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 | | iscuits for me, please?’ The driver looked puzzled. ‘Madam, we will buy it on the way?’ ‘No, go now. Leave the keys. I’ll wait inside’ The confused driver handed the keys to Riya and left. Riya and I sat in the backseat of her BMW. A fat armrest separated us. She switched on the reading light and slipped her feet out of her shoes. Turning side-ways, she leaned back against the window to face me. She tucked her feet under her legs on the seat. I sat stiffly. The BMW reminded me how out of place I was in her world. ‘So?’ Riya said. ‘You were really great on stage. And congrats on winning the English vocals.’ ‘Oh, thank you. That’s nice of you, Madhav, to congratulate me.’ ‘Amazing show,’ I said, clearing my throat. ‘Thanks. Is that all you wanted to say to me?’ I shook my head. I hated it when she adopted this formal tone. ‘So let’s skip the small talk. Say what you want to.’ ‘I’m sorry.’ ‘Have heard it a million times from you.’ ‘Forgive me.’ ‘I have forgiven you. I have also moved on. It’s past. It’s over. So, that’s it?’ I looked into her eyes. In the dim reading light of the BMW, I could not spot any emotion on her face. I felt weak in her presence. I fought back tears. ‘I want us to be friends again,’ I said. ‘Why?’ she said, her voice as cold as Delhi’s foggy winter night. Did she miss nothing about me or what we had? Because l miss you, damn it! I wanted to scream at the top of my voice. Of course, I couldn’t. I had lost the right to express any words, 'let alone any emotions, to her. I had to say something reasonable, underplaying what I felt. ‘So I have a chance to show you I am not a jerk,' I said. ‘! am sure you are not. I take your word for it. You don’t have to show me.’ Riya is too clever, too smart and sometimes too icy. She left me speechless. I had a sinking feeiing something was not going right. However, she touched my hand on the armrest. Her soft fingers pressed into my wrist, as if checking my pulse. 'Listen, Madhav,’ she said. ‘I am sorry I am being this way. Cold | |
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