"I am not a thief. I agree I look like one. But you have to trust me. I didn't steal anything from your house. In fact I didn't steal anything in the past five years. No, seven years actually. Stealing a friend's chocolate when she's not looking doesn't count. Right? So, seven years." Shubha started rambling.

Before Vikram could say something, she continued, "Actually I don't blame your maid for alerting you. Don't scold her. I mean look at me. Old clothes, torn shoes and weather-beaten face. It's not her fault. Anyone in her place would have thought I am a burglar. I know everything about my appearance is unwelcome at a place like this. But don't judge a book by it's cover. I am a respectable scientist. I mean I was a scientist. I came here because I was invited by your mother."

Vikram opened his mouth again to speak. But she didn't let him speak. "Sir, please don't call the police. I don't want to get arrested--"

"You forgot something" said Vikram, interrupting her.

"What is it sir?"

"Breathing." He answered.

"Sorry?"

"It has been several minutes since you started talking. Your throat must be sore. Drink some water." He looked at his maid, who brought a glass of water. "Here. Take this."

"Sir, my mother forbade me from accepting food and drinks from strangers."

Vikram stared at her without blinking. "Look, I'm not a kidnapper, if that's what you are thinking."

"Of course you are not. I am thirsty. So, I think I will accept this." She took the glass from him and gulped down the water.

"Now tell me. Why are you here? No. Wait. Calm down. Take a deep breath before speaking." He instructed her.

She closed her eyes and took and deep breath. Her nervousness seemed to vanish. "I am sorry for rambling sir. It's just that I never met a film star before."

"It's okay. Did you say my mother called you?"

"Yes sir. I heard that she is collecting your father's old photographs. I have an old album of his various school plays. My father was his classmate. I got your mother's phone number somehow and called her." She showed him the album.

He looked at the photographs of his late father. A smile crept across his face after several days. "He looked so handsome." He remarked. 

"Yes. He did" said Shubha. She looked at Vikram, who lost his father three weeks ago. He wasn't even allowed to mourn peacefully. The media disturbed him throughout the funeral.  She felt sorry for him.

"May I know your name?" He asked her.

"Shubha. Shubha Narayan."

"Thank you so much Ms. Shubha. Could you please wait until my mother wakes up? Please. I will make arrangements to drop you home." He requested very politely, hoping she won't refuse. "Or wait until I scan the pictures and save it in my phone."

"You can keep the album sir."

"No. How can I keep this? You have so many memories of your father in this album." 

"It doesn't matter now sir." She answered. 

He detected pain in her voice. Before he could ask her what she meant, he heard his mother's voice. "Vicky? Who are you talking to? Your friend?" Latha asked him.

"Hello ma'am. I am Shubha. I called you this evening."

"Hello Shubha. How are you?"

"I am good. I brought the album."

Latha sat beside her and looked at the photographs with tears in her eyes. Shubha felt uncomfortable. 'What have I done? She is already distressed and I made her cry.' She thought.

Vikram placed his arm on his mother's shoulder. She wiped her tears and smiled weakly at her son. Shubha felt like an intruder. She wondered if she should go away to give them some privacy to grieve. She looked around to see if there was someone else in the room. Someone other than the mother-son duo. Sadly, there was no one except her.

She was startled when Latha talked again. "Thank you so much Shubha. These pictures mean a lot to me. Thank you for bringing them."

"It's my duty." She said with an awkward nod. "You can keep the album."

"You are so sweet, Shubha. I heard that you are a very intelligent girl. You are a scientist. Aren't you? How is your research going on?" asked Latha.

"I, er, I took a small break from research. I am looking for a new job." Shubha lied. 

"Okay. All the best" said Latha.

"I'll go then." Shubha stood up.

"Wait. Have some tea" Latha stopped her. 

"Actually, it will take an hour to reach my hostel from this area. If I don't start now, I'll be very late." 

"It's raining heavily. At least wait until it stops raining." Latha called her maid and asked her to bring some refreshments for Shubha.

It took more than an hour for the rain to stop. "I'll leave now."

"I will ask the driver to drop you at the hostel." Vikram offered.

"But sir my mother--"

"Yes. I know your mother forbade you from getting into a stranger's car. But I can't let you go alone. It's very late. Don't worry. My driver is a very decent man." He called his driver. "Shubha madam is our guest. Take her to her hostel carefully."

He turned towards Shubha. "Give me your number."

"What? Why?"

"I need to know if you reached hostel safely. If your mother scolds you I will apologize to her."

"I don't think that's possible sir. Both my parents are dead. It has been fifteen years" said Shubha.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Vikram felt sorry for her. 

"Bye sir. Take care." She waved at him and started walking towards the door.

"Ms. Shubha," Vikram called her. She turned around. "Stealing a friend's chocolate when she's not looking does count. So, it's five years. Not seven."

She left with a smile on her face. The driver started the car. "Where to madam?"

"Gayatri women's PG, Gachibowli." Shubha answered. "The area is very safe for women. Even if it isn't I am not worried. I am a black belt in Karate." She emphasized the last sentence. The driver got the message. He smiled.

"Madam, may I say something?"

"Yes." 

"Ever since sir died, several people visited his family. Not because they cared. They all had their own selfish motives. All except you" said the driver. "Thank you very much for bringing the album."

"Latha ma'am seems broken. This is the least I could do for her." She replied.

They reached her hostel after a while. The main gate was locked. She called the hostel warden requesting her to open the gate for her. The warden was a grumpy middle-aged woman who seemed to hate each and every girl staying there.

"Do you know what time it is?" She asked.

"1 am." Shubha checked her watch and answered.

"How dare you answer back!"

"I'm sorry I didn't know you weren't expecting an answer. I thought you asked me the time because your watch doesn't function properly--"

"Shut up! This the second time you have broken the rules." The woman spoke irritably. "We don't know where you have been to or what you have done. We cannot have a girl like you in our PG.I will let you in for now. You will pack your bags and leave tomorrow."

Shubha couldn't believe what she heard. "You can't do this. Give me a chance to explain." She tried to argue with the warden.

"This is my final decision. Irrevocable." She said.

Shubha looked at her with a mixture of anger and disgust written on her face. "Okay. I will leave tomorrow." 

---***---

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