Rudra had spent his entire evening at the orphanage. He initially hadn't intended to stay so late, but after meeting Mami-sa he was forced to stay at her insistence. The children forced him to stay and eat with them, and although he didn't eat, he watched happily as the rest of the kids did so. Parvati was with him as well. She observed him mesh well with the children and converse casually with Mami-sa. She hadn't expected him until the children's curfew, but he did. And what surprised her more was that he stayed by her side as she tucked all the children in and said goodnight' to them.
Parvati now stood with Rudra in front of his motorcycle. There was nothing more to do, and for him to stay longer would have been pointless. Not to mention his mother would most likely be worried about him. Parvati handed him his notebook, which had been in her bag all the while, before looking up at him. She was curious to know what was going on in his mind. She wondered how he felt about today, and if this kindness he showed the children was real or just an act.
Rudra, on the other hand, was going through quite a range of thoughts. He was still trying to fathom that he had really spent almost the entire day with Parvati. Not only that, but he had seen her smile and laugh. He couldn't believe that she had let him in to her life, even though it was just the orphanage. This was a big step on her part, and although he wondered what made her take such a step, he didn't want to ruin the moment by questioning it. Rudra didn't want her to retreat within herself again, especially when she took such a step out of her shell. He looked at her and found her looking back at him. The earlier smile had vanished and she was now expressing a new sense of seriousness and doubt. It didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on in her mind.
Rudra smiled, "Thanks for letting me come here with you. I had a lot of fun."
Parvati gave a small smile, "The children really like you."
"I like them. They have so much energy! They keep you on your toes."
"That's what they are suppose to do," Parvati laughed. "They're children."
Rudra's heart skipped a beat as he saw her smile and laugh once more. This time it was directed towards him, and he couldn't stop his stomach from doing flips inside. She has such a beautiful laugh, he thought. I wish she would smile like this more often. He let out a soft chuckle as he realized where his mind had wandered. Oh God, what is happening to me? Their laughter died down shortly after. As her large smile began to normalize, Rudra sighed.
"I should head home," he said. "But I really did have a fun time."
She nodded.
"I have to study for Sengupta's class. The exam is tomorrow and I am definitely going to have to pull an all-nighter."
"You'll be fine. We studied all the material."
"Don't be surprised if you get a call at two in the morning."
Parvati smiled, "I'm sure you'll be fine."
"I'll hold you to it. So, I'll see you tomorrow in Sengupta's class?"
"See you then."
Rudra grinned and got on his bike. He started it and exited the orphanage, taking the road straight home. Rudra felt light inside. Why? Because Parvati had smiled not once, but twice, at him. Who would've known that such a simple act could completely make his life? He had seen other girls smile before, but their smiles were nothing compared Parvati's. Her smile, her laughter. It did something to him, and he knew that it would only happen around Parvati. That accelerated heartbeat, the stomach flips, it only happened around her. As he rode home, Rudra came to an important conclusion that left him smiling like a goofball. Damn, I like her.
~
Mala stood in the kitchen, finishing up the final rotis. She glanced at the clock once more. Rudra's college had ended long back, and he should've been home by now. But he wasn't. It was late out now, and she still hadn't received any phone call from him. But before she could worry any further, Rudra strode in to the kitchen calmly. She looked at him, glad that he was home safe and sound, and curious as to where he had been. Rudra kissed his mother's cheek before he propped himself up on the counter next to where she was standing.
"You're later than usual," Mala stated cooly. "I've been worrying about you. You could've called once."
"Sorry I'm late," he said as he held his ear. "I was out with a friend, and one thing led to another and I didn't realize how late it had gotten."
"It's okay Rudra. Just call next time so I don't worry."
"I told you that you don't have to worry about me. I know how to take care of myself, Maa-sa," he chided again as he let go of his ear.
"I'm your maa-sa. I will always worry." she smiled. "Enough of this. Tell me. Did you have fun? You said you went out."
Rudra smiled as he thought about his day with Parvati. He softly replied, "Yeah, I did."
Mala nodded and turned off the stove, "Good. Dinner is almost ready. Go ahead and go freshen up while I make the sabzi."
Rudra jumped off the counter and headed into the living room. He was about to grab his notebook and head into his bedroom when he figured that he should look over some notes while he had time. He sat down on the couch and opened his notebook. A small, yellow, folded paper fell out as he flipped the first page. He picked up the folded sheet and gazed at it, confused. He wondered what it was and where it came from. Rudra put his notebook on his lap and unfolded the yellow paper. Its contents made his eyes widen before they softened. It was a note from Parvati:
Thank you for coming today, Rudra. It meant a lot.
-Paro
He stared at the note in awe, tracing his fingers over the words. She had written a note to him. He read it over and over again. Rudra didn't realize how much it meant to her that he went to the orphanage today until now. She must have wanted to say so, but was hesitant in fear of his response. He chuckled internally as he began thinking about his time at the orphanage. If only Parvati knew that she didn't have to thank him, because seeing her smile and laugh today was more than enough.
Rudra was so lost in thought that he hadn't notice his father enter the haveli. Dilsher Ranawat strode in with his normal confidence when he caught sight of his son sitting on the couch, staring aimlessly, and smiling. His brows furrowed as he stopped in his tracks. Dilsher observed his son. He had never seen this look on Rudra's face before Come to think of it, something felt different. As he walked over to him, Dilsher wondered if something had changed in the air.
"Rudra," he called out.
No response.
Dilsher smirked, "Rudra."
Still no response. Rudra was in a complete daze.
Dilsher sat down in the chair next to Rudra and called out to him a little louder, "Rudra!"
Rudra snapped out of his thoughts and looked at his dad, startled, "Bapu-sa, when did you get back?"
"I just walked in the house a few minutes ago. I've been calling your name for the last five minutes, but you seem to be lost somewhere."
"Sorry," Rudra put the note in his pocket. "I was thinking about something."
Dilsher smirked mischievously as he realize what was going on with his son. He was a BSD General after all, has been for the last twelve years. He had seen the ways of the world, and knew enough about to understood where Rudra was lost. Dilsher leaned back in his seat and asked, "Something?...Or someone?"
Rudra looked at his father with his mouth agape, both surprised and taken aback.
"I can tell by the look on your face. I had a similar look on my face after I met your maa-sa."
"It's nothing like that bapu-sa," he shook his head in denial. "She's not-."
"Oh? So there is a girl?"
Rudra paused before he bit his tongue and looked away like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He realized his father had caught his slip of the tongue and was not going to let it go that easily. He knew his bapu-sa enough. Rudra shared a very close relationship with him, so much so that he practically idolized the man. It was because of him that he wanted to be a BSD officer. Dilsher's skills were unmatched by the fellow officers, and Rudra had learned firsthand many times before. He looked at his father, who still had the mischievous smirk on his face. He knew Dilsher was waiting for a response, and he knew that he was going to have to give one.
"So?" Dilsher said. "What's her name?"
Rudra gave a defeated sigh, "Parvati. Her name is Parvati."
Mala suddenly walked into the living room as she heard her husband's voice. She caught them mid-conversation and was interested in what was being discussed. She came and sat down on the arm of Dilsher's chair, and put her hand on his shoulder. He glanced up at her, smiled and patted her hand, before looking back at Rudra.
Mala then looked at her son and said, "Parvati? Isn't that the girl who has been tutoring you?"
Rudra nodded.
"What about her?"
Dilsher let out a hearty chuckle, "Parvati is the girl that has been consuming Rudra's thoughts."
"It's nothing like that, bapu-sa."
Mala smiled, knowing that it was something like that. Rudra just didn't know it yet. Dilsher sensed what his wife was thinking. In the years they had been married, they were in tune to each other like that.
"So what is she like?" Dilsher asked.
Rudra looked at his parents before he leaned back on the couch. Memories of Parvati flashed in his mind, causing him to unconsciously smile as he started to become lost in thoughts of her. He didn't know when he started talking about her.
"Parvati...Paro...She's different," he said, dazed. "She's smart and...and beautiful. She loves spending time at this orphanage with children there. She actually grew up as an orphan. Paro hardly ever smiles, but when she does...it's...it's like...I don't even know how to describe it. The first time I heard her laugh, it sounded...almost song-like."
Dilsher and Mala listened intently, and their smiles grew on their faces. Rudra went on and on about Parvati, almost in a trance-like state. The way he spoke about her, it was as if he knew her all his life when he only met her two weeks ago. Not only that, but Dilsher and Mala both felt that they had known the girl as long as Rudra had. It wasn't long until their son came out of his dazed state and realized what he had said. Rudra sat up and looked at his parents, who were peering at him.
Mala smiled, "Maybe you should invite her over some time. You two can study here. She seems sweet."
"Maybe," Rudra replied, before he diverted the topic. "I'm just going to go freshen up for dinner."
Rudra got up abruptly and walked away, rushing a little faster than usual in order to prevent the conversation about Parvati to continue. As soon as he disappeared into his bedroom, Mala looked at her husband, who had taken her hand in his and gazed at her tenderly. Despite being a disciplined BSD General, Dilsher always carried a loving disposition when it came to his wife. It was one of the many qualities she loved about him.
"What are you thinking?" Dilsher asked her.
"The same thing you are," Mala replied.
"I would like to meet this Parvati girl. She certainly has captured our son's
attention."
"And with his heart."
Dilsher nodded in agreement, "He really is falling for her, isn't he?"
Mala giggled and nodded, "If only Rudra realized it."
