“Only if you want Piyali,” he gulped hard before continuing, nervousness and anxiety getting the better of him, “you could marry me.”

“What?” It was her turn to jerk back in surprise.

“If. You. Want.” he repeated, keenly gauging her reaction.

“To what extent would you go to set things right for me, Mukundo Babu? You would destroy your life, your future? Asking you to adopt the baby was crazy enough. Now the idea of marrying me… You don’t have to do that, Mukundo Babu,” she smiled sadly.

“No. I don’t have to. The only reason I would do it is because I want to.”

“You want to marry an idiotic girl, who stands nowhere in comparison to you, who is carrying another man’s child and is stupid enough to not want to abort it while there is still time?”

“Another man’s child,” Mukundo mumbled, “If you intend to bring this baby into the world Piyali, you better not think of it as that man’s child, but yours. That is how I think of it. Else I wouldn’t care and I would give you the exact same advice, which ‘that man’ gave you.”

Her eyes filled with tears again. He had that incredible ability of putting things in the right perspective. How useful, and how soothing, it had been to her always. And today was no exception.

“You are right, as usual, Mukundo Babu,” she said, “Aren’t you going to scold me for… for creating this mess?”

“You have already beaten yourself up more than you should. Apart from being careless, you haven’t committed any crime, Shona. You are an adult.” She chuckled at that. Probably first of what could be called a laugh or a smile on her face since she had landed, even if it was only a sad excuse of either. “And if you accept what I have said,” he added, “then you should know this. I am no virgin myself.”

She turned red. It’s not like she had not discussed everything under the sun with him at some point of time or the other. When she had to convince her father and him that her illness was not just an excuse for not wanting to go to school, she would even tell him about her periods. She had talked to him about her boyfriends and about his fleeting relationships.

Still given the current situation, she felt shyness – or probably shame – washing over her at every little exchange they were having.

“No. I am not so naïve to assume that, Mukundo Babu. But this idea… You deserve better…”

“Piyali. There are a lot of things I could say. But I don’t know if I would say them right. Let me just assure you that you will not regret it if you accepted this marriage. And if you are worried for me, then no. I won’t regret it either. Take my words for it.”

She looked down as if not trusting her eyes with conveying the right emotions.

“And Piyali. It’s not like I am saying this is the only option. Whatever you decide to do, I will support you. If you want me to adopt, if you want to tell Kaka, or whatever else… I will support you. Think of me, my proposal as just another option you have.”

‘Just another option,’ she noticed the phrase. This humility in this situation. It wasn’t without reason that he was the epitome of the perfect man for her. “I know you will support me, Mukundo Babu. That’s why I have come here,” she started choking again and decided not to speak more.

“You did the right thing. Just think it through at leisure. Do you want to go to your home, now? Shall I drop you?”

“Just send the driver.”

“Why?”

“It’s… Will you come over in the evening? I am so tired right now.”

“I will. Make sure you have your lunch and…”

“And?”

“Have you seen a gynecologist yet?”

She bit her lips, “Only once. When I became suspicious….”

“We can’t be careless. I will find out who is a good one. Go now. Eat and take rest. Okay?”

She nodded. ‘We can’t be careless,’ his casual remark kept repeating itself in her mind as she was driven to her home, as she ate her lunch under the watchful eyes of Promila, the fussing housekeeper whose enthusiasm it was difficult to keep at bay, and as she drifted off to sleep in her childhood bed. He had already made it his responsibility as well!

There was only one question to be asked now.

“Don’t you have anyone in your life still, Mukundo Babu, about whom you are serious?” she asked in the evening as she nibbled on the biscuits Promila had given to them with tea. He had come while she was still sleeping and had not let Promila wake her up even though she didn’t like the idea of anyone sleeping at dusk.

“No one. And there isn’t going to be anyone, rest assured.”

“And Baba… I don’t know what he will say.”

“Even I don’t know. But I will figure that out. If I could convince him for Ahwaan… I would probably be able to convince him for myself,” he chuckled, then turned serious, “But what do you want, Piyali?”

“Who has ever had a better advice for me than you, Mukundo Babu?” she replied with downcast eyes, “I can only pray that you do not regret it.” Tears threatened her eyes again.

“Is that a yes?”

She nodded.

“Then I promise I won’t let myself regret this ever. And I will try the same for you.”

Piyali continued looking down as she nodded. Tears were flowing out again and the drops were falling on her lap. He noticed that. He got up and sat down beside her. He cupped her face and made her look up. “Not like this Piyali. Not like a loser crying. You are a brave girl; you have taken a brave decision. It isn’t something to feel guilty, or ashamed about. It is a happy day. Yeah? Please smile. Don’t cry. You know how I hate seeing you cry. You know that, don’t you?”

She nodded and leaned on him. He patted her head. He still had to talk to her father. He didn’t know how he would do it. But one problem at a time. First thing, he had to take her to the gynecologist next morning.

—

To be continued