“Three. On…ly three.”
“Inside the family or outside?”
“Please…”
“Inside or outside?”
“In…side.”
“Do they all know archeology by now?”
He was shivering, shaking, his teeth chattering.
“Hmm?”
“Y…yyyes.”
“It’s 1.44 am on 21st December today,” Nilay checked on his watch. “Remember this moment every time you think about spreading your archeology knowledge. Or better yet, give me your number. I’ll remind you.”
“N…” he shook his head. “I’ll… I will… sorry. Sorry, sorry,” he sobbed.
Nilay rose to his feet. He ran a hand through his hair, checking his reflection one last time in the mirror — “Does your family know?”
“N.nnnoo.”
“Do your daughter’s in-laws know?”
“No!”
“Then stop crying. Run away from here.”
Like fire was lit behind him, Jimmy fuva shot up and ran.
“And Jimmy fuva, do notlookat Ritu again. Where she is, I will be there.”
His final words fell on the back of the door as it bounced on its hinges.
————————————————————
“Hey!” Nilay opened his arms just as she came crashing into them. “What happened?”
“Where were you? I saw him run out of the bathroom crying.”
“Just had a chat with him.” Nilay slipped his arm around her, pulling her to himself. Ritu’s face was screwed, confused, worried.
“Doctor,” he caressed the lines between her brows. “Relax.”
“You promised you won’t create a scene.”
“And I haven’t.”
“Nilay.”
“Just spoke to him. Nothing more.”
“What did you speak to him about. Don’t hide anything.”
He looked away.
