[prasannas2001]

 
Mamta turned toward the window, a gentle smile playing on her face.
 
“You are quite good at talking, Rohan.”
 
He smiled.
 
“Only when I have a good listener.”
 
“And I suppose I am that listener?”
 
“I think so.”
 
“Why?”
 
“Because most people hear words,” he said. “But you actually listen.”
 
Mamta looked at him again.
 
“That is a very clever answer.”
 
“Engineering students learn problem-solving.”
 
“And flirting?”
 
He laughed.
 
“I’m still working on that.”
 
She raised an eyebrow.
 
“Really?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Then you need more practice?”
 
Rohan smiled mischievously.
 
“Maybe. But I think I’m getting a little lucky today.”
 
“Lucky?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Why?”
 
He glanced at her, then quickly looked back at the road.
 
“Because I came here to learn about roses…”
 
He paused.
 
“…but I ended up having a much more interesting conversation.”
 
Mamta tried to hide her smile, but she couldn’t.
 
“Careful, Rohan. Compliments can be dangerous.”
 
“Only if they are not true.”
 
She looked away again, and he noticed the soft blush that appeared on her cheeks.
 
For Rohan, that small reaction felt like a victory.
 
Not because he had impressed her.
 
But because, for a brief moment, the woman he had admired from afar seemed completely comfortable being herself with him.
 
 
 
A few minutes later, the conversation drifted to Neetu.
 
Mamta smiled fondly.
 
“You know, when Neetu was little, she used to hide my books.”
 
Rohan laughed.
 
“Really? Neetu?”
 
“Oh yes. She hated it whenever I spent too much time reading. She wanted all my attention.”
 
“So what did she do?”
 
“She would quietly take one of my poetry books and hide it somewhere in the house. Then, when I started searching for it, she'd come running and say, 'Don't worry, Mummy. I'll help you find it.'”
 
Rohan burst into laughter.