There was another cook.”

“How are these?”

“Very nice. Just the way I like them.”

“Great.”

“You aren’t talking at all,” she complained sweetly after a while.

“For a change, I am enjoying you talking.”

She blushed and smiled.

—

It had been a month since their heart-to-heart. Rupali was happy like never before and Paritosh indulged her like he had done no one before. They would have most of their meals outside the hospital together. Either at his house or in a restaurant. It came to a point that Radha had nothing to do at home during day time. It was, therefore, decided that she would stay at Rupali’s place only at night. She would go back to Moitras’ house during the day. “It will ensure that she doesn’t have to stay alone all day, Kakima. I am away on duty and the poor woman is all alone in this house,” she had explained. Damyanti and Sabyasachi had not objected, inwardly happy that she was getting closer to Dr. Khanna.

Rupali and Paritosh were following an unspoken convention though. She wouldn’t stay at his place at night. He used to drop her himself. When that was not possible, an household staff would drop her in the other car.

Paritosh had stayed true to his promise of not touching her. Quite literally. And it didn’t seem to make him feel wretched. The one who did feel wretched was Rupali. Her body’s limitations did not make her immune to emotional needs. She wanted him. And she couldn’t have him. Because of herself. Whenever her train of thoughts went down in this direction, she would suddenly be roused by Paritosh’ earlier reaction to “her feeling damaged”. He had declared loud and clear that he did not like or believe that. She could not go the route of self-pity. But what they had was inadequate. Partiosh might be happy with that. But she wanted more. Couldn’t she heal herself? Just enough to be with him. How should she do it? And how should she tell him?

—

They decided to stay a while longer at the orphanage. They would spend some more time with kids. They took a break after the kids got busy playing with each other in the playground. Despite the pressure to accommodate more children, the orphanage had not given up on its decently sized playground, Paritosh informed Rupali. “And thank God for that. Children need open spaces, playground, fresh air and exercise,” he added.

“The living quarters are over-crowded, though. Children adopt to a lot of things. But they deserve some more space.”

“This is probably one of the best financed places. Still, it is not enough. We have a huge population, Dr. Banerjee,” Paritosh smiled at Rupali sadly.

“Yep. And so if there are more needy people, there should be more helpers in the country too.”

“How do you draw more of them out?”

“I have read about fund-raising efforts of non-profits in other countries. US, for example. It isn’t done on an ad-hoc basis there. Hoping for some rich people to take fancy to you. There are professional, well-planned fund-raising efforts. There are professionals who specialize in such efforts. I’m sure we could use some ideas from there.”

“You really want to do something, don’t you?” Paritosh smiled appreciatively.

“Yes,” her voice was suddenly low and embarrassed, “I hadn’t been in their rooms until recently. And when I did, I almost felt guilty about all the space I have to myself. Now, I am not someone who can donate in lacs and crores, but if hundred people like me could donate even 1000 Rs. each per month, that’d be an extra income of 1 lac a month for the place. Could take care of some basic needs for many children. Thousand people like me would make in 10 lacs a month. Many people spend more than that on donating to temples. And if even a small portion of temple-donations by really rich people could be tapped for this, we could definitely acquire more land and secure more living space for them.”

“If you want to do something, and have a plan, I am in it.”

“Really?”

“We have the same motivations, Rupali.”

Rupali gave a hesitant shy smile. They held each other’s gaze for a moment. And Paritosh felt a current that was ‘dangerous’ in his assessment. He was unaware that Rupali had felt the same.

Their moment was disturbed by a sudden downpour. “Oh God! All of a sudden. The kids will fall ill,” Rupali was flustered, especially when she saw that a large number of kids were enjoying the rain instead of running for shelter. “I will get them back,” she said and ran out to the ground.

“Wait Rupali. The staff would be here any moment. You will get wet.”

“I will be fine. You stay here and make sure they don’t run back into the rain.”

The staff usually responsible for overseeing the children during their play time was taking a break because Rupali and Paritosh were there. They came running when they saw the downpour and relieved Rupali. But she was already wet by then.

“You are mad, Rupali,” Paritosh admonished her, “As bad as the kids. What if you fall ill? You don’t even have a change of clothes here. Come now. We have to hurry back.” And after weeks, he touched her, holding her arms to drag her away. She stumbled in surprise and he had to hold her with his other hand too. And he saw her wet face, clattering teeth, trembling lips, her open hair drenched and tangled up! This was the stuff seduction and desire were made of. Paritosh could not look away from her. His hold on her hands tightened until it hurt her and made her come out of her own trance. She winced, very slightly, but enough to jolt Paritosh out. His hard gulp was visible and audible as he let her go, stepped back and looked at the gate of the orphanage building. “Let’s go,” he mumbled and walked off, Rupali following him in a still dazed state.

—

To be continued