He smiled. The only thing his father had been unable to destroy.
Ritu’s hands came to his shoulders, tracing the line of the measuring tape still slung around his neck. And the way she touched him, she made him forget every taunt, every curse, every ‘effeminate’ abuse hurled at him. He had nothing against men who were effeminate. But he wasn’t one. The choice of his profession should not have typecast him into one. Maybe the world would, because the world wasthatignorant. Always had been, always would be. But his own father should not have been.
“Nilay Patel cannot be sad.”
He startled back to his senses, blinking rapidly. She was staring up at him.
“Mmmm?” He smirked.
She nodded.
“Nilay Patel cannot be lost,” she counted. “Nilay Patel cannot be defeated. Nilay Patel cannot be silent.”
“WhatcanNilay Patel be?” He asked.
“Happy, commanding,” she leaned forward to whisper, “obnoxious…”
He smiled.
“And smiling. Always smiling.”
“Who knew you had a soft side, Doctor?”
Her mouth dropped open. He leaned in to kiss her cheek again when again his intercom went off.
“Fuck this thing!”
She pushed at his chest until he was leaning around his table to get it — “If it’s Sanket again…”
“Maya Kumar is here to see you, NiP.”
“That’s what we needed.”
“Shall I send her in?”
“Have you told her I have a guest?”
“I told her you have somebody in with you.”
Fuck you, idiot.
“Send her in after 5 minutes.”
He banged the receiver.
“What? Behave!”
“Maya is here.”
“What?!”
“Behave!” He sneered back.
She scowled and moved away, striding towards the door. He grabbed her before she could open the door — ‘Where do you think you are going? She is outside! This way.” He turned her around towards his lounge.
“What if she comes in there?”
“Why would she come in there?”
