Sudharma paid the bill.
The waiter returned with change.
He waved it away.
For a few seconds neither moved.
The traffic outside had grown louder.
Buses rolled past.
Autos squeezed into impossible spaces.
Somewhere near the signal, a bike revved hard.
Jahnavi stood first.
Sudharma followed.
They stepped out into the evening crowd.
For a few steps they walked without speaking.
Then he felt it.
Her hand.
Jahnavi had quietly slipped her hand into his.
Sudharma looked at her.
She was looking ahead.
Only the slight color in her cheeks betrayed anything.
He smiled.
Neither said anything.
They crossed toward the junction.
That was when Sudharma noticed the canopy.
Bright lights.
Promotional banners.
A crowd gathered around a bike.
New launch.
Test rides available.
He slowed.
Jahnavi noticed immediately.
“You want to see.”
He smiled.
“A little.”
They walked toward the setup.
A salesman spotted them at once.
“Sir, new model. Test ride?”
Sudharma looked at the bike.
Sharp body.
Aggressive stance.
Clean lines.
He liked it instantly.
“Can.”
A helmet was handed over.
He wore it and took the first ride alone.
A short loop around the block.
The engine felt smooth.
The throttle response was sharp.
The handling felt lighter than expected.
When he returned, the salesman was ready.
“Good no sir?”
Sudharma removed the helmet.
Then looked at Jahnavi.
“Come.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“One round.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
The salesman was smiling now.
Jahnavi looked at both of them.
Then sighed.
“Fine.”
She sat carefully behind him.
Awkward for a few seconds.
Then the bike moved.
The first speed breaker came.
Jahnavi’s hand moved instinctively.
Lightly against him.
Sudharma smiled.
The city blurred around them.
Signal.
Road.
Shops.
Lights.
For ten minutes he did not want the ride to end.
But it did.
They returned.
The salesman began explaining everything.
Price.
Launch offer.
Mileage.
Showroom details.
Sudharma listened.
Took the quotation.
Folded it once.
Kept it in his wallet.
They stepped away.
Jahnavi looked at him.
“You really liked it.”
“Yes.”
“I could tell.”
“How?”
“You forgot I was there.”
He laughed.
“That is not true.”
She said nothing.
Just looked at him.
He laughed again.
“Okay. Maybe for two minutes.”
They took an auto.
The ride back was quieter.
Comfortable.
Near her locality he asked the driver to stop at the main road.
She got down.
Then turned.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
A pause.
Then she said softly,
“Message once you reach.”
He nodded.
She took two steps.
Then turned again.
A small smile.
“You took your time.”
Before he could answer, she walked away.
Sudharma waited there smiling like an idiot.
Only after she disappeared into the lane did he ask the auto to move.
Viraj was out.
Dinner with his office group.
Utsav was in the hall watching Om Shanti Om.
Shah Rukh was in the middle of dramatic suffering.
Utsav looked at Sudharma once.
Then muted the TV.
Sudharma dropped onto the mattress.
Utsav kept looking.
Then asked,
“Tea?”
Sudharma smiled.
“Tea.”
Ramanna’s Bakery was quieter at night.
Tea came.
Cigarettes followed.
Utsav waited.
Sudharma said nothing.
He was still smiling.
Utsav took a sip.
Then asked,
“So.”
Sudharma looked at him.
“So.”
Utsav narrowed his eyes.
“So you caught it?”
Sudharma smiled.
Then shook his head.
“No.”
He took a drag.
Exhaled slowly.
Looked at the road ahead.
Then said quietly,
“This time… I am caught.”
Utsav said nothing.
Sudharma smiled again.
A slow smile.
“And seems forever.”
Utsav opened his mouth, then closed it.
Then smiled.
“Dyude.”
Sudharma laughed.
That called for another Tea!
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