Chapter 36 / 51 · 1 min

Nine Dates

“Hey, why are you holding my hand?”

Aparna turned toward me, her big eyes growing bigger, sitting beside me on the rickshaw.

Drowning in the depths of those eyes, I said, “What’s the problem if I do?”

“Did I give you permission? Holding my hand on the very first date!”

“Don’t worry. On the next dates I’ll only hold your hand.”

“Quiet!”

I said, “You be quiet. We’re sitting in this rickshaw, shoulder pressed against shoulder, and that wasn’t a problem.”

“So this was your plan? That’s why you put us on a rickshaw for a walking distance?”

I said nothing in reply. I only held the soft hand tighter. I didn’t want to let go at all.

The rickshaw cut through the streets of Banani and raced toward North End. It felt to me as if the force of a touch born from fierce love was carrying us forward.

“Hey, let go. We’ve reached North End.”

I let go of her hand openly, and sighed in secret.

This was the first letting go. I’d be able to let go like this eight more times. Counted out, one by one.

Aparna had decided: one date a week.

The doctor had decided: nine more weeks.