“It’s so nice to meet you finally, Dr. Khanna,” Mouli welcomed him warmly, “I have been hearing about you since Rupa was a student.”

“Really?” he was genuinely surprised.

“Yes. I was expecting to meet you during her convocation. But you had left by then. Looks like I had to come at death’s door to finally meet you.”

She was weak physically, but her mental faculty were all alert. Her sense of humour had not disappeared either. But Paritosh looked at Rupali’s pale face at the mention of the death and he could not enjoy the dark humour.

“Please don’t talk like that Mrs. Banerjee. It worries Rupali.”

She looked at her daughter sadly and then nodded.

“I’ll get some tea,” Rupali said feeling strangely uncomfortable and went out of the room.

“Dr. Khanna…”

“Please call me Paritosh.”

Mouli smiled, “All right. Paritosh. You were with her through all this. Only you can tell me. Was she too worried?”

Worried was too mild a word for Rupali’s condition through the ordeal. But it would do no good to reveal that to her sick mother.

“Of course, she was worried Mrs. Banerjee. But she is strong.” Did he sound convincing enough?

Apparently no. Because Mouli smiled patronizingly at that reply, “You don’t want to worry me, it seems. Noble intentions. I wish she hadn’t come back from US. I hate to see her going through this. I didn’t want her to see me so weak.”

“And that would have been very unfair to her. Do you realize what kind of guilt she would have lived with?”

Mouli frowned as if trying to think hard over what he said. “Never thought of it that way. I guess you are right.”

“I am,” Paritosh smiled genially, “And now you should stop worrying. That would be of no help to your health or Rupali’s mental peace.”

“I am glad she has a friend in you,” Mouli said sincerely.

Rupali came back with tea and snacks just then. Her hands trembled for a second as he offered tea to Paritosh. The tea didn’t spill, but Mouli noticed the trembling and looked thoughtful.

“I know I am sounding like an old mother,” she told Rupali later that evening after Paritosh had left, “But I really worry about you, Rupa. You’d be alone after me.”

“Don’t talk about ‘after you’ Ma. Your surgery has been successful.”

“I have gotten a fresh lease of life, no doubt. But it isn’t a long lease sweetie. You know that I don’t like prodding you for information. But let’s say that I am getting desperate. Do you have no one in your life?”

“No Ma. No one. Now stop talking, have your food and medicines and go to bed.”

“You could meet some people. Your Kaku has been…”

“No Ma. Don’t let Kaku get to you, or me, please. I am not interested in meeting anyone. Let me get your food.”

Mouli thought of a trembling hand from that evening. And that trembling voice on the day of her convocation. “You can’t meet Dr. Khanna, Ma. He has apparently left the institute and gone to someplace in Delhi.”

—

Rupali also thought of the past, but of a day about a month before the convocation. She had given the final presentation for her project and it had gone well as expected. “Well done, Rupali,” he had smiled when a beaming Rupali had gone to his office that evening. “I would be surprised, if you didn’t get the best project award.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“So all set for the next phase of your life? End semester exams would hardly be a worry for you. How many admits and scholarship offers do you have in hand? Four?”

“Five,” she had blushed.

“Where are you going finally?”

“Stanford, as you had suggested.”

“That’s great. There isn’t a better place to be in for a Computer Scientist. All the great work is happening in Bay area these days. You would do very well.”

“Thank you, Sir. And a special thanks for your recommendations. It wouldn’t have happened without that.”

“A well-deserved one. I think today is the day to celebrate. Are you free in the evening?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Let’s go for a dinner. Any place you want.”

She had been pleasantly surprised. Awe was the word. Oh yes! Of course. A dinner with him. A memory she’d cherish for life.

“That’s awesome!” Her eyes had shone.

—

Rupali in a salwaar-kameez was a rare sight, and Paritosh could recall every detail of her appearance even today. It was simple, cream dress with red borders and dupatta. But it made her look so feminine, and grown up that Paritosh’ heart had skipped a beat. He had stolen a few extra glances at her during the drive to the restaurant. He had offered to take her to a restaurant in a five-star hotel and had dressed up in a black suit to look right for the venue. He was driving a BMW. He was unaware of the extra glances that Rupali had stolen too.

“We have some good cocktails, Sir,” the waiter had encouraged him to order some alcohol.

“No. Thanks. Not today,” he had politely refused.

“Why not? I am not a minor,” she had objected.

He had chuckled at her logic, “So, do you drink?” He didn’t associate drinking with this geeky, upright girl.

“No. But so what! You do drink, right?”

“I am omnivorous, I had told you. I drink. But I am not an addict or anything. I am not going to drink with you, Rupali. And anyway, I have to drive.”

“I can drive you back.”

“You know how to drive?”

“Of course. I often drive my uncle’s car.”

“That’s great. But no drinking.”

“No. You must order something. I insist. It is on me.”

He was extremely amused, “Why are you so insistent?”

“I… don’t know,” she had spoken awkwardly. It made no sense. Probably she just wanted to feel some power over him.

She had looked dejected and Paritosh had decided to indulge her. “Fine then,” he had called the waiter and ordered a Mojito.

“I will miss this place, Dr. Khanna. And people. And friends,” she had said emotionally during their meal.

“We all do. But life moves on. All of it will soon become a distant memory.”

“I will come back after Ph. D.”

“Will you? We’ll see,” he had smiled patronizingly.

“You don’t believe me?”

“I don’t believe the time. It can do strange things to people. It can change them completely.”

“Hmm…” she had looked thoughtful.

“Not necessarily in a bad way,” he had philosophized further, “It makes you more mature, stronger, wiser. It can give you scars. But it can also make you a better person.”

She had smiled.

“I am boring you,” Paritosh had been slightly embarrassed.

“Not at all. What makes you think so?”

“You are unusually quiet.”

“I’m sure I will grow mature, stronger and wiser someday and then all this will be a distant memory. But today I am just sad and nostalgic.”

“How do we cheer you up?”

She had chuckled in embarrassment, “Now I am spoiling your evening. I think we should just enjoy this great food. The chicken is particularly tasty.”

“I thoughts Bengalis were more into fish.”

“Ah! Fish is like… potatoes. You have it at home everyday. Chicken is the real stuff,” she had grinned drawing an indulgent smile from him. “Can I ask you something personal, Dr. Khanna?” She had asked suddenly after a pause.

He had frowned for a moment, but had agreed, “Shoot.”

“You had told me that you have taken care of financial needs of your wife by investing her dowry suitably.”

“Right. So?”

“Why did you never get married again? There could be nothing objectionable about it.”

His face coloured slightly.  He looked away for a moment before looking at her again. She bit her lips. Had she overstepped her limits?

“I don’t know,” he finally said.

She nodded and did not counter-question him. They were towards the end of their meal and finished it in silence. He insisted that she ordered a dessert as well and she complied. But there was a knot in her stomach by then. She could hardly enjoy the dessert, although it was quite delicious.

Both of them made a couple of attempts at resuming conversation during the drive back. But those attempts fell flat. Rupali chided herself for asking that question. What was she thinking?

“Where should I drop you? Hostel or department?” he asked as they entered the institute’s gate.

“Department. My bag is in the lab.”

She walked around to go to him after he had parked the car and they both had gotten out of it. “Thanks for the wonderful treat,” she smiled.

“Thanks for the wonderful company,” he had replied in a tone that was not formal. Rather… What was it? Emotional. Extremely emotional. “And Rupali. I am going to miss all of this too. A lot.” She had shivered as he had come closer to her, quite unconsciously. He had cupped her face with trembling hands and leaned in. She had closed her eyes and prepared herself for the kiss, when they heard some noise in the otherwise empty parking lot. He had immediately stepped back to her utter disappointment and mumbled, “What was I doing? Go Rupali.”

She had stood frozen for a moment and he had hissed again, “Go.” She had obeyed him and while walking out had seen someone parking a two-wheeler in the parking lot. It was someone she knew. He had greeted her. But she hadn’t bothered to even see who it was. She had greeted him back mechanically and walked into the lab in a daze. Happy and confused at the same time. Happy that he reciprocated his feelings. Confused at his reaction. She was wondering how to resolve it. Should she go to his office right away? And then do what? Proclaim her love? Too cheesy? Ask him about what happened, or just did not happen in the parking lot? Too audacious? She was still struggling with all the possibilities, when Padma had walked up to her, “Congrats Rupali. You won the bet.”

“What bet?” she had been surprised.

—

To be continued