‘I’d like to cancel a ticket on the Patna-Mumbai flight this
morning.’
Pulling out the slip of paper with Madhav s number from the
dustbin, I texted him: We need to talk. Important.
At 6.30 a.m., the tall, lanky man was in my room once more.
‘Make tea for both of us. The kettle is above the minibar.’
He followed my instructions.The early morning sun highlighted his
sharp features. He handed me a cup of tea and took a seat diagonally
opposite me on the double bed.
‘Should I speak first, or will you?’ I said.
‘About?’
‘Riya.’
He sighed.
‘Do you think you knew her well?’
‘Yes,’ he said.
‘You feel comfortable talking about her to me?’
He thought for a few seconds and nodded.
‘So tell me everything. Tell me the story of Madhav and Riya.’
‘A story that fate left incomplete,’ he said.
‘Fate can be strange indeed.’
‘Where do I start? When we first met?’
‘Always a good place,’ I said.
ff
(ff)
#1