"Are you sure, Dadu? I mean, we cannot afford any controversy later!" Randhir asked Nobin. "I really don't think anyone would be able to connect the dots between Sanyukta and you through this event, especially if you keep your distance!" Nobin assured him. Sanyukta had received mail from her contact in Mumbai asking her if she would be willing to perform at a charitable classical devotional music concert in New York. It was only a matter of two hours and she would be one among many performers. Nobin felt that as long as she sang as Yasmeen there would be no harm because she was an unknown figure in New York, and would be in that city for just a few days more.

"You have an all clear, he said there won't be a problem if you sing at the concert!" After disconnecting the call Randhir turned toward Sanyukta. They were lounging under the sheets waiting to go to bed. It was Monday night and the concert was scheduled for Friday night, she would have to sit through at least one rehearsal. "Randhir, what are you doing?" She remarked, feeling him move the pads of his fingers in small circular motions over her breasts and armpits, and also squeezing her nipples. "It's called foreplay, baby!" He smirked. "Shut up, I know you are checking for lumps!" She said. "Why do you ask when you know about it? You know it is important to examine yourself at least once a month. I don't trust you to do it yourself!" In fact he was certain, like a typical woman she never bothered to.

"Randhir, the chance of me getting breast cancer in my twenties is 1 in 2000! I am too young to worry about it!" She laughed. "1 in 2000 is still a risk, and there is no harm in probing for palpable lumps! I love these kittens, I'd hate to see anything go wrong with them, so relax! And promise me you'll get a complete medical check-up done each year just like Shaila ji!" He sounded earnest. "Randhir, unlike me she is in her sixties, she would obviously need to be more careful." She reminded him. "Unlike you, she is more vigilant, she never misses her medicals!" Randhir pointed out. It was true, ever since she took on Aman's responsibility from his absent father Shaila invested in her health wisely, she could not afford to get sick before Aman grew up and settled down in life.

"It helps that Dadu also insisted on doing his own check-up along with Shaila ji. Didima was like you, she would never go willingly until Dadu forced her to, hospitals always made her nervous. But Dadu would insist that she underwent diagnostic tests. I learnt about breast examination from him, the cause was close to his heart because he lost his own mother to breast cancer." Randhir added. "Ok baba, you win! See? I told you, you won't find anything wrong!" She said triumphantly. "How do you know? Have you been feeling yourself in the shower like I asked you to? And who said I didn't find anything? I got my prize for the effort I took!" He smirked once more closing his mouth over her right breast, as his fingers played with the other nub. Sanyukta gasped as she savoured the feeling, their erotic adventure had just begun. Randhir made no-holds-barred love to her, soon both gave and received pleasure in equal measure.

After Nobin finished talking to Randhir, he went downstairs for breakfast. He had just spent a long weekend with Shaila and Aman in Mumbai. They were together for most of the summer but he returned to Kolkata after Aman's school reopened. Nobin spent weekdays in Kolkata but invariably flew to Mumbai on Friday evenings. He got along well with Aman; the boy had become quite attached to him in the absence of Randhir and Sanyukta. Also Nobin and Shaila were quite compatible as they shared many interests. Like him she was a jazz music aficionado, and a connoisseur of single malts though she only had a drink or two in his company. They took Aman out shopping, also for dinner and movies or simply went on long drives. 

Shaila was educated, well-informed and witty, Nobin enjoyed their conversation. Unlike Madhabi she was articulate and fluent in English. She was very confident and opinionated. She often accompanied Nobin on social occasions as she was at ease in high society parties, being from an affluent background herself. Before she met Nobin her finances had dwindled after her husband's demise and after she was left to fend for herself and Aman when her son took another wife. She was glad that Nobin presented himself as her knight in shining armor. He took care of her finances and she in turn had shifted her focus completely to Aman and Nobin.

The golden couple had found compatibility both as bedmates and pillow talk companions. When he was not with her, they would chat every night before going to bed, narrating events of the day. They had found a panacea for their loneliness and made sure to lend emotional support to each other. Nobin still missed Madhabi, just like Shaila missed her deceased husband. Nobin was not sure he could love Shaila as dearly as he had loved Madhabi, but he cared about Aman and her enough to have included them in his will. He even clarified this to his children and neither had raised any objection, in fact, Renuka had wondered how her father had taken so long to find himself a partner. It was unlike him to remain single, there was always a woman in his life, even before he married Madhabi.

Nobin's presence in Aman's and Shaila's life had brought in a dramatic change, Aman finally felt like he had a family and two adults had found solace in their sunset years. Nobin knew that Sanyukta was the link connecting the new-found relations. None of this would have been possible if Randhir had not chased Sanyukta, whom he knew as Yasmeen, to the barsaati. The young couple had found love and Aman had gotten a foster-mother in Sanyukta. Madhabi had posthumously found a suitable bride for her favourite grandchild. Vidushi had strengthened her relationship with Parth, happily giving her consent to Randhir's and Nobin's respective weddings. Even Harsh had been won over successfully, now the only impediment to be overcome was Renuka. And she was quite a formidable one! Winning her over would need nothing less than a paradigm shift.