Shom is sitting on a dining table chair. The doorbell rings. He opens the door and Raima in a jovial mood walks in.

Raima: Hey Shom, guess what?

Shom goes back to his chair and Raima sits on the chair across him with her elbows on the round dining table, leaning forward as if trying to narrow the gap between them.

Shom: Tell me.

Raima: Nothing, you’ll laugh.

Shom: Tell me anyway, I won’t laugh..ha.. if you tell me not to.

She looks up at him, he looks at her, tries to control himself and then bursts out laughing. Raima makes a face.

Raima: (sounding annoyed) I won’t tell you anything hereafter.

Then she smiles.

Shom: Okay, sorry. Please go on.

Raima: It’s about Mentos!

Shom: What’s so funny about Mentos?

Raima: And Honitus too, both are kept in a big bowl on the receptionist desk.

Shom: Honey, I only like Honitus, the lesser of the two evils, as it has ginger and honey. Please keep away from Mentos.

Raima: I know you like Honitus and I like Mentos.

Shom: That’s just mint and sugar, silly.

Raima: I am silly! So let me tell you what happened today. Something very funny. I left office to meet up with my friends. On my way out, I dug into the bowl as usual.

Shom: Someone caught you doing it?

Raima: No one dare even notice what I do. I’m high up in the organisation.

Shom: (trying to look impressed) Sure. So it seems, go on.

Raima: (making a face) You keep interrupting and ruin all the fun.

Shom: Sorry. I won’t, please go on.

Raima: (smiling) Yeah, so today I just called some friends and left my work early.

Shom: Early? How could you do that?

Raima: Why not? I don’t have any fixed timings. I work late, when I have to. My boss likes my work, calls me a go-getter. She said that with her nose in the air.

Shom: You just know how to handle your boss.

She gets offended, makes a face, gets up and walks off. Shom quickly gets up, goes after her, gives her a loving peck on her cheek.

Shom: Please tell me. I am dying to know what happened.

They both squat on the couch.

Raima: Well, I went out with my friends and we stuffed ourselves with bhajiyas, dahi batata puri and pani puri.

All junk, he thinks and is about to open his mouth but quickly puts his finger on his lips.

Raima: I was feeling a bit burpy, so I fished out the Mentos. All my friends wanted them. I started distributing the Mentos when one of my friends spotted a Honitus. As she went for it, I don’t know what happened to me but I actually snatched it back from her. I was shocked at my behaviour, everyone was amazed.

Raima fishes out all the Honitus and puts them on the table. There are only two Mentos among many Honitus. Shom was speechless. He was touched by the purity of her love for him. He hugs her on the couch. She hugs him back and they lie down, she on top of him with her head on his chest. She lifts her head just for a second and says with a smile.

Raima: I’m crazy about you. Mujhe aise aapke saath kitna sukoon milta hai! (I am so much at peace with you)

Shom: Tere sukoon mein hi to mera sukoon hai, pagli. (And in your peace is mine I find mine, my love).

Just then Raima’s cell phone rings. She looks at it and gets a start.

Raima: Oh shit!

Hello, hello, Pitamaho! Aami bhalo…na, na. Aami aashte parbo na…na. Aami aikhon biye korbo na. Na, aamar kaaj ta aikhane. Pore kautha boli bidaya. (Grandpa! I am good.. no..no I can’t come. No, I won’t marry now. I have a lot of work here. Talk to you later. Bye.

She disconnects but looks defeated and annoyed. Shom looks at her with concern.

Raima: (disgusted) They want me to get married and are using poor grandpa to exert pressure on me. Where were they when I was alone looking after my bedridden mom all these years?

Shom: How long will you be able to resist this? You’ve been under pressure to marry for a long time.

Raima: You are right. I don’t have a choice now.

Shom: Yes, you’ve just been having sleepless nights and your grandpa miserable at this age?

Raima: You are right, it is pointless, but what about us?

Shom: Our relationship is like that of Radha and Krishna.

Raima: Oh God! Really?

They both get into a pensive mood, sitting and sulking. Raima slowly comes to Shom and hugs him, breaking into a song.

Raima: (singing)

Pyaar tu mera, mein amaanat hoon teri

Girne na dena mujhe zameen pe kabhi

(You are my love, I am your treasure

Never let me fall in your esteem)

Moti sa sanjona, mala mein pirona

Koi tod na paaye dhaghe ko kabhi

(String me in your necklace of pearls

Which none can break)

Dore meri saanson ki tujhse hai judi

Na kehna alvida markar bhi kabhi

(Every breath of mine is entwined with yours

Don’t say goodbye even when you die)

Saath tera na ham chhod payenge

Dur tujhse na jee payenge

(I will never leave you

I won’t be able to live without you)

Rehna tu meri dhadkan mein yuin hi

Hasna tu har ek gham mein bhi yuin hi

(Live in my heartbeats always

Smile and drive away my sorrows)

Shom has tears in his eyes. The atmosphere is heavy with emotion.

Next Story: S1E2 The Ballad of Shom And Raima