“I have a no more than six months left, Paritosh,” Mouli said when Rupali was not there, “Doctors have told me. Rupali breaks down if I try to talk to her. So, I have to trouble you.”

“Even I don’t like it when you talk like this. But something is bothering you?”

“You are very perceptive, Paritosh,” Mouli smiled appreciatively, “Yes. I just don’t want to rant about the approaching death. I was wondering if you and Rupali have decided something about getting married.”

“We–” Paritosh started replying, but stopped, “Why do you ask?”

“You can guess. I would be at peace if I could see her settled with you.”

“I am not going anywhere.”

“I know, Paritosh. But probably this is an old woman’s whim. Is there anything stopping you from getting married?”

“Nothing really. But some things need time.”

“Like?”

“Rupali is… I don’t know why, but she feels weak. Probably she is still shaken about your illness; or her experiences in the US. She is not confident that she can handle her life.”

“I know and that’s why I want you to be there for her.”

“And I am there for her.  But she was not always like this. I remember her as a very confident and outgoing girl as a student.  I want to give her time, instead of overwhelming her with another big decision in her life. I don’t want her to marry me because she feels that she needs to. I want her to take the decision because she wants to.”

Mouli nodded, but looked thoughtful. Paritosh spoke again, “I know. I know that you feel that you are running out of time. And if this makes you anxious, I am ready to get married today, any day. If Rupali agrees, of course–”

“No. Don’t do that. You are right. I should not overwhelm her with my insecurities. She is not running out of time. I don’t want her to remember her wedding as something she had to do because her mother was dying. That won’t be a pleasant association.”

“Don’t talk like that, please.”

“Paritosh. I used to wonder what mistakes of my past life am I being punished for? That this illness should hit me at a time when my daughter needed me so much. But now I think I must have done something really good too. Because even when I am going away, I know she is going to be looked after by you.”

“That’s a huge complement you have given me, Ma. And I promise you, I will do whatever it takes to deserve it. Till I am alive, Rupali won’t be alone. Never!”

Rupali smiled, wiped her tears and quietly walked away from the door behind which she was standing, overhearing this conversation. She decided to go back a little later. Anyway, the coffee she was carrying had gone cold. She needed to heat it up. As she did that, Paritosh’ words kept echoing in her mind, “I don’t want her to marry me because she feels that she needs to. I want her to take the decision because she wants to.” She didn’t understand herself as well as Paritosh understood her. Life dealt strange hands. One the one hand, it was taking her mother away from her. On the other, it had sent Paritosh to her!

—

“It is like the romance of old Hindi movies, Sunidhi. Slow, gradual, hesitating. Quite different,” Rupali told her best friend about her relationship with Paritosh while meeting her over a coffee.

“And does it work for you?”

“It does. It’s strange, but it does. May be precisely because it is so different from anything I have ever had earlier. After all, I don’t want a repeat of the history.”

“I am so happy for you, Rupali.”

“Thank you! What happened to your plans of proposing?”

“I was definitely high the day I called you. I haven’t yet done it.”

“Why?”

“Why? I am nervous, of course. What if it doesn’t go well. I am scared of losing what I have.”

“He is no longer your mentee, I guess,” Rupali winked, “You can’t bully him around now.”

Sunidhi laughed, “No. No longer a trainee, no longer a mentee. He is the Assistant Brand Manager now.”

“Well. At least you are not anxious like you used to be and you are not getting drunk at the parties,” Rupali teased her.

“Oh God! Don’t remind me of that, Rupali. I think I still need to apologize to Dr. Khanna.”

“Don’t worry about that. He didn’t think much of it.”

“I, at least, have to thank him.”

“Suit yourself. You have been so busy lately, I have hardly seen you. Else you could have done that long ago.”

“I know. But the pressure has eased a lot now. And Aditya is also doing fine.”

“Let’s all meet over dinner sometime, then.”

“Sure. And Rupali. How is Auntie doing?”

Rupali’s face fell, “Don’t ask. I wouldn’t wish this helplessness even on an enemy.”

“I am sorry,” Sunidhi pressed her hands.

“If someone were to point a pistol at her, Sunidhi, I could come in between and take the hit for her. But this is… I am just so helpless… The pistol is inside her and killing her slowly, tortuously. And no one can take the bullet for her.”

“Calm down, Rupali. Hold yourself together.”

“I am sorry.”

“No problem. Listen, let’s go to your home. I would like to meet her.”

“Okay.”

—

When Rupali and Sunidhi entered Mouli’s room, they were surprised to see Paritosh there. He was gently rubbing Mouli’s palm. Her hands often went cold.

“Sir?”

“Hi Sunidhi, Rupali. Rupali. I knew you were going out with Sunidhi. So, I thought I will spend some time with Ma.”

Rupali smiled and Sunidhi was impressed.

“Mom. Look who is here,” Rupali and Sunidhi walked closer to her.

“Sunidhi? How are you darling?” Mouli was surprisingly lucid.

“I am fine, Auntie,” she didn’t have heart to ask ‘how are you’ to Mouli, “I hadn’t met you in a long time. So, I thought of dropping by.”

“That was very thoughtful of you. And Rupali is going to need all her friends–”

“Mom. Please,” Rupali stopped her.

“Rupa. Darling, do you have Mr. Mehta’s phone number with you?” Mouli asked about her lawyer.

“Yes Mom. But why?”

“Call him. Ask him to come over as soon as possible with all the relevant papers.”

“What papers?”

“He would know. And I want to sleep for a while. Why don’t you all go outside and have something to eat or drink.”

Paritosh, Rupali and Sunidhi walked out without saying a word. Rupali called the lawyer.

“He will be here by eight,” she informed no one in particular and then looked on blankly.

“Rupali,” Paritosh spoke softly. She started crying. He went forward and put his arms around her. She leaned on him for support and her sobs became louder.

“Please save her. I can’t live without her,” she said between her sobs.

“Sunidhi, can you please get some water for her from the kitchen.”

“Yeah, sure,” she replied and rushed to the kitchen.

Paritosh held her tight and did not say anything. Slowly her sobs subsided. She took the water offered by Sunidhi and took a sip.

“Go wash your face, Rupali. You will feel better,” Paritosh told her. She obliged and got up.

“How are you doing, Sunidhi?” Paritosh asked her when Rupali went away.

“I am fine. Sitting in this house, I don’t have the heart to ask how you are doing. It must be so difficult.”

Paritosh smiled, “People don’t stop living and being fine. This too shall pass. But I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Yeah?”

“Her Mom was right when she said Rupali will need all her friends. She will. On my own, I can do only so much. If you could be around a little more often–”

“Yes. Yes, of course. I already feel horrible. I had become so busy in my own life that… And I have to thank you for some things there. But later. Right now, I have neglected my duty towards my best friend and I will definitely do all I can to make up for it.”

Rupali came back and said, “I will get some coffee.”

“I will help you,” Sunidhi said and accompanied her.

“I don’t know what I would have done without him, Sunidhi,” Rupali said while making coffee in the kitchen, “Even Mom depends more on him than on me.”

“You are lucky there, at least,” Sunidhi smiled, “But you must give me credit for having predicted it first.”

“Predicted what?”

“You ungrateful witch,” Sunidhi grinned, “I had told you right when you were doing your Medieval History project that you have a crush on Dr. Khanna.”

“Shut up!”

“Why should I shut up now?”

“All right. You have been prophetic. Happy now?”

The two friends broke into a laughter, for a while forgetting about the melancholy otherwise enveloping Rupali’s life.

Paritosh heard the sound of her laughter from the hall and smiled.

—

To be continued