New Innings

Part 37

"Huh! What a day! Kids, don't stay awake for much longer. Specially you Riddhi. Every day I can see your laptop light till much late." Mrs. Gupta herded them away like school children after dinner and Minerva's parents had left.

"I am thirty plus for god sake Ma!" Riddhi scowled but did leave the dining hall.

Dhritiman had already left and Minerva fussing over her father-in-law for his regular medicines.

"Minu.. didn't you hear me? Go to your room. You already had a hectic day. Your baba is not a child; he can take his own medicines." She scolded her daughter-in-law.

"But ma.. he forgot to take one tablet yesterday!" Minerva exclaimed. Her mother-in-law looked at her husband in horror!

Mr.Gupta gulped. "Well, in that case.." Mrs. Gupta started, looking at her husband with narrowed eyes, "Let him miss his medicines. He is not yet that old, that he will forget such important things. He never forgets to buy his cigarettes. So, if he forgets to take his medicines, let him suffer." With that she left the hall too, leaving the father-daughter –in-law duo awestruck.

"Tor sasuri ta baddo nishthur. Ektuo bhalobashe na amaye.." Mr. Gupta pouted, but spread his palm for his beloved daughter-in-law to hand him the tablets. ( TERI SAAS BHT HI CRUEL HAI. ZARA SA BHI PYAAR NHI KRTI MUJHE./ YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW IS JUST SO CRUEL! DOESN'T LOVE ME AT ALL.)

Minerva smiled at his antics. Hopefully Dhriti has slept off by now. Already he was pretty drowsy during supper. It's fine to go now. Smiling at her father-in-law, she said, "I agree with ma regarding cigarette. You should not.. baba."

"Are.. what guarantee is there that I would be 100% fine even if I don't smoke? Chill, I have it under control." He answered with pride. She rolled her eyes.

"Still....-its late, go to room didn't you hear what your sasuri said?"

"You love to tease her right? You know she hates being called sasuri and prefers ma!"

He just grinned. "Baba, please don't smoke once I am gone." He grinned again.

Minerva was sure he would smoke right now. In fact that's why he was urging her to leave. But somehow she failed to be stern. "baba...- "good night." Minerva rolled her eyes again and left.

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Why the hell she is taking these long? God.. Dhritiman paced to and fro waiting for his wife. Just then she entered. He almost jumped at her.

"What took you so long?" Minerva was about to fall with this sudden movement, somehow she balanced herself. "Why aren't you asleep yet? You are about to fall off the table during supper."

Dhritiman looked away. And it took exactly two seconds for her to realise it was act! "Youuu-"You saw the bill? How can such plain dishes cost that much? Riddhi.. I tell you! It was all a set up to make a hole in my pocket."

She stared at him for a while, and then asked, "And you took that long to realise? Of course it was! How did you become IPS? It was just so obvious. And right too. He worked so hard today. Leaving his work, he came rushing. He deserved to be treated lavishly. Had I done something like this for my brother, I would have dragged him to expensive restaurant or squeezed an expensive gift." Her eyes gleamed!

"Exactly! You did too. And didn't ask anything in return."

"He is your brother, Dhritiman Gupta." She crossed her arms.