‘Anand, what was
the name of your first one?’
‘Sudarshana…’
‘That’s
Sudarshan’s sister, right? Didn’t that come later… in the ninth or tenth?’
‘Hmm… true… got
it… Archana… that’s the only one that ended well.’
‘Since she
didn’t know you, I guess that was assured. After her, it was Tina, right?’
‘Gina, Tina’s
sister. Tina came later.’
‘Oh yeah… Gina…
those were the poetic days, I remember!’
‘Don’t remind
me.’
‘You sent a poem
by post every week or something like that, right?’
‘Twice a week…’
‘And she showed
it to everyone?’
‘She did…’
‘How dreadful…’
‘I have not
looked at poetry since then.’
‘I understand.
Sudarshana was next, right? What went wrong with her?’
‘Nothing…’
‘Isn’t that when
you claimed you lost your virginity?’
‘Hmm… and, you
had to check that out with her.’
‘Oh yes, that
just slipped my mind.’
‘That just
would…’
‘Come on… at
that age, it was a big thing. Who was next – Tina?’
‘Briefly… the
poetry had a lasting effect…’
‘Wasn’t there
some girl in college? Hey, that sweet one…’
‘Shereen…’
‘Ha…. Sweet
Shereen, Sweet Sherbet…’
‘You should try
her with her three brothers…’
‘You had to
leave college, right?’
‘And town. Some
idiot told her brothers that I claimed to have lost my virginity with her.’
‘Just
anticipated your claim…’
‘Was it you?’
‘Hey, it was
just a joke…’
‘A joke indeed…
those three wanted to take my virginity…’
‘Then, there was
a long break till the next one, right?’
‘Had to… nerves
and all that…’
‘Then there was
that girl in Mumbai, right? What was her name?’
‘Don’t
remember…’
‘Come on, we
went out for lunch to a Chinese restaurant…’
‘Hmm…’
‘What happened
with her?’
‘She died.’
‘Oh… is that why
you dropped off the grid?’
‘Hmm…’
‘Man, you should
have contacted me… what are friends for?’
‘For such
stuff…?’
‘You disappeared
for three or four years… till your wedding… you didn’t share that either…’
‘Well, you did
get to know…’
‘But, still… you
didn’t tell me.’
‘Sorry…’
‘As if you mean
it…’
‘Hmm…’
‘So, how is it
going?’
‘How is what
going?’
‘Marriage, of
course…’
‘Going good…
very good, in fact…’
‘I see…’
‘You sound
disappointed… some affairs don’t end, you know…’
‘Anand, there is
something you need to know…’
‘What?’
‘Your wife wants
out…’
‘What?’
‘She requested
me to talk to you…’
‘Requested
you…?’
‘Yeah…’
‘Why?’
‘Why what…?’
‘Why does she
want our marriage to end?’
‘Ah… I think
there is someone…’
‘Is it you?’
‘Don’t be
ridiculous!’
‘That’s exactly
the kind of ridiculous stuff you would do…’
‘Now, don’t
start taking it out on me…’
‘How could
you…?’
‘How could I
what?’
‘Speak on her
behalf…’
‘I am not
speaking on her behalf… she asked me because she thinks I have been there with
you when each of your affairs ended…’
‘How well she
knows me!’
‘Now, don’t be
sarcastic…’
‘Get lost…’
‘Come on, Anand…
let’s deal with it like men.’
‘Get lost.’
