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“It’s okay, Roshni, no worries. I am here for you always,” he said.
Roshni popped her head high, staring at him. “No, not always.”
Deepak ignored her comment. He did not want to get into an argument. He changed the subject. “Roshni, have you thought of either renting this place or selling it?”
“Yes, and I don’t want to do either of them. Sashank bhaiya also talked to me about it.”
“Why not?”
“Deepak, I need a place to stay after December 14th. Where else would I go?” She paused and continued, “Moreover, this house carries a lot of my childhood memories, and I want to come back to live here after our arrangement ends.”
Deepak was dumbstruck. She still intended to stick to their agreement. He quietly listened to her without any reaction. He was determined in his goal, and she was not coming back to this house!
Roshni gave instructions to Rahim chacha, Ravi and Geeta, and then she and Deepak left. They were pretty quiet on their way back.
~ ~ ~
Kusum and Kaki had prepared brunch, so Deepak ate before leaving for the airport. All the family was at the dining table, eating and keeping Deepak company. It was a very joyful atmosphere at the table. The steam from the containers of food spread the aroma of spices. As the family tasted the parathas and rajma, the ‘mmms and aahs’ continued, and they thanked Kaki and Kusum for such wonderful-tasting dishes.
Sashank initiated the conversation. “Deepak, what time is your flight?”
“It is at three.”
“Roshni bete, I just remembered, didn’t you say you had to go to Bangalore as well?” asked Sashank.
Deepak turned to Roshni and was stunned. She had never mentioned this to him.
Roshni was put on the spot. Yes, she was supposed to go to the same conference, but she’d changed the plans after hearing Deepak would be there. She gathered herself. “Yes, bhaiya, I was supposed to go, but that got cancelled. I may have to go later.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Deepak, you return on Thursday, right?”
“Yes, bhaiya.”
“Roshni, why don’t you take Thursday and Friday off. Deepak has to leave on Sunday, and you can spend a couple of days together. What do you say, Deepak?” suggested Sashank.
Deepak thanked Sashank for this suggestion. “Great idea, bhaiya.” He looked at Roshni. “Roshni, can you take a couple of days’ vacation? Let’s go somewhere.”
“No, I cannot take any time off. The prototype design we are working on is scheduled to be released next week.”
“Do you have a day in mind for the release? Can you release it Thursday so we can leave Thursday evening or even Friday morning?”
“No, I cannot leave the team. Deepak, I will have to stay here.”
Kusum brought hot parathas and served them to Deepak and Roshni and joined the family at the table for brunch. She was aware Roshni had been working long hours for the last few weeks, so she also concurred with Sashank that Roshni should take some time off.
Deepak asked her again. He knew she was avoiding his company, and he needed to persuade her. He was very pleased everybody in the family was pressuring her. After some discussion, Roshni finally agreed to take Friday off. Deepak smiled and thanked her; he was happy.
Deepak went to his room to get his luggage, and he suspected that Roshni was not coming to the airport. “Roshni, are you coming to the airport?”
“I was not planning on coming,” was her reply.
Deepak was not happy about this but did not force her.
When she went downstairs, Sashank was waiting for Deepak in the family room and asked her, “Roshni bete, are you ready?”
Roshni was startled. “Ready for what?”
