His Obsession (Part 2)

Posted 1 CommentPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

“Dev!”

“Bro Aap?”

“Dev! Tumne khoon de kar meri jaan bachayi hai. Tumhara jo bhi ehsaan hai, woh mere oopar hai. Usko lekar Geet ya Dadi Ma ko emotionally blackmail karne ki tumhein koi zaroorat nahin hai,” Maan immediately came to the point.

“Bro. Aapko kaise pata chala? Aur maine koi ehsaan nahin kiya hai. Main…”

“Kya chahiye tumhein Dev?”

“Bro…”

“Kitne paison ki zaroorat hai tumehin? Geet se kya maang rahe the? Tumhein jo chahiye mujhse lo. Geet ko dubara pareshaan mat karna.”

Dev told him about his debts.

“Theek hai. Apne creditors ke naam mujhe de do. Main sab karze clear kar doonga. Aur haan – mere paas tumhare liye ek aur deal hai.”

“Deal?”

“Haan! Mumbai mein maine ek naya ghar liya hai. Tum wahan ja kar rahoge. Agar kuchh kaam karna chaho to kar sakte ho. Na karna chaho to mat karo. Tumhare account mein tumhare kharchon ke liye main har mahine paise transfer kar doonga. Tum apni life jee sakte ho. Bas laut kar yahan Geet ke saamne mat aana.”

“Par Bro. Main apne parivaar ke saath rahna chahta hoon. Aur Dadi Ma…”

“Dadi Ma ko ye jaan kar bahut khushi hogi ki tum apna career khud banana chahte ho. Tumne apne fayde ke liye meri jaan bachayi aur main tumhein uske badle ghar aur paise de raha hoon. Manzoor ho to theek hai, warna… Mere jeete jee to main tumhein yahan nahin rahne doonga.”

Dev just nodded.

“Tumhare tickets tumahre paas pahunch jayenge,” Maan said and left the room, not to look back.

When Maan left, Dev was seething with anger and vowed to take his revenge from Maan. He hated his power over him. How could his brother treat him like shit. He had hoped to create a rift between Maan and Geet by meeting her repeatedly and sowing doubts in Maan’s mind. But the plan had obviously failed. He needed to do something more direct now!

Once Maan came out of Dev’s room, he consciously decided to not think about him. His thoughts returned to Geet. He could not help feeling overwhelmed with what she had done for him. Taking help from the man she detests the most! How would she have felt while asking him to help. And bearing him around her all the time after that. Unable to ward him off because she was under his debt. Could he do something to make up for that? Could he do something special for his Mishti, who managed to make him fall in love with her again and again? He, of course, had her test results with him.

He loved his sherni, who would talk incessantly, who would not be put down by any body or any situation. But what drove him really crazy every time was how she became helpless in his arms. He only had to go near her and all her resistance gave way. The chatterbox of a girl turned into a silent wax doll, looking so vulnerable, yet comfortable – as if she belonged there, belonged to him. She had become just that a few minutes back when in his frustration he had held her really close and had tried to physically coax her into giving in! When he had seen her like that, it had taken him all his willpower to not lose himself in her and get back to the business at hand. Now that everything was out of the way, he was going to have her to himself for the rest of the evening.

Feeling an urgent need to take her back in his arms, he took long strides towards their bedroom. But he stopped at the door when he saw Dadi and Annie in the room talking to Geet. From what he could hear, there was nothing important going on; just the usual women’s chit-chat. He got irritated. He was in no mood for small talk with anyone, not even Dadi Ma or Annie. But before he could go away Dadi noticed him and asked him to join them. He could not refuse. He absent-mindedly answered a few questions they asked him about his day. He felt relieved when Dadi Ma finally said, “Chaliye Annie. Maan abhi laute hain office se; unhein aaraam karne dete hain.”

Maan and Geet saw them off till the door of their room. As soon as they went out of sight, Maan turned back, locked the door and got hold of Geet surprising her.

“Mujhe pareshaan karne mein tumhein mazaa aata hai na Geet? Pahle itne dinon se poori baat na bata kar tum mujhe pareshaan kar rahi thi. Aur ab jab sab theek ho gaya to tumhare paas mujhse baat karne ki bhi fursat nahin hai. Kya zaroorat thi Dadi Ma aur Annie ko bulane ki abhi?”

“Par maine unko nahin…”

He shut her up by covering her lips with his hand, “Chup. Bilkul Chup. Bahut bolti ho Geet.”

She did shut up. Her eyes showed some fear. But this fear of hers did not worry him. It only heightened his desire for her.

“Reports to padh li hongi tumne?”

He hadn’t removed his hand from her lips. So, she replied by nodding.

“To tumhein ye bhi pata chal gaya hoga ki ab tumhare paas mujhse bachne ka koi bahana nahin hai.”

She did not reply, just closed her eyes. Maan took the chance to plant kisses on her eyes.

Just then someone knocked on the door. Maan glared at Geet, left her and went into the washroom to freshen up.

Geet opened the door to see Dadi Ma there. She looked disturbed.

“Geet beta. Maan kamre mein hain kya?”

“Dadi Ma – woh washroom mein hain. Fresh ho rahe hain. Kya baat hai?”

She held Geet’s hand and brought her out of the room, “Geet! Hamein chinta ho rahi hai. Maan ko aapne bata diya hai kya? Kya unhone Dev se koi baat ki hai?”

Geet found herself stuck, “Woh Dadi Ma…”

Just then they heard some sound from the room. Maan must have returned. Geet looked helplessly at Dadi Ma. She understood, “Hum baad mein baat karte hain.”

As Geet stepped back into her room, she realized that Maan was standing very close to the door. He must have heard the conversation. She was horrified and did not know what to say.

Maan was looking intently at her with his hands folded in front of his chest. She found it difficult to look into his eyes and tried to move past him towards the bed. He stopped her by stretching his hand in front of her.

“Dadi Ma ne tumse kaha tha mujhe Dev ke baare mein na batane ke liye?”

Geet found herself stuck between the man she loved to death and the woman he respected the most; between Maan and Dadi Ma; between her ultimate love, and the woman who had accepted her like a daughter; between her instincts as a wife and a lover and her duty as a daughter-in-law.

She dropped on her knees and started crying inconsolably. Maan was immediately worried. He also kneeled down and cupped her face.

“Geet. Nahin Geet – aise nahin karte. Rona band karo please. I am sorry Geet. Maine tumhein pareshaaan kar diya. Please ro mat. Mujhse baat karo Geet. Apni pareshaani batao.”

Geet leaned on to him still crying. He stroked her hair to calm her down. After she had regained her control a bit, he made her stand up and led her to the bed. He sat her on the bed and poured her a glass of water. After drinking the water she looked better.

“Pareshaan ho gayi ho Geet?” He asked very softly.

“Meri kuchh samajh mein nahin aa raha tha Maan. Aap jaante hain ki main Dev se nafrat karti hoon. Main uska saaya bhi hamari zindagi par nahin padne dena chahti. Lekin Dev ke liye nafrat mere liye aapki zindagi se badi nahin hai Maan. Isliye jab kahin aur se khoon ka intezaam nahin ho paya aur Dadi Ma ne mujhe bataya ki Dev appko khoon de sakta hai to main usse madad maangne chali gayi. Main jaanti thi ki aapko ye achchha nahin lagega, phir bhi main aapse kabhi bhi ye chhupana nahin chahti thi. Lekin Dadi Ma Dev ko le kar pareshaan thi. Dev ki chinta mujhe nahin hai Maan, lekin Dadi Ma ki baat ko bhi mana nahin kar sakti thi. Main kya karti, kuchh samajh mein nahin aa raha tha. Main kisse poochhti Maan? Main to aapse ya Dadi Ma se hi salah leti hoon. Aur yahan aap dono ke hi beech mein chunna pad raha tha.”

“Aur jab tumne mujhe bataya to maine tumhari madad karne ki jagah tumse sawaal poochhne shuru kar diye. Sorry Geet.”

“Nahin. Aap please sorry mat kahiye. Ismein aapki kya galti hai. Mujhe to maaloom hai ki aapke liye sach har cheez se oopar hai.”

Maan pulled her in a protective hug. Wasn’t this eighteen year old being put through too many responsibilities? As a wife, as a daughter-in-law, as a would-be mother. She had no one to go back to for advice. Except himself. And it looked like he had not been able to make himself approachable enough.

“Geet! Meri ek baat maanogi?” He asked breaking the hug.

She just nodded. Why wouldn’t she?

“Geet. Ye sach hai ki main Dadi Ma ki bahut izzat karta hoon, unki bahut fikr hoti hai mujhe. Lekin Geet – tum meri jeevansaathi ho. Main tumse alag nahin hoon Geet. Dadi Ma bhi hamare beech nahin aa sakti. Chahe koi kuchh bhi chahe, tumhein mujhse kuchh nahin chhipana hai Geet. Maanta hoon ki main perfect nahin hoon, main gussa ho jaata hoon, jo tumhein achchha nahin lagta. Lekin tum to mujhe bardasht kar sakti ho na Geet. Phir ghabrane ki kya zaroorat hai? Tumhein jo bhi samajh mein na aaye mujhse poochho. Jo bhi pareshaani hai mujhe batao. Maine tumse pahle bhi kaha hai ki jab tak hum saath rahenge koi problem badi nahin hai. Hum har mushkil ka saamna kar sakte hain. Hain na?”

A smile finally appeared on her tear strained face as she nodded in positive. They hugged again.

Geet said when the broke the hug, “Maan! Dadi Ma pareshaan hain. Aapne Dev se kya kaha?”

“Geet. Ab tum pareshaan mat ho us baare mein. Dev ko apne khoon dene ki keemat mil gayi hai. Aur main abhi Dadi Ma se baat kar ke aata hoon. Bas main tumehin aur pareshaan nahin dekh sakta. Waada karo – is baare mein nahin sochogi.”

Geet smiled and nodded. Maan left the room.

To be continued

His Obsession (Part 1)

Posted 2 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

Note on the OS

This incident is supposed to happen when Dev had come back to Khurana Mansion and Dadi and Geet had let him stay in the outhouse despite Maan not liking it. Maan didn’t yet know that Dev had donated blood to save his life after his accident in Shimla.

Maan had come home elated. He was excited to meet Geet. She had stayed back at home because the doctor had advised her to rest until they had seen the test results and were satisfied about her condition.

And then he saw her talking to Dev – once again. Dev’s face gave nothing away, but Geet’s was transparent as usual. She was distressed. Maan got infuriated. He had to find out. But he did not want to confront Geet in front of Dev. That wouldn’t do.

Geet enetered her room lost in thoughts, when a pair of strong hands pulled her. Maan used his legs to shut the doors and pinned her against them using one of his hands, while he locked the doors with the other.

His intense expressions and angry voice scared Geet for a moment, “Kya chhupa rahi ho mujhse Geet?”

“Kya? Main aapse kuchh kyon chhupaungi?”

“Dev kya kah raha tha tumse? Abhi aur pahle bhi kai baar.”

“Maan!” Geet felt like her heart would tear apart, “Aap mujh par shaq…”

“Pagal mat bano Geet,” Maan’s voice was still hard, “Tumhein achchi tarah se pata hai ki main tumhare baare mein aisa soch bhi nahin sakta. Lekin mujhe Dev par koi bharosa nahin hai. Mujhe nahin pata ki achanak tumhari nafrat uske liye kyon kam ho gai hai, lekin agar woh tumhare aas paas hai to kuchh achchha nahin kar raha hoga. Woh tumhein pareshaan kar raha hai aur tum mujhe bata nahin rahi ho.”

“Aisa kuchh nahin hai Maan aur mujhe chhodiye. Mujhe dard ho raha hai.”

Maan hadn’t realized that his hold on her was getting tighter. He continued to hold her, but lightened the pressure, “Geet! Mujhse jhooth tum bol nahin sakti. Aur agar sach nahin bataogi to tumhari hifaazat ke liye mujhe jo samajh mein aayega, main karoonga. Samajh rahi ho tum?”

“Maan, aapko kuchh karne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Mujhe kuchh nahin hoga.”

“Haan Geet! Kuchh nahin hoga tumhein. Kyonki agar tum mujhe nahin bataogi, to main tumhein apni aankhon ke saamne se hilne hi nahin doonga. Band kar ke rakh loonga is kamre mein. Koi zidd nahin chalegi tumhari. Haath-pair baandh kar rakh doonga tumhare, agar zaroorat padi to. Samjhi tum?”

He wasn’t joking. He would actually do that. It was in his eyes – the madness, the obsession. She should have been angry at his obsession. Or nervous. But neither of those happened. She only felt scared and worried, not for herself, but for him. He cared to the point of madness. Not just that, he needed her to be with him. And he needed her completely. He could not bear her keeping any secrets from him. He could not bear any distance from her. And she feared. She feared that if she ever failed him, what will he do? He will not remain himself. She remembered how he had behaved when she had walked out on him and had joined Indian Paints. She shivered.

“Maan. Aap please shaant ho jaiye. Main aapko aise gusse mein nahin dekh sakti,” she caressed his hair and cheeks with her hand in the hope of calming him down. She thought she had succeeded when he caught her hand and started kissing it. She felt his grip tightening on her again and he was roughly caressing her back and nape, bringing her closer to himself if that was even possible. But she soon realized that it was different. The kisses and touches were not so much of desire and love as they were of authority. Their roughness seemed to urge her to give in. That she had no option other than to submit to him. Otherwise he would make good of his promise of doing whatever he thinks is right to protect her. But even in this situation, Geet could not help getting affected by his touches. When he could not break her mentally, he had used his physcial control over her. Just a few touches and she was weak in her knees. Suddenly his touches stopped and he cupped her face.

“Jab aisa hai Geet, jab nahin dekh sakti tum mujhe gusse mein, to tum mujhe batati kyon nahin ki baat kya hai? Aisa kya ho gaya hai Geet ki tum Dev se nafrat nahin karti. Uske is ghar mein rahne se bhi tumhein koi aitraaz nahin hai. Tum usse baatein karti ho, milti ho. Batao Geet. Ye sab tumhein achchha to nahin lag sakta hai, phir kyon kar rahi ho?”

Geet was no longer meeting his eyes. She started looking down. She did not know what to do. How to tell him something that will hurt him to no end.

Maan finally lost his patience, “Geet. Agar tum nahin bataogi to main abhi Dev se ja kar baat karoonga.”

“Nahin,” Geet panicked. Talking to Dev will do no good to his mood. Seeing him angry hurt her. She wanted to keep him happy, not angry and tense like this.

“Agar koi baat nahin hai, to tum mujhe Dev se baat karne ke liye kyon mana kar rahi ho? Ab main koi bahana nahin sunoonga. Tum mujhe batao, abhi ke abhi, ki baat kya hai.”

“Maan. Mujhe maaf kar dijiyega. Dev…”

“Kya kiya Dev ne?” For the first time in the entire conversation his face softened, not with relief, but with worry and concern for her.

“Nahin Dev ne kuchh galat nahin kiya. Maan, jab aapka accident hua to aapko khoon ki zaroorat thi aur kahin bhi aapke blood group ka khoon nahin mil raha tha. Mere paas koi raasta nahin tha Maan. Maine…”

“Dev ne khoon diya?” Maan’s face went blank for a while.

Geet nodded, crying now, “Mujhe maaf kar dijiye Maan. Mujhe pata hai ki aap kissi ki madad nahin lena chahte aur Dev se to aap bahut nafrat karte hain. Lekin us waqt main aapki zindagi ke alawa kissi cheez ke baare mein nahin soch sakti thi… Isliye Dev se madad maangi. Aap please gussa mat hona.”

“Geet! Tumhein meri jaan bachane ke liye Dev se madad maangni padi?” His face was now showing pain and immense regret.

But Geet did not realize what exactly he was trying to say. She went on with her apology, “Main jaanti thi Maan ki aapko ye bilkul achchha nahin lagega. Isliye main aapko nahin batana chahti thi. Aap please mujhe maaf…”

Maan did not let her complete another apology and put his hands on her lips.

“Tum mujhse kyon maafi maang rahi ho Geet?” Maan had finally found his voice back, “Maafi to mujhe tumse maangni chahiye. Dev ne tumhare saath kya kuchh nahin kiya. Tumhein to uski shakal tak dekhne mein aitraaz hona chahiye tha. Aur sirf meri jaan bachane ke liye tum apni saari nafrat bhool kar usse madad maangne chali gayi Geet? Uske saamne jhuk gayi? Sirf mere liye?”

“Sirf?” Geet flinched, “Maan! Dev ne to mere saath sirf dhokha kiya tha. Aapki jaan bachane ke liye to main kissi khooni ki bhi madad le leti. Main apni nafrat ke liye aapki zindagi se kaise khel sakti thi Maan. Aur woh bhi tab jab meri bewkoofi ki wajah se aap us halat mein pahunche the.”

“Bas Geet. Khud ko blame karna band karo. Tumne meri jaan bachane ke liye bahut badi kurbani di hai Geet. Thank you!”

“Maan! Maine koi kurbaani nahin dee hai. Duniya ki saari nafrat se badh kar mere liye aapka pyaar hai, aap hain. Aapki zindagi ke liye to main hazaron Dev ke saamne jhuk sakti hoon. Jhukna kyon Maan, agar aap chahte to maine Dev ko maaf bhi kar diya hota.”

Maan could not say anything more. She was as completely his as one could be. He could ask for nothing more. He pulled her in a tight hug, silently promising to himself that he would never let this happen to her again. And he also had to ensure that this doesn’t worry her any longer.

“To isliye jab Dadi Ma Dev ko wapas ghar laana chahti thi, to tumne mana nahin kiya. Balki unka saath diya.”

“Haan Maan. Chahe main usse kitni bhi nafrat karti hoon, lekin aapki jaan bachane ka ahsaan to uska hai hi. Aur Dadi Ma ki khushi bhi ismein hi thi…”

“Par ab woh aur kya chahta hai tumse? Aaj kya kah raha tha jo tum itni pareshaan thi?”

“Use paison ki zaroorat hai. Woh Dadi Ma se maangne mein hichak raha hai.”

Maan could not have expected anything else from Dev. But his first priority was to keep Geet out of it. So, he controlled his anger, “Hmm. Ab tumhein usse baat karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai Geet. Main dekh loonga. Theek hai?” Saying this he broke the hug and looked at her for confirmation.

She nodded.

“Main abhi aata hoon.”

“Maan!”

“Kya hua Geet?” He asked very softly.

“Maan. Bas ye mat bhuliyega ki usne aapki jaan bachayi hai. Chahe aapke liye iski koi ahmiyat na ho, lekin mujhe to isse meri poori duniya wapas mili hai.”

Maan smiled, “Tum chinta mat karo Geet. Mujhpar bharosa rakho.”

She also smiled slightly and nodded.

He went out.

To be continued

Bringing Her Back

Posted 2 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

Note on the OS

When Maan and Geet were returning from their Honeymood in Shimla, Geet insisted on driving the car and they had an accident in which Maan was injured badly and his life was under danger. This story is about Geet’s guilt after that and how Maan helps her come out of it.

“Geet. Tumne is shirt ke saath ye kaun si tie nikaal di hai. Bilkul sahi nahin lagegi.”

“Sorry Maan… Mujhe samajh nahin aaya. Aap bata dijiye kaun si nikalni hai.”

Maan sighed! Another attempt wasted.

“Nahin Geet. Theek hai, main mazaak kar raha tha.”

It had been over a week since he had completely recovered from his accident. Things were back to normal. Except Geet! In one sense there was nothing wrong with her. Her love and concern for him had only grown. She respected him and his decisions like ever. She behaved more maturely.

A bit too maturely for Maan’s comfort. She no longer put any childish demands to him. She did not fight with him. She did not drag him out for an ice-cream or golgappe. She did not insist on buying balloons. She smiled lovingly even when he tried to tease her, instead of fighting back and pouting in anger.

She looked at him with heart-wenching fear in her eyes, when he left for the office. He had asked her if she wanted to join the office back.

“Jaisa aap kahein.”

“Geet. Main to chaubees ghante tumhein apni aakhon ke saamne rakhna chahta hoon. Aur tum office aaogi to mujhe bhi madad milegi kaam mein.”

“Theek hai. Phir main join kar leti hoon.”

That was it? What did she want? No opinions? It seemed like she was afraid of expressing her opinions or taking any decisions. That was not the Geet Maan had known. She was the girl who had risked her life to stand for what she wanted. What should he do? His attempts at talking to her were being wasted. She told him that he was unnecessarily getting worried.

Maan kept looking at her through the curtain between their cabins. She was engrossed in work, but he could not concentrate. Finally an idea occurred to him. He made a call and took an appointment.

“Geet! Chalo mere saath. Kucch kaam hai.”

She hesitated for a moment as she looked at the papers in front of her. She seemed to have a lot of work to finish. But she did not say anything and got up to go with him. As they were heading out she finally asked, “Kya kaam hai Maan?”

“Tumehin Car chalana sikhana hai.”

She stopped right there and expression on her face changed, to that of utter fear and shock, “Nahin Maan. Main car nahin chalaungi.”

First resistance in over a week! Maan wasn’t sure if he should feel happy about that or if he should feel sad that the incident had left such a scar on her psyche.

“Kyon Geet? Tumhara to kitna man tha car chalana seekhne ka.”

“Main aapke saamne bahut gair-zimmedaar ho jati hoon Maan. Bachkani zidd karti hoon. Aur aap meri khushi ke liye sab kuchh maan lete hain. Lekin jab meri ek bachkani zidd aur harqat ne aapki jaan ko khatre mein daal diya, tab mujhe ahsaas hua ki main kitni galat thi.”

“Geet!” Maan was heart-broken to see her in guilt like this, “Tum aisa kyon soch rahi ho? Woh ek accident tha jo kabhi bhi, kissi se bhi ho sakta tha.”

“Nahin Maan. Aap hamesha meri khushi chahte hain aur main hamesha apni zidd ki wajah se hum dono ko museebat mein daal deti hoon. Aur pichhli baar to… Nahin Maan. Mujhe car chalana nahin seekhna hai. Main aise hi theek hoon.”

“Geet! Tum itni kamzor kab se ho gayi? Meri Geet to apni jaan ko khatre mein daal kar bhi apne man ki karti hai. To phir aaj kya ho gaya?”

“Meri jaan aaj bhi chali jaye to mujhe koi dar nahin hai. Lekin main aapko kissi khatre mein dubara nahin dekh sakti. Main jeete-ji mar jaungi.”

“To meri baat dhyaan se suno Geet. Us accident mein tumhari koi galti nahin thi. Tumhein car chalani nahin aati thi. Aur maine bina cheezein bataye tumhein driver ki seat par bitha diya. Woh bhi highway par. Tumehin ye bhi nahin bataya ki gear kahan hain aur breaks kahan. I was a lousy teacher Geet. Aur isliye…”

“Maan please! Aap phir se saara blame apne oopar lekar mujhe khush karne ki koshish kar rahe hain. Iski koi zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Nahin Geet. Main kewal sach bol raha hoon. Main sahi se sikha nahin pa raha tha. Tumehin to pata hai na ki mujhme bilkul bhi patience nahin hai. Aur isliye is baar tumhein main nahin sikhaunga. Maine professional driving trainer ko bulaya hai. Aur woh tumhein ek chhoti car chalana sikhayenge pahle.”

“Maan please.”

Maan could not contain his emotions any longer. He shook her by holding her at shoulders, “Kyon Geet? Kyon aisi ho gayi ho tum? Kyon mujhse koi zidd nahin karti. Kyon mujhe palat kar jawaab nahin deti? Main kuchh bhi karoon, na mujhse jhagda karti ho, na hi gussa hoti ho. Kyon meri har baat bina koi sawaal poochhe maan leti ho? Geet. Meri baat to sab log maante hain; bas tum hi to ho jo mujhe jawaab de sakti ho, mujhse apni baat manwa sakti ho. Mujhse sab log darte hain. Sirf tum hi to mujhse pyaar kar sakti ho na. Phir tum kyon aisi ho gayi ho? Ab main kiske saath hasoon-kheloon Geet? Kise saath shararatein karoon? Kiski zidd poori karoon? Batao main kya karoon, Geet?” Maan had bared it all and it really shook Geet.

She started crying uncontrollably and leaned her head on his chest. He hugged her tight and caressed her hair to soothe her, but he did not stop her from crying. All the tears that had welled up since she had seen him after the accident were coming out. It was good for her to let go. Otherwise her guilt was eating her up. A drop of tear came out of Maan’s eye as well. But he wiped it off before breaking the hug.

“Geet. Duniya mein sadkon par roz accidents hote hain, unke dar se koi ghar se bahar nikalna to nahin chhod deta hai Geet. Ek baar galti hui to dubara koshish karna to hum nahin chhod sakte hain. Balki us galti se ubarne ka tareeka hi yahi hai ki hum woh kaam sahi tareeke se karna seekh lein. Chalo mere saath. Tum car chalana seekhogi aur phir roz mujhe drive kar ke office se ghar le jaogi. Samjhi tum?”

Geet nodded, still teary eyed. Maan wiped her tears and led her out of her cabin and the office.

“Maan! Chaat.” Geet pointed towards the chaat stall on the roadside, after she had parked the car.

Maan got out from the passenger’s seat, “Geet, woh log aise khule mein saaraa samaan rakhte hain. Woh bahut unhygienic hai. Abhi hum restaurant mein ja rahe hain na. Wahan bhi chaat milti hai.”

“Haan, haan. Pata hai. Mineral water se banayi hui, haathon par polythene pahan kar. Ab us chaat mein bhi koi mazaa hai. Chaat to khule mein, sadak ke kinare hi sahi banti hai.”

“Geet. Tum ye nahin khaogi. Kahin beemaar pad gayi to?”

“Main aapki tarah nahin hoon, ki zara si dhool se allergy ho jaye. Mujhe kuchh nahin hone waala hai.”

“Aur baby?”

“Aap baby ka naam le kar mujhe blackmail mat kijiye. Use main itna komal nahin banana chahti ki har samay mineral water ki zaroorat pade.”

“Kuchh bhi ho Geet. Main tumhein ye nahin khane doonga.”

“Main to yahi khaungi!”

“Geet!”

“Maan!”

And he suddenly realized something and smiled. His sherni was back! All was well with life!

– The End –

Forbidden Fruit (Part 11 – Last Part)

Posted 18 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

Four years later…

Paritosh had just delivered a guest lecture for Rupali’s class at JHU (Johns Hopkins University). She was now an Assistant Professor there. Paritosh was in the US to attend a conference at UCB (University of California, Berkeley), but he had made a stop at JHU to meet her.

“What time is your flight?” she asked.

“We have about six hours before I have to leave for the airport.”

“We… can go… home… if that is fine by you,” Rupali proposed hesitatingly.

“Sure. I need to compensate for all the hostel day celebrations I missed.”

She chuckled, looking embarrassed, “I really pestered you about it, didn’t I?”

“And then you forgot about it when I was all prepared to go.”

“Yes,” she became thoughtful and nostalgic.

“And since that year,” Paritosh spoke after a pause, “I have not missed a single hostel day. And it is silly, but somehow I always find myself looking for you when I go there, before reminding myself that you are not there.”

She smiled uncertainly.

“I wonder though. I always see the otherwise nerdy engineering students all decked up for the hostel day. Did you do that too? Or did you attend that also in your I-am-forever-a-teenager attire?” they had reached her home and she was parking her car.

“You disliked my attire so much?” she frowned.

“No. On the contrary, I liked them very much. But that doesn’t stop me from wondering how you would look all decked up.”

Rupali paused to open the door and spoke once they were inside her house, “I can show you the photos.”

“Or I could see it in real life.”

“Now?”

“No. On a suitable occasion.”

“What occasion?”

“I was hoping you have someone in your life by now. And someday soon, I would see you all decked up. In a traditional Bengali wedding. Actually, even an American wedding would do.”

“Dr. Khanna!” Rupali should have known that he wouldn’t try to flirt with her. What wasn’t right in his eyes four years ago was not going to miraculously become right now. But as irrational as they were, her hopes had a tendency to rekindle themselves at the slightest of the pretexts. The way the conversation was going had given them more than ample reasons. But he had stayed true to his character and had given the conversation just the turn that was expected of him. Rupali was embarrassed for more than one reasons.

“It is difficult to ask these things over e-mails or phone, Rupali. But I… I do feel responsible. And I need to know that you have moved on. You are young and you have your entire life before you.”

“If moving on is your problem, then rest assured. I have dated, I have had relationships. But don’t demand a commitment from me.”

“You haven’t found the right person yet?”

“May be. It is difficult to find someone who thinks that I being myself is all right and that it even makes me special.” Paritosh chuckled at that and Rupali joined in. Then she added, “But more likely I am not the right person for someone to settled with.”

“Says who?”

“Says me. I am scared of commitment.”

“Why?”

“What if someday I realize that committing to that person was not a good idea?”

“You mean what if someday you find yourself in my position?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“I do know you well enough, Rupali. Unfortunately I became your role-model even where I shouldn’t have.”

“Don’t blame yourself for that, please.”

“Rupali. You don’t have anything to fear. You are not going to commit in the world I committed in. My world didn’t allow for personal considerations or tastes, it did not allow two individuals to make decisions for themselves. It was always about others. First about your parents, society, then about the helpless girl you married, then about your kids. If that is the kind of commitment you are asked to make, don’t make it. But you can do better. You can make commitments for your own happiness.”

“Tell me the story of your marriage,” she switched on the coffee-maker and brought out some snacks from the kitchen cabinet.

“There is no story. My mother was ill. She wouldn’t leave our village for her treatment though. Her only wish was to see me back in India and get me married. I complied. The girl, of course, had to be ready to stay with her in the village and take care of her even if I worked elsewhere. She, with the help of my relatives, chose Amrit. And Amrit was the very incarnation of my mother’s idea of a good daughter-in-law. She took care of my mother till she drew her last breath. She did things I have seen professional nurses wince at. The old woman died peacefully. I am indebted to my wife for that.”

Rupali smiled, “You have always been thinking about others. Since those days.”

“Don’t make me sound like a martyr. Those were the circumstances, and those were the expectations people like us were brought up with. There are many like me.”

“May be. But in my life there is only one like you.”

“Have it your way, then. But don’t let my experience dictate yours.”

“I will keep that in mind. Coffee is ready. Let me get you some. I still don’t cook much. We can go out for lunch. Any preferences?”

“You are the host! By the way Amrit sent something for you.”

“She knows you are here?”

“Yes. Here are some home-made mathris. I wasn’t sure it would make past customs. But I couldn’t explain that to her. Thankfully, customs did not bother,” he took out a box from his suitcase and handed it over to her.

“Wow! Thank her on my behalf. And–” she suddenly fell silent.

“What happened?”

“I feel guilty that she thinks so well of me. I was more comfortable with her feelings towards me for the few days when she hated me.”

“What do you have to feel guilty about?”

“My feelings?”

“They don’t matter in her world, Rupali. What you do is all that matters. And you haven’t done anything to feel guilty. If my conscience is clear, yours should be too.”

“You are right,” Rupali smiled weakly.

“By the way,” Paritosh chuckled as he thought of what he was going to tell her next, “Amrit thinks that I am responsible for you not getting married.”

“How so?” Rupali was alarmed.

“She thinks that the incident where you had told the police that we were together that night has marred your reputation and no good proposals come your way now.”

“What?” Rupali laughed out loud.

Paritosh smiled fondly, “Thank God. You are still as loud.”

“Not many people thank God for that,” her laughter vanished and didn’t leave even a smile in its wake.

“You will find the one person who will. And that is all that would matter.”

Hours flew by as they alternately experienced the feelings of hilarity, camaraderie and longing for each other through their conversation. Soon Rupali had parked the car at the airport to send Paritosh off. They did not talk for the last few minutes. As they stood in the terminal facing each other, unspoken emotions clouded their faces and mind yet again. And yet again, it fell to Paritosh to break the silence, “It’s time. Take care, Rupali.”

She nodded and forced a smile, while blinking back her tears. “Dr. Khanna,” she called him just as he turned to leave, “Forgive me for this, but I have to.” Then giving him no time to prepare, she went forward and hugged him tight. Paritosh was startled, but then he let go of the strolley bag he was holding and put his arms around her. His left hand went over her back, while with the right hand he protectively held her head, pressing it into his chest. He could feel a drop or two of her tears wetting his t-shirt.

They separated after a few moments. Paritosh turned and walked off wordlessly. The volcano became active whenever they were together. He couldn’t risk being near it any longer!

– The End –

P. S. I can anticipate the demands of uniting them ultimately 🙂 But not all love stories are the same. This isn’t a story of passion and romance and union. This is a story of longing and separation and unfulfilled desires. The pain is what will keep them going. There will be no continuation!

Forbidden Fruit (Part 10)

Posted 7 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

“Rupali. It’s time for some future planning.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your course work gets over next semester, right?”

“Yes.”

“With the amount of research output you have already produced, after that within four to five months you should be ready to defend your Ph. D. thesis.”

Rupali stared at him, astonished, while he continued, “That means you would have finished your Ph. D. in one year from now. You should start looking up the places you would want to do a post-doc at and start applying.”

“This is so sudden!” she said, not quite knowing how to react.

“Not really. I am planning for next one year. But yes, in the time frame of research world, it’s fairly short.”

“I have been here for barely eighteen months.”

“Yes. So, you will get a Ph. D. in record time. That isn’t surprising. If you had joined after an MS or M. Tech. your course work requirement would have been lesser and you would have finished even earlier.”

“Right,” Rupali mumbled. It was all she could do to not burst out with everything she had been keeping buried inside her. So, this was his plan for “not for long”. He was preparing to throw her out of his life. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. But she did not want to cry before him again. “Excuse me,” she said and got up.

As she left, Paritosh was engulfed with a suffocating sense of wretchedness. His face distorted in pain as he looked at her receding form. He had pushed his luck here. He hadn’t expected it to be so easy. He  had expected her to be furious. He  had expected her to fight back, and fight hard. And then he had hoped that she would agree to his plan like she always did. Giving up, despite disagreeing. But none of that happened. He felt that he had killed something vital inside her. He had broken her. Of all the people in the world, he shouldn’t have been the one to break her like that.

And yet! What else could he have done? He had to do what was ultimately right for her.They couldn’t be living near an active volcano for long.

Rupali worked like a maniac for next eight months. She often spent entire nights in the lab, going back to the hostel only to shower and change, then coming back to the lab again. Dark circles were evident around her eyes.

Paritosh grew worried. “You will fall ill at this rate, Rupali,” he tried to bring her to her senses, “Slow down. You are not running out of time.”

“I’m fine.”

“Research is a long-distance race, Rupali. You can’t burn yourself out like this.”

“I told you, I’m fine.”

He had once believed that Rupali ultimately gave in to him despite fighting him. As if it was something she couldn’t help. But now he realized that she gave in only when she wanted to. In the beginning, he had been unable to change her mind about going to the US for Ph. D. or about writing GATE. Now again, he could do nothing to rein her in. She refused to take care of herself, to observe any limits for her health and well-being. So he started doing whatever he could to take care of her. One day she found her drawer filled with energy bars. At other times, he would summon her to his office and force her to have milk, tea or food. She resisted even that initially, but afterwards started obliging him by eating whatever he offered. While that made the situation slightly better, it was by no means healthy. But she did not let Paritosh change her mind about anything else at all.

“Sir,” Vineeta, a final year undergraduate student doing her B. Tech. Project with him, was at the door.

“Yes, Vineeta. Come in.”

“Sir. Day after is our hostel day. If Rupali has not already invited you, I would like to invite you and your family for it.” Paritosh was taken aback. It had been a year already? Why did Rupali not invite him? It was not the Diwali week and he wasn’t going anywhere else either.

“Thanks, Vineeta. Rupali had asked me. But I am not sure I will be able to make it. If I can, I will definitely meet you there. But don’t get coupons for me. Rupali would have it. Thanks a lot for the invitation and sorry.”

“No problem, Sir. But I hope you are able to make it. The celebrations are going to be really good this time. Our batch is organizing it.”

“I am sure,” he smiled.

He kept waiting for next two days. Rupali did not invite him. He realized, finally, that she wasn’t even aware of the hostel day this time. The evening when her hostel-mates were celebrating, she was in the lab. Most of her experiments and simulations were already over. She was now working on writing her thesis.

He walked into the lab, which was deserted, except for Rupali. “Rupali. You–”

“Dr. Khanna,” she said excitedly, “I think I am done. I only have to proof-read it. Otherwise my thesis is ready. And I can defend any time.”

“That’s great,” he tried hard, but could not match the enthusiasm she showed.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“You don’t have to keep up any pretenses around me now, Dr. Khanna. Nor do you have to worry about me. I am going to leave you alone very soon.”

“And that’s what you have been overworking yourself for all these days, rather months?”

“You wanted me to finish quickly, didn’t you?”

“I did, didn’t I? But I wanted it because I knew you were capable of it. That didn’t mean I wanted you to torture yourself like this. Why would you not listen to me, Rupali? I did not want any harm to come to you. I have always wanted the best for you. And I always will.”

“I know. I just–,” she averted her eyes and she choked on her words for a moment. She spoke again after clearing her throat, “I did not want to be the reason behind any troubles in your life.”

“I will miss you, Rupali,” Paritosh finally let his guards down and spoke his heart out, “I will miss you terribly. In fact, I have already been missing you for last so many months. The Rupali I knew has been lost to me, already. But at least you were around. There was a hope that one fine morning you will change back to your usual self. And then you will come to my office excited about a new paper you stumbled upon, fight with me over something trivial, invite me for the hostel day, get upset with me if I missed it. You had stopped doing all of that. But there was still a hope. Now that will be gone too. I will miss you.”

Both their eyes were moist.

“But you will not stop me?” she asked after a pause.

“No. Not for the life of mine.”

They stood in silence, their eyes locked on each other, for once not trying to stop them from revealing the raw emotions of their hearts.

Finally, Paritosh broke the trance by asking, “Where have you decided to take up the post-doc?”

“JHU. A great machine learning and NLP group.” Rupali played her part by answering.

“Good choice.”

“Dr. Khanna?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you keep in touch? Or is that also–”

“When did I say I won’t? I’m hoping to collaborate with you.”

“Why do you want to send me away, then?”

“One, it’s not good for you career to be staying here all your life. Two, us being in proximity is like an active volcano. If it erupts, too many people will be hurt. I can’t take that on my conscience. Nor can you.”

Rupali looked away. She couldn’t argue with that.

“If possible, Rupali, don’t be mad at me. I could have done better by you. I am letting you down. But I am torn between responsibilities. And I am not rebellious enough to–”

“Even in this,” she interrupted, “You are my role-model. I will miss you, but I will always admire how you thought about others before yourself. Not just your family, you also prioritized my career, my future and my well-being over your feelings.”

Paritosh closed his eyes and took a few moment to gain control of himself and of the situation he was in. Then he said, “Take some rest tonight. You look ill. Let’s discuss your defense tomorrow morning.”

He walked out before he could do something stupid and damaging. Rupali sank down in her chair and cried her heart out.

To be continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 9)

Posted 5 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

Paritosh was aware that trying to resolve this on the street will create a scene. So, even though it meant losing a few minutes he took out his car. Driving, he managed to catch up with Rupali within minutes.

“Get in,” he pulled up beside her and lowered the window.

“I’m fine,” she tried to avoid him.

“Get in, Rupali,” he drove slowly to keep pace with her.

For how long could she avoid and resist him? She stopped walking, and climbed in. They drove to the department, then walked to his office in silence.

“Will you tell me what happened?” he asked after they were assured of complete privacy inside his office.

“I don’t know. Nothing happened. I don’t know why I broke down.”

“I think you know. But you don’t want to say it.”

Rupali gulped hard and looked at him. Did he want her to say it?

“And that is a wise thing to do,” he added, “Some things in life are best left unsaid. Some feelings are best left unexpressed. But that does not mean they are not understood and appreciated.”

She lowered her eyes. Did it mean he understood?

“But don’t feel dejected, Rupali, if they can’t be reciprocated. We are social animals. We live for people other than ourselves. Do you understand?”

Of course, she did. He was well-respected man. Married, with a family to look after. He couldn’t reciprocate her feelings.

“What is important is to not get stuck on people who can’t reciprocate your feelings. Whatever be their reasons, it’s not you. Your feelings are beautiful, you heart is loving. You must bestow them on someone deserving.”

Silent tears started flowing from her eyes again. “Please don’t cry. If not for yourself, for the sake of people who don’t like seeing you unhappy. Please, Rupali. Tears can hurt.”

She had hero-worshipped him for years. But nothing he had said over the years had touched her like that did. She hoped that her goosebumps were not visible. Outwardly, she nodded and wiped off her tears.

“There is no water in this bottle. Let me get you some. Sit down untill then.”

He brought her water from the water cooler located in the common room.

She took a sip, then said, “I should go back to the hostel now. You should also go home. Your family will be waiting.”

“Yes. But your eyes are swollen. Unless you want to explain this to everybody, you might want to wait here for a while and leave after you are better. I am leaving the spare keys of the office. Keep them with you.”

“Thanks!”

“Just don’t think of jumping off the window,” he joked, but with a sad smile as he recalled the face of the dead student.

“If I have to jump off, I will find somebody else’s office. I will never put you in trouble, Dr. Khanna. Come what may,” Rupali replied resolutely.

“I know,” he smiled, looked her over helplessly. He would have liked to pull her into a tight hug, but he was bound by his sense of propriety and duty.

Rupali was about to enter Paritosh’ office when she heard Milind’s voice and stopped.

“That’s straight out of Bollywood movies, Paritosh. Too bad I wasn’t here to witness it. She must be madly in love with you to do something like that.”

“Hmm…” Paritosh didn’t react to that, not even to deny it.

“Did I cross a line there? But come on, Paritosh. We are friends. I’m not going to go around complaining to Amrit.”

Paritosh chuckled, “That is not my worry, MM. Even if you tell Amrit, she is not going to listen to a word against Rupali now. After that incident–”

“Lucky man.”

Paritosh laughed this time and Rupali felt her chest tighten, “You don’t give me much credit for being a nice and honest man, MM. Just because a young girl hero-worships me, you think I am going to take advantage of her and cheat on my wife?”

“The bourgeois notions of right and wrong, some would say. Number one, I think you are as head over heals in love with her, as she is with you. Number two, are you happy in your marriage?”

“Number one is irrelevant. About number two – how should I define happiness? If marital happiness is in finding an intellectual companion, an equal person to be your partner, with whom you can look at the life and the world together, then I would be miserable. But happiness could mean simpler things. A cozy home, a caring wife, a wonderful kid, peaceful life. I should be very happy from that perspective.”

“Are you?”

“When I had married Amrit, I hadn’t given her a checklist of what my happiness would mean. She tries to keep me happy the way she knows. I have to do the same. That’s the deal.”

“And Rupali? Is it fair to her?”

“She might come across as a brat sometimes, MM. But she is mature. And she understands things. Nobody can do anything about their feelings. But she knows that there is no relationship and no future in these feelings. Period.”

“That’s an active volcano you are living with.”

“Not for long.”

Milind’s mobile rang just then.

“Excuse me, I have to take this call. I will catch up with you later,” As Milind came out of the office, Rupali moved away from the door, so that he didn’t see her. Then she went in pretending she hadn’t heard anything. “Not for long” was stuck in her mind though. What did Paritosh mean by that?

To be continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 8)

Posted 9 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

“I just got a call from Ma. Nimrit is missing,” Amrit ignored Rupali and addressed Paritosh. She was distressed and disoriented.

“I will come back later,” Rupali said and made to go, but Paritosh stopped her, “No Rupali. Wait.” It was the time to come out clean.

“What does she have to do in this?” Amrit broke down, “I don’t know where my sister is. In what condition? I didn’t know she was this immature. How could she… It has been almost two weeks–”

“Nimrit is safe, Amrit. She is fine.”

“What? How do you know?”

“She contacted me.”

“She is in Delhi?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What do you think we should do about her?”

“Why? Send her back to her in-laws, what else?”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

“What do you mean?”

“It has taken her years to gather courage and run away from her oppressive and abusive in-laws. I can’t send her back to that hell.”

“You don’t understand. That’s not how it works. Not in our society. She was always impatient. But I didn’t think she would act so immaturely. She has to go back. What will people say? Her in-laws and my parents have covered it up till now. But for how long?”

“And all this is more important to you than your sister’s life?”

“She exaggerates. That’s how she has always been. She is my baby sister. Take me to her. I will give her a piece of mind. It’s nothing.”

“What you are calling ‘nothing’ is years of abuse according to the doctor.”

“What?”

“Yes.”

“Take me to her.”

“Only if you agree to not tell anyone in the family about it.”

“All the relations will break down when people come to know of this,” Amrit was desolate.

“And why is it so important to you?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” she said, sounding defeated, “You don’t understand the sanctity of relations.” She threw a tearful glance at Rupali.

Rupali stood like a statue, but Paritosh couldn’t. “Stop blaming Rupali, Amrit,” he said, “I was with Nimrit that night. Not with Rupali.”

“What?”

“Why must our relationships become a scourge for us? Can’t they be about protecting each other, instead?”

Amrit sank down on the chair Rupali had occupied earlier.

“Your sister,” Paritosh continued, “Is terrified of everybody. Her in-laws would come after her life if they knew where she was. She knew even you would want to send her back. So, I couldn’t reveal her identity when this murder case popped up all of a sudden. That’s why Rupali had to step in to vouch for me. Rupali did it without even knowing why I wanted to protect Nimrit. What relationship did she have with your sister? But she protected her. And you want to let your sister continue getting abused by those brutes. What relationship is worth that?”

“What do I do?” Amrit mumbled.

“Ma’am. I know I should not be interfering. But you know your husband is an intelligent man. Do what he says,” Rupali pressed Amrit’s shoulders to comfort her. “I will see you later, Dr. Khanna,” she went out of the room.

“Take me to her,” Amrit said finally.

“You promise not to tell anybody about her until I have made some arrangements for her safety.”

“I promise.”

“Rupali. Are you free?” Paritosh called her up later in the day.

“Yes. Why?”

“Amrit wants to meet you. Where can I pick you up from?”

“I am in the hostel. I can come on my own.”

“I will be outside your hostel in five minutes.”

“Where is your sister-in-law?” Rupali asked after she climbed into the passenger seat of his car.

“We brought her home.”

“Good for her. Staying alone in a hotel couldn’t have been ideal.”

“Yes.”

“Why does Mrs. Khanna want to meet me?”

“To apologize, I hope!”

Rupali suddenly looked guilty. “It isn’t needed,” she mumbled.

“You are uncomfortable. I can see that. But do me a favor one last time. We need a closure on this.”

“I’m fine. It’s not a big deal,” she forced a smile.

“Rupali. I don’t even know how to start apologizing,” Amrit  was so apologetic, and Rupali felt really small.

“It’s okay, Ma’am. How could you have known?” she managed to respond, fighting the urge to just disappear from the scene.

“Even if no one else did, I should have trusted my husband. But when your name came up, it was easy to lose that trust. He talks about you all the time. I never remember the name of any of his students, but you…” Rupali was surprised and her eyes automatically shot over Amrit’s shoulders towards  Paritosh. Away from Amrit’s eyes, even his face reflected unguarded surprise. Did he talk that much about Rupali at home? Amrit continued, “Every time he has to go back to the office, or has to stay late working into the night, it ends up being related to you. I know, of course, that its just because you are as hard-working as he is. But it was easy for me to take it all in the wrong way. Please forgive me, and thank you. Thanks a lot for protecting my husband from the disaster, and for protecting my sister too.”

“That’s enough, Ma’am. It really is. None of it was your fault, and Dr. Khanna is my– my role-model. What I have done was my duty. Anybody in my place would have done it.”

Amrit threw another surprise at her by suddenly hugging her, “You have no idea what you have done for me by protecting my husband. I will never forget this and will forever be indebted to you.”

Rupali hugged her back slightly, but her eyes welled up. Paritosh was still standing behind Amrit and could see her. So, she tried hard, but tears started running down her cheeks. Paritosh noticed and questioned her with a hand gesture, but it was futile. When Amrit broke the hug, Rupali could not control herself at all. She started sobbing and ran away from there.

“What– What happened?” Amrit asked, worried, “Did I say something wrong?”

“No. You didn’t. Must be something else. I will talk to her,” Paritosh assured Amrit, then ran after Rupali.

To be continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 7)

Posted 17 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

Rupali knocked gently, then peeked into the director’s office. Policemen, many administrative staff of the institute, and Paritosh were sitting there.

“Yes?” The director did not appreciate the interruption. But he recognized Rupali.

“Excuse me, Sir. But I am interrupting because I have something important to say about the discussion that is going on here. About Dr. Khanna’s whereabouts last night.”

“Come in.”

“Thank you, Sir. I assume that Dr. Khanna has not yet named anyone who can confirm where he was last night.”

“He hasn’t, Rupali. What do you want to say?”

Paritosh looked horrified, “Rupali. Please!” She ignored him.

“He was with me. We were at The Landmark Hotel.”

“Who are you? And what were you doing there?” one of the policemen asked.

“I’m sorry. I did not introduce myself. My name in Rupali Banerjee. I am a Ph. D. student under Dr. Khanna. We were having dinner there.”

“Till when?”

“Pretty late at night.”

“The restaurant closes at 11.30.” The policeman interrogating her seemed to be familiar with the hotel.

Rupali sighed, “There was a room booked in my name. You can confirm it.”

“Rupali. Stop.”

“This isn’t the time to think of propriety, Dr. Khanna.”

“Rupali. I hope you understand the implication of what you are saying?” the director warned her.

“Absolutely, Sir. And I am an adult. Pursuing Dr. Khanna will be a waste of your time, Inspector, and I would really appreciate some discretion on your part about releasing the information I just gave you. Excuse me.” her mobile vibrated. “Hello Kaku. You are with him? .. Okay. Police are here. Shall I give the phone to someone? … Right.” She turned towards the police officer who appeared most authoritative and handed him her phone, “Police commissioner is on the line.”

“Yes Sir… Right Sir… Yes Sir…” The officer grew nervous on suddenly finding himself speaking to the commissioner. After disconnecting the call he handed the phone back to Rupali, “Thank you, Ms. Banerjee. For clarifying the situation. We need to wait for forensic results before we can pursue other lines of inquiries.”

“You will have our full cooperation.” the director assured him. “I don’t know what to say to both of you,” he burst out at Paritosh and Rupali after the policemen and other people had left the room, “If your defense becomes public, it will be a huge scandal in the campus. But if police had continued to go after you, Paritosh, it would have been an ever bigger scandal. So, I guess… Thank you? Rupali.”

Rupali found the director’s discomfort amusing, but Paritosh stood stiff.

Paritosh’ office was still cordoned off. They walked back wordlessly to the lonely park.

“What the hell was that, Rupali?” Paritosh finally spoke, irritably.

“You were worried about her reputation. So, I substituted myself. I don’t care.”

“And if this leaks out?”

“Everyone already thinks it to be true.”

“What?”

“That we are having an affair. That I am hopelessly stuck on you.”

“Great!” Paritosh threw up his hands in despair.

“If you are worried about Mrs. Khanna, I can go talk to her, say sorry, claim it was all a mistake etc. I am sure she will forgive you.”

“Rupali. What you have done is more than enough already. Just stop worrying about it now.”

“You are really annoyed with me, aren’t you?” her tone wasn’t belligerent now, just profoundly sad.

That gave Paritosh a pause. “No. I am annoyed at myself, Rupali,” he said gently, “Not at you. In fact, I have been ungrateful. Between your testimony and your connections you have shielded me from a huge embarrassment and inconvenience. Thank you. Thank you, very much.”

“Why are you annoyed at yourself? If you have feelings for someone…”

Paritosh sighed, “Sit down, Rupali. I will tell you everything. That is the least I owe you.”

“Police has found clues. The back door of the department was compromised. Varun’s roommate said he knew how to pick locks. That’s how he entered the department building and the room. It seems he was looking for a copy of the exam papers.”

“And he jumped off when he did not find the paper?” Rupali asked, incredulous.

“The autopsy found drugs in his system. He was perhaps depressed. But jumping off still doesn’t make sense. They do think there was another person in the room. But all the possibilities are pretty bad. Either another student, or possibly a drug dealer. I hope it isn’t the former. But a drug-dealer in the campus will be a media disaster–”

“Media and parents have already made it a story of unreasonable academic pressure and an insensitive professor,” Rupali said with some bitterness.

“Media has to create stories that sell. Parents can’t accept that their ward was in the wrong. Everyone is saving their faces.”

“Except you!” she said in a low, choking voice.

“Rupali!” Paritosh felt concerned for her these days. She had gotten too involved in his affairs. It wasn’t fair on her.

“How are things at home?” she asked.

Paritosh sighed, “Tense.”

“Why don’t you tell her? She has to know someday or the other.”

“Nimrit is still scared. She doesn’t trust anybody.”

“Not even her sister?”

“No. She thinks she will be forced to go back.”

“But this will wreck havoc in your life. Or perhaps already has.”

“No. Not really. You made it easier for me, Rupali.”

“Excuse me?”

“Amrit doesn’t hate me. She hates you.”

“Huh?”

“Varun’s parents can’t accept that their son was at fault. Amrit can not accept that her husband was at fault. It is easier for them to blame me, and for her to blame you.”

Rupali looked thoughtful. Paritosh walked around the table to stand in front of her. He half-sat on the table so that he could look in her eyes. Then he lifted her hands in his. “I am sorry, Rupali,” he croaked while continuing to hold her hands, “You didn’t deserve this mess. Give me some more time–”

“Don’t talk like that,” Rupali felt intoxicated, still surprisingly clear in her head, “I’m not trapped in the situation. Whatever I have done, I have done willingly. And God forbid if we were in that situation again, I will do it again.”

There was a moment of silence in which Paritosh realized that what people said about them, at least about her, was not wrong. She was in love with him!

They were startled by slamming of the door as somebody barged in. Paritosh hastily let go of Rupali’s hand and Rupali jumped out of her chair on seeing Amrit.

To be continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 6)

Posted 2 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

“What’s going on?” There was a crowd gathered outside the department’s building when Rupali reached there.

“Murder. Or suicide. I don’t know,” someone from the crowd informed her.

“What?” she ran inside. An entire wing was cordoned off. It included both her lab and Paritosh’ office.

She spotted Paritosh and pushed through the crowd to reach him. He looked distressed. “Where did it happen?” she asked him.

“In my office,” he tried hard, but his voice quivered.

“What? How?”

“I have no idea, Rupali. The door was open when I came this morning. Varun had jumped out of the window. Or had been pushed. Can’t say.”

She noticed him clenching and unclenching his fists. He was nervous! She took one of his hands in hers. He was startled. But she did not let go.

“It will be all right,” she said.

“Thanks,” he mumbled.

“Do you want to go home?” she asked.

“I am not sure. I might be needed here. Police, students, media–”

“Okay.”

They stood there, unnoticed among other faculty members and students, while policemen scuttled in and out of the crime scene. Paritosh’ phone rang after a while. It was the director of the institute.

“I will take it outside,” he told Rupali and went away.

Rupalit grew worried when Paritosh did not come back for almost fifteen minutes. She called him. He picked up after a few rings.

“Dr. Khanna. Where are you?”

She heard a sigh before he spoke, “In the park. Behind the department building.” It was a well-maintained, but hardly visited park.

“I am coming there.”

“What happened?”

“You should go back to your hostel, Rupali. This is hardly a day to do any work.”

“Who is talking about work? What did the director say? Why didn’t you come back?”

“Let it be, Rupali. I will handle it.”

“I am not moving an inch from here until you tell me.”

“I am a suspect in the case.”

“What? That is ridiculous.”

“It’s not. It happened in my office.”

“So what! When did it happen?”

“Last night according to the provisional forensic assessment.”

“Were you even there?”

“No.”

“Then tell them.”

“Police respects the boundaries of an educational institution. If the director clears me of suspicion, then they won’t pursue that line of enquiry.”

“And?”

“The director tells me that he needs some concrete proof, or a witness to show that I was not in the department.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing. He advised me to not say anything hastily and prepare for a possible interrogation.”

“Just call the woman you were with yesterday evening at The Landmark Hotel.”

Paritosh looked alarmed, “How do you know?”

“I was there.”

“How come?”

“I was not stalking you. One of my maternal uncles was in town. I had booked a room for him there and I met him for dinner.”

“You must keep this to yourself, Rupali.”

“Why?”

“I can’t involve her in this?”

“Why not? What is more important to you right now? Avoiding a little marital discord or getting out of this horrible mess?”

“Marital discord? What are you– Oh!” he fell silent.

“Call her.”

“I can’t. It is not about me. It is about her.”

“Right!” Rupali walked away with clenched teeth.

Paritosh buried his head in his hands. What mess had he gotten himself into?

Rupali recalled the last night. She was at The Landmark Hotel with her Uncle. He had a late-night flight to catch and was in the city for a few hours. So, Rupali had booked a room for him to rest before his flight. They had come to the restaurant of the hotel for dinner where she had spotted Paritosh. He was with a woman. In her late 20s or early 30s, lean and fair. Rupali saw Paritosh comforting and consoling her. He even gave her a hug before they started their dinner.

She had felt incredibly jealous. It made no sense. Even if everyone else was right, and she was in love with him, she knew he was a married man. She had never felt jealous of Amrit. So, why now? Why seeing him with another woman was making her so jealous? Had she subconsciously assumed that if there was to be another woman in his life, it would be her?

She had returned late after dropping her Uncle off at the airport. Then she had tossed and turned in her bed for a long time. Only in the wee hours of morning her exhaustion had taken over her mental anguish and she had drifted off to sleep. She could not get up in time after that and had been late in reaching her lab, by when Paritosh was already in this mess not of his making. Despite the enormity of the situation, his unwillingness to call that woman as a witness strengthened her suspicions about their relationship even further.

Presently, Rupali sighed and toyed with her mobile. Finally, she made up her mind and made a call, “Kaku. This is Rupali. I need your help right away. Please speak to the commissioner of police…”

When she returned to the park after making the call, Paritosh was no longer there. She called him, but he disconnected. He sent a message immediately though, “In the director’s office.”

To be continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 5)

Posted 9 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

When Rupali came back to the hall, the doorbell rang. Paritosh opened the door and ushered in a man in his late 30s dressed smartly in a black suit.

“Guys,” Paritosh addressed his students, “This is Mr. Milind Mohan. An old friend of mine. Very busy man. Working for Horizon Group of companies. But he agreed to come here today to meet you all. He is going to head the incubation centre that the Horizon group is setting up in our institute.” The warmth in Paritosh’ voice indicated that Milind must be a good friend of his.

“Ah!” The acknowledgment of recognition was very audible from the students. A stylish building was being built in the campus for the incubation centre and there had been much speculation about what exactly was going to happen there.

“The idea, as you can guess, is to promote entrepreneurship in the campus. I thought it would be a good opportunity to interact informally with the students. My work is yet to start formally,” Milind said.

“I must confess, MM,” Paritosh said, “That it is a very small, and perhaps not a representative group. But there is at least one person who is already excited. What do you say Suhas? Good time to drop the boring Ph. D. and do something more exciting like running your own business.”

Suhas grinned  and shook his head, while everyone else laughed. Rupali, in particular, laughed out so loud that she drew everyone’s attention towards herself.

“Actually, Paritosh, we all could drop our Ph. D. Rupali can work more than all of us combined. Don’t you think so?” somebody in the group joked.

Rupali flushed, but Paritosh laughed. “That she surely can,” he said, “But I have to take pity on my old friend here too. I have known what it is like to make you all work. I can’t saddle MM with the responsibility of turning all of you into something useful in one go.”

More laughter followed. Paritosh didn’t notice Rupali fidgeting when he acknowledged the joke on her doing more work than all others combined. Milind did though.

“So, you are Rupali Banerjee?” he turned towards Rupali, “Paritosh’ co-author in all his recent papers?”

“You are reading my papers?” Paritosh asked, surprised, before Rupali could answer.

“You should know better, Paritosh. Since I was coming here, I looked you and your students up on Internet. And you academicians are very helpful. You always keep your resumes fully updated on your websites.”

“CVs. We call them CVs.”

“Snobs. We call you snobs.” Milind also replied in jest making everyone laugh again.

“I don’t agree with you, Dr. Khanna. You can’t give 5 marks to somebody for doing just that,” Rupali was arguing with Paritosh over the marking scheme for the exam of an undergraduate course he was teaching.

“Rupali. They are kids. Second year students. You have to be a bit considerate.”

“It is a course prescribed for them. They should know how to solve these problems.”

“Everyone is not like you, Rupali.”

“Well, your decision is final. But I still disagree.”

“Hello. Looks like I am disturbing,” Milind was at Paritosh’ office door.

“No. You are rescuing me from this Rani of Jhansi. She is preparing to kill me if I gave five extra marks to some poor undergraduate students.”

“Stop making fun of me, Dr. Khanna,” Rupali felt embarrassed on realizing that Paritosh’ friend might have heard their exchange and could not bear to be thought of as a brat by yet another person.

She greeted Milind, “Hello Sir.”

“Sir? Please, Rupali. I am not your professor here. MM. That’s what everyone calls me.”

“Sure,” Rupali smiled and made to leave, “I will come back later, Dr. Khanna.”

“No. Why don’t you stay back?” Milind stopped her, “I have to talk to him. But you should also stay. You guys look as good as married.”

Both Rupali and Paritosh frowned and Milind hastily clarified, “At work I mean. With the fights and all. It’s perfect.”

Paritosh relaxed and even played along with the joke, “I agree to the fight part.” Rupali just fidgeted and smiled weakly.

Milind noticed her reaction, but did not remark on that. He started discussing business, “So, we need some faculty members on-board as advisors in the incubation centre and of course, I want you before anyone else, Paritosh”

“Nepotism much, MM?”

“Do you want me to sing paeans for you? Don’t you have enough people around you doing that already?” he stole a glance at Rupali, but her eyes were glued to Paritosh.

“What do you think, Rupali?” Paritosh asked.

“I think you should go for it,” she replied.

Milind had to suppress a grin as he wondered how spousal that conversation sounded. His earlier joke sounded more true than any of them had realized. Outwardly he said, “And you have an able help in her for your research. So, no harm in trying other things, right?”

Paritosh looked at Rupali who was nodding in agreement. “All right. Sounds good,” he said with a smile, “Do let me know what I am supposed to do there.”

“Let me find some entrepreneurs. Then you can advise them on technology,” Milind grinned.

“It’s time for my class. I will see you later,” Rupali informed them and left.

Paritosh smiled fondly after her.

“What was the fight about?” Milind asked.

“It wasn’t really a fight. She was just being herself. Extreme is usual for her.”

“I see. You are being poetic about it.”

“Arr… Okay. She is the TA – teaching assistant – in one of the courses I am teaching the undergraduates. She wouldn’t agree to a lenient marking scheme.”

“And how do you put up with her if she is always so hyper?”

“She challenges me, but if I disagree she accepts my decisions. I  quite enjoy arguing with her. It’s… I don’t know what word I should use.”

“Intellectually stimulating?”

“Yes. And fulfilling.”

“Good for you, Paritosh. I will get going now. Need to meet more faculty members. And not everyone will be as pliant as you.”

“Good luck, MM.”

“Dr. Khanna?”

“Yes, Rupali.”

“My Mom is visiting. I had informed you earlier, right? She wants to meet you. Do you have time now?”

“Definitely. Bring her in. Hello, Mrs. Banerjee.”

“Hello, Dr. Khanna. I have heard so much about you. I just had to meet you.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

“This is my Kaku – I mean paternal Uncle,” Rupali introduced the man accompanying her mother, “Rahul Banerjee. He stays in Delhi. Takes care of the our business operations here.”

“Great to meet you, Mr. Banerjee. Please sit down.”

“Mom. You were thirsty. Shall I get you some water?”

“If you are going to the common room, Rupali, perhaps some tea or coffee as well for our guests?” Paritosh requested.

“Sure, Dr. Khanna.”

“So, you came to Delhi to visit Rupali?” Paritosh started talking to Mouli Banerjee, Rupali’s mother.

“To attend a wedding, actually. In the family. Our relatives stay in Noida. Rupali refused to come for the wedding. She said she was swamped with work. So, I had to come down to meet her.”

“Are you here to complain about that? I never stopped her from going anywhere. In fact, she did not even ask me,” Paritosh pretended to be defensive making his guests laugh.

“I am not here to complain. I am here to thank you. For taming this wild daughter of mine.”

“Taming who? Rupali?”

“Who else?”

“Who can tame her, Mrs. Banerjee? She is the terror of the entire department. The best of our Professors shy away from her questions,” Paritosh replied, smiling indulgently.

“See, Boudi,” Rupali’s uncle spoke this time, “The entire department can’t handle her. And you wanted me to keep her in control in Delhi. I gave up on day one, Dr. Khanna.”

“You are an intelligent man! But on a serious note, she is a fine girl. Why do you worry?”

“I told you, you have tamed her. Has she ever told you that she wanted to leave everything behind to go to Himalayas?”

“No!”

“Once, she had cycled down to the other end of Kolkata. She was very young. She had just been gifted her first bicycle. And Kolkata is a big city, Dr. Khanna. We had all gone berserk, until an acquaintance who recognized her informed us. Another time, we had to bring her back from a group of traveling Sanyasis.” Mouli told him of Rupali’s exploits.

“Wow! Anything else I should know?” Paritosh grinned.

“What are you doing?” Rupali re-entered the room and slammed the tray with water and tea on the table, “Why are you telling these stories to Dr. Khanna, Mom?”

“I am just preparing him–”

“What for? I was a kid, for God’s sake. Do I have to carry the burden of what I did then all my life?”

“It’s okay, Rupali,” Paritosh tried to reassure her, “I’m not taking it seriously.”

“Why are you encouraging them?” Rupali didn’t spare even Paritosh in the heat of the moment, “So that you can prove yet again that I am a brat?”

Mouli and Rahul flushed in embarrassment, but Paritosh just laughed, “Told you, she can not be tamed.”

Finally, Mouli found her voice and reprimanded her, “Rupali. He is your advisor. Is that how you talk to him?”

“Stop preaching. Otherwise, I will actually take off to Himalayas.” Rupali stormed out and Mouli pressed her palm to her forehead in frustration. Paritosh was calm though.

“Mrs. Banerjee. Your daughter is a genius. She needs challenges to keep her hyperactive brain busy. Perhaps there have been times when this genius mind of hers has not been sufficiently occupied with anything constructive. Devil’s workshop and all. Hence, all these absurd incidents.  But she is fully occupied now and is perfectly fine. So, don’t worry.”

“I’m sorry for the way she behaved. I didn’t realize she would react like this. At any other time, she would herself have proudly told everyone how crazy she used to be.”

Paritosh smiled, “It’s okay. She was just being herself. You can’t blame her for that.”

To be continued