"Missed me?" Randhir whispered into Sanyukta's ear. She hardly realised when she fell off to sleep while reading Madhabi's diary.

"How was your lunch?" Sanyukta blinked her sleepy eyes as Randhir took off to change his clothes. A quick bathroom break and he was back in her arms.

"Same old, same old! Meeting people and making polite but friendly conversation. Getting hopeful looks from the young girls among the staff and disapproving side glances from the guys. Bet the guys must dislike me assuming how effortless my life must be, to be born with a silver spoon! Wish I could tell them that wherever I have gotten so far has been on my own steam, even if I was just complying with Mom's plans. Hey, I got so bored I wish we had spent the afternoon making insane love to each other." Randhir's hands began tugging at her clothes in familiar anticipation.

"No Randhir, we cannot. Just got my period soon after you guys left. And the PMS drove me to pop a pill." Sanyukta tried to fend off his overtures.

"No wonder you went off to sleep, it must be the pill you took. If you are not comfortable we can just cuddle. Tell me if it hurts, I can massage you if you say where!" Randhir closed his mouth over hers unexpectedly. She did not try to stop him, his kiss felt like a drug driven high. It was the ultimate therapy that made any discomfort seem trivial. He continued to nibble her earlobes and then traced a trail down her neck, his fingers exploring her curves till he filled her with desire even when it was that time of the month for her!

She arched her neck in pleasure enjoying his sensual assault. It was like magic. One moment she was feeling bloated, irritable and depressed and the very next moment she wanted him to continue caressing her to make her feel better.

Randhir had lived with her long enough to understand her cues. He could not help but smile. No matter how independent she claimed to be deep within her she was as hungry for tender loving care as the heroine of any romantic novel. His fingers automatically traversed to the strings of her salwar tugging at them and hoping to undress her.

"No Randhir, I said we cannot. I have a tampon in place!" She restrained him from proceeding.

"Don't you use the silicone cup anymore?" He asked her. He thought she had grown accustomed to using the latest in feminine hygiene he had introduced her to. In any case, he knew the mood he had been in was busted.

"Of course I use it, but only when in Mumbai because it is easier to sterilise it in my own kitchen. How am I going to explain what it is to the staff in Dadu's kitchen? It certainly does not resemble a feeding bottle teat and these traditional cooks can be fastidious about their cooking space." She worded out her apprehension.

"Someday I hope that our people will start accepting a woman's period for the simple biological process it really is. It is not some state secret to be kept under wraps. The human race would not have gotten this far if women did not ovulate." Randhir sat down beside her. She said nothing.

"Come on, Sanyu! What's bugging you? It cannot be your period. Are you brooding over something you read in Dida's diary?" He asked. He wondered if her seesaw mood was just due to her hormones.

"I just fail to relate to the irony. In her diary Dida emphasises that Dadu always treated her with respect. But if he really did then it does not explain how it did not stop him from conducting a long affair with Rosa. There may have been times when he slept with both women alternately. Sure, they grew up in a patriarchal society but how can a well-travelled man like him not have qualms about this dual arrangement? And it is natural for a woman to resent the presence of another in her man's life. I cannot connect to Dida's forgiving self. Every marriage sets a definitive limit that should not be crossed by either partner. I simply can't digest the idea of a wife being supplanted by a mistress or a paramour." Sanyukta had not realised to what extent reading the diary had affected her. She had known Madhabi's story earlier but that had not prepared her for own reaction.

"I am impressed, biwi! You are as capable of exhibiting normal responses such as mood swings, resentment and indignation as any other woman. I was starting to wonder about you!" He grinned as she rolled her eyes at him.

"Tell me truthfully, Randhir! Have you been spending time with someone else after I returned to India from NYC?" She asked, unsure if she wanted him to respond. 

"For the last time, I have never cheated on you! Not when we were living together as Yasmeen and Randhir, and neither after you came out as Sanyukta. I cannot justify why Dadu did what he did, but I am not him, and neither is he the same man he was in his youth. He fell for Dida a little too late in their life as a couple and he never strayed after that. He even waited for nearly two decades after his wife's death before deciding to remarry. Surely he must have been lonely!" Randhir stood up in exasperation and walked to the window, staring outside.

A few moments passed without any words exchanged between them. Finally Sanyukta rose to her feet and made her way slowly toward him. They had argued several times before though she rarely nagged him. Now it weighed on her mind that she had doubted him. She snuggled close, her arms encircling him.

"Shona! Please maaf karo! I didn't mean it that way!" She spoke softly, her lips grazing his bare back infusing him with her warm breath. Despite himself he stood rooted to the ground.

"Shona!" This time her voice came out more as an appeal. His silence was unfamiliar to her. It made her feel distant and alone. He could feel the moisture of her tear-streaked cheeks on his skin. That was it! He could not hold out anymore. He turned around, plucked her off the ground and settled her on the window sill. 

"You know how it makes me feel when you cry!" He dried her tears and cupped her face, staring into her eyes.

"I would not have mentioned it but maybe I should tell you. I know it made you feel insecure when Sara moved to New York. Yes, Mom would like it if I dated Sara, she fits rights into our circle. But as providence would have it Sara quickly found a live in boyfriend now who shares the flat with Andy and her. Tarek is an American of Egyptian descent. Sara's parents don't know yet. Andy was apprehensive but Sara convinced her to let him move in. I hardly see Sara ever since she met Tarek, though Andy and I hang out sometimes with common friends. Sanyu, without trust any relationship would crumble. And this applies to both spouses." Randhir reiterated a well established fact.

"Perhaps I am not as strong as I thought I was. Had I been stoic I would not worry about you straying. Honestly Randhir, I don't want to live like a cryptic bride. For how long are we to keep everything under wraps? It feels like I am living a lie each day." She stopped abruptly realising that she was leading them into an argument.

"Hold on to that question! If you don't mind I wish to take you out before we leave the city early tomorrow morning. Freshen up and change! I am sure you will like where we are going!" He smiled at her enigmatically before going to the wardrobe to find himself something appropriate to wear.

Sanyukta was even more confused. She knew Randhir would have made plans for their last evening in Kolkata. She decided to play along. Both of them needed some cheering up. She slipped into something smart, put on light makeup and dressed her hair quickly. When she emerged from the room she was surprised to see that the whole family was dressed to go out. She exchanged looks with Randhir who just smiled without giving her an explanation.

They set out, with Nobin da sitting next to the driver. Aman sat in between Shaila and Sanyukta while Randhir slipped effortlessly into the seat behind them. The conversation in the car remained cheerful but nobody revealed anything about where they were going.

The car drove into the foyer of a Country Club and the family spilled out of the car. Nobin da led them through the door and they arrived into the lobby that wore a distinct British colonial look. Just then Nobin da excused himself and asked Randhir to lead the others to a private dining room with a lounge attached. Sanyukta, Shaila and Aman settled into the plush leather armchairs and a bearer came forward to serve them a welcome drink and cheese and pineapple sticks off a mahogany salver. 

"Sorry, Sanyu, we know you were expecting a quiet romantic dinner with Randhir but you will have time for that in Mumbai. In a while you will see that the evening turns out to be far more fruitful than you had expected." Shaila smiled at her indulgently and Randhir and Aman exchanged winks, puzzling Sanyukta even more.

Just then Randhir's phone rang. It was Nobin, summoning him downstairs. Randhir excused himself and went down to meet Nobin while Shaila and Aman continued to chat with Sanyukta who was beginning to like the distraction as it had calmed her considerably from her agitated state.

In a few minutes they heard footsteps outside the door and Sanyukta heard voices speaking in Bengali. She could easily place Nobin da's voice but it took her a moment to recognise the other voice. It was that of a woman who was connected to her childhood. Sanyukta froze to see someone step into the room through the doorway and the glass in her hand nearly dropped to the floor as she scrambled to her feet to face those who stood before her.