“Can I take a photo for safekeeping?” His hand was replaced by the crook of his arm, winding around her neck, hiding her face in his chest.
She chuckled, even through this misery.
“Who was he?”
“Nobody. I need to go.”
“I am going with you.”
Ritu looked up. Her tears wouldn’t stop. And he wouldn’t give up looking at her.
“I need to leave.”
“I am leaving with you.”
“Why are you here?”
“To show you my reports.”
A smile broke free from her mouth and her tears intensified.
“Come here, Doctor.”
And she went.
PART II: NiP
11. Tu Hawa Hai, Fiza Hai, Zameen Ki Nahi
— NiP —
Nilay Patel wanted a lot of things in life. What he wanted most at this point was to get out of this heart issue, unscathed. But, as the woman in his car’s passenger seat stared out of her window in deathly silence, he wanted to make her scowl, smile and then sneer again even more.
“Have you eaten?” He asked.
“No.”
“Lunch?”
“No, I didn’t eat lunch.”
“I am asking, do you want to have lunch?”
“No.”
The Marine Drive signals were long, thank god, and he reached one just as the last one cleared. He braked slowly, having learnt from her to speed and slow down with care. It was surreal how he had driven in the city for two decades and learnt to brake smoothly from her.
“Ok, Doctor, let me ask again — what do you want to eat for lunch?”
She was still gazing out, at the sea. “I am not hungry. Just take me home.”
Take me home.His heart skipped a beat. He quickly breathed to control it. It was a good skip, but he had spent so much time and energy being mindful of his body’s, especially his heart’s reactions to things, that the physical processes made him momentarily panic sometimes. It was receding now. Ever since Patan, ever since her, he had started to take it easy.
“Where is Maya?”
As if that jolted her, Ritu sat up and reached for her potli and began texting. The signal turned green and he put the car in drive.
“What are you telling her?”
