" Why were you crying last night? " , Kalpita asked.

They were now seated in the spacious library, that could easily be turned into a ballroom or a football ground as per convenience.
They took two chairs and sat face to face.

Shivaji scratched his stubble. He had to shave a bit as per sir's order, though his hair still remained ruffled. Kalpita noticed.

" Hmm? " , she asked again. He remained silent.

" So, I'm not close enough still, with whom you can share your insecurities. And here I'm fighting with even my parents, leave alone bimbos, for you. " , she jerked her head.

Shivaji looked into her eyes. A smile crossed his lips. She couldn't look away as well.

" It's not...so... Kalpita ji! 

I just....don't know....how to put...into words, what I feel at times...

It's so...choking and.....and unnerving...and...horrifying...that... I don't think.... I can...describe it out to you...

I'm...sorry... Kalpita ji!! "

Kalpita looked away, at the long shelves packed with books..

" I understand.

You need much longer a time to open up. And, I might give you that. " , she spoke, softer than she usually did.

Shivaji kept staring at the ground.

" However, you need to answer this.

Men do cry. And they have every, literally every right to display emotional breakdowns. Women like us sometimes forget that, trying to look cool, or trying to demean them for personal reasons.

Not everyone can properly put forth the words, like you did last night. You say you can't talk, but when you do, you can leave the one before you, speechless.

Why do you apologise for talking your heart out? Why do you say a sorry... for taking a stand for yourself?

You might not be able to pull on a hefty comeback, many a times. You might not find the exact words, though you know it all.

But at least don't regret, when you do...  "

Shivaji blinked several times, staring at Kalpita. Trying to grasp every word she spoke.

" Do you understand? " , Kalpita spoke again.

He slowly nodded.

And then said,

" You speak.....so beautifully, Kalpita ji...
You are....blessed....

I wish I...could be like...you.. "

" Be proud of what you are Shivaji.

You don't even know, who, where..is.. wishing to be like you instead." , Kalpita distinctly uttered.

Shivaji softly smiled. He couldn't help. She was amazing with her words, could boost anyone even at their lowest.

Kalpita returned the smile. She couldn't help. His smile was contagious.

______

" Haww! I thought you're sleeping, baby!!! "

Suchandra pushed open the door to Kalpita's room at 9 in the morning, and found her drowned in books.

She grinned.

" When did you return home? " , Suchandra asked, still surprised to see Kalpi fresh like a blooming flower.

" At 9:30 last night. Hated the pub. " , Kalpita got up from the books and hugged her mom for a long time.

Suchandra's surprise hardly left her.
Since the time her girl started making choices of life alone, pubs and clubs had been an insperable part of her routine.

There were several occasions when Devendra had complained to Suchandra regarding the freedom she was given and she misused, but as a mother who knew her daughter too well, she had chosen to ignore.

Suchandra was confident, her daughter knew the best for herself, though some of which might not look the best to the world. But, they as parents, could never confine her within their ideals of right and wrong.

That very Kalpita, today,  hated the pub, drastically, for the first time in life.

" Why? " , Suchandra broke the hug.

" Why... as in? Are you asking me why I hated a place, you actually think I should never visit? I thought you'd be happy! "

" Mmm... I ain't unhappy. I'm surprised. "

" At? "

" Chuck it.
Did you meet Shivaji back home? Or was he confined to his room? "
Suchandra moved away, tidying Kalpita's room that had clothes and stuff rampantly spread here and there.

Kalpita took sometime. She suddenly felt she was being interrogated. And the next moment she was completely taken aback by her thought process. Her mom knew every nook and cranny of her life.

And what even was she asking that needed to be thought about before answering? 

" Yes.
We had dinner together.
Then I showed him the books in our library.
Then he was sleepy at around ten thirty and was off to bed.
Me too. " , she shared every detail in a single breath.

Suchandra smiled.

" That was a great array of events.
He seems to be doing well in coping up. And you doing a great job, as a guide...! "

Kalpita walked over to the mirror and stood brushing her hair.

" Oh, by the way, you won't be very happy about something.

Jitesh called up Devendra. He and Sujay wants to visit us this evening. A 'long time no see affair' amongst the buddies, I believe.
So, Yamini, Preetika, and probably Sameer will join. "

" Ophho!!! " , the reaction was spontaneous on Kalpita's part.
" Great if dad's friends wanna meet up. Why family? And why our place? Can't they meet at some restaurant?

And that boy, he looks after his Dad's business right? Doesn't he have work that he visits whenever he finds an excuse, knowing exactly well how much I detest him? " , she frowned big time.

Suchandra walked upto her.

" Today's a Sunday. People don't work on this day, if you remember.

Secondly, last day, it was you who had invited him along with your friends. Because, he's a friend too. He doesn't really find excuses to visit you.

And even if he does, I've not seen Kalpita Chatterjee react to her admirers this way. Rather, she had always enjoyed their attention.

Are you changing for good? Or for something strange? "

" I don't know.

What I know is, Shivaji will be extremely disturbed. Specially in Sameer's presence. He will have to remain confined in his room.
As if jailed. "

Kalpita thumped inside the washroom.

Suchandra kept staring, her head tilted to a side.

_____

Preetika and Sujay had a son who was settled in the US.

Yamini and Jitesh had a son who was now seated at a corner of the settee, busy in his phone.

They raised a toast, as they sipped in their shots of Vodka, at Devendra Chatterjee's living room.
The clock struck seven in the evening.

Devendra and Suchandra sat on one of the sofas, while the other couples adorned the rest of the seaters, talking about life.

Kalpita stood at a distance.
A bit unmindful.
Brushing nails against each other.

" Kalpi, come and sit, why are you standing? " , Yamini aimed the words at her, gesturing at an empty space beside Sameer.

Kalpita threw a glance at Suchandra, who expressed nothing.
Sameer looked up from the phone for a second.

" It's alright aunty. I'm fine. "

" But I'm not. Look at my son. I don't understand what's in that device, which absorbs the lifeline of youths these days. Sameer, keep the phone aside and talk to Kalpita! " , Yamini snapped.

Everyone raised a soft laughter.

" It's not my choice. It's Kalpita's. " , Sameer didn't look up from the smart screen.

Kalpita was definitely embarrassed. She didn't ever want to come out looking like an ill mannered host before anyone.

" Arey!! When did I deny? I thought your phone is more important than humans. " , Kalpita replied.

Sameer looked up, and raised a brow.
" Really? "

Devendra spoke, " You both are school friends right? He was here two days back. I don't understand kids of this generation. They meet, and don't even greet, though best buddies.
Look at us, we find excuses to chatter!
Kalpita, take him to the library, or guest room, or the balcony at least. Have some friendly talks, than standing and sitting like ghosts here and there. "

Kalpita gritted her teeth. These were occasions she wanted to stop being a Chatterjee, leave home and stay at an orphanage forever. Her Dad was the biggest spoilsport of her life.

" Ohkay. " , she faked a smile.
" Come, b-u-d-d-y!! " , she stressed on the word.

Sameer almost suppressed a smile, and got up. Suchandra shied. She wished she could save her daughter, but it wasn't possible in the given situation. Also she knew her daughter was enough to handle awkwardness.

Walking over to the balcony, Kalpita stopped.

" You go. I will just bring Shivaji along. He's our age. If everyone's having fun, why should he remain confined to his room? "

Sameer kept standing, his jaw slightly dropped, while Kalpita disappeared behind the the stairs.
His brows came closer together.

" Shivaji, open the door, what's wrong with you? " , Kalpita knocked for the third time.

The door opened just a bit, and Shivaji showed one of his eyes.

" Come out! I've got a friend for a chat. Join us! " , she ordered.

" Why? " , his voice cracked, as his eyes oozed surprise, fear and anticipation.

" What the hell? Why will you hide inside your room when everyone's having fun outside? " , Kalpita frowned big time.

Shivaji still showed only one of his eyes and a little of his nose.

" Kalpita ji!! It's..  a family... gathering.
I'm...an employee..

Are your maids...having fun...with your ...family...and friends? "

" Shut up!!! Are you a maid???
I don't understand what you think of yourself!! " , Kalpita almost fell from the sky.

" Also.... I have seen...your friend..
It's one of those...who laughed at me...that day...

Sorry... Kalpita ji! "

" Shivaji... Shiva.....Shivaji... !!! "

The door was slammed on her face.

Breathing deep and cursing him mentally using all the slangs she knew on earth, Kalpita turned.

Sameer stood at a distance, watching the whole affair. Silently.

She walked upto him,
" Huh!

Whatever. Let's sit with our parents. That's the best idea. "

She walked past Sameer to the living area.

He followed her, his lips zipped..
Tight.