33
Our VIP guests had come to the haveli for lunch.
‘What a son you have,’ Kanta aunty, one of my mother’s childhood
friends, said.
‘He deserves to be king. He is our asli rajkumar,’ said Bela chachi,
a third cousin of my mother.
I thanked my aunts for their compliments.
‘Ma, I need to go upstairs to my room.’
‘Why? What about your lunch?’
‘I’m tired. I’ll have it later.’
I ran upstairs and shut the door to my room. I took out the
envelope again. Inside was a computer printout of a letter.
Dear Madhav,
I want you to remain calm when you read this. And, if possible, be
calm afterwards too. I am writing this letter to tell you something
important. I am leaving Patna.
I am not well, Madhav. I think you noticed my cough over the past
month. It is not an allergy. Lung carcinoma is what the oncologist
said. Lung cance. I don't know how.You know I don’t smoke. But
sometimes it happens to non-smokers. And I had to be one of them.
I don't know why many things happened in my life, actually, so
maybe this is all part of the crazy plan God has for me. Marriage,
divorce and disease, all within a span of three years, The funny thing
is, you came into my life at various stages too. Perhaps we were not
meant to he. I must thank you for accepting me as a friend again,
Madhav. I was so lost. I made mistakes. I held so much back from you
and yet you cared for me. I know you wanted more, but I'm sorry I
was unable to give it to you. The first time, it wasn’t the right time.
The second time, well, I have no time, I couldn't have asked for a
better two months than those l spent in Patna. To be able to help you
prepare for your speech was a wonderful and special time. The best
part was that despite the challenge, you never quit.