Rohita

Chapter 05

Rohita woke up and looked beside her. Milind was not in bed. She stepped down, tossing the blanket aside. Her gaze shifted towards the balcony. He was speaking on the phone, leaning on the balcony railings. Annoyed with his behavior last night, Rohita hated going to him. Instead, she went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Milind's erratic behavior haunted her as she splashed water on her face. She could sleep well only after midnight. Why had Milind avoided having sex again? His attitude had peeved her, but she had controlled her urge to ask him the reason. She would get hurt again if Milind spoke against her wishes. Rohita was eager to get her visa, and she didn't want to upset her plan.

Will Milind continue to avoid having sex? She couldn't imagine herself deprived of their intimacy. Was Milind gay? Should she talk to him and offer him medical advice? He would need counseling if he had lacunae in his machismo. But Rohita needed to stay patient as her enquiry so soon might anger him. Maybe, he needed some time to become intimate with her.

She took a hot shower and chose to wear a chocolate cotton T-shirt and a grey corduroy pants. She applied the lip gloss and rubbed her face with a talcum puff. Standing in front of the mirror, she checked her makeup. She appeared beautiful, and her gold necklace, pearl earrings glistened in the white light.

She sat on the couch, and waited for Milind to get ready.

Milind, in his navy blue suit, approached. "We will eat breakfast before we go to the consulate."

"You look handsome," Rohita said.

Milind smiled. "Thank you. You look so beautiful." He wrapped his arms around her waist, and walked her outside the room.

While they ate, Milind behaved friendly and was cheerful.

---

Rohita submitted the visa papers at the consulate. The attendant told her to come back in two hours to collect her passport.

Milind took her to a shopping complex, and bought her a pair of jeans and a few T-shirts. He bought a water-resistant, sports watch for himself.

She went back to the consulate and stood in the queue to collect her passport with her heart racing. The adrenaline rushed through her veins when the attendant gave it to her. Rohita flipped over its pages, her heart pounding in her rib cage. Her photograph printed on a page caught her eye. She glanced at the contents then handed the passport to Milind, smiling.

He congratulated her, patting her back. His face was lit with a smile. He seemed interested in helping Rohita to achieve her career goals. She wouldn't have enjoyed the success had she told her parents about Milind's behavior last night.

--

Rohita watched a movie till the evening. Milind told her to get ready to leave for the airport.

She had spoken to Ravi two days before, and she should call him before she left. Milind hurried to go to the consulate in the morning.

Her stomach growled. She grabbed a chocolate from her purse, unwrapped it, and tossed it in her mouth.

She took the phone and tapped on Ravi's name .

Ravi answered after a couple of rings. "How are you, Rohita?"

"We are doing well." Rohita inhaled a deep breath. "Did I wake you up?"

"No. I'm taking a walk in the community park." He paused for a few seconds. "Are you in Chennai?"

"Yes." She threw the chocolate wrapper on the floor. "I got my visa."