Paakhi

S E V E N T E E N

It wasn't until quite a few of minutes after he had disconnected the call that it occurred to Mili that she had never mentioned where she worked to Shaan. He hadn't asked her that either, and yet somehow, he had used the word 'auditorium' when he had asked her if she could wait for ten minutes. Did he actually even know where he had to come to pick her up?

"Hey, what's up?" Farhan had walked up to her now, his bag packed and all set to leave, "Gautam mentioned you needed a ride?"

Mili fidgeted with the phone in her hand, considering asking Shaan if he knew where to come or ask him to not come, and just leave with Farhan. She knew the man; she had worked with him for almost a year and he had dropped her home a few times before.

"I didn't ride my scooty to work today." She explained absently.

"Oh, come along then!"

Mili started to say something for a reply, but Shantanu seemed to call her precisely then, "Which gate should I get to?"

She pulled the phone away from her ear to look at the time a second time that night. Hot damn, it had only been eleven minutes since their call and he was already here. Well, assuming he had the address right. Did he?

"Um, it just struck me a few minutes ago that I have never mentioned where I do my plays to you." She paused, and then awkwardly added, "I mean, you tell me wherever you are, I'll come to that gate."

"I don't see a gate number but College Street is to my left." Shaan seemed to choose to ignore the first part of her mumbling.

Oh well.

"Oh okay, that's gate number three. Give me two minutes." She replied, watching Farhan turn around in question.

"Sure." Shaan replied, before she hung up.

"Nice." Farhan was grinning at her now, a cheeky smile on his features, "Tell me you're finally seeing someone!"

Mili rolled her eyes at him, "Thank you for the offer for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow!"

Laughing, and raising his brows suggestively her way, Farhan nodded and started for the exit. Mili collected her belongings in record time, and waving at the old night guard, rushed towards the exit.

Shantanu's car was parked right outside the said gate, and he stood outside the SUV; waiting for her. She strained her eyes in the dark to see what car it was, but failed. It was a Honda, but she wasn't really good with cars to begin with, and decided she could postpone the overanalysing and overthinking for later.

"Hi." She smiled, when she had reached within hearing proximity.

Shantanu smiled too. His police uniform was still annoyingly crisp for someone who hadn't gone home till that time of the night. Wordlessly, he pulled open the car door for her, and Mili stood motionlessly on her spot for a few extra seconds in a mild state of shock.

Wasn't this stuff supposed to be redundant now? You know, chivalry and all that. She didn't remember the last time someone had pulled open the car door for her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, having clearly misread the look on her face.

She shook her head, and slid into the car quietly. It wasn't until they had hit the main road that he finally said something.

"Aritro had mentioned that you perform at the Rabindra Natya Auditorium once." He said this, without turning to face her, choosing to answer her question from before that instant.

But she did look at him when she quipped, "Oh."

He took a few minutes to speak again, "I uh...I've watched a few of your plays." A pause followed, "I actually realized that just now."