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“Well trained husband,” Subroto said, beaming approval, as he rose to pour tea for Rita and me.
“Here, let me do it,” said Rita.
“Nahin, memsahib,” jibed Subroto. “I am also a well-trained housebroken husband.”
Rita laughed, gaily and freely. I took a tentative sip at my tea, still fearing a blowup between them. For some space of time only casual conversation went on. Then Rita asked Subroto, “Why have you come so early today? Bhai Saheb said you will be late.”
I tightened the cross between my fingers.
“Today? I always come early if I can help it,” he replied.
“Where is Moorti?” Rita wanted to know..
“Must be at home. But the way, he is coming with his wife at 8:30 or so. For dinner.”
I crossed two fingers of the other hand too.
“But why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Rita cried, and started hurrying with her tea. “I must get home and start cooking.”
“Lots of time for everything, darling,” said Subroto, pouring out another cup of tea for himself at leisure.
“What do you know about cooking,” Rita said in her long suffering housewife’s voice.
“Enough to tell you not to make anything very elaborate.”
“I’ll just make some paneer koftas and...”
“Oh, shut up, you two. You can plan your menu later.” Harsh told them. He wanted some peace and quiet.
I had forgotten all about my tea till now. As I resumed sipping it, I realized that the tension of waiting for a blow-up was weighing too much on me. I decided to take a plunge and hurry it up.
I took a deep breath and asked Subroto, “Will you play cards after the dinner then?”
Rita quickly replied for him, “Of course, they will. They always play card’s when the Moorti’s are around. In fact, why don’t you two also come over for dinner and play too?”
I was so surprised that I took a huge gulp of tea and nearly choked myself on it.
“Yes, that’s a good idea. Why don’t you?” said Subroto.
Harsh gave me a whithering glance and said that he had some other things to do.
“Oh, come on,” Rita repeated her invitation.
“Anyway, tomorrow let us all go for a movie, Chandra. Day after I have another appointment with Moorti, and then I am going on tour,” Subroto said.
Harsh said he’d let them know tomorrow morning. I was wondering whether Rita had heard the last remark of her husband.
It seems she had, for now she said, “Oh, God, you and Moorti. I really give you up.” She threw up her hands in a gesture of giving up and gave Subroto a dazzling smile, poignant with the indulgence of the eternal loving mother tolerating the eternal naughty child.
The she turned and winked at me, indicating a bond between two of us, and making me swallow another huge gulp.
“Okay, see you both soon,” said Subroto, ushering Rita out and taking leave. They went down the steps together, hand in hand.
We stood on our verandah and watched him start the scooter. Rita settled herself on the pillion and waved to us cheerfully. Then she put a loving arm around Subroto and snuggled against him intimately. Subroto turned towards us and called out, “This is how accidents occur!” . Rita gave him a playful pat on the back of his head.
Then the zoomed away, a picture of domestic bliss, with a radiant future ahead and a haze of smoke behind.
I turned to go in and found Harsh looking curiously at my crossed fingers. I hurriedly uncrossed them - first the right hand, then the left.
