They went a live music concert the day before Paritosh was to leave for the conference. After the concert, he surprised her by offering to cook dinner.

“Cook dinner? You know how to?”

“I may not be a great cook, but I think I can arrange a decent dinner.”

“Okay. But this is a gesture I cannot return. I can’t cook. Baking cookies was a one-time thing.”

“Don’t bother about that. But I’m surprised. Didn’t you cook in the US?”

“Yeah. I can put some spices and salt with rice in a pressure cooker and boil it.”

They both laughed at that and he drove to his home.

The evening had been pleasant, but at the dinner table Paritosh noticed a change in Rupali. She was fidgeting and looked disturbed.

“What happened, Rupali?”

“Nothing. What would happen?”

He did not push her further during the dinner. But he brought it up again after they were done, because despite trying hard, she was unsuccessful in hiding her discomfort.

“Something is wrong, Rupali. And I expect you to trust me with your problems. Tell me now, please.”

“Drop me home. I feel like seeing Mom. I am worried about her.”

“She would be asleep by now.”

“Still, I want to see her. Or I will take a taxi.”

“Don’t be stupid. I, of course, am going to drop you home. But is that it?”

“Yes,” her definite tone brooked no dissent and Paritosh had to give in even though he was not convinced.

As soon as they pulled up in front of her home, she got out of the car and did not even thank him or invite him inside. Paritosh was puzzled and a little hurt. But he could not think of anything to do just then. She might just be telling the truth, he tried to convince himself, that she was worried about her mother. He had to take an early morning flight. He tried to go to sleep.

—

His attempts to talk to her on phone in the next few days were frustrating for Paritosh. She would answer him in monosyllables and disconnect the call with the first alibi she could think of.

“You have been looking so morose these days, Rupali. You need some partying,” Rohan told her.

“I doubt partying is going to help me.”

“You have to try. You definitely need to relax a bit. I have been seeing you for a few months now. Sometimes you are so happy and cheerful; and then you have a phase where you refuse to even smile.”

Rupali smiled sadly. That’s exactly what her life had been in last few months, hadn’t it? “I am going partying Saturday night. I wonder if that will help though.”

“Depends on who you are going with. Company has to be pleasant.”

“How subtle! If you want to come, come over. I am going out with some friends. I don’t know about myself, but perhaps you can enjoy.”

“Is that an invitation?”

“Yes. Provided you can get something out of your number crunching from that genetics database that makes it paper-worthy.”

“Professional blackmailing?”

“Indeed!”

She barely managed to hide her melancholy from Sunidhi on Saturday night. Sunidhi and Aditya were looking so happy that she did not want to discuss her problems with them just then. She was annoyed when Rohan asked her for lunch on Sunday. But she kept her reaction in check and asked, “Is it some special occasion?”

“No. But you can bring me a gift if you want,” he joked.

Rupali was not in a mood. Besides, Mouli wasn’t keeping too well these days. Having already spent Saturday night away from her, she wasn’t sure of having Sunday lunch outside too. But she couldn’t figure out a way of politely declining Rohan’s invitation. It was the first time he had asked her. So, she accepted and went for it.

—

Rupali was thoroughly depressed by Monday morning. Mouli had hardly eaten anything in last twenty-four hours. That was a common problem these days. She had lost her appetite completely. That is how last few weeks of cancer would be, the doctor had told them. On Sunday night she had been hallucinating as well, seeing and talking to her dead husband.

Suddenly Rupali felt very scared of the time to come. There had been a hope with Paritosh, but…

Paritosh had left his office keys with her. On reaching college, instead of going to her office, she went to his. She walked around aimlessly in the small space that was free after the book-shelves, table and other furniture had been accommodated. Then she sat down on his chair. That made her feel close to him. She closed her eyes and tried to not think of things that were bothering her.

“Rupali!” the voice startled her and she jumped out of the chair. She couldn’t believe her eyes for a moment. Was she also hallucinating like Mom?

“You are back?” she said still wondering if she was talking to a real person or some illusion.

“Don’t look so pale. You are not seeing a ghost. The last day of the seminar was cancelled because the speaker fell ill and I was getting restless to see you,” he expressed his feelings genuinely.

Rupali wanted to rush to him and lose herself in his embrace. But she just stood motionless. Then she realized that she was in his office. Should she explain? What would she explain? She decided against it.

“You have come directly from the airport?” she noticed his suitcase.

“Yes.”

“You would be tired. I think you should go home.”

“I received a message from the director. He wants to meet me for something urgent. But Rupali. What has happened to you? You have no idea how I have–”

“I have a class to teach now. I will talk to you later,” she did not let him finish and started walking towards the door.

“Rupali. Wait,” he stopped her, “Here. This… note… was on your door. I went to your office first to meet you.”

She took the note from him and left. It was from Rohan. “Thanks for the great weekend,” it read. What was up with Rohan all of a sudden? She threw the note in a dustbin after reading it and headed to her office to pick up notes for her class.

—

Rupali was stupefied. What had Rohan just said?

“I love you, Rupali.”

“Rohan. This is–”

“Don’t say no, Rupali. Not without thinking it through.”

Before she could reply, Rupali noticed a shadow passing through the door of her office. She caught a glimpse. Of all the people in the world, it was Paritosh. Rohan was oblivious to it all though.

—

To be continued