The man has a dazzling smile on his face and a cup of coffee in his hand. He is outside on his balcony, and his laptop is on the parapet, so I see him sideways.
Raag wears a gray T-shirt and has light stubble on his face. I am already in my pink pajamas, and my hair lies loose over my shoulders and back. I remember the first time when we saw each other, how paranoid I was with my looks. I guess we are at ease now.
Raag’s fashion is sober, yet he is never uncomfortable with his looks. I wonder, How does he manage that incredible ease?
“How is my lady doing this evening?” Raag glances at the webcam.
“Your lady has to assist for the rest of the semester!” I try and hide my annoyance.
“What’s wrong with that? Hardly a month is left in the semester!” Raag casually says like it’s as simple as breathing. “We have discussed pretty much the whole book.” He pauses. “In your private tuition!” he adds and smirks, looking at the webcam again, so I see his full face.
Oh, if I could just touch that stubble.
I shake my head to steer clear of his distracting looks. “You don’t understand…I am not you!” I frown, trying hard not to smile.
“You are not me. You are you! And, you are awesome! Trust me, you have the potential to achieve goals very few can even dream of.” Raag says this with so much confidence in his tone that even I urge myself to believe him and let out a soft smile.
Looking at me, he says, “You are even more beautiful when you are angry, you know?”
I smile, and I feel my frustration slowly evaporating. “Raag…” I sigh. “Why do I have to do this? That professor is indirectly asking for proof of my acquired knowledge. Why do I have to prove anything?”
“He is just doing his job,” Raag says, making me wonder how in the world he is built to see the good in people. How can one be like that?
“Are you seriously taking his side?” I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air in disapproval. “You don’t always have to say the right thing!” I say, and Raag chuckles. Wistfully I look at his angelic face.
Well, he is the real deal.
“Mayu…I am on your side. And I will always be on your side,” Raag says, and the promise in his statement says that it is not just for this one time, it is forever. “It was our fault not to be careful about your studies at college. I should have thought about it.”
“Why did you not use ‘we’ for the thinking part? You think I am incapable of thinking about important things like these?” I say and instantly regret my tone. Why can’t I keep my cool the way he does?
“No, Mayu…I am sorry if my choice of words made you feel that way. It’s just that considering our generation gap, maybe I should have thought about the consequences of holding you here at a time when you were late,” Raag explains, and his cleverly funny reply reminds me of my initial remark on our five years’ age difference. It brings a smile back to my face. I wrinkle my nose at him through the webcam, and he shakes his head, smiling in response.
“It was a mutual decision. We are equal partners in this crime. Do you understand? My old man?” I smirk.
“I very well do, young lady!” Raag replies, and the laughter erupts on both sides.
“Well, if I am going to make a fool of myself doing this, so be it. Challenge accepted.” I feel a surge of courage from within.
“Ms. Mayuri Bhatt, as long as I am with you, I would never let you make a fool of yourself,” Raag says, confidently looking right into the webcam.
Oh, so caring…my Mr. Raag Purohit!
“I know you won’t.” I smile.
Raag’s faith in me is encouraging and empowering. After all, he is my own personal powerhouse that recharges the batteries of my soul.
Distractedly Raag starts moving inside the apartment, and that is an indication of a finished coffee. For a change, Raag makes his way from the main room to his bedroom without any teasing remarks from his friends, Yash and Hari, and I wonder if he is alone on a Sunday morning.
“Are you alone in your apartment today?” I ask, curious.
“I am,” Raag replies casually. “Yash and Hari went clubbing last night. They stayed over at a friend’s place afterward.”
“Why didn’t you go clubbing?”
“I wanted to stay here, and chat with my girl,” Raag says, making me blush, and he catches that. “Blushing suits you.”
“I thought guys liked clubbing.” I try to distract him.
“Some of us like differently.”
Something tells me that Raag doesn’t want to talk about clubbing, which indeed makes it the most exciting riddle for me to solve.
“What’s wrong with clubbing?” I demand.
“There’s nothing wrong with clubbing. I avoid a few types of clubs if I can.” Raag lays down on the bed, placing his laptop closer to his face.
“And…what type of club did your friends go to?” I ask, intrigued. Even pushy. Now I have to know. Oh, yes!
“What’s your plan for tomorrow?” Raag is apparently attempting a distraction.
“No, no! We are not changing the subject.” I smirk, and he shakes his head, smiling in response.
“Mayu…can we please talk about Professor Rawal instead?” Raag urges, and I sense his deliberate attempt to avoid the topic. A sort of frenzy begins in my brain.
“Can we please talk about the type of club?” I stay adamant.
“You aren’t letting this one slide, are you?” Raag tilts his head and raises one eyebrow.
“No.” I hold my ground and shake my head.
“Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you,” Raag says, and there is a definite warming in his tone.
“Bring it on!”
“A strip club.”
“What’s a strip club?” I ask instantly.
He is looking right at me through the portal. On my computer window, I see a message from him that contains a Wiki link, which I instantly click open. It explains what a strip club is, in detail. As I read a little bit, my face turns crimson. A voice from within proclaims, He did warn you!
“So?” Raag reminds me that we are still on the call since I am silent.
“Um…okay…I see.” I pause, looking for the correct words. Though chagrin covers my face, I manage to ask, “Why are you not going then?” Now that I have started this very conversation with the utmost bravery, I can’t back off.
“I don’t do strip clubs, Mayuri.” Raag stresses on my name. “Simple.”
“Would you at least take me to one of those clubs sometimes?” My question makes him don a shy smile. Oh, he looks cute.
“Are you for real? Did you hear what I just said?” Raag is looking at me like there is something utterly amusing.
“Why not? I have been a good girl all my life. I haven’t explored the world. So, my right partner, you need to help me here. After all, you are my partner in crime.” I pause. “Crime of any kind.”
Raag says, “You know what, Ms. Bhatt, I strongly believe that certain things are okay unexplored. You are not missing out on anything.”
I sigh. “Okay…righteous man, we won’t!”
Raag stares at me. “Well, we can certainly explore London, Paris, and New York if you like…” Raag is smiling his beautiful smile, and it’s infectious.