They ran into Meena at the gate of his house.

“Meena ji?”

“Paritosh. My washing machine was not working. So I have put some clothes in yours.”

“Oh – okay.” He looked at Rupali, then back at Meena, catching the curiosity in Meena’s eyes and apprehension in Rupali’s. Then decided to make an introduction, “Meena ji. This is Rupali. You know about her.”

Meena’s face blanched. Aniket had shown her Rupali’s photos long back, but her hairstyle was different now and she had forgotten her face. Sudden appearance of this girl by Paritosh’ side stupefied her. She nodded and walked off to her house.

Paritosh and Rupali looked at each other confused, then he led her inside.

She looked around and then smiled, “This place looks so different when people aren’t around.”

“Good or bad?”

“Just different.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m happy, of course, that I can be here without other people being around.”

“Me too,” Paritosh nodded and motioned her to sit, “And while I had never thought about what we would do to celebrate the day you could be here with just me, I did have something marked out for celebrating your successful thesis defense. Give me a minute.”

He went to the kitchen and came back holding a wine bottle and two glasses.

“Vintage?” Rupali checked the bottle

“Ummhmm….”

“And old. It must be expensive?”

“That’s why it has been saved for a celebration.”

“Dr. Khanna!”

“What?”

“I appreciate it, really. But I don’t know anything about wines except that I end up ordering them over beer.”

For the first time in the day Paritosh realized how young she was. And how inexperienced compared to him despite her maturity. Would anything meaningful come out of it? Or had their unacknowledged loyalty to each other for so many years only been a result of attraction for forbidden fruit?

“So, this is not your idea of celebration?” he asked.

“That’s not what I mean. I am saying this precious bottle will be wasted on a newbie like me.”

His spirits lifted. “That is not a problem,” he declared, “There is always a first time for everything. And what better day to try something new than the day a new chapter of your life begins?”

He poured the wine, they clinked their glasses and took the first sip.

“How is it?”

“I have no clue what subtle taste, aftertaste or texture I am supposed to be looking for. But I am pretty sure that this is the best drink of my life.”

“To the first time,” he toasted.

“To the first time.”

And after that they discussed nothing other than her thesis defense, felt too tired to go for dinner, ordered pizza and then Paritosh dropped her home despite her protests that he didn’t need to.

—

Meena was inconsolable and Paritosh out of his wits. She could not get over the idea that Rupali had come between two brothers. How could Paritosh bring her home like nothing had ever happened?

“She did not come between the brothers. For God’s sake, Meena ji. She never loved Aniket. How is that her fault?”

“She is no good for this family. Aniket moved away because of her.”

After an hour of arguing, Paritosh left, defeated. He was baffled. He had never imagined that his decisions will be questioned by Meena. And despite the awkward history with Rupali, he had not imagined that she would continue to hold that two-year old grudge against Rupali.

“Can we go to your place?” he asked Rupali the next day. He didn’t want to risk running into Meena again with Rupali.

“My roommate is there.”

“You have a room to yourself, don’t you?”

She blushed and chuckled, “Yes. But she would be in the house. And she is a student at the university. I am not sure we are ready to announce ourselves in that circle yet.”

“You are right.”

“What’s wrong with your house?”

“Nothing. Just thought we could have a change of place.”

“Meena ji was not happy to see me.”

He sighed and shrugged acknowledging her accurate observation.

“Why? She doesn’t think I am good for you?”

“She thinks weirder things than that. Don’t bother about her. I will handle it.”

“If you are bothered, then so am I. You can be honest with me. I am not going to take offense.”

He cocked his head and smiled fondly. Then he leaned forward, “You know as a teacher I tend to let students solve problems on their own. But men have fantasies of protecting their women. Will I ever get to protect you from something?”

She flushed and appeared speechless for a moment. The sudden romantic turn in the conversation had caught her by surprise. But she recovered in a few moments and replied, “You already are protecting me. From loneliness, despair. But my fantasies don’t involve me looking away when you are dealing with a problem.”

“Fair enough,” his smile widened, “I will tell you.”

He explained to her in brief what had transpired between him and his step-mother last night. She looked thoughtful.

“Rupali. There might be a thousand reasons why our relationship may not work out. But I won’t let my family be one, I promise.”

“What thousand reasons?” she asked, surprised.

It was Paritosh’ turn to be taken by surprise. It took him a moment to gather himself before he jokingly replied, “You can’t think of any, can you?”

She grew embarrassed, “I was being stupid, of course. You were not being literal.”

“No. I wasn’t,” he looked at her curiously.

She squirmed under his gaze and asked, “Did I freak you out?”

He shook his head, “No Rupali. What you surprised question told me was that you have a faith in us. That’s not a reason to freak out.”

Her tone was cautious, “You don’t have that faith?”

“One would think we are discussing Christianity here,” he laughed, “Come on. How about we go and get dinner at a nice place and then head to my home?”

Through the dinner they mostly discussed about the companies she was applying to. She wasn’t planning on an academic career.

“Most of my dream companies are in this area itself. So, I hope I can get in one of them.”

“Unless you walk into the interviews stoned, I am sure you will.”

“That sounds like overconfidence, Dr. Khanna.”

“It’s not. But I thought we were done with Dr. Khanna, Dr. Banerjee.”

“I don’t have my degree yet. I am not Dr. Banerjee.”

“Don’t change the topic, Rupali. I do have a name, you know, which the entire world uses to address me. Except you. That needs to change.”

“It’s the habit.”

“A habit you voluntarily broke yesterday. That’s how it should remain.”

“Fine!”

“Fine what?”

“Fine. Paritosh!”

“Better.”

—

To be continued