Ultimate Reunion

Lovers' Resignation

"Why haven't your other students started coming?" she asked after a three-hour-long practice about a week later.

"I have only four more weeks with you, right?"

Piyali smiled sadly. "If it matters so much, why have you thrown away your mobile? How will I keep in touch with you?"

"Don't. Don't keep in touch with me."

"That's so unfair, Mukundo Babu."

"May be when you come here. During holidays or..."

"If I settle down, Ma and Priyendra are going to shift there too. I won't be coming here, Mukundo Babu," her eyes grew moist.

"That's even better," he said and tore his eyes away from her. He couldn't be this cruel to her, and to himself, if he looked into those eyes.

"I don't want to break your marriage. And even more importantly, I don't want to take a loving father away from a daughter. But we and all these other things in your life need not be incompatible. I might be going away. But I am not abandoning us. You just have to call me..."

"Forget about all this. Move on in your life. Just... don't abandon music. Ever!"

"Let me know when you move on. I will also do so then."

He chuckled, "What do I move on to?"

"Same here."

--

And there were times when he grew desperate and faltered on his resolution of sending her away.

"If it's just the money that is taking you away... All you have to do is agree to perform."

"I can't, Mukundo Babu. If I could, I wouldn't have suffered your displeasure earlier."

"Fine. Don't. How much are you earning there? What if I managed that much for you..."

"Mukundo Babu!"

"Money is something I can easily help you with."

"I am not going to be your mistress."

"Piyali!"

"You have no idea what you are talking about."

"Probably... you are right. Don't listen to me. Don't. Just... Do take care of yourself, Piyali."

"I will. And you should too. Promise me."

"Okay... I will," his promise sounded much less certain than hers. And then he asked anxiously, "You won't be pregnant, would you?"

"No."