ARPITA

IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY OUTSIDE. INDRANIL TOOK A SLOW SIP FROM HIS GLASS AND LOOKED THROUGH THE RAIN-STREAKED WINDOWPANE. THE PUB WAS WARM AND LIVELY, FILLED WITH LAUGHTER AND CLINKING GLASSES — AN EXPENSIVE PLACE CHOSEN BY HIS COLLEAGUES TO CELEBRATE HIS UPCOMING WEDDING.

AJAY LEANED FORWARD, GRINNING. “INDRANIL, YOUR WEDDING’S IN JUST FIVE DAYS. TELL US HONESTLY — IS SHEETAL YOUR FIRST LOVE, OR DID YOU HAVE SOMEONE BEFORE?”

INDRANIL DIDN’T ANSWER. HE JUST SMILED, THE KIND OF SMILE THAT LEFT EVERYONE WONDERING WHAT IT REALLY MEANT.

AJAY WASN’T DONE YET. HE LEANED BACK IN HIS CHAIR, SWIRLING HIS DRINK.

“DON’T TELL ME, INDRA, YOU NEVER HAD ANY RELATIONSHIPS!” HE SAID, LAUGHING. “COME ON, MAN — YOU’VE GOT THE LOOKS OF A GREEK GOD! I HEARD BACK IN COLLEGE YOU WERE A TOPPER — BOTH IN ACADEMICS AND SPORTS. SO, SPILL THE BEANS!”

HE TURNED TOWARD ANOTHER FRIEND.

“HEY, ANANT, YOU TELL US. YOU’VE KNOWN HIM SINCE HIS FIRST JOB — AND NOW HE’S MARRYING YOUR COUSIN! YOU MUST KNOW ALL THE JUICY DETAILS. COME ON, SHARE THEM WITH US!”

ANANT SMILED FAINTLY AND LOOKED UP FROM HIS GLASS.

“INDRA WAS — AND STILL IS — HIS MOTHER’S GOOD BOY,” HE SAID. “I’VE NEVER SEEN HIM IN ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP. SURE, PLENTY OF GIRLS HAD CRUSHES ON HIM AND EVEN PROPOSED. BUT INDRA NEVER ENTERTAINED ANYONE. SHEETAL… SHE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO MANAGED TO STEAL HIS HEART.”

INDRANIL SMILED FAINTLY AND SAID,

“I WAS ALWAYS SCARED THAT LOVE OR RELATIONSHIPS WOULD DISTRACT ME FROM MY GOAL OF BEING SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. IT’S ONLY AFTER I GOT THIS JOB — THE ONE THAT FINALLY MADE ME FEEL SECURE ABOUT MY CAREER — THAT I STARTED WANTING A PARTNER TO SHARE MY LIFE WITH. AND LUCKILY, THAT’S WHEN I MET SHEETAL. SIX MONTHS OF COURTSHIP, AND NOW WE’RE GETTING MARRIED. THE BEST PART IS, MY PARENTS LIKED HER TOO.”

BEFORE ANYONE COULD REPLY, ANANT SUDDENLY PIPED IN, “HEY INDRA, DIDN’T YOU ONCE MENTION SOMEONE NAMED ARPITA?”

FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, INDRANIL FROZE. HIS EYES LIT UP FOR JUST A FRACTION OF A SECOND — THEN THE SPARK FADED. HE LOOKED DOWN INTO HIS GLASS AND TOOK ANOTHER SLOW SIP. NO ONE NOTICED THAT HIS EYES HAD TURNED A LITTLE MOIST.

AJAY LEANED FORWARD, EYES GLEAMING WITH MISCHIEF.

“OKAY, NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING INTERESTING! COME ON, INDRA — SPILL THE BEANS. WAS IT SERIOUS, OR JUST TIME PASS?”

INDRANIL LOOKED UP, HIS EXPRESSION HARDENING SLIGHTLY.

“YOU’LL BE DISAPPOINTED, AJAY,” HE SAID QUIETLY. “IT WAS NEITHER A SERIOUS MATTER… NOR TIME PASS.”

THE FAINT EDGE IN HIS VOICE WAS UNMISTAKABLE.

SENSING THE SUDDEN CHANGE IN MOOD, ANANT PLACED A REASSURING HAND ON INDRANIL’S SHOULDER.

HE SPOKE SOFTLY, “ARPITA WAS INDRA’S CLASSMATE.”