“Mukundo Babu,” Piyali peeped into his study.

Mukundo drew a sharp breath. What had he been thinking? For how long could he have avoided her? He assumed a neutral expression and turned in his swivel chair to face the door.

“Piyali. What are you doing here?”

“It has been four days since you visited us. Why haven’t you been coming?”

He averted his eyes and fixed them on the notebook he was holding, “I have been busy.”

“Busy?” she repeated as if it was an unfamiliar word.

“Yes.”

“Busy doing what?”

“Work. I have work to do. I had to grade the papers,” he said and turned back, ostensibly to resume his work on the study-table.

But she stood rooted to her place and didn’t leave. So, Mukundo had to turn to her again. “What is it?” he asked.

“Why aren’t you telling me if you are angry with me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Something happened at the wedding, didn’t it? What was it?”

“Piyali!”

Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

“What’s wrong, Piyali?” he went to her and held her. “Come here,” he said when she did not reply and continued crying. He took her to the bench placed along one of the walls in his study. He sat down next to her. “Even if you thought that I was angry with you, since when did you start crying about it, huh?” The only reactions he had known to his reprimands were insolence and defiance from her. This was a novelty!

“I’m nervous,” she wiped her tears and replied.

“Why?”

“I have to go away from home.”

“Arr…” She had worked hard for it and gotten admission in one of the top engineering institutes in the country, the same one that Mukundo had also attended. Mukundo would never forget how she was literally jumping with joy the day result of the entrance exam was declared. It was he who had felt nervous. A new world was awaiting her. World of opportunities and the world of responsibilities and culture shocks. A world away from the protective environment she had grown up in. A world where she would grow into adulthood. Would she be able to handle it all? Should he talk to her, advise her? But everyone went through it. Most people coped. She was intelligent enough to be able to cope with it. He wouldn’t destroy the elation she was experiencing in the meanwhile. But now she herself was nervous.

“Why is my lioness nervous? It’s a dream come true, isn’t it, Pihu Rani?” he called her by her pet name in such moments of affection.

“But nobody would be there with me.”

“Silly girl. We all are just a phone call away.”

“Will you come to meet me? At least once a month?”

“Once a month?” his eyes widened. She wanted him to make a trip between Kolkata and Mumbai? Once a month? At least? He had a class to teach at ISI Kolkata. At least one every semester. Exams, grading and his own research. And then keeping an eye on family business and property.

“I am being stupid. Don’t bother…” she mumbled.

“I will come, if that’s what you want. But trust me, Pihu Rani, once you get busy with your studies and new friends and the hectic life, you wouldn’t have time for me.”

“That is impossible.”

He laughed softly, “We’ll see. But are you feeling better now?”

“You are not angry at me?”

“No.”

She gave a weak smile.

“You were so worried only because you thought I was angry?”

“Mukundo Babu. You know Protima Di, right?”

“Yeah.” She was talking about another girl from their neighbourhood. She was two years senior to Piyali was studying medicine in Delhi.

“She keeps calling her Ma, whenever she has any problems. Who would I call, if I am in any trouble? Baba loves me, but Baba is Baba. I can’t…” Piyali had lost her mother at birth.

“Piyali!”

“If you wouldn’t talk to me, who would I call, Mukundo Babu?”

“Pihu Rani. Do you really think I can dare not take your call? Am I not scared of my lioness? What has gotten into your head, you silly girl? Stop being so worried and nervous. Enjoy your holidays. Once you go to Mumbai and your semester starts, you won’t even have enough time to have a full night’s sleep. Understood?”

Her smile was more convincing this time and he smiled back at her. Then he ran his hand over her head once and said, “Get going now. I really have to finish some work. I will come to meet you and Kaku in the evening. Okay?”

She nodded and got up to leave.

“Piyali!” he called her when she reached the doorsteps. “Come here, once.”

She looked puzzled, but walked back without questioning. He held her hands and spoke slowly, “I… There is something… I wanted to tell you…”

“What?” Piyali was surprised to see him hesitating.

“It’s… Well… It’s an advice… and I know you don’t like them much. But… you are going to be on your own after this and…”

“Tell me, Mukundo Babu.”

He took a deep breath before continuing, “Piyali. This is the beginning of your adult life. And an independent one too. You are a grown, young woman now, Piyali. And a beautiful one on that. There will be boys and you will get a lot of attention…” He noticed her face coloring. “I’m making you uncomfortable,” he let go of her hands, “I’m sorry. You are an intelligent girl. You will know what to do.”

She nodded silently.

“Go now,” he said and sat back in his chair. It was more like a slump.

—

Piyali’s eyes were glued to the street as she walked back home on the familiar path. Mukundo Babu had been late in noticing that she was a grown, young woman now. At seventeen she had been getting quite a lot of attention for quite some time. Something that excited and terrified her at the same time.  She would have liked to talk to someone about it. But who could she talk to? With friends, it was always about pulling each other’s legs. She could never get around to talking about things that really bothered her. She didn’t have a mother or a sister to go to. Everything else, she would discuss with Mukundo Babu. About school, friends, teachers, competitions she won or lost, the cold-feet she always got before exams, the books she read and everything under the sun. But she hadn’t told him about her last fight with Sonali. How could she have told him what the fight was about? That her best friend thought she had ‘stolen’ away the boy she had a crush on? She hadn’t told him about the Mills & Boon romances she had devoured in last few years either.

—

To be continued