She had felt this to be the case for a while. When she had seen him in the pool with his brothers for the first time. Teaching them, and laughing like there were no worries in the world! But now she was sure. He wasn’t a loner by nature. He wasn’t this unsmiling, bitter man either. He could and wanted to smile. He wanted to be happy, to have company, to have a social life. But he felt trapped. When his wife didn’t stand by him, he couldn’t be blamed to think that nobody else will. He couldn’t bring himself to smile, because his daughter never smiled back. He was resigned to never hearing her call him “Papa”. No wonder he found it difficult to feel happy.

But he should be able to feel happy. He deserved that. He was a nice, kind and simple man. Even if him paying her more could be explained away by her going there on weekends, other things could not be. Having her brothers over ever weekend, and even this washing machine. Although the latter was absurd according to her, him going to that extent to help her showed just how caring and generous a man he was. He deserved happiness as much as anyone else! He got it at times. When he went to the pool with the boys on the weekends, for example. She hadn’t gone with them after the first time. She was not sure about seeing him in the pool again. Wanting to take rest was a genuine alibi, which nobody could oppose.

But his happiness need not be limited to those few hours. Meenal was what she was. She might improve, but she wasn’t going to change. He should be able to find happiness with his daughter. And otherwise!

—

He was back from the college early. The cook wouldn’t come until evening. She offered to make him tea, but he insisted that he’d do it himself. “You already have a hectic schedule. I can’t put more burden on you.” He wouldn’t hear another word on it. He got a cup for her too and they sipped it in silence for a while. Meenal was busy with her drawing book.

He spoke first, “Now that you are here during the day time, I’m thinking of hiring a full time house help.”

“What for?”

“Generally. To take care of the household work, so that you don’t have to cook for Meenal, or clean up things after her.  And,” he chuckled slightly, “To make tea whenever we want.”

Another favor!

“Dr. Khanna…” she hesitated. How to bring the topic up?

“What happened?” he sensed her turmoil.

“That washing machine. You must take it back. Soumitra didn’t tell me you were involved. Else I’d have known already…”

“Why didn’t he tell you that I was involved? And why should I take it back?”

“I think he didn’t tell me because he also suspected what I know. It wasn’t from some reuse, recycle drive. It is your machine.”

“It’s not!”

“I can’t believe we are having this conversation. Fine. If I have to prove it as if it is a court, then let me tell you this. I had seen the machine earlier. I don’t know why I didn’t recall when Soumitra brought it home. But yesterday I saw the new machine in the utility area. It is a no-brainer.”

Paritosh looked lost for a moment. But he recovered. “Fine. I accept. The machine was my own. But it had indeed broken down. And there was indeed a drive by my club. I had decided to…”

“What club? You never go to any club!”

“I never go. But I am a lifetime member. Wait a minute,” he went away for a while and came back with his laptop, “See this e-mail. From the club? The drive? Happy?”

Rupali looked confused, while Paritosh thanked his stars; that the idea of doing it this way had come to him only after seeing the e-mail from the club. The heap of unwashed clothes he had seen at Rupali’s place had always been on his mind. And every weekend she came there, he agonized over how many hours of sleep she would have lost in washing them! The machine wasn’t broken. He had purposefully cut the wire to make it appear broken. So, he was still lying to Rupali. But at least he had a way of convincing her.

“But a washing machine?” she finally managed an uncertain-sounding protest.

“Well yes. A washing machine. I could have taken it to the club. But I remembered Soumitra’s interest in machines. So, I thought why not!”

“I don’t know about all this. This is too costly a gift. You must take it back.”

“I am not taking it back. It was not a gift. But if you don’t want it, give it away.”

“How childish is that?”

“Just let it go, Rupali. Let it go for my sake. It will make me happy, really happy.”

The checked Rupali’s reaction. Will it make him happy? Really? Or did he say that just to silence her? But how would he know that she cared for his happiness enough to… She looked up. His face had flushed. He had obviously said that without thinking about it. Something said without any design could not be a lie.  “Fine,” she said with a resigned sigh, “But please. Don’t do something like this again. This is…”

“I won’t,” her sudden capitulation surprised him. What had he said? That it will make him happy? Did it matter so much to her? That she would agree to what, just moments earlier, she was vehemently against? Whatever be the case, he didn’t want her changing her mind. So, he agreed immediately. “I won’t do anything like this again. I realize I should have told you directly whatever I intended to do.”

She nodded.

“Thank you,” he could not suppress a happy smile.

“Thank you? For what?”

“For indulging me,” he was genuine.

“Now that is called having your cake and eating it too. I get the washing machine, and I get thanked too!”

He laughed, almost mesmerizing her.

“You know, it is not such a bad thing,” she spoke cautiously, “Laughing. And being happy.”

He stopped laughing and looked at her questioningly.

“I mean,” she explained, “I haven’t seen you smiling or laughing very often. Not even with Meenal.”

His expression became grave and he looked away.

“You probably think that she doesn’t understand. I think she does. She doesn’t have the ability to express herself, show affection, or talk about her pleasures and pains. But that does not mean that she doesn’t feel them.”

“How do you know?” he asked. His question was sincere, not sarcastic.

“I don’t know. I just believe.”

“I hope you are right, Rupali. I hope that she understands what she means to me; or will understand someday.”

“You can’t lose hope!”

“You are an eternal optimist, aren’t you?”

“I have survived till now. I am happy about it. Is that the meaning of optimism?”

“You had to drop out of college because of your parent’s death?”

She hesitated for a bit. Was she ready to talk about her life? With him? She looked at him intently. There was a softness in his features, in perfect harmony with care and concern his eyes expressed. She could talk to him. Unburdening herself a little would be good for her too.

—

To be continued