“And so does dejection,” she said nostalgically, “as happened in my case.”

“Glad you didn't let yourself get bogged down,” he said endearingly. “Otherwise, to my misfortune you would've ended up being a misogamist.”

“Maybe true,” she said winking at him. “What about the dame who gave such a fillip to your psyche?”

“You mean that Kamathipura girl?”

“Yes.”

“If not for her,” he said reminiscently, “I wouldn‟' have developed the confidence to propose to you. I shall cherish her forever.”

“What's her name?”

“I didn't enquire.”

“Why so?”

“Rashid told me all of them go by pseudonyms,” he said, “and I didn't want to hear a lie from her.”

“What a beautiful way to think!” she said in all admiration. “I feel I‟m falling in love with you sooner than I thought it would be possible.”

“What welcome news for me!” he said heartily.

“How strange life could be?” she said turning philosophical in turn. “Didn't she lift your spirits for my joy?”

“Don't go by hearsay,” he smiled.

“Your testing time will come anyway,” she was coy.

“Don't make me nervous,” he said catching her hand in mock fear.

“I won't make it any easy either.”

“It's appetizing, isn't it?”

“I think,” she gesticulated, “it's time for dinner.”

“Let's go then.” After a sumptuous meal, they strolled in the lawns of that sprawling compound.

“Why don't you give up smoking?” she said.

“Why not you begin?” he said in all seriousness. “It's Oscar Wilde I think who said that smoking is a perfect example of a perfect pleasure.”

“What's next?” she said sounding naughty. “Drinking, I suppose!”

“Of course,” he said, “these small pleasures of life add value to it.”

“That's apart from the bonus of our love, isn't it?”

“That's the spirit,” he said offering her a Berkeley.

“Not now,” she said sniffing up the fag, “'‟ll try it in the room.”

When they returned to their room after dinner, he helped her light a Berkeley.

“How do you like it?” he asked her as she took her first puff.

“I shall remember it as your first gift,” she said and added as she took the second puff, “and take the drink as the third one.”'

“Looks like,” he said feigning surprise, “you can‟t even count up to ten!”

“Oh, don‟t act innocent,” she said winking at him.

“What about another?” he offered her as she stubbed the one in hand.




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