It rained only one day in May and then waited until June to strike again. College was starting the following week, so Sarina and I went shopping for our books. Luckily, the rain came right after we got to her house. Mumbai’s rain always came at a slant, and even with umbrellas we got wet. We sat in the living room, watching the palm trees sway in the wind. Marine Drive changed its face, and the ocean looked like a naughty child dancing in the rain.

The funny thing about a monsoon storm is that how you feel about it depends entirely on whom you’re with. When I watched the storm with Chiraj and Vivek, I felt cozy sitting on the bed playing cards. With Sarina I felt happy talking or studying. Listening to the rain alone, I felt like a lost ship on the ocean. I had never been in the rain with Neel, but I could imagine his arm around me, my heart pumping wildly as we watched the storm.

On Saturday I told Mummy I was going to Sarina’s house, and when I got there Neel was waiting for me. He took me to a movie. While enjoying the movie, I didn’t worry about anything, but when we got out of the Eros Theatre, it was still light outside, and I felt vaguely uncomfortable. Was someone watching me? I turned around and looked, but didn’t recognize anyone. “Stop being nervous,” Neel said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

But I still had a feeling that we were being watched. As I glanced over my shoulder this time, I saw a face disappear behind a pillar covered with movie posters. Was that Pankaj Kaka or someone else I knew?

“What’s the fun of going out when you’re so scared? Why not tell your family about us and be done with it,” Neel said as we got to Marine Drive. The ocean was calm and there were many people strolling on the footpath.

“I can’t.”

“I met your mummy once. Can’t you tell her I’m your friend?”

“You don’t know Mummy. She’d boil like hot oil if she found out I’d gone to a movie with you.”

“Since you and Sarina are taking different subjects, you won’t even have an excuse to study with her.”

“I know,” I mumbled.

I knitted my fingers with his. We walked quietly. I wondered if our thoughts crossed without ever coming out of our heads. When we get to know someone well, do we speak silently?

“Did you enjoy the movie?” he asked.

“Yes, very much.”

“And you enjoyed going out with me?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you did, and I’d like to take you out again.”

“So you had a good time, too?”

“Tell me, when can we do this again? Next week?”

“I don’t know.”