Mithra

BREAK THE RULES {6} Arvind: Why? Rutva [frowning]: Sorry? Arvind: Why are you still single? Rutva: Why shouldn’t I be? Arvind: I mean… you are beautiful, smart, intelligent and brave! Then, why are you still single? Rutva [laughing]: Are you complimenting me or complaining? Arvind: Of course, I am complimenting you. It’s just that I am intrigued by the fact that you are not in a relationship. I assume you have never been in one. She stayed quiet for a few moments and sipped her coffee. Rutva: Never. Arvind: Do you like being alone? Rutva: Just the opposite. I am not going to lie that I am happy being single. The truth is I never came across a man who could understand me and love me for who I am. Being single has its own advantages, but it cannot beat the feeling of being loved and the sense of belonging that accompany it. Arvind: Quite true… Rutva [smiling]: Looks like you are empathising with me. I presume that even you are not i...

BREAK THE RULES {5} Arvind drove his car through the busy streets of the city, but kept stealing glances at Rutva surreptitiously. It was half past one and they had made no progress in finding Partha. She had called up many of his friends, but nobody could give her any information about him. I should have taken Harini’s phone number from him. Rutva fiercely regretted it because Harini would have given her the vital information about Partha. Moreover she was desperate to know what happened between the two last evening after she left. Now, she was clueless on where to find him. In the meantime, she also kept calling him on his mobile but it still remained switched off. She ran her hand through her hair in frustration. ‘Don’t worry, we will find him soon. He will be fine,’ said Arvind making a weak attempt to make her feel better. His voice sounded so unconvincing that she simply rolled her eyes at him. ‘He better be or else I am not going to spare that idiot!’ she...

BREAK THE RULES {4} Harini: What do you mean? Do you really want him to join Air Force? Rutva: Yes. Harini: I can’t believe it. Suddenly a thought struck her. Harini: Wait a minute! You knew about his plans, didn’t you? You were in on this from the beginning. In fact, you are the one encouraging him to go ahead. Her listener remained unperturbed by the accusations. Rutva: I did not know that he had written the exam, but I was aware of his ambition from a long time. Harini [meekly]: How long? Rutva [sigh]: More than ten years. There was silence for a few moments. Harini was at loss for words. Rutva: I am sorry that he did not tell this to you earlier. I can understand how painful it must be, but— Harini: No, Rutva! You will never understand what I am going through. My parents have already begun searching a husband for me. I was thinking about how to make them accept Partha. Somehow it would not have been very difficult to convince the...

BREAK THE RULES {3} Rutva quickly combed her hair and tied it into a ponytail. Every day she barely took ten minutes before the mirror to get ready for work. When she reached the dining table, her younger brother Rishi and her father Dinesh were eating breakfast. Her mother Shalini, placed a plate of hot chapathis and paneer gravy on the table. Trying her level best to not look up at her, Rutva ate as quickly as she could. Shalini [sternly]: What time did you come home yesterday? Rutva clucked her tongue and glanced at Rishi. He did not move his eyes from his plate of food. She was certain that he had not yet told mother about the time. He was the one who stayed awake and opened the door for her when she came home late in the night. Last night also was nothing different. Rutva [without looking up]: 11. 45 Shalini shot a piercing look at Dinesh but he concentrated on his newspaper as if their conversation had nothing to do with him. Shalini: Why didn’t you le...