‘I understand, Madhav. I just want you to sleep well tonight and I will help you work through this. I am here for you,’ she assured him.

‘Will you always be there for me?’ he half-whispered. Silence filled the space between them for a few seconds. They could only hear each other breathing.

‘Yes, Madhav. I will always be there,’ she said, realizing that despite saying the same thing to many other patients, she had never meant it in quite this way.

8

Madhav stood in front of the mirror staring at his image, as he did every morning. He noticed each curve of his face and stared deep into his eyes. Crumpled sheets of poetry that he’d attempted to write the previous night lay scattered around him. His formal clothes stifled him—the noose-like tie, the too-tight belt. It was his first day at work. He stared at his image helplessly.

‘Your dreams are coming true,’ he spat at the mirror. He closed his eyes and stepped back.

His phone rang. ‘Good morning, Madhav!’ said Radhika.

‘Good morning!’ he replied, his tone suiting his attire.

‘All set for the new day?’ she asked. She was making breakfast, the phone tucked in the crook of her neck.

‘Sort of. I mean it’s pretty strange. I’ve worked hard for this but it feels quite empty now that I finally have it,’ he said.

‘That’s because for you fulfilment lies in writing,’ Radhika said.

‘Well, I can see my words crushed, in the dustbin.’

‘Madhav, you need to have faith in your abilities. Mark my words. These crushed scraps of paper will make a great book one day.’ She poured herself a glass of milk.

‘Are you having breakfast?’ he asked.

‘Yes. My breakfast is just a slice of toast, milk and cereal.’

‘Lucky you! My mother is waiting downstairs with her oily aloo paranthas,’ he said and chuckled a bit.

They had grown increasingly comfortable with one another and the length of their phone calls now stretched from minutes to hours. They would call each other first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Madhav knew Radhika had convinced Meera to not press charges against him and he was more in love with her than ever, but he still doubted if she had feelings for him.

‘When are you inviting me over?’ he asked.

‘Ahem!’ She cleared her throat. ‘Yes, your sessions are pending. But make an appointment this time and please, no pastries.’

Both of them laughed and she wished him luck for his first day at work.

As he went downstairs, his mother greeted him with a bowl of curd and sugar. ‘You look so handsome,’ she said.

‘Curd in the morning?’

‘It’s lucky, son,’ she insisted.

‘How can curd and sugar be lucky?’ He considered arguing against it but gave in instead.

‘Your dad and Vihana wished you luck,’ his mother said and put a plate of aloo paranthas on the table. Madhav looked at his watch. He was told to report at 9 a.m.