• Second Chances •

40. A Second Chance

Priya was watching Ram for a few minutes now. He was steadily watching the food laid out at a distance. Despite the blistering sun and the heat, both of which Ram couldn't stand otherwise, he didn't show any intentions of getting up from his spot. She knew it was out of respect for his father. She knew that he wanted to see if the birds came or not. But she was getting impatient now. She understood his sentiments but it was futile. He was sitting there since morning. She wouldn't like it if Ram fell ill again because of this madness. 

Finally giving up, Priya walked up to him. Sitting down beside him, she softly questioned, "What are you doing?"

Not removing his eyes from the food, Ram mumbled, "Nothing. Just waiting for the crows." 

Hoping to divert Ram's attention to something else, Priya mused, "Do you really believe in all this?" 

The question got Ram's attention. He straightened a little and looked at Priya. He smiled sheepishly. "To be brutally honest, no."

Then he pointed at something in the distance. "But it is weird. Do you see that crow? He is eating mud wali chapati. Why won't he come here?"

Reading the disappointment in his tone, Priya shrugged. She had come to take him down but now, she didn't have the heart to say anything. "It's fine. We will wait. The crow will come."

Contrary to the melancholic atmosphere and response that Priya was expecting, Ram burst out into a small fit of giggles. 

Priya looked at him with surprise. "What? What is so funny?" 

"This!" laughed Ram and wiped the edge of his eye as his laughter died down. "If we tell this to someone, just how awkward will it sound? Imagine! Just imagine!"

He moved his hands wildly and adopted a deep voice pretending to be a different person. "Mr. Kapoor, you were late. What is the reason?" 

Then he spoke like himself. "Oh sorry. I was with my wife, sitting on the terrace and waiting for crows to eat some food." 

It made Priya chuckle too. She shook her head and offered, "Or you can just say that you were spending time with your wife."

Ram's eyes sparkled. He grinned wolfishly. "See! So much better. Ghar pe literature teacher hone ka yehi advantage hai. One can phrase a sentence better."  

"Stop!" Priya pushed him lightly. She still had not gotten used to compliments. And definitely not to Ram's compliments. They made her feel weird in a wonderful, beautiful way. That feeling was novel for her.

How was this man making her feel nice?

"How about spending time for real?" asked Ram out of the blue. Priya looked at him gazing at her curiously. "Let's go out on Saturday? A dinner date? What say?"  

His eyes were sparkling in the sun. His smile was radiant as always. Priya found herself contemplating the date. She was still a little awkward with the idea of an intimate, outright date with Ram. She just didn't know how to conduct herself in such situations. Ram was romantic. Priya had no idea what he would do. It was a scary thought. 

"Dinner date?" Priya repeated dumbly. 

"Well," Ram squinted his eyes due to the harsh sun. "Adi is planning one for me to compensate for the disastrous birthday I have had."

Priya sighed. That, she could deal with. She nodded. "Okay."

Ram's eyes went big. "Mann gayi? Arre wah!" 

"Shut up!" Priya tried to downplay Ram's excitement. "Also, ghar pe businessman hone ka yehi faida hai. Har cheez mein se opportunity nikal hi lete hai."