“So, when are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow night.”
“Emirates?”
“Nah, Qatar”
“Oh ok.”
“Won’t your parents come today?”
“They will; I told them to come half an hour late. Knew you’d be here.”
“Yeah.. I understand.”
“Your family knows you are here?”
“Take a guess.”
“Sigh…..they still hate me? Knowing my condition? Did you tell them?”
“Yes I did.”
“And…..what? they still hate me?”
“I think not. Dad didn’t respond. Ma said she’s sorry for you.”
“Hmm. Anyway, when will you reach San Francisco?”
“10 am PST. It’ll be night here. I’ll call you next morning, ok?”
“Tell me the truth -- why are you leaving?”
“I told you; had I stayed here for some more time dad would have married me to Smita.”
“You used to like her, remember? You told me when we first met.”
“Not like her like that...stop it”.
“Don’t blush. Anyway, your parents don’t know you are leaving tomorrow?”
“Of course not. I’ll tell them once am in California.”
“Hmm, but how did you pack your bags and all without them knowing?”
“Oh my bags are with Roshni. I’ll take them from her house on my way to the airport.”
“Nice. Good job Roshni. But, wait, what will your parents think if you leave your house at the middle of the night?”
“I won’t. Planning to leave around dusk. Will tell them have an important meeting with Roshni. She will put up an alibi if they call her. They won’t suspect; and knowing your condition, they won’t.”
“Great. Eloping the house, eh?”
“If you say so.”
“Wait, you didn’t answer my question. Why are you leaving?”
“I told you!! Dad would have married me to Smita…”
“Don’t lie.”
“What?”
“Don’t lie.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“I do, but I know you are not honest now. You can’t bear to see us separate in the way that’s inevitable. You think this is better -- being away from me when the moment calls.”
“No, not really.”
“Don’t lie, I love you. I know you. I can understand your each and every action.”
Our conversation was interrupted by a nurse arriving with a tray of food. She looked at me, and then said “Sir, I have to feed Mr Sen.”
“Don’t bother, I’ll help him.”
She left.
I left too. After some time, when his parents arrived. We kissed for the last time as soon as the nurse left; knowing we’d probably not get a time again, in this lifetime at least. I put on the sunglasses to hide my tears as I walked out of the cancer ward of Bellevue nursing home.
