Page 2 of That Same Old Love

“Oh wow. Your house looks so futuristic rather than simply modern. I almost expect a couple of robots to pop out from your woodwork,” she remarked while looking around.

“Maybe next time I decide to re-decorate the house, I’ll call you for consultation,” he replied stonily.

She was taken aback by his sarcastic response. Assessing him slowly, she realized that he had every right to be rude to her even after all these years because of what she had done to him. And she also knew that it was high time she apologized to him for that.

“Samrat… I’m really very sorry for what I did to you… you know… about the cheating allegations. I knew you didn’t cheat and what I did was wrong… I even told my parents later about it, and asked them to speak with the dean and to our principal on your behalf.”

She looked at him sincerely. “Until I was in San Francisco, I really didn’t know that they had cancelled your scholarshipsor your admissions. Had I known, I would have definitely done something more to have them re-instated.”

He was slowly simmering. “Oh really? I didn’t know that the Stanford or MIT deans were on speaking terms with you.”

“No. I-I meant that… that… come on, you know what I actually mean.”

“I don’t. Please do let me know what youactuallymean.”

Based on his expression, Mahi knew he wasn’t ready to hear anything from her, let alone forgive her. She could fall on his feet and beg for forgiveness, but he wouldn’t relent.

“It was a very long time ago, Samrat.”

She knew he deserved a better apology. Maybe once she was well rested and cleaned up, she’d meet him again to apologize properly.

“Anyway, can I get the spare key now?” And then she remembered that she had to let someone know of her arrival. “Also, can I borrow your phone to make a couple of phone calls? One of them is an international call.”

“Sure. Why not? I’ve been waiting for you to arrive this early in the morning, so I could cater to your demands.” He handed her a sleek white phone from his pocket. “Here. You can make international calls on this. Meantime, let me get your key.”

She took the phone gingerly from his hand. It was so white and shiny, it looked like it might get dirty even with gloves on.

Her first call was a very brief one, simply informing the person on the other end of her arrival. The next call was to her brother, to let him know she’d reached India safely.

Apart from a disinterested acknowledgement, her brother didn’t have anything else to ask. Her mother and father were too busy to talk to her as usual. “Give Paddu and Nikhil my love. Let them know I’ve asked for them,” she said softly before hanging up.

Samrat was already waiting with the spare key in his hand, looking impatient and restless, as though he couldn’t wait for her to take it and get the hell out from his house.

Mahi stared at Samrat’s stony face for a few seconds. Even if she wasn’t welcome anymore and her brain was shutting down with exhaustion, she wanted to try and apologize one more time before she came up with a decent lengthy apology.

“Look Samrat, I know what I did was inexcusable. I was young and stupid then. You must know how it is… to be young and stupid.”

He folded his arms together looking all the more formidable. “I don’t.”

She let out an uncomfortable laugh. “Oh come on. Even you must have done some stupid things in your late teens or early twenties. I know I did plenty.”

He scoffed. “I think everyone knows and remembers what you did.” Then looking thoughtful, he wrinkled his elegant nose as though something disgusted him. “Just the late teens and twenties? From what we have heard, even your late twenties continued to have the so called young and stupid moments. An extramarital affair leading to a divorce? How very… modern of you.”

She was slowly getting irritated with him. “I didn’t men in India are part of the gossip network. Wow, India must have really changed during these years.”

She hated how judgmental people could be and maybe it was not the time to apologize when he wasn’t in a receptive mood. “Anyway, can I have that key now?” she asked impatiently.

Samrat rested his body on the back of a couch as though preparing to have a long drawn out discussion. “We Indian men try to keep up with the gossip news as well, especially when it comes to someone who almost destroyed our lives.”

She sighed. “I’m glad the men here are well informed now, but I really have to leave. So if you don’t mind… ”

She extended her hand.

He ignored it.

“So… Tell me, were you too bored with your much older, rich and pedigreed husband that you soon developed a wandering eye for younger men?”

Mahi narrowed her eyes and snapped out, “Yeah, I have a bad reputation. But guess what? It took me years ofverydedicated effort to get there. And looks like you turned into a judgmental gossipy old lady in all these years. I somehow imagined you’d be an arrogant absent-minded genius who became a self-made millionaire or billionaire… or whatever it is you are worth now. Since when do you engage in such common gossip?”

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