THE LADY IN THE RAIN

UNEXPECTED INVITATION

Ritwik  is running happily towards Veronica’s house. He is super-duper excited to see her again. He accidentally switches on the power button of her phone and sees the picture of a man, little girl and of course, Veronica. It is a family photograph. On seeing the picture of the man, the smile from Ritwik ’s face vanishes. He decreases his running speed and starts walking casually. He ends up before the same cottage. He well remembered the route. It is the house of his second love after all. He was previously in a relationship with Tammanah for three years. But she left for Hungary with her parents the previous year. He was not that much affected as it was just a casual relationship. But this time he is seriously in love. He never expected that he will end up falling in love with an older woman. Everything is going unplanned. His life isn’t less than a suspense movie now.
He sees a big lock on the door.
‘I guess she has not returned home yet.’
He makes a sad face and starts walking.
‘Ritwik ?’
He hears someone calling him. He turns back and sees Veronica   standing there. She is looking questioningly at him. She stood with her hands, folded backwards.
‘How come you are here?’ she asks.
Ritwik  comes closer to her. He keeps on looking in her eyes for a few seconds. Veronica waves her hands before his face.
‘Hello? I am talking to you, kiddo!’
Ritwik  is agitated on hearing the word KIDDO. He returns back to the real world.
‘Actually you left your phone in the shop. I came here to give it back to you.’
‘Awe! That’s so sweet of you. Thanks a lot.’
She smiles at him.
‘Anyway, I just want a gentle promise from you. Please don’t address me as KIDDO. I will be of eighteen within a few months,’ clears Ritwik .
Hearing this, Veronica laughs aloud.
‘Okay, my bad. Then what shall I call you? Ritwik  or Pri?’
‘No, that’s in a way too common. I want you to call me by a different name. It is because you are different and special for me.’
He speaks his heart out. But Veronica doesn’t understands his intentions.
‘Fine! Alexander? How’ll be that?’
‘And why that name?’
‘It’s because you acted as my saviour by returning my phone to me!’
Ritwik  blushes on seeing Veronica  smiling at him.
‘You’re so cute like a baby.’
She presses his cheeks.
Suddenly, it starts raining heavily.
‘Oh, Jesus! What a surprise! Come in.’
She holds his hand and takes him inside her house. Ritwik  is constantly blushing because she held his hand.
Ritwik  is surprised on looking the interior of the house. It is in a way too bizarre. The house has vases full of black roses. There many old family photographs. The furniture is of an outdated style. It seems to him as if the furniture is surviving since the last forty years. It is a one-storeyed, simple cottage with wooden floors and walls. There is one bedroom and kitchen. There is no dining hall or living room. Everything is absolutely strange there.
Veronica marks Ritwik ’s shocking expression.
‘Hey, Alex what happened?’
‘No, nothing...actually...’
He is in a total shock. He never expected that Veronica  is leading such a cranky lifestyle.
‘Shocked by the interior designs?’ she asks.
Ritwik  looks surprisingly at her.
‘How do you...?’
‘I know. You must be from an affluent family. That’s why you must be thinking that how could a person survive in this type of environment? But I lack of money. That’s why due to compulsion I had to lead this kind of lifestyle.’
‘But...’
‘Leave all these now. Say what would you like to have?’
But Ritwik ’s eyes are still touring the house.
‘Are you fond of the colour, black?’ asks Ritwik .
‘How come you know that?’ asks a surprised Veronica.
‘It’s because I saw you twice in black dress and now I’m seeing only black roses around.’
‘Yeah! Actually black defines the shade of my life.’
‘Means?’
‘I’ve a story. I’ll say to you some other day.’
Suddenly, the same little girl whom Ritwik  saw in the morning with Veronica, comes out of the room.
‘Mamma!’
She hugs her. She looks surprisingly at Ritwik .
‘Who is he?’ she asks.
‘He is my to-be student, Ritwik  Ganguly,’ informs Veronica .
‘Hi! Nice to meet you.’
Ritwik  shares a handshake with the girl. The girl smiles.
‘I am Diana,’ she says.
‘Nice name.’
‘My Dad gave me this name.’
Ritwik  is agitated once again on hearing about Diana’s father.
‘I see.’
He turns to Veronica.
‘I think I must go now. It’s about to be seven now.’
He looks at his Apple wrist-watch and says.
‘How could you go now, Alex? It is raining too heavily. You have dinner with us tonight. By then, the rain will surely stop.’
Ritwik  couldn’t say anything after receiving the unexpected dinner invitation from Veronica.
‘Sure.’
‘Diana you play with Ritwik . Till then let me prepare for the dinner.’
Diana nods her head in YES. Even Ritwik  also agrees. He decides to make friendship with Diana as it will be easier for him to win Veronica’s heart.
                                  *************
‘Dinner ready!’ Veronica  says.
Diana and Ritwik  are playing with her toys.
‘Come.’
Diana holds Ritwik ’s hand and takes him to the dining table.
Ritwik  sees a variety of dishes on the table. They are all of Goan origin. Goan Red Rice, Prawn Balchão, Vegetable Xacuti and  Chicken Cafreal.
‘What was the need for all these?’
‘C’mon Alex, stop being so formal. It is my duty to serve my guest wholeheartedly.’
She smiles. Ritwik  once again gets lost on seeing her smile.
‘Come, have a seat.’
Veronica shows a hand to Ritwik  and asks him to seat. The three of them seat and enjoy a hearty dinner together.
‘Are you a Goan?’ he asks.
‘Yep. I was born and raised up in Goa. My great grandfather is originally from Portugal. But during the British Rule in India, he moved in with his family to Goa. And then...ever after,’ she tells.
Ritwik  listens to each and every word of Veronica with attention. He is feeling like a typical family man- returned from office, played with his daughter, wife cooked a lovely dinner and then having a gala time with his family. All these thoughts makes him to blush. He never imagined to get so much involved in love.

                                **************

‘What do you mean by you don’t know, Vani?’ asks Palash.
‘Pri left with Rubel and Pihu in the evening. They both are saying that Pri had a nasty fight with both of them and then he went missing.’
‘Maa, what if they both are responsible for all these?’ questions Arya.
‘That’s why I refrain you from watching Crime Patrol and Saavdhaan India,’ rebukes Palash.
‘Pri is not even picking up the call. It is continuously saying SWITCHED OFF. Palash, I think we must inform the cops,’ suggests Vani.
‘You’re right. Wait. I am dialling the cops.’
He takes out his phone and dials to the cops.
‘Hello, police station!’
‘Yes,’ a voice comes from the other side.
‘I want to file a missing report.’
‘Name, description and photo...at the police station.’
The police disconnects the call.
‘I’ll have to go to the station.’
‘I’ll join you, too,’ says Vani.
Palash nods his head. They are about to leave, when suddenly, Ritwik  comes and stands before them.