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The brisk pace of Madhu's feet rubbing against the asphalt intrigued Rishabh. He suddenly wanted to confide in her. He felt the need to tell her a secret so, he chose the safest one possible."I will offer you unsolicited advice this once. There is more than one America. There is a nation full of progressive hipsters like you who would let lions run free it were up to them. Then, there's the oldies who have sniffed up so much heroin from Vietnam that their pupils have desensitized to your problems. There are more people in the other America than you give them credit for. Appeal to your America and you have a sure win on your hands"."That is straight out of Boston Legal", she brushed him off."I never said my advice would be original".Hands in his coat pockets, RK jumped around Madhubala trying to get in her field of vision.Annoyed with his school boy demeanour, she halted ."I don't do flirting"."But, I do. I can be fairly persuasive".An unsaid exchange of thoughts followed and the walk resumed."Try me", she opened her car door."I am trying. I bet you haven't done this much talking in your lifetime ". He made a last minute attempt to win someone else's wife and then, mentally rolled his eyes for the lameness of his attempt."I have enough people judging my life choices, I do not need a walking fashion disaster be added to that list. Stay quiet"."Can I get a ride home? No cabs to Chelsea tonight. They, they, ah, that, construction. They blocked cabs from entering because of construction. Yes, that's it"."I attended a conference in Chelsea earlier this evening"."Yeah, uh, well maybe you were on the other side of Chelsea"."No"."You caught me. Drive, will you?"The car ride to Rishabh's place was a silent and reflective one. RK finally acknowledged how poorly he had judged Madhubala. He had begun to let his Rishabh rise to consciousness. He had begun to side with his enemy. The stupidity of her actions at the country club had dawned on Madhu. As in her nature, she had quickly apologized to RK for having put him in a difficult position."May I interest you in a coffee upstairs?" RK untied his seat belt and invited Madhu in.His cordial gesture was met with long and torturous blinks and minutes of silence."I should get going before they serve you a traffic ticket. You have a good night". He collected pieces of his ripped up invitation and reluctantly waved at a car that disappeared into a sea of SUVs.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
