Category: English

Destined (Part 4)

Posted Mish7 CommentsPosted in English, Inspired, Rupali-Paritosh

She came to the hospital in the evening the next day. She was on night duty.

“Good you joined me yesterday, Dr. Banerjee,” Paritosh told her when she went to his office to inquire about the child from the orphanage, “Otherwise his jaundice would have gone undiagnosed for another week. It wasn’t his group’s turn yesterday.”

“I am glad it helped, Sir. I will check up on him once.”

“Sure. And…” His mobile rang interrupting the conversation. He became tense as he heard the person on the other side of the phone. “Yes… Just now?? Oh… I will be there… I have Dr. Banerjee with me… right Rupali Banerjee… Please call Dr. Rao to see who else is on duty and who can be called from home… Sure…”

“Dr. Banerjee… To the emergency… Right away…”

“What happened, Sir?” she asked as she scurried to keep pace with him.

“There has been a an accident involving kids… A school bus was hit by a tractor…”

“School bus? At this hour?”

“They were coming back from some school trip.”

“Oh my God!” Rupali could not help exclaim as they reached emergency and saw the hospital staff carry one injured kid after another to the ward. They bodies were bloody. Most had passed out from pain and shock. Others were wailing in pain.

“Quick Dr. Banerjee. We don’t have time. Start from that bed. Ask nurses to attend to minor injuries. Focus on stopping blood loss for major ones.”

“Yes Sir,” she collected herself together and went on to do as he had advised.

The doctors on the emergency duty were already working. Doctors from other departments also came in soon to help, some who lived nearby came from their homes. Still there were too many patients and it took them about four hours to attend to everyone. Five of the kids were in critical condition and had been shifted to ICU.

Finally Rupali got a short break and walked to the common room. Paritosh was standing there watching TV tuned to a news channel. They were covering the school bus accident. The truck-driver had been drunk while driving. The situation had become even more scandalous, because the truck was found to be carrying large quantities of illegal firearms hidden beneath packets of clothes.

“Are you fine?” Paritosh asked when he noticed her.

“Define fine,” she replied with a sad smile, “As a doctor I can’t afford to get nauseated by blood, pain and injury. But as a person this news does nauseate me. As if those firearms wouldn’t have killed enough people, the truck driver also had to kill these kids.” She sat down on one of the chairs there.

Paritosh also sat down and said, “I have to apologize to you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you remember your first assignment? For an operation…”

“I do, of course. What about it?”

“I had probably offended you by asking if you were ready for that. Under some irrational influence, I had thought that you might not be… strong enough. I have seen you working since then. And especially today. Obviously I was completely wrong.”

She didn’t react for a while and Paritosh started worrying if he should have let bygones be bygones. Why did he feel this sudden need to apologize anyway? It wasn’t like he had been thinking about it? But when he saw her working that evening. With so many injured and bloody kids, what Rohan had said about her and what he had let affect himself for a while too, came back to him. He felt like he needed to make up for that. He needed to apologize. But after doing that he felt like an idiot. She had probably never noticed. Why did he have to tell her?

Then she gave what looked like a helpless smile, “Not your fault.”

“Excuse me?”

“You were under irrational influence.”

“I shouldn’t have been. But thanks for the generosity.”

“Aren’t you planning to leave? You have been here all day, right?” Rupali changed the topic. Although with his image of a workaholic in the hospital, she didn’t expect he would leave amidst that tragedy.

His reply was not unexpected, “Not under these circumstances. Non-ICU patients will need to be shifted to pediatric ward in the morning. I will be in my office though. If there are any updates, or any relapses, you can tell me. And inform others on duty as well.”

“Sure Sir.”

—

“Your duty is over. You have no business being here,” Rohan was insistent on sending Rupali home after her night duty.

“So many kids are in still in such bad shape Rohan. I can’t just leave and go. Many doctors are staying beyond duty hours.”

“I can’t see you falling sick.”

“Rohan please. I am fine.”

“I know better.”

“For God’s sake Rohan. Let me decide for myself. I am not a child. Dr. Khanna is here since yesterday morning. Dr….”

“Has he asked you to stay?” Rohan asked sharply.

“No. Nobody has asked me to…”

“Let me talk to him.”

“Are you even listening to me?”

But Rohan had turned away from her and she realized that he was going to Paritosh’ office.

“Wait Rohan,” she panicked and ran after him, “I am going home. Okay?”

Unfortunately for her Paritosh was coming their way and Rohan ran into him.

“Dr. Khanna. I had told you on the very first day that Rupali is not a very tough person.”

“Excuse me?” Paritosh could find no rhyme or reason to Rohan’s sudden verbal attack.

“Why is she being held back at the hospital after her duty is over?”

“That’s enough Rohan,” Rupali hissed and grabbed his hands. “I’m sorry Dr. Khanna. He has lost his mind,” she quickly apologized and then dragged Rohan away from there with a strength that surprised him.

“What are you doing Rupa?” Rohan was annoyed.

Rupali thought for a moment whether to give him a fitting reply. But she resorted to one of her tricks.

“You have already had a brush with Dr. Khanna once earlier. Because of me. I don’t want that to happen again. He is a senior doctor.”

“We don’t have to be afraid of Dr. Khanna. If he is a senior doctor reporting to the board, then Baba is a member of the board.”

“I know, I know Rohan. But think of professionalism. And if I need your help, I will tell you. You know that, right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Then go. I will leave when I want to.”

“Sure?”

“Yes Rohan. Now go to your department. You are getting late.”

“Fine. But be at home in the evening.”

“I will be.”

She turned back to go to the ward to find Paritosh within hearing distance. Her face flushed. Did he see the little drama that had played out here? She stood rooted at her place awkwardly as he came towards her.

“Dr. Banerjee. You can go back home, if you want to. Others are on duty…”

“But I don’t want to… I am really, really sorry about Rohan. I hadn’t told him anything…”

“It’s okay. You don’t need to apologize for other people. If you want to stay, then you will stay.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Keep up the good work.”

—

To be continued

Destined (Part 3)

Posted Mish9 CommentsPosted in English, Inspired, Rupali-Paritosh

“Wait… wait Seema… Don’t run outside. There are cars on the road…” Rupali ran after a little girl, but the girl ran into someone else who was coming in through the gate.

“Steady Seema,” the man held her and then picked her up lovingly.

Rupali was surprised to see that it was Paritosh. “Dr. Banerjee!” he was surprised too.

“Doctor Uncle is here,” Seema shouted in excitement.

Paritosh smiled at her and put her down, “Run to your friends and tell them this is the checkup day for Pokemon group. They should all gather in the hall.”

“Okay!” the girl replied and ran away towards her friends, all of whom stayed in the orphanage.

“He… Hello Sir,” Rupali was flustered.

“Nice to see you here,” if he was awkward to meet her outside the hospital, he managed to hide it pretty well.

“Same here,” Rupali said, but wondered if she felt that way. Although she had appreciated Paritosh saving her from Rohan’s untoward demands in the hospital, she didn’t think she could share her personal life with her boss. But she had come there that day on some purpose. So, she decided to go ahead with it. “The administrator told me that a senior doctor volunteers here and he would be here today. I had no clue that would be you. It was probably silly of me to not to ask the name…”

“That’s okay. Did you want to meet me?”

“I just… wanted to volunteer as well… To help you… I thought it was better if I coordinated instead of doing it separately.”

“Sure. That’s a great idea.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Do you want to start right away?”

“Yes. Of course. That’s why I came today.”

“Great. Let’s go then. We can do two groups today. Too many kids – so I have divided them into four groups. One group gets the check up every week.” Paritosh was used to managing the department. He effortlessly took her under his wings there too.

“Pokemon group?” she smiled in amusement.

Paritosh smiled too and they felt the tension and awkwardness dissolving, “Well – with kids, you have to be like kids. You will take up Ben-10 group.”

“Okay,” her smile had grown to become a chuckle. Just then her mobile rang. “Excuse me Dr. Khanna. I have to take this. I will join you in a minute?”

“Sure,” Paritosh looked at her curiously for a second before leaving. The softness of the smile had disappeared from her face.

He couldn’t avoid hearing parts of her conversation even as he tried to move away quickly. “I told you Rohan… I am at the hospital. It will take some time…”

—

“Have you been feeling tired lately?” Rupali asked a kid during the checkup.

The boy nodded in reply.

“Kamla Auntie says he has not been eating well.” added the girl waiting behind him in the line referring to one of the employers of the orphanage.

“Dr. Khanna,” she addressed Paritosh who was attending to another group, “I think we need to do urine test for him.”

“What happened?”

“I suspect jaundice.”

“Oh! Come here, Sumit,” Paritosh asked the boy to come to him and checked his eyes.

“We need to isolate him from other kids,” Rupali said after Paritosh nodded at her in confirmation.

“I don’t think they have any empty rooms left. Too many kids… Too little funding… Same old story…” Paritosh appeared to be drifting off to some other world.

“Sir?”

Her voice brought him out of his thoughts. “If it is jaundice,” he started talking in a matter-of-fact tone again, “this is at a very contagious stage. Something needs to be done. Let’s take him to the hospital.”

“But…”

“I will pay for the treatment.”

“Okay…” Rupali was much more impressed than she let on.

“How have you come?” Paritosh asked Rupali when they made to leave with Sumit after finishing checkups.

“I took a taxi.”

“I have my car. Let me drop you back.”

“It’s not needed, Sir.”

“Where do you stay?”

“You also have to take Sumit to the hospital.”

“Fine. If it isn’t on my way to the hospital, I won’t insist. But at least tell me where do you live.”

Rupali sighed helplessly, “It is on your way to the hospital.”

“Then what’s the problem? Come with me.”

“You remember the name of all the kids there?” she asked as they were driving back. She had noticed it during the check up. He addressed each and every kid there by name.

“I have been going there for years now. Now I have seen most of them coming there, growing up…”

“Hmm.”

“How about you? For how long have you been coming here?”

“Just for last month or so. I was in Delhi for last five years.”

“AIIMS, right? For your MBBS.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Good.”

“Can you please drop me here?” she said suddenly in front of the mall.

“Here?”

“Yes. My house is at walking distance from here. And I just remembered I had some things to buy. So, I will get them from the mall.”

“Should I wait?”

“No. No Sir. Seriously. I stay right behind the mall. And Sumit…”

“Okay then. Take care.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

She waited until he had driven off and then walked listlessly towards her house without so much as glancing towards the mall she was supposed to go to. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. She had volunteered to work with Paritosh in the orphanage. He was her boss. There was no way she could have gone back on that commitment. And she didn’t want to… But this was going to get tricky with Rohan.

“Why were you with Dr. Khanna?” It was as if her worries were immediately personified. She ran into Rohan. And he had apparently seen her getting out of the car.

“He was coming to this side. He gave me a lift,” she didn’t really have to lie, because she didn’t make a reference to where she was coming from. As far as Rohan was concerned, she was coming from the hospital. She had become quite adept at manipulating Rohan to keep his anger and wrath away. But it was easier earlier. At first he was in London for his studies. He had come back a couple of years ago, but then she was in Delhi for her studies. She only needed to handle his possessiveness and obsession occasionally. But now… She was getting tired because she had to do it day in, day out. They were staying under the same roof. And she also had to hide it from Rohan’s parents. They were really proud of their son and they loved him so much. She wasn’t sure how they would react if she ever complained about him to them. If they believed her, they would be devastated. Rupali could not do that to them. If they didn’t believe her… well… what would she gain except losing their trust…. She was between a rock and a hard place.

“You should have gone with the driver,” Rohan was still irritated and his agitated complaint brought her out of her thoughts.

“Kakima might have needed him.”

“Why don’t you just learn to drive?”

“I am… scared of driving,” she lied. She knew how to drive; she had learned it with the help of one of her friends. But hiding things from Rohan was one of the things that gave her satisfaction. Of being in control. She knew her reply would work on him. It always did! The idea of her being weak, scared, in need of help, being dependent on him always worked. He liked it.

“I know,” that smile again! “Let’s go, and have a cup of coffee somewhere. I had been getting bored, waiting for you.”

She would have preferred to go home, but she gave in. What all could she run away from? She cringed as he put his arms around her protectively, but did not move away.

—

To be continued

Destined (Part 2)

Posted Mish7 CommentsPosted in English, Inspired, Rupali-Paritosh

“Come in,” Paritosh heard a knock on his door about an hour later. He had to prepare a presentation on the department’s performance in last quarter for the impending board meeting. But he was not able to concentrate at all. He could not let go of the feeling that he might have made a mistake by intervening between Rupali and Rohan. It did look like Rohan was forcing himself, but would his intervention make things better or worse for Rupali? They had a life outside the hospital too!

Rupali walked into his cabin, “Dr. Khanna. I needed your signature on these discharge papers. I’m sorry to disturb you for this, but Dr. Gupta has stepped out for an hour, and the parents are getting edgy. Only you have the authority to sign these.”

“No problem. I will sign it. You have ensured that he is ready to be discharged, right?”

“Yes Sir. Dr. Gupta also gave his confirmation over phone.”

“Dr. Banerjee,” Paritosh stopped her when she made to leave after getting the papers signed.

“Yes Sir?”

“I acted on my best understanding earlier. But I am not sure if I should have… I just…”

“Thanks for bringing it up,” Rupali looked relieved rather than awkward, “I wanted to thank you. For speaking up and not looking the other way.”

“Really?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Okay then. Take care.”

Rupali nodded and made to leave, when she was stopped again.

“Dr. Banerjee.”

“Yes Sir?”

“I have to ask. Did Dr. Moitra lie about your relationship? If so…”

“No,” she sighed, “He didn’t. I guess… But what you had said still stands, right? I have my rights?”

“Of course,” he assured hastily, “If there is ever any problem in this hospital or from any of the employees here, you must come to me.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

It was extremely odd. Why would she be engaged to a person when she needed and was fine with another person intervening between them? And what was hurry to get engaged? How old would she be? Was she under some pressure? What kind?

—

Rupali was relieved that Rohan was not waiting for her in the parking lot after her duty was over. Even when he finished earlier, he always insisted on taking her home with him and waited for her. It should have been romantic, but it wasn’t…

“Rupa. Darling, what’s up with Rohan? Have the two of you fought?” Rupali’s relief was short-lived as she ran into Damyanti Moitra, Rohan’s mother as soon as she entered home.

“Why Kakima? What happened?” Rupali’s behavior with Damyanti was nothing like the the dry, distant one she had with Rohan. And her conflicting emotions were clear in her body language. When Damyanti worried about something, Rupali worried about it too. But when it came to Rohan…

“He refused to eat after coming from the hospital and has locked himself in the room. Only you can handle him, when he is in that mood. Will you please see that he eats something, dear? Why don’t you take your plate also to his room?”

“Sure Kakima.” Damyanti always dismissed Rupali’s discomfort while speaking about Rohan as her shyness. Despite growing up in her liberal household, she found this girl to be incredibly shy. When she had come to live with them as an eleven year old, Damyanti used to worry a lot about whether or not she was comfortable. But over time, she was satisfied that she was.

And Rupali was indeed comfortable with Damyanti and her husband Sabyasachi Moitra. They had provided her not just with a roof over her head, but also with immense love and care. There was no repaying their kindness. She could do anything to keep them happy. And their happiness lied in their only son – Rohan!

—

“Kakima said you haven’t eaten anything,” Rupali brought a plate for Rohan in his room.

“Do you have a crush on Dr. Khanna?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why were you tongue-tied before him? Couldn’t you have spoken up, while he insulted us?”

Rupali took a deep breath. What was she thinking? That he would let it go? Of course not. And he wouldn’t leave her out of it either. Insulted us? Whatever that meant. As far as Rupali was concerned, she had been saved; not insulted. She didn’t want her workplace tainted with the memories of… But she did not want to anger Rohan further. Not at home, at least. Not when Kakima and Kaku would be around.

“It was not right Rohan. We work there…” she attempted a logical discussion.

“Don’t give me excuses,” he glared at her.

“I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.

“Why didn’t you speak up?”

“I… I got nervous,” that was an explanation he’d like. He liked to think of her as a damsel in distress, who needed rescuing.

He smiled. Rupali could not help noticing that it appeared affectionate. It still freaked her out…

“Of course. I should have known.” He got up from his bed and came to her. “But you really have to stop worrying when I am around, okay?”

She nodded.

“And right now, there is nothing to be nervous about,” he closed in on her.

“Rohan… Kakima is around…” she tried to protest.

“She is in her room, I know that,” he replied and kissed her. She endured the kiss fighting her urge to step back. She wondered if she’d ever feel the same way about a kiss as the heroines of novels did. It had always felt repulsive to her, something she had to endure. That was her destiny.

—

To be continued

Destined (Part 1)

Posted Mish5 CommentsPosted in English, Inspired, Rupali-Paritosh

“Dr. Moitra? What are you doing here this early in the morning?” Dr. Paritosh Khanna was surprised to see Rohan Moitra, a resident doctor in Orthopedics, in the Pediatrics department conference room. He was there to address the new batch of interns coming to Pediatrics department of Shohan Nath Majumdar Multi Specialty Hospital, Kolkata.

“Good Morning Dr. Khanna. Actually my fiancee is joining as an intern in your department. So, came by… For moral support…” Rohan grinned.

“I see!” Paritosh said trying to appear neutral. He wondered if Rohan’s act was sweet or patronizing.

“She is sitting there,” he pointed to the corner seat in the row where all the new interns were sitting and waiting for their orientation to begin, “Rupali. Banerjee, for now. She is the nervous kind… I am not even sure it was the right profession for her. But she always insisted. Please go easy on her.” As the head of Pediatrics, Paritosh would be the boss of all the interns.

“Well Dr. Moitra. This profession has its demands. I do not intend to put anything more than that on anybody. It is not in my hands to make it less for anybody,” Paritosh said dryly.

“Ah! Well… Of course.”

Paritosh smiled and then excused himself, “Anyway! I should get going. They are waiting for me. I think your duty shift would also be starting now.”

“Yeah. Sure,” Rohan got the hint that he was not welcome during the orientation just because his fiancée was there. He walked away, but shot a glance at Rupali before leaving. Paritosh noticed that Rupali had also turned to look at Rohan at around the same time. She was slightly far, but Paritosh felt sure that he saw her stiffen.

—

As someone so insistent of maintaining professional relationships with people at work, Paritosh was annoyed at himself. Just because Rohan had pointed Rupali out to him, he found himself noticing her repeatedly during his address to the interns. It made no sense.

Or probably it did. There was something captivating in those large eyes sitting on a lean, small, innocent face of wheatish complexion. Not quite the typical Bengali face. But there were hints – for sure.

What the hell! He shirked off his train of thoughts and looked at the clock. OPD time. Patients – hassled and sad when they came, happy and healthy after treatment, their faith in life and living restored… That’s what kept him alive and occupied. That’s what he was comfortable with. That’s what he needed to go back to. To deal with his distracted mind.

—

Paritosh was getting ready to go to a surgery. He was not a surgeon. But he had admitted the patient, and there were many complications expected in the surgery. So, the pediatric surgeon has requested his presence. Interns of pediatrics department were sitting outside to watch the surgery through the glass. It was a part of their training process. One of them will be inside assisting the surgeon. Paritosh wondered who that would be. It was a complicated surgery, and would be quite challenging for a fresher. Just then he saw her walking in.

Rupali was already wearing her robe and had come to wash her hands before the surgery started. “Good Morning, Sir,” she greeted him courteously.

“Good Morning, Dr. Banerjee,” he replied. If it had been any other intern, he wouldn’t have know his or her name. He hadn’t been individually acquainted with them yet. Rupali appeared surprised at first, but probably recalled immediately that she had seen Rohan with him the day before, during the orientation. She sighed audibly and looked, as far as Paritosh could see, sad.

“So, you are assisting in the surgery?”

“Yes Sir.”

“It is a complicated one. And when patients are so young, their condition often disturbs us a lot… This is your first day. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Some intern has to be here, right? Why not me?”

“Sure. I was… just being… cautious.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I’m sure you will be. Shall we go inside?”

“Yes Sir.”

—

“Rohan. Please let me go,” Paritosh recognized Rupali’s voice, as he passed by the fire exit. The door to staircase was shut as usual, but the sound passed through.

“Stop it already, Rupa. You can’t keep running away from me.”

Paritosh hesitated. Should he stop? Should he not? Was it the usual dance of lovers? Fire exit was a favourite place for the young couples in the hospital to have their own time during breaks. Or was it sexual harassment right under his nose? Something about Rohan’s tone made it not feel like a lover’s insistence at all. Rupali’s reply came as Paritosh was still deliberating on what to do.

“This isn’t the time or place to discuss…”

“Who is interested in discussing…”

“Rohan!” Rupali shouted.

Rohan must have closed in on her. Because the sound that came next was definitely Rupali pushing him away and he getting hit by the railing of the staircase.

Paritosh pushed the door open. “What’s going on here?”

Rohan and Rupali were both startled and horrified at first. Then Rupali’s expression turned to that of relief, while Rohan’s turned belligerent.

“This is personal Dr. Khanna.”

“I’m afraid it sounded more like an offense.”

“She is my fiancée,” Rohan retorted.

“Even if she were your legally wedded wife Dr. Moitra, she had the right to say no. Especially at a public place like this. And this is her workplace, no less. This is not acceptable…”

“Dr. Khanna. You are reading too much into the situation…”

“What I have seen here is called sexual harassment, Dr. Moitra. So, as Dr. Banerjee’s boss and as the chief administrator of this department, I have to intervene and ask you to leave immediately. And this must not happen again, else I will be forced to report it.”

Rohan gritted his teeth, but could not say anything.

“Please leave,” Paritosh was adamant.

Rohan shot an angry glance at Rupali and then left.

Paritosh felt awkward when left alone with Rupali, but he maintained his formal disposition, “Please go back to your ward Dr. Banerjee. Lunch time is over.” He turned back immediately and came back to the corridor. He sighed in relief on seeing the corridor empty. If someone saw him coming out of the fire exit, with Rupali following right behind him, it would have been awkward. Really awkward.

His cabin and the wards were in opposite direction. They went in their separate ways without saying another word.

—

To be continued

Coming Around (Part 17 – Last Part)

Posted Mish11 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Subrato-Paridhi

“Hello!” Paridhi froze on hearing the familiar long drawn ‘hello’ on the other end of the phone.

Subrato looked at her and blinked in assurance and encouragement.

“Hello Mummy,” her voice drowned. She wasn’t sure what she should talk about. She feared, rather hoped, that the phone will be slammed down at the other end.

But what she got, instead, was emotional fluster, “Pari. Dear… Where… How… How are you?”

“I am fine Mummy. And you?”

“I am alive. What can I say?” Paridhi sighed. The self-pity. Some things never changed. She had always been so busy wallowing in self-pity that she never paid any attention to what her children’s dreams and aspirations were.

Paridhi was wondering how to continue the conversation when to her relief her mother spoke again, “You are in America?”

“Yes.”

“All by yourself?”

“I am independent – yes. But I have had help.”

“From whom?”

“Will tell you some other time. How is Dadi?”

“She has left us. Passed away. It has been six months.”

“Ohh!” Paridhi didn’t know how to react. She had always accepted that domineering woman’s presence in their lives, because she had always been there. But while she felt a sense of responsibility towards her mother, she didn’t have much feelings of any kind towards her grand-mother. “I am sorry,” she mumbled, “You are staying alone Mummy?”

There was silence at the other end. Then there was some sound and Paridhi realized that she was crying. “Mummy. Are you crying?”

“I never had any expectation from your brother. But you also never thought of checking up on me?”

“Mummy. You are the one who had disowned me,” Paridhi could not help retorting.

“I was angry.”

“Of course. So was I. But I called you Mummy, didn’t I? I will keep calling. Okay? Don’t cry now. Please.”

“Yeah. I am fine.”

“And Mummy?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you like to get back in touch with Bhaiya?”

“You know where he is.”

“Yes. We are in touch. Shall I give you his number?”

“I am his mother. You want me to bow down?”

“Right. No. I don’t want to,” Paridhi sighed. Parents are supposed to love their kids come what may. At least that’s what the entire world seems to believe. But that was not true. Ego, rivalry and all sorts of conflict came in the way of parental love too. “I will call again, Mummy. Bye.”

“Everything all right?” Subrato held her hands gently and asked.

“Dadi is dead.”

“I am sorry,” the response came automatically.

“I’m not sure I’m. How insensitive is that? We are a family, right? We are supposed to love each other. And yet… I must be a terrible person to feel this way about my family…”

“Stop it Paridhi.”

“My mother is alone. She has given birth to me. She has brought me up. How will she manage alone in her old days? I should do something about her. And yet… I… I just don’t feel like going back, meeting her, bringing her here, living with her – any of that. Because… Because she makes me miserable. Even today… But she is my mother. I should feel responsible towards her. Our parents have a right over us. Why? Because they have given birth to us. But it was not my decision that I should be born, was it? Then why should I be responsible for it? Why should I feel indebted that they gave birth to me?”

“Paridhi!” Subrato had to shake her to stop her agitated ramblings.

“Your family is not like that, right?”

Subrato sighed, “No. It’s not. They are more reasonable. But…”

“Nobody’s is. Why me? When families are perfect for every body else, why not me?”

“Tell me something Paridhi. How many people know about your problems with your family?”

“Only… you…” she was confused by his question.

“So, nobody else who looks at your can figure out what you go through in trying to please your family, can they? What makes you think that the same thing doesn’t happen to others.”

She fell silent.

“For some reason, we have idealized, romanticized a lot of things. Haven’t people been talking since forever about pure love, unconditional love and what not about couples? How much of that pure, unconditional, lasting-till-death love do you see around? Parental love is also not as perfect as we would like to believe. Parenthood is probably a special feeling, and it does seem to make some people better. But that’s not a given… And if it didn’t make you mother a better, sensitive person, you are not responsible for it. Nor are you alone. This world is full of people with broken, abusive families. You are actually amongst the better lot because you have escaped unharmed and you are not dependent. You are quite lucky Paridhi, and you are not responsible. Always remember that.”

She broke down and leaned on him for support.

“And I am sorry,” he mumbled, “I shouldn’t have asked you to call her. It has disturbed you, instead of calming you down.”

“No. Don’t say that,” she stopped crying and looked up a him, “It makes me feel like a loser. Someone who has burdened you with her own troubles…”

“Stop this, will you?”

“Why do you even like me? I’m such a messed up person. Ever since we have met, all you seem to be doing is listening to or solving my problems. What do you see in me? What will you ever get from me?” all her insecurities were surfacing.

Subrato sighed, “I will tell you this once and for all Paridhi. And I don’t want you to ask this question ever again. Okay? Listen then. Behind all your troubles is this very unique quality of yours. That you care, care to a fault. Even if you want to turn apathetic, which I thought you had turned towards your family, you can not stop caring. I want that care from you. And I hope that from me you won’t get any troubles in return.”

Paridhi had nothing to say. She just hugged him tight in reply.

“What should I do about Mummy?” she asked a little later.

“You tell me. What do you think you should do?”

“I will ask Bhaiya to call her. I think she wants to connect back with him. But is too egoistic to take the first step.”

“Will he agree?”

“He will. She is his mother too… He did what he did because he had no other option. And he is in Mumbai, closer to her than I am… Plus he is the son. She would feel more comfortable depending on him…”

“Great then. What is there to worry about?” Subrato smiled, “And we can always make trips to India to visit her as well as my family. And tell your brother that you will share any financial responsibilities going forward.”

“I will. Though my guess is that she doesn’t need financial help. Papa has left enough. Remember the lakhs she was willing to spend on my dowry?”

Subrato chuckled to make light of the situation and hugged her gently.

—

Paridhi was perplexed. Subrato had asked her to help him in finalizing the house. And he was showing her the huge houses in the suburbs. When he had landed in New York, he had talked about renting an apartment in Manhattan. Why did he want to move so far into suburbs now? How will they meet? As it was, the thought of him shifting out to his own house was making her feel wretched. And to top that, it was going to be so far.

This was third house they were seeing and boy! Did she fall in love with it? It reminded her of some of the colonial constructions she had seen back in India. Only it was very suitable to the modern sensibilities. It was spacious with a lawn in the front. There was plenty of space for a kitchen garden in the backyard. They walked upstairs to the bedroom. Airy and sunny were the words that came to her mind. The place was almost fully furnished and the bed in the room was thing of beauty with its wooden carvings.

“This one is beautiful.”

“You like it?”

“I do. But do you?”

“All the houses I showed you are pre-selected for my liking. You have to decide.”

“Me? But you have to live here,” she said trying hard to suppress the disappointment in her voice.

“You… You are not going to… shift with me?”

She looked up startled, “Am I?”

“What the… Why on earth would I be looking to buy a house in the suburbs if not to…”

“You are buying the house?”

“Correction Ms. Chauhan. We are buying the house. What were you thinking?”

“How would I know? You never told me anything. When did you say our roommate arrangement was going to continue?”

“Our roommate arrangement is not going to continue.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are… I am sorry I should not have presumed,” he calmed down and spoke seriously, “I mean… I want you to move in with me… No. I want us to move in together. As live-in partners right now, if you insist on the correct technical term. But hopefully soon as husband and wife and life partners. Is that acceptable to you?”

“You are a wicked man! Couldn’t you have told me earlier? I was feeling so wretched…”

“You thought I would leave you behind… Oh my God. Paridhi. Wasn’t it obvious?”

“How would it be obvious? You had never tried to…” her voice drowned in embarrassment.

“Tried to?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, now.”

She looked here and there and completed her sentence with a shrug trying to look nonchalant, when she was actually feeling extremely shy, “You never showed any inclination towards a live-in or whatever relationship… How would I…”

She remained silent for a couple of moment after that, not daring to look up at him and was taken by surprise when he moved close to her. “I should and could put an end to all your uncertainties right away,” his hoarse voice sent a shiver down her spine. He put his arms around her almost trembling form and led her to the bed.

She lied down silently, feeling the reaction and arousal of her body as he gently, but passionately kissed and nibbled at her neck and earlobes. She could also feel his growing arousal as he had pinned her down beneath himself and his body was pressed hard against hers. One of his hands was caressing her face, hair, neck and breasts, while with the other he pushed up the skirt she was wearing. He drew back for a second and she opened her eyes to look at him.

He noticed the look for surprise and bewilderment on her face, as he took out a packet of condoms from his pocket. He looked from the packet to her face and back in a moment of confusion and awkwardness. Then he sighed before explaining, “I have been thinking about it… for quite sometime… And I wanted to be… not be careless… But you always looked so nervous and child-like… I wasn’t sure you were ready for it… And I carried it in my pocket afraid that you would find it… And… today I am again not sure,” he noticed her expressions and kept the packet down on the bed intending to withdraw.

“This place… this bed… is not ours…” she said suddenly.

“Is that your only objection?” he stopped moving away and asked.

“Yes… No… I mean… Yes!” she finally had to say it. Could somebody’s sensitivity be frustrating? If the person was Subrato, it could be. Right then, she just wanted him to forget everything else and devour her! And here he was! Struggling with whether she was ready! He was right is assessing that she was incredibly nervous. But what he didn’t seem to realize was that with him, she was incredibly ready too!

“Let’s mark it then,” he was back to kissing her senseless, “I have already negotiated down the prices. This is as good as ours. Including the furniture… and the bed…”

He did pull back once more to use the protection and except for those few moments, Paridhi lost every sense of time and place. She didn’t realize how loud her moans of pleasure were until she saw Subrato grinning at her in the end. He planted a soothing kiss on her forehead and asked gently, “Are you okay?”

“Y… Yes,” she felt shy despite the obvious assurance in his kiss as she replied through her panting and sweating.

“I had totally underestimated you,” he sounded amused as he lied down beside her and pulled her close to himself.

“What do you mean?”

“You will know in the days to come… In this very bed! Now that I know I can push you…. Quite far!”

She gulped hard at his obvious reference to their sexual life about which he seemed to be making some grand plans. But she replied bravely, “First get the house. Right now they could sue us for trespassing.”

“Right away, my Lady,” he replied and picked up his phone to call the agent. His dream of making New York his home for rest of his life was going to come true after all!

– The End –

Coming Around (Part 16)

Posted Mish13 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Subrato-Paridhi

It had been a week since… Paridhi blushed as she thought about it… since they had accepted each other in their lives. She was on cloud nine. If she could have it her way, she wouldn’t leave Subrato’s side even for a second. But he had to settle in his job, do a lot of paperwork in the office as well as outside and generally get his act of relocation together. He was in control of everything and was by no means inattentive to her. But she was like a proverbial kid in the candy store. She was excited, had gone almost berserk. When Subrato was not around, she would go on shopping trips like she had never done before. She had amassed a pile of dresses and accessories in all shades of purple. The funny thing, however, was that she had never worn them. She felt incredibly nervous when the opportunity to wear any of them came for their dinner outings. She would try them, but would ultimately drop the idea and rush out wearing one of her usual dresses. Her work was clearly affected too. She hadn’t been able to read a single paper from the list Steve had given her in the entire week. Thankfully he didn’t say anything to her. Given that she always worked hard, he assumed that she would come around. Everyone deserved to be cut some slack once in a while.

“Paridhi,” Subrato had to meet some old acquaintances over breakfast on Saturday and had just returned from there. He knocked at her room door several times, but did not hear a reply. “I am coming in,” he announced as he got worried.

“No. No. No. No. No,” a worried Paridhi ran out of the attached bathroom and jumped on her bed.

“I… I am sorry,” he assumed that she was embarrassed because she was undressed and made to leave, but realized immediately that it was not the case. He turned back to be greeted by a weird site. Paridhi was sitting atop a pile of purple fabric on her bed, apparently trying to hide them. He looked attentively and realized that they were a bunch of dresses.

“What… are you doing?” he raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

“Nothing. Nothing at all. What are you doing here?” she tried to hide her embarrassment by acting defiant.

“I was… No. First you tell me. What is all this?” he pointed towards her dresses.

“What would it be? My dresses. You have a problem?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. I have never seen you wearing any of these.”

“You have been here for less than two weeks.”

“Hmm… And even the tags have not been taken out from most of them. I heard some rumors that for last one week, no socialite in New York is able to buy anything in purple. I think I know the culprit.”

She gulped, but still managed to maintain a brave front, “Stop making fun of me.”

He sat down on the bed and she got startled. She lost her balance and fell back on the bed. Subrato followed her deliberately and pinned her under him. “Stop lying to me,” his voice was hoarse.

“Okay. I bought them. So what?”

Subrato could see how nervous as well as excited she was even as she continued to act saucy. “But you didn’t use them. So, I might as well use them now. You know wrap them around us because the room is getting cold and…”

“Subrato,” her nervousness and inexperience got better of her finally.

“Wow!” he looked in her eyes and smiled mischievously, “You got the perfect pronunciation. In the first attempt.” He felt elated on hearing his name from her, but continued his little game, “So, I might just forgive you for wasting these dresses for last one week.”

He got up pulling her back with him. Paridhi felt confused. Why did he withdraw? Wouldn’t he want to… Especially after he had told her so many times that he has been in love with her for long. Did she act inappropriately? Does she need to do something differently? May be she needs to use one of the tricks the dating and relationship magazines mention. May be his emotional connection with her hasn’t resulted in sexual attraction yet.

Her attention went back to him on hearing his voice, “How about you wear this for dinner tonight?” He had picked up a shiny satin dress, “And this homely one for lunch because I am planning to cook you a great Bengali lunch today.”

That brought her out of her confused thoughts for a while. “But aren’t you tired?”

“Not at all. You like fish, I hope?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Great. I got some from the grocery store on my way back.” He kissed her on forehead and got up, “Get ready. I will be in the kitchen.”

He walked out leaving her smiling and still a little dazed and confused. She sighed and tried to put herself at ease, “He is just taking it slow. For my sake. And thank God for that! May be tonight…” she looked at the dress he had picked for her to wear at night and grinned.

—

“Oh God! I overate… Badly! First lunch… Now dinner…” Paridhi deposited herself on the couch looking like she won’t move an inch from there now.

“Sleep it off then,” Subrato also sat down beside her and suggested helpfully.

“No!”

“What happened?” her intensity surprised Subrato.

“Nothing… Nothing at all…” Paridhi mumbled. She didn’t want to sleep. She was hoping… But she couldn’t tell him that, could she? Without realizing she turned crimson at her thoughts.

“Paridhi? Are you all right?”

“I am fine… What has come upon you? I just don’t want to sleep right now.”

“Okay. So, what do you want to do?” he smiled.

“I… I don’t know… Or talk, I guess…”

“Great! I don’t have to make an effort, then. You are the master in that art.”

She hit him playfully on the shoulder, “If you make fun of me talking, I will never ever talk to you.”

“Really? Let’s try that. If you can stay silent in my presence for just ten minutes, I will believe you.”

“You know what… I will kill you,” Subrato’s teasing had gotten to her and she started hitting him continuously. Subrato laughed out loud and forcefully pulled her in a hug. She resisted initially, but gave up pretty soon.

He broke the hug after a while, but held her close and spoke, “There is something… very important… that I want to talk to you about.”

“What?” her eyes shone in excitement… and expectation. He cared so much for her. He would talk before taking any steps…

“I think you should get back in touch with your mother.”

Paridhi was so surprised that she jerked back. There was mixture of bewilderment and contemplation on her face, “Why are you saying this?”

Subrato thought for a moment and smiled while answering, “Your question is your answer.”

“Excuse me?”

“You did not question my suggestion that you should get back in touch with her. You only questioned me suggesting it. So, you have thought about it too. Am I right?”

She nodded still looking thoughtful.

“And I had felt that… Somewhere you are restless… worried… That’s the only reason I suggested…”

“I worry about her. But I am scared for myself too. I don’t want to… I can’t go back to those days. That stress, hopelessness and… feeling of worthlessness…”

“Paridhi. You must realize something at this stage,” he paused to see her reaction. She was looking at him expectantly. So, he continued, “The reason you were being treated like that by your family was not that you were weak or helpless. At least there was nothing in the external world that made you weak. Your weakness was within you, your obsessive need to comply with them, that sense of responsibility you had that it didn’t matter whether others did their duty towards you or not, you could not dodge what you saw as your duty… I do not mean it in a negative sense. Our love and care does make us vulnerable and weak. The reason I am talking about this is that so long as you have moved past that, that thing inside you which was letting others treat you like… like you weren’t a human, you have nothing to fear. Back then, the dynamics of your relationship with your mother was defined by her, or her set ideas of what her society considered right. If you call her now, you will have the upper hand, you will define the dynamics, you will define who is powerful and who is not. There is no reason to be scared for yourself, Paridhi. Absolutely none.”

Tears clouded her eyes and she half smiled through them. “I…” she started speaking, but stopped with a nervous laughter as if she couldn’t find words. Then she made another attempt, “You can’t be real… Am I dreaming or something? What are you made up of?”

He raised one eyebrow comically, “Seriously? That’s one hell of a thankless job I am doing. Now I don’t even exist for you?”

This made her chuckle and she leaned onto him for another hug. “Do you want me to call her now?” she asked while still in the hug.

“Whenever you want Paridhi. I am not doling out a punishment to you, am I?”

“I will do it tomorrow morning. She stays awake till late… watching her soaps.”

“All right.”

They stayed like that for a while and Paridhi did not realize that she had fallen asleep in his arms. He woke her up gently, dragged her in her sleepy state to her room and tucked her in the bed.

—

To be continued

Coming Around (Part 15)

Posted Mish6 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Subrato-Paridhi

It was Saturday afternoon. Although normally Paridhi spent most of her weekends also at work, she wasn’t doing so this time. She was sitting in the hall, with Subrato and filling him in with the details of her research work. Suddenly she changed the topic.

“Did I tell you, I reconnected with my brother?”

“You did?” Subrato straightened up with and asked with interest, “How come? Where did you find him?”

She smiled, “You are the culprit again. You forced me to open a Facebook account.”

“Which you hardly use. But yeah – why shouldn’t I have forced? The reason you didn’t have one was to protect yourself from the prying eyes of your family and potential in-laws. The reason no longer existed. Anyway. So, your brother…”

“Yeah. We just found each other there. He is in Mumbai. In a job. He has a kid also now. He is doing very well for himself.”

“That’s great to know. And Paridhi?”

“Hmm?”

“Did your mother never get in touch with you?”

She shook her head sadly.

“Did you try?”

“No. I… She had disowned me. It wasn’t me…”

“It’s okay. I just…” her extreme care had turned into extreme anger and apathy. She couldn’t be blamed though.

“You know something,” she clearly wanted to talk.

“Go on.”

“I feel really, really bad for her.”

“Paridhi…”

“No. Don’t get me wrong. I am not regretting any of my decisions. She is miserable. But making myself miserable could hardly have solved her problems. She has been a victim of circumstances. Unfortunately, she did not have the strength to take things in her own hands. She tried to make amends for what was wrong with her life in strange ways… Making me miserable…”

“You mean your father’s death…”

“Not really. But how everything was before and after it. Her married life was never peaceful. And apparently the culprit was dowry. Dadi always complained that in her only son’s wedding, she did not get much of dowry and kept taunting Mummy for it all the time. This went on even after several years of marriage. My brother remembers it. My father was apparently stuck between his mother and wife, couldn’t open his mouth before his mother and could not do anything to placate his wife… Result was everyday fight in the house. The day he died… In an accident, while he was driving… There had been a huge fight at home. And till date Dadi blames Mummy for the accident. Apparently if she hadn’t fought with her husband before he left home, the accident would not have happened. And Mummy can’t really hold her ground. She has always been cowed down by Dadi. That even I have seen. She saw us – her children – as the only chance of her getting some ground under her feet. And she tried so hard to mold us in a way that will make her look good to Dadi and the society they both cared so much about, that… She lost both of us. I had seen the misery and gloom after my brother left. I had thought that by making some sacrifices, I could probably give her some respite. But that wasn’t about to happen. Giving whatever they wanted as dowry was her way of assuring that I lived my life with dignity, not the way she had to. She was sure that she was settling me the right way. I won’t be taunted about dowry all my life. What she refused to see was that dowry wasn’t the way to a dignified life, independence was. Obviously, she still doesn’t see it this way…”

Subrato walked towards her and sat beside her. He took her hands in his and pressed them lightly. “I understand Paridhi,” he said in an extremely soft voice, “You were not an idiot that you were trying to put up with all of that for so long. You were trying to set things right.”

“Where do you get this infinite patience from? You have always listened to me, so patiently?”

“Purely selfish reasons Paridhi. Purely selfish. I have been stung by people who don’t care. So, I care a lot about people who do. And now let me get some coffee for you.”

“I will get it.”

“Sit down. You don’t need to play an Indian housewife with me.”

“I am just playing a host.”

“How about we play roommates instead? Equals?”

She smiled, shrugged and gave up. She could try with all her might, but she couldn’t get around this man.

“What is this?” Subrato noticed something lying on the table with his name on it, when he brought the coffee.

“This… is… I haven’t saved enough to repay everything to you. But the application fees. A cheque for that. I wasn’t sure if your old bank account is active. Or you will be opening a new one. So, I haven’t put the date…”

“Paridhi. This…”

There he goes, she thought to herself. He won’t accept it. Part of her wanted him not to accept it. That would mean…

“What happened?” she asked outwardly.

“Umm… Nothing. I will put the date.”

He accepted it! She hoped her disappointment didn’t show.

“I have a question though,” he spoke again.

“Yeah?”

“Will repaying me ensure that you do not feel indebted to me?”

“Why are you… No. I can’t ever stop feeling indebted to you.”

“Why?” he was exasperated.

“Why? Number one – it isn’t just the money. Number two – even for money, it was the time that mattered… Somebody giving me 4800 bucks today won’t matter. So, my returning it to you today doesn’t make the importance of having it then disappear.”

“Paridhi…”

“And number three,” she did not let him interrupt, “This feeling connects me to you. I can’t let it go. It’s… It’s my emotional life line. Why can’t you let me have it? Why does it bother you so much?”

“Because…” he got up, held her hands and made her stand up too, “I have a connection with you too. And I want to know if you feel it. But not under indebtedness. That would spoil everything.”

“What connection?” her voice quivered in anticipation.

“You tell me. If you forget for a while that you feel indebted to me, do you still feel something else?”

“Do you?”

“I already told you, I do. I need to know from you.”

“Like hell, I do. What took you… so long to ask? Was it so difficult to see that?” her eyes filled with tears even as she smiled.

“There is no way to deal with you except patience. You know that, don’t you?” he also smiled and pulled her in a hug. The long-awaited one!

“You drove me to impatience,” she said.

He broke the hug and smiled mischievously, “Really? You are impatient now?”

She suddenly stepped back and said nervously, “I didn’t mean that.”

“You didn’t mean what?”

“Nothing,” she was trying to look anywhere but him to deal with her shyness and embarrassment, “The coffee is getting cold. Let’s… let’s finish it.”

Subrato was amused by her sudden nervousness. But he decided not to tease her. “Sure. Let’s finish the coffee,” he said sat down on a chair across her with his coffee mug.

He noticed that she was holding her mug with both her hands. “You all right?” he asked looking concerned.

“Yes… Yes…” she noticed him staring at her hands, “Just a little cold. Hot coffee feels good….” Her voice trailed as she saw his eyebrows raised. He didn’t believe her. And he was right not to. “I am extremely nervous,” she said plainly and honestly.

He sighed and smiled, then went over and sat beside her. He kept his own coffee mug on the table and put his hands around hers on her mug.

“Are you scared of me?” he asked gently.

“Of course not.”

“Then?”

“I don’t know. How am I supposed to know? It doesn’t happen every day…”

“Silly girl,” he couldn’t suppress a grin, “Here take a sip.”

“Why are you holding my… mug?” she did not say hands.

“Because your hands are trembling and you are going to spill your coffee.”

She took the sip, “Aren’t you going to drink your own?”

“No,” he took her mug from her and deposited that on the table too, “I think there is better coffee waiting for me elsewhere.” He did not give her a chance to interpret what he said and attacked her lips thrusting his tongue deep in her mouth. After initial surprise and awkwardness, Paridhi responded with gusto.

After they broke the kiss, Paridhi hugged him tight and started crying silently. He realized it when he felt the wetness on his shirt.

“Paridhi. What happened…” he tried to break the hug to talk to her, but she clutched him hard.

“No,” she whispered urgently, “Let me be. Don’t push me away.”

She needed to feel the support and care. Her proximity was wrecking havoc on his hormones. But this wasn’t the time. Her emotional voids needed to be filled first.

“You know something,” he said after a while without trying to break the hug.

She pulled back just a bit to look at him and asked, “What?”

“Purple does suit you very well.”

She blushed and grinned and hid her face in his chest.

The check was forgotten and it would be discovered much later, when Paridhi would be packing her stuff to shift to a new house with Subrato.

—

To be continued

Coming Around (Part 14)

Posted Mish7 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Subrato-Paridhi

“Welcome back to New York!” he was startled by her voice.

“What are you doing here?” he asked without thinking.

“Last time I checked this was an airport and people are allowed to come here if they want,” Paridhi grinned.

Subrato had landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport a while back, had passed through the customs and was waiting for his luggage near the luggage belt, when Paridhi had surprised him. His two-year contract with IIAM had been over and he had come back to New York, to his old job. Paridhi had been doing her Ph. D. in New York University for last one year.

Subrato smiled, “So, I am getting a dose of my own medicine, eh? You didn’t tell me you would be coming. In fact, you had said something about being away for a conference.”

He noticed that she was wearing a purple dress. It suited her very well. As usual. He wondered if he should compliment her on that. He also wondered if he could hug her. He badly wanted to. They had been talking to each other regularly. But he wasn’t sure where their relationship stood. She needed time, space… She needed to sort out her own life. He thought that trying to push her into a relationship or commitment would be too much for her to handle. Especially given how indebted she felt to him. Despite his admonitions, she could not stop herself every now and then from talking about how much he had helped her and how she would never be able to repay all of it.

“A little surprise doesn’t hurt, does it?” she replied excitedly. Could she hug him, she wondered. She badly wanted to. But he was her mentor, guide… even a guardian. What if she was too… beneath him? She had thought and accused him of wanting her once, but she couldn’t be sure if he did; in particular if he still did after her accusations. And if she presumed anything wrong, it would be awkward afterwards. Probably disastrous too. So, she refrained.

Subrato was elated to see her there. So elated that his heart was racing. He had to try hard to keep his reactions in control. From their phone calls and e-mails, he had come to believe that she was rather casual about his return to New York. As if it was hardly a big deal for her. It had been disappointing, though he hadn’t let it on. But obviously that was not the case. She had been planning a surprise. May be he could hug her, after all.

But he didn’t!

“No it doesn’t. In fact it makes you… happy. Paridhi. I was unsure about the decision. But right now, I feel really happy that I am back.”

“So am I,” she was not restrained in her response, “Has your luggage come yet? Shall we go.”

—

“Hudson Hotel, 58th street,” Subrato gave the address of the hotel to the cab driver outside the airport, then confirmed with Paridhi, “You will come with me, right? You are free?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

They sat silently for a while as the cab drove on. Paridhi broke the silence, “How long are you going to stay in the hotel?”

“They will pay for three weeks. I need to find an apartment by then.”

“Hmm… And what if you didn’t find an apartment by then?”

“Three weeks is long enough. I have already seen some options online…”

“But if you can’t?”

“Paridhi? What do you want to say?”

“I… I… Nothing… Nothing at all.”

“Sure?”

“Yeah.”

“I will find an apartment. Don’t worry.”

“Of course. You will…”

And awkward silence came between them once again.

“You could stay in my apartment,” suddenly she spoke again.

“Excuse me?”

“My roommate has moved out a while back. I haven’t taken anyone else in. I have a spare room. You can… Of course, only if… you want…”

He stared at her for a while before answering, “Why don’t you give the driver your apartment’s address?”

—

The room she led him to was squeaky clean, the bed was made and every piece of furniture was in place.

“Wow! You haven’t been doing Hotel Management here, have you?” he teased her.

“Huh?”

“I thought you weren’t know to keep your room clean. Back in those days, at least.”

She smiled, “I have snatched you away from a luxurious hotel. I hope it is comfortable.”

“It’s the best!”

“Why don’t you freshen up? I will get something to eat and drink. You want to take rest after that?”

“It’s better to stay awake until evening. Will help get over the jet lag faster.”

“Okay. Towels are there in the bathroom. I will make some coffee while you freshen up.”

But when Paridhi came back to the room with coffee, he had fallen asleep. She smiled, covered him with a blanket and stepped out noiselessly to avoid waking him up.

—
“So much for overcoming jet lag quickly,” he came to the hall after waking up.

Paridhi was reading something, “It’s okay. You have to join only on Monday. You will be fine by then. Did you sleep well?”

“Very well.”

“But now you will remain awake the entire night.”

“Truth be told, I am quite accustomed to doing that now.”

“Really? Why?”

“Somebody stole my sleep.”

Paridhi guffawed, albeit nervously, “I feel like I am watching a bollywood movie live with those corny dialogs. Shall I get you some coffee?” Then she regretted changing the subject. What if he did intend to say what she wanted to hear? But it was too late now.

“That’d be great.”

“So, I haven’t asked you yet,” he asked after she had brought coffee, “How have you been?”

“Fine!”

“Don’t you miss India?”

“I miss people.”

“But overall… Are you happy, Paridhi?”

“You mean to ask whether I have done the right thing in taking your advice,” she smiled, “The answer is yes. I couldn’t have taken a better decision. Steve, my guide, is very happy. But you, of course, know that.”

“Why would I know that?”

“Come on. You thought you would be able to keep it a secret from me. Steve told me how strong a recommendation you had given to him for me. And not just the formal one. He obviously knows you very well and respects you a lot.”

“We have worked together in past. And the respect is mutual. But yeah – you caught me. I have, indeed, kept a tab on your work,” he grinned.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t do you a favour or anything Paridhi. You have done well. It proves that you got only what you deserved.”

“Why are you so hyper about proving that you never helped me with anything. You have helped me at every step. What is the harm in accepting it?”

“I wish I could explain. But anyway, aren’t you hungry?”

” I haven’t cooked at home. I still eat at Indian time. But restaurants here will be open for dinner already. If you don’t want to go out, I can order something in.”

“No. In fact, let me take you to a great Indian place in New York. I think you can’t get such nice Indian food even in India.”

“Really? Let’s go.”

—

To be continued

Coming Around (Part 13)

Posted Mish7 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Subrato-Paridhi

Paridhi was still getting ready for the engagement ceremony, when she heard the commotion outside. Feeling uneasy, she grabbed the photo Subrato had given to her and came outside.

“There must be some misunderstanding, Mala ji,” her mother was pleading with her would-be mother-in-law, “Our daughter is not like that.”

“The proof is here. Which mother in the world can get his son married to a characterless girl, who is roaming around the city with God-Knows-Whom! I am leaving. This engagement can’t happen.”

“What’s going on?” Paridhi interrupted.

“You tell me,” her grandmother was literally grinding her teeth, “What is going on?” She thrust the photograph Mala had brought into Paridhi’s hand. “Who is this?” she demanded.

“This is… Wait a minute… Who clicked the photo?”

“Why don’t you just answer what has been asked of you?” it was her mother this time.

“I will,” Paridhi was sure by now of where all of this was going, “But I want to know who took this photo.”

“Somebody who cared about my son and my family,” Mala interrupted bossily, “I don’t care who it was. I am just happy I got to know your true colors in time.”

“And that somebody will be you, isn’t it Mala Auntie?” Paridhi looked directly in her eyes.

“What are you saying?”

“You very well know who this is. You spoke to me, I introduced him as my Professor, I had told you that there was a class dinner and we were waiting for others. You had even cracked a joke about we being a spoiled generation. But you were least interested in any of that, right? What you were really interested in was a way to create this drama. So, after talking to us so nicely, you took this photo without telling us. Just so you could use this as a weapon against me and my family on this day, right? What more? The very next day after meeting me here, and taking this photo, you went ahead and confirmed the proposal to my mother. It was all very convenient, wasn’t it? Wasn’t that why you had insisted on a small family-only engagement ceremony. You already knew the drama you were going to play here, didn’t you? Having too many people around would have been inconvenient!”

“That’s a great story darling,” Mala was prepared for this part and confident sarcasm was literally dripping from her words, “The question is why on earth would I do that?”

“You didn’t think I would have an answer for that, did you? Unfortunately for you, I have a photograph as well,” she straightened out the crumpled photograph in her hands in front of Mala’s eyes and she visibly recoiled in surprise.

“What… what is this?” she stammered.

“The truth. The real reason this engagement can not happen, could never have happened,” she turned around to show the photograph to other people in the room as well, which included her mother, grand mother and a relative who had been instrumental in fixing this wedding, whom her family had blindly trusted.

“Mummy. These people never intended to go ahead with this wedding. Aniket is not busy. He is… well… I don’t know whom you have insulted more? Me or your own son, Mala Auntie? What is more disturbing? Living with a handicap? Or having parents who can’t accept that their son may not fetch the fat dowry they had planned all through their lives and who trick somebody into giving that dowry. Or is he also happily a part of it? Like mother, like son?”

“This is outrageous. A characterless girl is making false accusations on my family…”

“Enough!” Paridhi roared this time, “Two things. First, make sure all the dowry money that has been given to you is back with my mother in twenty-four hours. Otherwise I am reporting this to the police. There is no saying what will happen once this goes out. Proving that you intended to deceive us all along is going to be a piece of cake for me. And dowry charges on top of that… You might want to read up on Internet how bad they can be… And you too Pradeep Uncle,” she turned to the relative, “Nobody is going to preach me about trusting the family any longer. How much of a cut were you going to get in the dowry? Actually… I am not interested in that right now. You just show as much enthusiasm in getting that money back to Mummy by tomorrow, as you had shown in getting this so-called-relationship fixed. Else be ready to be a co-accused of fraud and dowry charges. And the second thing. Get out!!”

—

Subrato smiled in admiration, “That was… something. And your legalese was quite in place. Fraud charges, co-accused etc. etc.”

“I had read up about the legal implications of it all. I might be sad, but I was not shocked that it happened this way. I couldn’t have guessed that she would try to use you to created this drama though. I was expecting something on my brother…”

“Never mind! I am not harmed,” suddenly he frowned recalling something, “You said something about holding you responsible. Who is holding you responsible? For what?”

“It was because I could not impress other decent people whose proposals had come earlier that we fell for these tricksters. What will my family do now? Where will they find a groom for me? The word will get out. And it doesn’t matter what the reality is, it is always the girl who suffers. Especially given that there is also dirt to be dug up on my brother.”

“This is ridi…” Subrato reacted impulsively, but controlled himself. Given her tendency to be by her family despite their insensitivity, he did not want to become another person hurting her.

“You can say it. You have always thought it to be ridiculous, haven’t you? My family? Me? My insistence on not going against them.”

“I don’t think you deserved this. Any of this. But beyond that, I am no one to pass judgment on who is right and who isn’t.”

“You are very kind.”

“Come on now… By the way, you came back just like that?”

“No. I finally did what anybody who had any clue of my situation thought I should do. I rebelled. I told them I am going to take none of it going forward. And they should leave me alone.”

“And?”

“And my grand mother blamed my mother as usual, for everything, and my mother told me that she will disown me if I stepped out of the house, like she had done for my brother.”

“And you still stepped out.”

“Yep. I am on my own now.”

Subrato watched her sombre face for a couple of seconds. He hadn’t been blind. He had often questioned himself on caring so much about her. She refused to see that her family was ruining her life. She accused him of conspiring against her when he tried to help her. Was she worth it? This moment answered it for him. Yes. A big, fat YES. She wasn’t an idiot. She wasn’t weak. She just cared. Cared to a fault. But that wasn’t a fault he could grudge her. She was worth all of it and more.

“No you are not,” he said suddenly.

“Excuse me?”

“You are not on your own. I’m there.”

“Yeah. I can see that very clearly. You were at Charbagh station too. At midnight,” she chuckled, albeit sadly. Still her attempt at cracking a joke showed that she had accepted her decision whole-heartedly and was willing to move on.

“If you accept that,” he said very carefully and slowly, watching her reaction, “I will take the liberty of being a bit intrusive and ask how are you placed financially and what help will you need.”

She seemed quite at ease as she replied and that made Subrato comfortable too, “This is the last term. Fees have already been paid for. I have enough savings from my pocket-money and summer internship stipend to last me a few months for my personal expenses. I will go for placements and try to get the joining as early as possible.”

“You have already thought everything through,” he smiled, “But if you ever need anything…”

“I will, I think…” she was more hesitant now.

“Go on.”

“If I get an admission in Ph. D. and have to go to US…”

“You will need money for the trip and setting down there until you start getting your pay from the university. Don’t worry.”

“It’s probably stupid, but I really don’t know how much that will be and how big a burden that will be for you. I still have to pay you back the application fees…”

“Umm… Despite what you would like to believe, I am not a first year MBA student. I have earned long enough now for that not to be a burden.”

Paridhi frowned and blushed at the first-year-student joke. Then she just shook her head, smiled and did not say anything in reply.

“I should go to my hostel now.”

“How will you explain reaching this late?”

“Delayed train. Indian railway can be our best friend sometimes. Nobody will doubt that.”

He realized very consciously how much he loved her witty remarks, “Have you eaten something?”

“I am not hungry.”

“Since when have you not eaten?”

She had forgotten that she was hungry since the morning. She had been advised to fast for the engagement.

“All right,” she did not directly reply to his question, but agreed to eat, “What do you have?”

“Only some dry snacks. But it’s better than being hungry.”

She followed him to his kitchen and noticed that there were no dishes in the sink.

“Have you eaten anything?” she asked in concern.

He just smiled and shrugged. He hadn’t eaten anything since morning. He had been too agitated.

“Fine. Let’s have an untimely meal of what have we got… Haldiram bhujia, Sunfeast biscuits and… Mixed fruit juice… A meal to remember!” she grinned and Subrato automatically followed the suit.

—

To be continued

Coming Around (Part 12)

Posted Mish10 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Subrato-Paridhi

Subrato slumped into his chair after Paridhi left and his eyes fell on the invitation card lying on his table. He picked it up. Engagement was fixed for 26th February. Less than ten days were left. And he had lost her trust! There was nothing he could do. She’d throw herself into an even worse pit than she currently was in. And he’d be able to do nothing.

He took a deep breath and tried to think clearly. It was only an engagement. The truth will come out somehow or the other. Unless there is an evil identical twin plan at work, which was too filmy to be true, by the day of engagement, the truth will come out. He just had to pray that she will hold herself together when it does. There, unfortunately, was no question of him being there for her.

He looked at the invitation card again. 26th February, 3.00 pm. He would be counting days, hours, minutes and seconds till then!

“And it’s only an engagement,” he told himself, “Things will be all right.”

—

It was five in the evening on 26th February. Subrato was restless. What had happened? He recalled his short, not-so-shocking chat with Stacey last night.

“Hi Subrato. Is it too late there?”

“No. I am very much awake,” he replied. Even if it had been too late, he wasn’t going to get any sleep that night, “Everything all right, Stacey?”

“Yes. I was just wondering. About Aniket… What you had asked about him. What really happened?”

“Hasn’t he left for India?” Subrato asked although it would not be surprising if he hadn’t. What could he be planning to do here anyway?

“Left for India? I saw him in the office cafeteria just a while back.”

“Hmm… Nothing has happened till now. And if he hasn’t left, nothing too bad will happen in future either.”

“Nobody is in trouble, I hope?”

“Nobody will be, I hope!”

“Just… take care of yourself.”

“Thanks Stacey. You have been extremely helpful.”

“And you have been very kind. All the best Subrato.”

“Same to you. Bye.”

It had taken him all his self-control to speak with civility to Stacey. He was in no mood to talk to anyone, much less explain his interest in Aniket to anyone. But despite his past grudges, Stacey had been helpful to him and he owed her for that. If Paridhi was not willing to believe him, it wasn’t Stacey’s fault. Whose fault it was? His own? Possibly. But possibly nobody’s. Paridhi’s strong sense of responsibility towards her mother has made her incapable of doing things for her own well-being. Not even refusing to marry into a cheating, lying, greedy family.

Her care for her family was adorable and annoying at the same time.

Subrato snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the watch again. 5.30! What was he waiting for? News won’t come from thin air. He will have to call her.

His call was picked up pretty quickly, though not instantaneously. “I am taking a train at 7 ‘o clock,” she said without waiting for any greetings. Was it a calmness in her voice? No. It was a chill.

“Paridhi. I…”

“I know that you know what has happened. Let me come and apologize in person.”

“That’s not the point. But you are taking a train this late. What time will it reach?”

“At midnight or so…”

“How will you… I will be at the station…”

“No. You don’t need…”

“Which train?”

“I will be fine.”

“Listen to me for once, will you? Which train?”

“Ganga Gomti,” his complain made her comply.

—

“Hadn’t any of your friends gone from here?” he asked while driving back to the institute from the station.

“I hadn’t told anyone.”

“Hmm…”

“Did you mean to ask why?”

“I don’t mean to do anything to make you feel bad.”

“You can’t do anything to make me feel worse than I am feeling right now. I didn’t invite anyone because I did not want to take the risk of everyone witnessing what finally happened. I accused you of unthinkable things. I was trying not to believe you. But deep down, I was only hoping that my accusations were true. I didn’t believe they were. That is no excuse for how I behaved with you, of course. But… that is a way of apologizing…”

“You know what your biggest problem is? You take too much responsibility on yourself. For everyone’s actions. You don’t need to do that for mine. I didn’t feel great that you didn’t trust me. But I have to be responsible for acting in ways that were bound to make you suspicious. So, stop beating yourself up over it.”

She smiled, but with extreme sadness, “Life is funny. Or may be I am funny. Right now you are the only person I think I have wronged. And you are the only person who doesn’t hold me responsible.”

“Who holds you responsible?”

“Everybody.”

“What exactly happened?”

He noticed tears filling her eyes. They were about to reach campus. She must talk.

“Can we… go to my house?” he asked hesitantly. It was past midnight.

She nodded.

He drove silently until they reached his house.

—

She sat silently on a chair in his living room, while he brought her a cup of hot tea. Until she took a sip, she hadn’t anticipated how much she needed the drink. She finished it silently and he let her do that.

“Thanks!” she finally said.

“I know that Aniket never left US…”

“He didn’t? And you knew this?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Just like I knew other things about him.”

“And how did you know anything about him?”

He sighed, “You remember, I had told you about Stacey? She works in the same company.”

“You called her?” her eyes widened in surprise, “Why… How… I mean… had you been in touch with her?”

“No.”

“Wasn’t it uncomfortable? It must have been…”

“Paridhi…”

“You did it for me?”

“So what?”

“And I…”

“If you once again start lamenting how you were wrong and all that, I swear I will throw you out of my house right now and not talk to you ever again. Do you understand?”

Paridhi smiled through her tears.

“And now you will tell me what happened.”

—

To be continued