Siddhartha ran into Karishma in the corridor when he came to the hospital late afternoon the next day. She gave an unhesitating smile of pleasure on seeing him and informed him, “He is awake. Though sleepy from all the medicines. But everything is fine.”

He nodded, “Soumen told me. You have been here the entire day, haven’t you?”

She nodded and said, “I brought some of Soumen’s work here. Keeps the work going and keeps him from worrying too much. I was leaving now. I have to pick Kirti up from pre-school.”

He looked at his watch and nodded. As she made her way past him, he suddenly grabbed her hand. Pulling her back, he held her close, “It’s incredible. It has barely been a day since I can even acknowledge this feeling. But already, I missed you.” She shivered and closed her eyes. He could read her reaction and that was enough of a reply.

“Will you call me when you get home?” he asked, letting go of her hand.

“Of course,” she croaked.

“And please take a taxi. You didn’t book one this morning.”

Still under the spell of his passionate declaration, she just nodded.

—

“Who was the girl whom Sonu was obeying like a puppy the entire day?” Siddhartha was taken aback by his father’s question, then he started laughing.

“Karishma?”

“Yes. That’s her name. Quite a karishma she is for our Sonu.”

Siddhartha hoped he wasn’t blushing when he replied, “Yes. She is incredible.”

“Do you know what Baba asked me today?” he said when she called.

“What?”

He repeated his father’s puppy comment word-by-word.

“What! Why? Oh God! That’s–” she became flustered.

“Relax. He was rather impressed.”

Karishma paused for a moment, then said, “Soumen was quite out of his wits, even though there was no emergency. So, I had to nudge him every once in a while.”

“Like?”

“Like calling the doctor when Mr. Sen was in pain. Or replying to the nurse’s questions about his situation.”

It was his turn to pause. Then he whispered, “Thank you, Karishma.”

—

2 weeks later

“You can wait,” Siddhartha told his brother after their meeting was over, “Bonnie is coming. She wanted to meet us both.”

Karishma made to leave, but Siddhartha stopped her too, “Stay, Karishma. You can say ‘hi’ to your friend too.”

She looked at him questioningly and he realized, “That’s Sunidhi’s pet name.”

“Oh! Okay. Great.”

After a brief call to Sunidhi to say ‘thanks’ after she had gotten this job, Karishma hadn’t been in touch with her. She accessed Facebook occasionally and would see the photos put up by her. But there was no more friendship between them now than there was in college. Siddhartha knew that perfectly well. After all whenever they had talked in last two weeks, it had mostly been about her – and a large part of it about her life before her marriage, the comfortable, almost happy phase. Why had he asked her to stay? To include her?

Sunidhi arrived soon.

“Hello brothers,” she cooed as she walked in and went to hug Siddhartha, “How are you doing, Dada?”

“I am fine. How are you and that useless husband of yours?” he replied, laughing.

Sunidhi made a face at Siddhartha.

Karishma smiled. It was obviously a standing joke between the siblings.

“My useless brother seems to be doing fine,” she jokingly punched Soumen and he pretended to be hurt before guffawing.

Then she noticed Karishma and looked genuinely pleased.

“Karishma, Wow! How are you doing?” She went ahead and gave her a hug too. Her good-natured cheerfulness was infectious and Karishma was not unaffected by it. She felt good about being there. She was unaware of Siddhartha’s fond gaze as the two of them hugged. That would have made her knees buckle.

“Listen. The reason I came was that I want to organize a small get-together – perhaps a dinner – now that Baba is back at home. He is not able to step out yet, and meeting people will cheer him up,” Sunidhi announced.

“That’s a good idea,” Soumen said.

“This Saturday, then?” she looked at Siddhartha.

“Saturday, it is,” he consented.

“Good. I will take care of the invites. You should let me know who all you are inviting. And I might as well begin now. Karishma you must come.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“Don’t worry about, Kirti,” Soumen surprised her even more than Sunidhi by intervening, “Bring her along.”

“That’s settled then,” Siddhartha said, “Bonnie. Why don’t you invite Mrinal also on your way out? And Kalindi is going to be in town then. I will invite her. That’s all on my list.”

“Cool. You let me know your list too, Sonu.”

—

There were about twenty people at the get-together. Kirti was happily engaged with ‘Momen’ Uncle and was faithfully following him around.

Siddhartha had formally introduced Karishma to his father and then had gone off to see some other guests. She was sitting with his father and Sunidhi when Siddhartha came back with a gorgeous woman by his side. Unaware of Karishma’s startled looks, Siddhartha took the woman to his father, “Baba. Kalindi. You remember her?”

“Of course, of course. How are you, sweetheart? It has become increasingly difficult to set eyes on you. After how many years have you come to India?”

“Two years, Uncle. It’s not a huge time.”

“Two years? People like us are getting older and you may not see me again if you take another two years for your next visit.”

“Come on, Baba!” Siddhartha interrupted his father, “A few fractures are not going to do anything to you.”

At the same time, Sunidhi whispered in Karishma’s ears, “If only she would stay in India, Dada might just get married.”

Karishma forced a smile. Siddhartha and Kalindi turned towards them.

“You know my sister, of course,” he said.

“Bonnie, is it? Oh my God! I don’t think I met you the last time I was here. You are all grown up.”

“For years, Kalindi,” Sunidhi rolled her eyes and both of them laughed as they hugged.

“She is married. Her husband should be around here somewhere and so should be my brother, whom you did meet last time. Meanwhile, this is Karishma. My useless brother’s very capable assistant.”

Sunidhi, Kalindi as well as Mr. Sen looked surprised and stared at him.

“What?” he asked, wondering if he had made some gaffe. Karishma also noticed the stares and grew uncomfortable.

Kalindi broke the silence with laughter, “She must be very capable for you to say that out loud, Sid! I have never heard you praise someone so unconditionally.”

“She said it!” Sunidhi concurred.

Mr. Sen also nodded and smiled.

Kalindi shook hands with Karishma, “Nice to meet you.”

“Same here.”

“And I would really like to know how you managed to impress this demanding prick.”

Karishma winced, smiling uncomfortably, while Sunidhi added, “I would like to know that too. But more importantly, Dada, I would like to earn some commission for referring such a great employee.”

“I think,” Siddhartha finally came to Karishma’s rescue, “You girls are making her really uncomfortable. Why don’t you sit down with Baba, Kalindi, while I and Karishma go and find her daughter?”

“With pleasure!”

“Come, Karishma,” Embarrassed even more to be singled out for his attention, but relieved to leave the company posing uncomfortable questions, Karishma followed him.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said once they were out of earshot.

“It’s not like anyone was insulting me or anything,” she replied.

“I hadn’t realized that I–”

“What?”

“Well, precisely what they pointed out. I am a judgmental person. Not in a bitter sort of way, I hope. But I am quick to notice people’s flaws. But with you–”

“There is your Mommy–” they were interrupted by Soumen who had Kirti in his tow, “Karishma, she is hungry.”

Karishma gulped and cleared her throat before speaking, “Thanks, Soumen. It’s her meal time. I will feed her. I have her dinner packed.”

“Packed? Why? Doesn’t she eat regular food?” Siddhartha asked.

“She does. But nobody is eating right now–”

“So what? I will take you to the kitchen. I am sure there is enough ready to feed a little girl.”

“Dada!”

“Yes?”

“Kalindi is here, right? Looking more gorgeous than ever before.”

“She is way out of your league, Sonu. And much older too, remember.”

“Come on, Dada. You know what I mean. Make her stay in India this time and get married already, will you?”

“Have you had too much to drink? Come on, Karishma. Kirti, come with us, sweetheart.”

“It is unbelievable how well Soumen gets along with Kirti,” Karishma said to fill the awkward silence on their way to the kitchen.

“The way you have to take care of him, you could very well adopt him and have two kids to play with each other.”

She chuckled but realized that Siddhartha was annoyed. But there were too many people around and it was difficult to have a private conversation.

Once they had set a plate for Kirti, Karishma told him, “I will feed her. You should go back and attend to the guests.”

“Will you be okay?”

“Yes, Siddhartha,” she chuckled, “I know how to feed my daughter. Go now.”

—

To be continued