‘Hindi is incredible. We speak it like we write it. There’s no need to
learn pronunciation separately,’ Riya said.
‘So why doesn’t everyone speak Hindi?’ I said.
‘Because we are not...’ Riya said and paused.‘Oh my God, you
asked that question correctly.’
‘What?’
‘You said, “So why doesn’t everyone speak Hindi?” in perfect
English. When you say something without being self-conscious, you
say it correctly.’
I tried to look modest.
‘We will get there, Madhav,’ she said. She patted the back of my
hand on the table.
I wondered if we would ever get there as a couple.
Don’t fall in love with her again, a voice within me warned You
never fell out of love with her, another voice countered with an evil
laugh.
- ‘Dolphins? In Patna?’ Riya said.
‘Yes, there are river dolphins in the Ganga. If you’re lucky, you
might spot them,’ I said.
I had brought Riya to the Ganga ghat near Patna College oft Ashok
Rajpath on a Sunday evening. For twenty rupees a head, boatmen took
you to the sandy beach on the opposite bank. She held my hand to
keep her balance as we tiptoed on the wooden plank towards the boat.
She slipped a little and clasped my hand tighter. I wished the shaky
wooden plank would never end.
We sat in the boat. The diesel engine purred into action, making
conversation impossible. The sun had started to set. It turned the sky,
the river and Riya’s face the colour of fire.
On the other side, we stepped on to the sand and walked to the tea
stalls. We sat inside one of the many gazebo-styled bamboo huts meant
for tea-stall customers.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Riya breathed.