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“So is it okay if we just stay around here?”
Roshni didn’t want to go away with him outside of Mumbai, and he sensed that from her conversation.
“Roshni, why stay here? Let’s go. Even if it’s a long drive, I really want to talk to you about a few things in private.”
“I can’t think of anything at this time. Maybe tomorrow when my brain is more active I may come up with some ideas.” She paused for a few seconds, “Why not ask Sashank bhaiya…after all, this was his idea,” she said sarcastically.
Deepak sensed how uncomfortable she was. “Roshni, he was thinking of us. He felt we should spend time together.” He was equally persistent to take her out.
“Yeah, he doesn’t know what kind of relationship we have,” she responded brusquely.
Deepak noticed that she was a little agitated. She did not want him to go to the temple with her, and now…she did not want to go anywhere with him. “Roshni, let’s discuss this tomorrow. We don’t have to talk now,” he said to distract her.
They arrived home and very quietly went to their room. Both were very tired. With minimum talk, they changed into their nightclothes and went to bed.
~ ~ ~
Friday morning Deepak was up by 7:30 a.m. He noticed Roshni was asleep, so without disturbing her, he went downstairs to the dining area. Sashank, Akash and Kusum were having breakfast and getting ready to go to work.
Deepak conversed with his family at the dining table, and since they had not seen Roshni, they enquired if she was okay. Deepak mentioned that she was tired and was resting.
While this conversation was going on, Roshni came down for chai. She sat at the table, next to Kusum didi just opposite to Deepak. “Good morning, everybody.”
Everybody acknowledged her.
“Roshni bete, Deepak tells me you have not decided where you want to go. Do you have a place in mind?” asked Sashank.
Deepak did not give Roshni an opportunity to speak. “Yes, bhaiya, we will come up with a plan.”
All of them left for work, leaving Roshni and Deepak behind. They sat at the table and drank chai, and Roshni munched on some biscuits. She was relaxing and taking advantage of her vacation day.
Roshni realized she was a little too rude to Deepak the previous night, so she apologized. Later, they talked about the food at the chat place, and how delicious all the items were. They relaxed at the table and talked about the previous evening, Vivek and Vaishali, and a few other topics.
“Roshni, it’s already 11:30 a.m. Please tell me, what’s your plan?” Deepak asked.
“Deepak, I have no plans.” She thought for a moment. “By the way, just a thought…have you been around Mumbai?”
“It has been a while. Why? What do you have in mind?”
“Why don’t we go out to lunch and then tour Mumbai, drive around the town. This will give us an opportunity to talk like you mentioned, and we can come back late in the evening after dinner.”
“I like the idea of going out for dinner and lunch, but…why not go away for an overnight trip, please?” He literally pleaded with her now. Part of him felt he had to be persistent with Roshni or else she would not agree easily.
“Where do you want to go? We only have a few options: Khandala, Lonawala or Pune, or maybe Shirdi. What do you say?”
Deepak thought for some time. “I am not excited about Shirdi, but tell me more about the other three places.”
Roshni gave him brief descriptions, and Deepak was on the computer, trying to find out more information, and finally they decided on Lonawala.
Chapter 18
Deepak and Roshni visit Lonawala
Deepak and Roshni agreed to get ready and leave as soon as possible. It was already 1 p.m. by the time they were ready. They informed Kaki, and Roshni called Kusum didi to tell her of their plan, and they set out in Roshni’s babuji’s car. They decided to have lunch before they left.
“Hmm, Roshni, you remember we went to the Indo-Chinese place the first time we met.”
Roshni nodded.
