Chapter 81

74. A Cup of Nomics With Midnight Boy

Lily was about to descend the stairs when Biplab who was reclining on the cot, sat up and called her, halting her mid-way.

'I have been here for two days now. No roof over my head. Forced to lie down in this cot. I am miserable, cold, and hungry. My sister doesn't care whether I live or die. I am…'

'Come to the point, will you?' She cut him off.

'I am going through so much. A little empathy from your side? Some Hamdardi? Fine if all these are Greek words to you, can't you give a little bread to this poor man, here?' He said, eyeing the sandwich she had in her hand. 

'I have not eaten for three days now,' He spoke loudly in case his sister was listening. 

He could see through the window; Kirti sat on a chair inside with her head pored over a book.

'You are miserable because of your own actions.' Lily replied unaffected by his drama. Finishing her sandwich, she walked up to the window and pushed it close from outside, shutting his view of his sister.

'You could play a Pishachini in a mythological drama, you know?' He said giving her a dirty look.

'And you an overindulged kid who refuses to let people be. How selfish of you to emotionally blackmail your sister into forgiving you when she isn't ready!'

It was weird how Lily didn't have to raise her voice at him and still, he felt the bite of her words.

'I am not emotionally blackmailing!' He defended himself.

'Then why are you here when she clearly stated that she doesn't wish to see your face? Didn't she tell you to go back to your college? Why are you harassing her then?'

'Look,' he forwarded towards her icily. 'You don't know our equation. Do you have a sibling? I don't think so. She doesn't mean it.'

When Lily refused to be cowered, he had to trace back his steps because he remembered her sister watching a serial and then calling him mid-watch, asking him not to be like the hero.

'Lesson No 136. Biplab Singh, remember not to make anyone uncomfortable by crowding their personal space.' It was always this way between them. She would keep coming up with random lessons and he would attentively store away all those. His sister was so precious! And he had joined the list of people who had betrayed and hurt her! 

The acknowledgment and acceptance of how deeply he had hurt her hit him hard, and he fell back on the cot.

'I don't know your equation. Naturally, I will not. But if it's strong, then why are you so insecure about giving her space? Can't you see she needs time to process things? The problem with you humans is that you are primarily designed to think of yourself first!'

‘Thanks for the information, deity!' He bit out, deliberately being churlish.

'Pishachini translates to deity in your language?' She retorted. 

'I have no cure for your miseries. Your sister did take care of your cold,' she pointed towards the thin blanket Kirti had loaned him the previous night. 'As for meals, there is a tapri outside the colony. You will get both tea and bread at a minimal price. Empathy no, I don't have any for you. Hamdardi? Wait,' She pulled out her phone and typed something there. His phone pinged the same time she looked up from her device, 'I have whatsapped you, Hamdardi.' Air quoting the last word, she turned around, getting down the stairs.

Curious, he opened the text. A company logo of Hamdard stared back at him, the name at the end of which she had added an I in bold.

XxxX

'I'm leaving, Di.' He stood at the threshold of her room. She was ironing her clothes. 'I will call you when I reach Hyderabad. Please, tell me you will take care of yourself.’

She continued to pretend he didn’t exist. Their fight had never gone beyond two nights and this was the fourth day of her giving him the silent treatment. He felt lonely and adrift without her.

With a crestfallen face, he turned to Radha and bending to her length, pulled her cheeks, 'Bye, Radha.' Stopping before Lily, he said, 'I won't tell you to take care of her this time, but if she's unwell, let me know, please.'

XxxX 

'I am sorry Kirti you had to go through this. But I had no idea at all. I swear on God.' Mayank said.

He had come to check on her when he heard she had been sick.

'Everyone knew except for me!' She complained.

'I did not! Neither did Shruti know I am sure or we would have told you!' He was heartbroken to see her disheveled and confused.

'How do I believe anyone anymore? How? I thought you should trust a person you love. But Mayank, everyone I placed my faith in, made a mockery out of it.'

Mayank swallowed hard, his hand fidgeting with his cellphone.

They sat silently at the Irani tea-house.

'What did you want to tell me?' She asked when she wished to no longer think about her family and its betrayal.

'Uhm...nothing...I don't remember.' Mayank lied.

'We need to get divorced. I don't have the papers with me. You said you'll give it to me but you never did. We'll have to file a divorce in court, no?' She asked.

'Yeah,' he hummed.

'Let's do that after my exams. I need to focus on my exam so I am not getting entangled in other stuff, but don't think that I am trying to stretch the marriage, okay? I will give you divorce.'

'Of course, Kirti. I believe you. You don't have to explain.'

'Don't believe Mayank. Don't. People, even the closest ones will break your trust.'

'Uhm, I am sure they must have their reasons…' He snapped his mouth shut when he saw the fiery eyes of his friend.

XxxX

Lily was pulling tight the lace of her shoes when Kirti approached her. 'Hi Lily.'

Lily looked up in surprise because it was in days that Kirti had addressed her. After whatever happened between the siblings, Kirti had appeared withdrawn - mostly staying in her room and speaking only when necessary. 

'Can I accompany you? Radha is at drawing class so I thought I could go out and destress.' She asked. Lily observed that Kirti in a T-shirt and track pants was dressed for a run. 

'I don't see a reason why you cannot.'

This time when they reached the park, Hardiik and the team were already present and exercising.

'Hardiik, this is my friend, Kirti. She wants to join too.'

When Hardiik turned his eyes to meet those of Kirti's, he found no self consciousness or guilt for having been caught lying. 

She looked at him impassively and he was forced to nod his head at her, a little disappointed at her indifference.

'Hello, Kirti. Have you ran before?' 

'Does running after the bus or from one room to another count?' 

The left of his lips was lifting in a smile but he curbed it maintaining a business-like facade.

'Then you will only jog for the first two weeks.' He instructed, turning away, dismissing her.

But she had his attention the entire time. He couldn't be in the same space as her and not notice her.

He could tell which path she turned, where and on which bench she plopped down, with what expression she gazed at the cloud, which child had her attention, or which gossip disgusted her. 

Observing her had become second nature to him now.

XxxX

Lily exchanged a worried look with Hardiik as they tried to keep up with Kirti.

Kirti had been told to keep to jogging in the first week but she began running and running she was quite hard in the present moment. It was evident to Lily, who had been a runner for more than a year now, that Kirti’s technique was all wrong. She would exhaust all her energy very soon and would also end up with a muscle injury.

‘What’s up with her?’ Hardiik asked, sprinting to Lily. ‘She usually leaves by now.’

Oh yes! Lily remembered. Kirti usually left before others because she had to pick Radha from drawing class. 

‘Kirti,’ she called, speeding up. ‘Kirti, you have to go pick up Radha.’

But Kirti was a possessed soul and no voice could reach her. Lily was caught between going after Kirti and going to pick up Radha. Hardiik, who had been hearing her shouting out to Kirti, slowed down next to her.

‘I will take care of Kirti,’ he said, signaling she should take care of her other business. Lily looked at Kirti for one last time, turned around, and ran back to take care of the kid.

I am going to win. I am going to win. I am going to win. The mantra kept playing in a loop in her head. She did not know who she was running against. But she had to win! She didn't even know when or how she started. One moment she was jogging, her steps slow and steady. Then images, words, and memories had begun to play. Unseeingly, she was watching others run as the noise in her head had increased and intensified to the point of splitting her head.

Her legs on their own volition had picked up speed and now she had to win.

She ran even when her legs could no more, even when her lungs refused to cooperate, and even when vision before her eyes swam. But like it always happened in her life, her foot got caught in a boulder and she fell face down.

I have lost. I have lost! This boulder made me fall. There was always a boulder! In the form of friends, family, or classmates. Her path had never been easy.

Gathering up herself, like she always had to because there was no one who truly cared - no one - she looked around. It was dark and she did not know how much ground she had covered, she only knew that her face felt like it was on fire and her limbs were going to fall away from her body and her tears were flowing. She was sniffing uncontrollably. Why, though? Was she hurt? Her ribs racked painfully. Oh. I don’t even know why I am crying? I have seen worse falls than this. My throat feels so heavy. I need water. But there is no one to get water for me. I will have to get it for myself. First, let me stop crying. Since her eyes had no intention of stopping the waterworks anytime soon, she had to get up. 

She was getting up, but then her dead legs miffed at such maltreatment refused to support her. Her head also felt dizzy and she found herself falling back but a pair of arms found her.

Hardiik supported her but she struggled in his hold. ‘Oh No. It isn’t like this. Nobody comes to help me. This is supposed to be the end, you know. I am dead and even till the end, I don’t get any help. And, when the news reaches them, they are not grief-stricken but yes, they feel a momentary sadness overcome them. For a second, they must think, we overdid it with her. She was, after all, a human. Bone-muscle-heart. There was only this much she could take.’ she slid down, on her feet, and he followed suit.

‘No, it doesn’t end like this,’ he said, handing her a water bottle that he had bolted to get for her. ‘She is running and falls at one point. The man who has witnessed her race longer tracks than this, and also win, knows this cannot be the end. She is a human. A strong one at that. Grit-Determination-Resilience. But he lets her cry. Because it is okay to grieve. It is okay to scream and it is okay to be angry. There is only this much she can take at a time.’

Kirti cried silently and then embarrassingly loudly. Drinking water in between and then coughing it out all on him. He did not flinch in disgust, nor did he utter any extra word. 

‘Why are you tearing up?’ She asked through her sobs.

‘Tears are maybe infectious?’ He replied.

 ‘Don’t look at me. It makes me angry that I cannot control my emotions.’

‘Okay. Then let’s do one thing. You wait here while I go get my car? You won’t do anything right?’

‘I have my exam coming up. The application fee was Rs. 850! You think I will let it go to waste?’

When Kirti reached home that night, she dropped on the bed and slept through the entire night and the next day’s half. 

When she woke up, she had a headache and her pelvis and heavy limbs ached. But mentally, she felt lighter. 

It was a Saturday so she oiled Radha’s hair. Lily who was sitting nearby was offered a free oil massage which she declined.

‘Do you want a haircut then? I have this style in my head that will go with your face really well.’

‘Maybe after your exam.’ 

‘I feel like having noodles today.’ Kirti trudged to the kitchen and found no veggies. Instead of dropping her plan, she simmered green chilies and fried noodles with it.

'What are you eating? What kind of chow mein is that?'

'It's Lazy Kirti special,' Kirti chuckled. 'Want a bite? It's not bad, you know! Radha want some?'

Radha was always up for food. Bobbing her head in appreciation, she gobbled down whatever little Kirti had shared with her, even asking for more despite blowing air through her mouth and her eyes tearing up. ‘Lily you won’t get the chance to have this authentic chilli chow mein.’

'Okay, maybe I will taste it?' Lily felt relieved to find the old Kirti back.

They ordered food next because they were still hungry.

Hardiik came in the evening to check on her. Kirti was locked in her room giving a mock test.

While he waited, Radha decided to convert the guest into her Ludo partner. She laid out the game for him, even chose color pieces for him. 

When he won, he was called a cheater! 

Hardiik began to drop more often on the pretext of playing with Radha and Radha too began to look forward to his visits because, after the initial win, she was able to always defeat him. He brought Poppins and played as many times as she told him to.

Hardiik did not have much interaction with Kirti apart from accidental glimpses of her through the window.

‘I am sorry for lying. I was uncomfortable to share my name,’ she had said the only time they had a conversation after the evening she had broken down. ‘And thank you for helping me out. I...it was a bad day.’

‘It’s okay. I understand. Happens with everyone.’

He usually sat outside playing board games with Lily and Radha.

Occasionally when luck would be on his side, he would hear her cram some data, sometimes breaking into a song mid-way.

An indifference curve is a curve that shows the alternative combination of two products, each giving the same utility.

Icocost line is a line on the two axis graph which shows the combination of factor inputs that can be...that.can.be….Then she would stare into space, a faint warble of song would reach them, ‘Baazuyon mein tum mujhe betahasha ghere ho...kal ki fikr hai kisko..’ Her neck would crane and eyes would drift close, ‘Tum abhi toh mere hoo…’ 

And when Kirti sang, he would watch Radha, too hum along the lyrics and bob her head. It was endearing to watch the two so in sync with each other. When Radha would notice she had their attention, she would get more boisterous, tapping her feet and singing loudly, stressing on syllables...ohh humsafa...hamanvaaaaa…

'Do you know any spellings? Or do you just know songs?' Lily would ask, in response to which Radha would begin spelling out her entire vocabulary.

XxxX

'Radha, come and drink your milk,' Kirti walked out to find Radha with yet another pack of Poppins. She had even torn open the packet and was ready to pop a green candy into her mouth.

Snatching the candy from the girl's hand, she tapped her head.

'The rate at which you are eating sweets, big-ugly worms would be announcing a teeth-warming function anytime now!'

'It is my toffee!' Radha protested, jumping to catch hold of her toffee.

'Go and drink your milk and after that sit with your books.'

'Give...give it back,' Radha did some pleading but realizing it did not affect Kirti, stomped away. 'You are bad! You took away my toffee.' She shouted when she was sure of the distance between them.

'Baby, I can get worse than this. i will cut your pony if you use that tone with me again! Go and study!' 

Once she was sure of Radha not being around, she popped a red candy into her mouth. It had been a long time since she had tasted Poppins. 

'Uhm excuse me, I think…' Kirti turned around to find Hardiik. 'I had left my keys behind.' He explained.

'Oh,' she said with the candy still in her mouth and moved aside as he went to fetch his car keys. 

She had heard someone's steps but had thought it was Lily coming up.

'Thanks,' he said, eyeing the toffee packet in her hands.

'I took it from her. If not, then she would eat all at once which isn't good for her teeth. I just had one. Don't worry. I will give it back to her.'

The next time, he got three packs of Poppins, asking Radha to share them with the other two girls.

XxxX

‘Why does Hardiik come here?’ Kirti asked one day. ‘For you?’ She teased Lily. A pair of pigeons outside was making guttural noises disrupting the quiet of a January afternoon.

‘Why would he come for me?!’ Lily’s reaction was louder than she had wanted to. 

‘I am sorry,’ Kirti backtracked, ‘I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t my place.’ Embarrassed, she turned to look out of the window.

‘Why did you say that?’ Lily asked after a while, unfolding and unfolding a slip of tattoo that came wrapped around one rupee candies. It had a picture of some ancient animal.

‘Huh? Just like that. It was wrong of me.’ When Lily continued to stare, Kirti continued, ‘You both have known each other for years. I thought maybe he was or you both...I am sorry, not my place, I realize.’

‘I know him but only barely. He moved out and I saw him less. It was only recently we connected during running practice.’ Lily clarified.

‘Oh,’ Kirti nodded.

‘I think he comes for you,’ Lily said, mindlessly removing the transparent foil that was stuck protectively over the temporary tattoo. 

‘Me?’ Kirti asked disbelievingly. ‘I don’t even know him.’

Lily shrugged. ‘That’s what I felt.’

‘Well, I feel you’re wrong.’ Kirti opened her notebook and began going through notes. ‘And even if he comes for me, I bet he will leave. Sooner or later. 8 days. 18 years. People do come for me but they are unable to stick through. I guess it's because of my personality or because they come with some agenda? Now, why did you go so ballistic on me earlier? There's a high probability he got a chance to come here and see you, on the pretext of asking after my health?'

Lily looked around for a place to stick the tattoo. Kirti handed her book where Lily pressed the slip and ripped it, the ancient animal coming alive on the plain paper.

'I don't like it,' Lily answered.

'What?' Kirti asked, puzzled.

'Love, attraction, and sex,' she clawed the horn of the animal on the paper. 'Also, I am not the kind of girl men get attracted to! It's okay I never feel attracted to any man either.'

'Fair enough. You don't like love and sex but the second part is something I'd have to disagree with. You are one sexy woman, Lily! Why would you say so?'

Not meeting Kirti's eyes, Lily said, 'My body make-up is masculine. My face-cut and my voice is manly. People used to make fun of me when I was a kid!'

'World is full of shitty people! I have been told many things as well. Paying heed to them I let them bring me down and see, what I let people do to me? You have an athletic body because you work out and trust me when I say I envy that ripped stomach of yours. You are you, Lily. The crinkle next to your eyes when you laugh is so pretty. Your eyelashes are so long. When you are looking down, making them bend, it looks like the lashes will touch your cheeks. Spotless, glowy cheeks may I add? Why do you think I started to run? I was convinced only running could give me a body and face like you! And, you're so confident!'

Twins of pink dotted Lily's cheeks, as she stood up saying, 'I wasn't fishing for compliments. I will go and see…' She retreated to another side of the room, fiddling with the phone.

'Lily, I don't know about Hardiik but I definitely came for you!'

'Keep smiling like that Lily. The cruel world that we live in, it is so easy to lose that smile. But you must not. You must go and buy a dozen of joke-books if need be, but you must continue to laugh.'

XxxX

Hardiik was as usual climbing the stairs that led to Kirti's quarters when he heard her talking on the phone.

'Biplab, how would you feel when you come to know that your life has been a lie? That everybody around you has been lying to you! I cannot trust anyone anymore! I feel like a fool…'

He turned around to never come again.

Days later, he passed a note to Lily, for Kirti.

'I told you he didn't come for me!' Lily said.

'And I told, he would leave too.'

She opened the note.

'I am sorry,' it read. 'I always knew you weren't Urmi. I also always knew who Urmi was.'

XxxX

Biplab was scrolling down the pictures Radha had sent to him. There was one unfamiliar man who featured in most of the pictures with her. 

Hadik, sometimes she called him, and other times Hard-ick and both the times he couldn't get the names right, her pronunciation sounding like headache or Harddisk to him.

On zooming in on the guy's face, somehow he didn't look unfamiliar. He had seen this face before. He had known the face before!

XxxX

While searching for some economic terms given in the syllabus, Kirti landed on a forum ACupOfNomics that was designed for economics students preparing for competitive exams. It had lucid notes and mind maps with previous year's question papers and their video solutions. Kirti felt like she had hit a jackpot. On further exploration, she realized it was designed and maintained by a couple of friends who shared a common love for Economics and who had previously cracked prestigious examinations. 

Its highlight was its disqus group where people interacted with the mentors and each other. Kirti clicked on a page to scroll down the comments.

Anaya : When will the notification be released? I am turning thirty next month. I got laid off from my job. If it comes out late, I won't be eligible.

Devrata: Same here @Anaya I am turning thirty this month. I am a single mother. My son is only four months old. My husband left me for another woman. This exam is my only hope.

Anaya : @Devrata More power to you! May you crack this exam.

Roli: I am twenty-seven. My parents have fixed my marriage. I don't want to marry though. My parents have given up on me. This is my last chance at this exam! Ishwar aapko jald safalta de @Devrata. Your son is very lucky to have a mother like you. @Anaya, have you appeared for the PO exam?

Exofan : @Roli I am married and preparing. Earlier my husband used to support me. But now he also sides with my mother-in-law and taunts me that I am studying at the age when I should send kids to school. It is very humiliating. But I am going to prove my worth to him.

Aspirant : Dear Girls, I was at the same place as y'all. Don't lose hope. I only concentrated on my preparation and ignored the negativity around me. My mother in law would always be starting fights but I would wisely steer clear from it. Life is like that. Please choose your battles wisely. Don't worry about the notification. It will be released soon. But are you ready for the exam? We have a limited amount of energy in a day so remember to use it wisely. With a focused approach, I had cracked SBI and I made it to NBI too!

5th March 2018

Dharam_Kanta : @Midnight_boy Sir, can you please upload something on Digital Trends.

10th March 2018

Midnight_boy : Not possible this month. Lacking time and wherewithal. You can read it from this source. Link. It’s well explained here.

19th December 2018

Rimjhim : Sir, Day after tomorrow is my interview. If they ask about national topics like the JnK bill or other issues, how should I answer? @Midnight_boy

Midnight_boy : @Rimjhim When in an interview you need to tow the national narrative especially since it’s a government entity you want to join in. You can point out loopholes(politely!) but don’t go bashing the government even if you personally don’t agree with its take. 

22nd Aug 2019

Lannister : Can you shed some light on Retrospective Taxation?

1st September 2019

Midnight_Boy : @Lannister Bro, please check the index menu. The aforementioned topic has been discussed in the Weekly Hot Topic series.

1st September 2019

Lannister : @Midnight_Boy Oh, Thanks. Btw, I am not bro. I am a girl.

1st September 2019

Romeo_Must_Die : @Lannister Whether you are a girl or a boy, isse yahan kisi ko koi fark nahi padta hai. Yahan sab padhne aate hai.

1st September 2019

Lannister : @Romeo_Must_Die Did I say something to you? Or is this a tactic to attract attention? How jobless you must be to jump into others’ conversations!

1st September 2019

Romeo_Must_Die : @Lannister I am not the one trying to attract attention by stating my gender.

1st September 2019

Bheema : @Romeo_Must_Die Let it go Bro. Hamare guruji Brahmachari hai. Upar se 99 times yahan par ladke hi ladkiyan ban kar ghum rahe hai…

2nd October 2019

Midnight_Boy : @Romeo_Must_Die @Bheema  Padh lo yaar tumlog. Phir nahi niklega paper toh shok manane yahi aa jaoge…

Bheema : Sir, Iss bar party hogi woh bhi jeet ki.

Karan : @Midnight_Boy Sir, Romeo_Must_Die ne aapki setting nahi hone deni hai. Jabse iski girlfriend ne SBI mein job milne ke baad ise chora, isne duniya se aashiqon ko khatm karne ki kasam kha li hai…

Romeo_Must_Die : @Karan Abe saale, tu jakar News Channel pe hi kyun nahi run kar deta hai mere break up ka. Saale har thread pe likh raha hota hai meri wali mujhe chor kar chali gayi. Aaj Gandhi Jayanti hai...mai tujhe shraap deta hun ki GS paper mein koi aisa fact puch liya jaye Gandhi ke bare mein jo tere baap dada ne na padhi hogi...padhi bhi ho to tujhe yaad na aaye

Karan: @Romeo_Must_Die Crow's curse does not make a cow die.

Romeo_Must_Die: Angrezi showoff kar bas tu

Midnight_Boy : @Romeo_Must_Die Romeo Ji...badhai ho bas ab bhagya khulne hi wale hai. Present se zyada ex ka yogdaan hota hai success mein…

Bheema : inserts *Thukra ke mera pyar mera intekaam dekhegi* meme

Karan : @Midnight_Boy Sir, ko bohot experience hai. Aap bhi dili rog ke mariz nikle Sir

Midnight_Boy : Ab dil hai toh chote mote rog honge hi @Karan

Bheema : @Midnight_Boy Apko bhi chor gayi koi kya Sir?

Midnight_Boy : @Bheema Nahi unhone woh naubat aane hi nahi di...na mili na bichhadne ka mausam aaya

Karan : @Midnight_boy Shayar ho rahe hai Sir...dukhti nabz daba di @Bheema ji aapne...Sir...Sir...Guruji ka ye haal hai toh disciples single hi honge na…@Romeo_Must_Die You are not alone, bro.

When Kirti looked up from her laptop, she realized she had wasted more than half an hour reading through the comments of the Disqus group. It was a wholesome group but she couldn't afford to waste so much time. Next time onwards, she only stuck to the articles and explanations. If there was a doubt which she couldn't clear after three readings, only then she used the comment section.

kusingh: This isn't topic related but can anyone here explain circular economy please?

Ranjan: @kusingh Circular economy is based on three principles all based on design. Here….

Kusingh : @ranjan Thank you Sir.

Kirti looked at the answer and sighed. If she had wanted a Google answer, she would have 'googled'. She decided to skip the topic for now. It was a few days later when she logged in when she saw she had been tagged.

Midnight_boy : @kusingh About circular economy. Here - PDF

She downloaded the pdf and found concept-clear notes with schematic diagrams and examples.

Kusingh : @midnight_boy Thank you, Sir.

Kusingh: @midnight_boy Sir, the graphs are confusing and hard to interpret. Is there any way to approach it?

Midnight_boy : @kusingh This has been discussed before. Plz check the index.

To - Midnightboy

From - Kusingh

Hello Sir,

I have been preparing for government jobs for the last five years without any success. Most of the time I try to give my best but there are times I lose hope. I end up doubting if I am fit to compete in this cut-throat preparation. I want to improve both my financial and societal circumstances by clearing this exam. Sir, I am forced to wonder if I am approaching the system with a wrong motive? Should I give up here and come to terms with my current job? Or should I continue to try? I will be turning thirty next year and it isn’t an age to take risks, I guess?

Waiting for your valuable insight.

Thanking you

KUSingh

XxxX

‘Why are you here?’ Kirti asked, opening the door. 

‘Ravi Bhai is out,’ he said, skipping the formalities. Inside the room, she drew a chair for him.

‘What?’ Kirti swallowed hard. It was bad news for her as well as for Radha. ‘When was he released?’

‘A week ago. He wants his daughter back.’

‘Mayank! What do you mean?’

‘Kirti, please don’t. I had a huge row with him. He was upset about Sudha. I guess he went to find her too. Then when he asked about his daughter, Amma told him Radha and you were with me. He appeared outside my flat and his anger ratcheted up when he didn’t find her. I had to lie that you were at work and Radha was at school.’

‘So why are you here? You are not planning to let him reach her?’ Kirti asked agitated. 

‘Who am I to stop him?’ Mayank replied, a little defensive. ‘He is Radha’s father, Kirti.’

‘Have you lost it, Mayank? She wouldn’t even recognise him!’ She reasoned. 

‘See, Kirti. Looking at his state, he really wanted to see his daughter. You and I cannot stop him. She deserves to know her father. He deserves to see her too.’

‘If the father is a criminal, then no she doesn’t deserve to. I am not going to let you take Radha away.’

‘Your protest is useless. So, let me take Radha. I will stay with her and keep an eye on Ravi. He was behind bars for scamming people not slitting their throats. You have known him for the last twenty five years.’ Mayank said. ‘I know you are concerned about Radha. I promise we will call you every day.’

‘What will you tell your parents about me?’ 

‘That we are separating. We have to tell them the truth some day. I will pick up Radha from school?’ He asked gently.

When Kirti remained silent, he said, ‘Kirti, let’s not blow this out of proportion. I let her live with you, didn’t I? Now, she will have to go. Or else he will make an issue out of it.'

Half an hour later, a perturbed Kirti closed the door behind him and went to sit on the chair. 

Will they take away Radha now? What should I do?

Her exam was four days away and she needed to choose her battles wisely. She thought.

Mayank was going to be there with Radha so there's no need to panic. Concentrate on the exam. 

She needed to get this job so that she could take better care of Radha. 

But if something happened to Radha, would the job be of any significance? 

Why would something happen to Radha?!

Five years, it was that family that had taken her care. They might not be the most caring grandparents but they weren’t monsters either. Moreover, Mayank has promised that he would not let Radha out of his sight any more than necessary. As her uncle, he must be more concerned about her welfare!

When Lily returned from work, immediately picking on the quietness of the house, she asked, ‘Where’s Radha?’ 

Kirti, who was unable to concentrate, found a perfect ear for her doubts. ‘I am very scared Lily. Am I doing the right thing?’

‘You did right. This exam is important to you.’ Lily consoled. ‘He is her father. We cannot stop him from meeting her.’

‘I don’t know. I just feel like I failed Radha somehow.’ Her face had lost all the vitality gained in the last few days.

‘Let’s call Mayank,’ Lily suggested.

‘Now?’ Kirti glanced at the clock. It was still evening. Mayank had decided on night calls.

‘Yeah, now.’ Lily was missing the constant chatter of the child. ‘I mean let’s just check if he’s keeping his promise.’

It was Radha who picked up the call. ‘Hellooo’

‘Radha!’ Kirti felt air return to her lungs as she exchanged a look with Lily. ‘What are you doing child?’

‘I am playing Candy Crush on Chachu’s phone,’ Radha replied lively. 

‘Candy Crush? That’s nice. But don’t forget your homework.’ Kirti couldn’t help but add.

'Did you…' She hesitated, 'did you meet someone new?'

'Yes. Papa. He got me four 5 stars and one big doll.'

'So many? Don't eat it all together.' 

'Bye,’ Radha, eager to return to her game, cut the line. 

It became a ritual to call Radha daily from then on. During one of the video calls, she caught sight of Ravi himself, who peeped and greeted her ebulliently. 

'Kirti! Kaisi hai? After all, my prophecy turned out to be right! You did get married to my brother!'

XxxX

From : Midnightboy

To : Kusingh

Dear Mr.KU Singh,

Unfortunately, our leaders failed to create a healthy recruitment system. A low number of vacancies, untimely results, and an exam cycle that stretches through years destroys millions of aspirants’ golden years of youth. That’s how things are here and it is in these conditions we’ll have to perform.

There is nothing wrong with your motive. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that human needs dictate one's behaviour just as how you are driven to better your circumstances.

That you are preparing for another job is a testament to the fact that you are unhappy with your current job. In that case, I will not advise you to give up on preparation and settle for less. Not when you have given it five precious years of your life.

It isn’t about being thirty or twenty, people at any age fear risks because of the uncertainty associated with it. If you accept the uncertainties, it will become an adventure.

Be confident. You are here on this platform, concerned about your future, having an informed discussion about your career. A talented individual like you is destined to succeed and go places.

All the best

MidnightBoy

XxxX

'How was your paper?' The man next to her asked.

'Okay. ESI was tough and Reasoning a little tricky,' She replied.

'Your attempt?' He asked further.

'110.'

'I attempted 135,' he was quick to answer. 'I think the cutoff would be around 120. It was 118 last year.'

'Hmm,' Kirti turned away, waiting for the invigilator to allow them to leave.

‘Mala ithuna teksi milela ka?’ He drew her attention once again. [Will I get a taxi from here?]

‘Yes, they know when there are exams at ION center and you’ll always find taxis and autos. You aren’t a local?’ She asked.

‘This row, stand up. Put your chairs in and leave. In a queue, please.’ Several feet shuffled. ‘ Please hand in the rough sheets to the invigilator. You aren't allowed to take the rough sheets out of the exam hall,’ Kirti picked up her Aadhaar card, pens and began to leave. The man’s answer got lost in the crowd.

XxxX

While she was contemplating on calling Mayank to bring Radha out somewhere so that she could see her, a piece of good news greeted her.

Karuna had finally opened her eyes and was asking after her grandchildren.

[NOCOPY]

[MEMBERSONLY]