Paritosh refused to meet her eyes the next morning, he wouldn’t even acknowledge her presence, even though Maya was not around. Rupali grew remorseful. Perhaps she had hurt him the previous day. Perhaps she had been insensitive. She also felt sad. She had come to rely on their camaraderie. They weren’t best buddies, but he was the only adult in her life who knew all about her circumstances and treated her with respect. The half an hour she spent in the house while he went about his business made her acutely aware of how much she would miss it if that camaraderie were to disappear. Throughout the day she planned her little speech to Paritosh, which would end their awkwardness, but in the evening he came back with Maya. She had no opportunity to tell him anything. Even when it was time for her to leave, Maya came to Meenal’s room to relieve her; he didn’t. The next morning Maya was still there. Now that the marriage was on the cards, she didn’t have scruples about being seen by the house-staff.

When Maya came back that evening too, Rupali felt like she would fall apart. She hovered around hoping to have one quick word with Paritosh alone. But neither Maya was in a mood to leave Paritosh alone, nor Paritosh seemed interested in sparing her a glance. At last she could not help herself and went to the Paritosh’ bedroom, where a strange sight greeted her. Maya had literally turned the room upside down looking for something. Paritosh was looking on, his fist against his mouth and his brows furrowed together.

“Dr. Khanna.”

“Later, Ms. Banerjee,” Paritosh replied, his tone a bit too sharp.

Rupali pressed her lips together to avoid reacting as sharply. She made to retreat, when Maya turned her way.

“No. Wait Ms. Banerjee–”

“Stop. Maya! No.”

“Where can the necklace disappear from this house?”

“That’s for us to find out.”

“Fine. Call the police then.”

“Maya, no!”

“What’s the matter?” Rupali asked.

“My necklace, my gold necklace, has been stolen,” Maya replied instead of Paritosh.

Paritosh took a sharp breath. Then he addressed Rupali, “Please come with me, Ms. Banerjee.”

Puzzled, but happy to have an opportunity of talking to him alone, Rupali followed him into another empty room.

“Sorry about that,” he said, “The necklace was expensive. And Maya’s favorite.”

Rupali was least concerned with the upheaval in the room or with Maya’s necklace. She was just happy that in the furore, Paritosh seemed to have forgotten that he was not talking to her.

“You should inform the police then.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Paritosh replied irritably, “Who do you think is the primary suspect?”

That jolted Rupali out of her happy preoccupation. “You think that I stole it?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Paritosh sighed and stepped closer to her. He explained softly now, “I don’t. I, of course, don’t. But that’s precisely the assumption police will work on.”

“But it was expensive, you said. What will you do?”

“I will not let you be harassed.”

“You are not mad at me?” she asked, averting her eyes that were welling over.

“For what?”

“Because I refused your help–”

“I don’t blame you for wanting to stay independent. I appreciate it. I was disappointed. But no – I am not mad. My offer still stands, if you change your mind.”

“Thank you,” she said, her head still bowed.

“It’s time for you to leave, right?”

She nodded and left. He, obviously, didn’t want her in Maya’s way just then, who seemed to think what police would think. Gratefulness wasn’t enough to describe what she felt for him then.

—

“You let her go!” Maya growled.

“She hasn’t stolen it, Maya. For God’s sake. Do you not understand people even a bit?”

“What do we know about her, really? She is needy, for sure.”

“Let’s just say I know her a bit more than you do. Let it be, Maya. I will buy you another one.”

“Trying to buy me with money, are you?”

“Maya, please!”

Maya nodded and slumped in her chair. Having vented her anger out, she seemed placated. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,” she said.

“Maya. I will not favor somebody else over you, if I had the slightest suspicion that she was wrong,” he kneeled before her and pressed her hands.

“Fair enough.”

“We should check the office and your house once more. Just in case.”

“Tomorrow. I’m tired now.”

“I will make us some tea,” he said, standing up.

“Let the maid come.”

“It’s fine. I enjoy making tea. Will you stay with Meenal? Ms. Banerjee would have left.”

“Sure.”

—

Maya was not there when Rupali came back the next morning.

“Maya left last night. She wanted to look for the necklace at her home,” Paritosh explained when Rupali asked.

“Did she find it?” Rupali asked hopefully.

“No.”

“Oh!”

“You don’t have to worry about it, Rupali. Nobody suspects you.”

“You don’t. That’s enough for me,” she said.

“Good,” he smiled at her, “How are things otherwise? What are your plans for the weekend?”

She chuckled, “Mostly doing what my brothers want me to do. Tomorrow Sugata is playing a cricket match. So I might go there.”

“Where is it?”

“They have rented the space from Decathlon.”

“Do you like cricket?”

“Enough to sit through his games.”

He laughed. She stared. She hadn’t seen him laugh that freely before. She was mesmerized and only came to herself when Meenal called her.

—

“What are you doing?” Maya came out of the bathroom after freshening up to find Paritosh bent over beside the bed, his hands groping for something beneath it. His cupboard also seemed to have been emptied out and his clothes and accessories were littered over the bed.

“Making another attempt to find your necklace,” he replied while grabbing a torch and shining it beneath the bed.

Among the things on the bed was a packet that piqued Maya’s curiosity. She unwrapped it carefully.

“Sorry! Failed attempt,” Paritosh stood up and cleaned his hands with a tissue paper. Hearing no response from Maya he looked at her and found her standing stiff, her eyes glued to a white dress spilling out of a paper packet.

“Maya?”

Maya turned towards him and looked at him blankly. “Who did you buy this dress for, Paritosh?”

—

To be continued