Inconvenient Relations Read Free Page B

embarrassed.
    “Congratulations, bhaiyya ! What wonderful news!” Ruhi exclaimed while Shaan stared at his friend in disbelief. “May I ask how old little Anu is if you don’t mind?”
    “Sure, why not?” Sujoy replied grinning. “She is going to turn one next month and is the most beautiful little baby, though she doesn’t let us sleep much.”
    “You are done for, my friend, now there is nothing but changing diapers and cleaning puke written in your future.” Shaan chuckled, shaking his head.
    “Well, what about yours then, hmm? What say, bhabhi ? I was just like Shaan before I met Debo, but then I don’t know what hit me. The only thing I care about now is my wife and kids. I haven’t been out and about with my friends in ages!” He then turned to his friend. “Man, you are going to have to eat your words soon. Before you know, bhabhi will have you tightly wrapped around her finger!”
    “Shut up and drive, Sooj! Or soon your wife will be missing a husband!” Shaan jested casually. But Ruhi could see that he was uncomfortable. He had to be; after all, he was deceiving a close friend.
    Swamped by a sudden urge to cry, she turned to the window and attempted to engross herself in the wonderful scenery passing by. Fortunately, Sujoy chose to give her a sweeping introduction to the City of Angels.
    “Everyone is dumbstruck when they come here for the first time. This is the city Hollywood calls home where all the movies, which I skipped school for, were made. Disneyland, Universal Studios, Beverly Hills, Sunset Boulevard… Ahh, I still feel like I’m living in a dream though I’ve been here for the past nine years. What do you say, Shaan? Why are you so quiet? Putting on a goody-goody act for bhabhi’s sake?”
    Then glancing over his shoulder, he said in a furtive aside, “What do you think of your Shaan here, is he fun to be around with?”
    Ruhi colored at once; she had never considered him as her Shaan. Shaking her head, she said softly, “He is not very talkative.” Her husband, who had gone red in the face, turned around and glared, making her involuntarily shrink back in her seat.
    “Hey, Shaan! You are hiding your true colors. Bhabhi , this man is a fake! He is a master of disguises. I too used to consider him quite the boring geek when I first met him, but then at our annual Christmas party he revealed himself after downing a few pegs of course—one needs some for courage,” Sujoy said, nodding sagaciously. “And he was such a revelation. He danced, sang, clowned around, was the life of the party, and then to top it all—”
    “Sooj, if you go any further, I promise never to speak to you again!”
    Sujoy shut up at once hearing the veiled threat in his friend’s voice, leaving Ruhi wondering about Shaan’s outrageous exploit.
    There were no more secret exposés after that, though she was grateful to Sujoy for endeavoring to lighten the undercurrent of unease by periodically cracking jokes that had her in splits. She took the opportunity to let herself go; it had been a long time since she had laughed openly, at least not since the wedding.
    Sujoy stared, puzzled at her (he’d been told oftentimes that his humor was quite pitiful) and then at Shaan who was in a similar condition, not having perceived this aspect of her—she looked beautiful, ethereal, innocent, and terribly unhappy. He was feeling guilty again.
    “Perhaps she has jet lag.”
    “Yes, she hasn’t slept in hours. She needs to rest.”
    Sujoy nodded, pleased with his assessment and started to sing along with the radio as they played a very old Jagjit Singh song.
    Touch my song with your lips, make it immortal
    Be my beloved, make my love immortal
    Shaan’s eyes met Ruhi’s for the briefest moment in the rearview mirror.
    ***
    An emotion that helps us all cope
    Earth would be much lighter, without hope.

    Ruhi was glad for Sujoy and his positivity. It made her think she wasn’t all alone in this unfamiliar