Few days later he saw her leaving the office late at night.

“You look exhausted.”

“I am leaving now,” she replied.

“Let me drop you home. You can send your driver for the car in the morning.”

“Thanks, Dr. Khanna. But the driver is here. I will not be driving.”

He saw her leaving in her car from his window. She was driving it herself. There was no driver!

—

The exams were over, and grades submitted. Classes were off for the winter break. Rupali had scheduled a meeting of the research group. She had been cordial and professional enough in the meeting, but a storm was brewing up inside Paritosh. She was still not the same. Why was she doing this? He should have been able to ignore it. But he was unable to. He was twiddling the paper-weight lying on his table, when his mobile rang.

“Hello, Mrs. Banerjee,” he greeted Mouli courteously, not letting his irritation with her daughter show up, “How are you?”

“Are you in the office, Paritosh? Where is Rupali?”

“Why? What happened?” he immediately got worried.

“Can’t reach her on her phone. I didn’t have the landline number.”

“She must be around. We had a meeting a while back. I will check in her office and let you know.”

“Bring her home, will you?”

“Is something wrong, Mrs. Banerjee?”

“No. No,” Paritosh could guess that she was trying to calm down, but she was anxious, “Just that… the car has gone for servicing. She doesn’t have it with her. If you are free and…”

“Don’t worry. I will bring her there.”

—

He could hear her giggling and laughing.

“No way, Rohan. You are just a fan boy. iPhone is just not worth the price.”

“You tried it just now. And see how you are blushing while saying that. You obviously want one.”

“I had it. I didn’t bring it from the US.”

“Sour grapes!”

Paritosh felt annoyed and angry at her. He barged in, ignoring Rohan’s presence. “What are you doing?” he demanded.

Rupali flushed and was too surprised to react. What was he asking about? Hers and Rohan’s conversation? What was objectionable in that? And even if there was, what business did he have intruding and questioning her like that?

“Excuse me?” was all she could manage as she stood up.

Rohan was also taken aback and, feeling awkward, decided to take their leave. “I will see you later, Rupali.”

“What has happened to your phone?”

“Nothing has happened to my phone. I was just checking out Rohan’s iPhone. Why are you talking to me like this?”

“Rupali. I don’t know what your problem is, and why are you behaving like this with me. But I am not going to question you on that–”

“What problem? What do you want me to question about?”

“Nothing. Mrs. Banerjee had called. I will drop you home.”

“I will go by myself. I have my car.”

“No. You don’t.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“I am not trying to, but I would like to know why have you taken to lying to me? And avoiding me?” He had calmed down a bit by now and was willing to explain and talk.

“What do you mean?”

“The other day, your driver was not here. You drove yourself. You lied to me. Before that, you didn’t want the coffee, when I asked, but you were getting it from the canteen anyway! And why on earth would you not discuss a draft paper with me yourself, and have Rohan do it? Now, today your car has gone for servicing and you are trying to lie again.”

Her face flushed at first due to embarrassment. But after that she suddenly grew angry, “So what if I want to go on my own? Can’t I take care of myself? Or do you think of me as a child? That’s what it is, right? I am a child. And an irresponsible, immature one at that. Someone who always needs to be told what is right and what is wrong. Someone who cannot do anything right on her own? Someone who needs to be protected? Who can’t look after herself?”

“Rupali, where did that come from?”

“Right from my student days. You disliked everything I did. And now you are working hard to do your duty to correct me.”

“Rupali!” Paritosh was astonished and for a moment didn’t know what to say. He shook his head and gathered himself together, “You are making no sense whatsoever. Why are you talking like this?”

“It doesn’t matter. You won’t understand. But just remember this. I’m not a child. So, don’t try to mother me.”

Paritosh lost his cool again at that, “Stop this ‘child’ business, will you? No – you are not a child and I had never seen you as one. As far as I am concerned, you are a grown up woman, who is intelligent enough to not behave like you have been behaving recently; a woman who is… mature for her age and charming and attractive. What did you say? I won’t understand. Rupali, you are the one who doesn’t understand.”

“What do I not understand?” he didn’t notice that she had immediately softened on hearing his good opinion about herself.

“You don’t understand why I do whatever I do. Why I worry about you, or why I try to help you do the right thing. I do all of this Rupali, because I–” he stopped suddenly.

Rupali looked at him curiously and expectantly. But he did not complete his sentence. He averted his eyes and let out a sigh. “Forget about it, Rupali,” he said, “It doesn’t matter what you think of me. But you must not neglect your mother. She was unable to reach you and she was worried. She asked me to take you home. Please let me do that. Please.”

Rupali wasn’t happy that he did not explain. But she nodded and followed him silently.

—

Her conduct in the hospital had left her utterly confused at first. Why had she wanted to see Paritosh so badly in that moment of dread and confusion, just after the accident? Soon she had to grudgingly accept that she was in love with Paritosh. That urge to go to him for advice, when she really didn’t need it, the wait for his coffee invitation while working late nights, the butterflies in her stomach with his slightest praise – all of these were not meaningless.

It was odd. He had been her teacher. So much older than her. But did such things matter, when you had those intense feelings for someone? What feelings though? Hadn’t she had them earlier and regretted then? History may repeat itself.  She yearned for him, she wanted him and she felt… safe with him. But… Could she feel safe? Could she trust anyone? Could she trust her own judgment of people? She had chosen wrong people twice earlier in her life. And in the second instance, when she thought she had chosen a man she could look up to, he had turned out to be a manipulative jerk who was using her just to hide his homosexuality from his parents. When she had confronted him, he had turned aggressive and physically abusive. She had moved out of the relationship quickly. But she had lost her confidence. She had decided to come back to India. She would be safe there, she had thought. With Mom around.

And now? How safe was she? In loving and trusting Paritosh? She could not trust herself. But even Mom liked Paritosh. She was the one who had made him a part of their social life. She was the one who had called him for help when Rupali had met with the accident. If Mom thought well of him, couldn’t Rupali also trust him?

—

To be continued