5th December 2034.
3 days after "R for Romance"
A quiet winter afternoon. The British Airways plane alighted in Budapest. Raghav, wearing tracksuit bottoms, piled out with Janu. They hailed a taxi and Raghav perched beside his bird. She kept pressing about where he was taking her, suspecting one more kinsman after Arjun.
They were on a travelling circuit masquerading as an extended date. This time, Raghav brought her not to his antecedent but to his erstwhile best friend.
The taxi entered the premises of the villa surrounded by oaks and hornbeams. The gates greeted them amiably, just like the residents. Emese took them in with a huge smile. Her side-hug with Raghav was peered at by Janu's round black eyes that carried a faint proprietary air.
It was not long after Janu took a seat on the couch, Hanu bolted out and clambered onto her Raghav. She was unnerved and flustered by the Hungarian Hunger Games she had to witness. She started looking at the grand walls of the bungalow to avoid the soap opera. Her eyes were transfixed on a 18th century painting of young Christ surrounded by sheep that was hung beside a family ensemble of Lord Rama. Her attention returned to the present as Raghav touched her shoulder, "This is Janu, my…" he was scratching the back of his neck.
Emese completed, "your magnetic south."
Both of them broke into a broad grin while Hanu managed a puzzled smile and Janu offered a quizzical look. A soap opera where she understood zero references.
All of them settled on the couch. "Finally", thought Janu. Raghav turned towards Hanu and held his hands, "Heard of that …", he searched for the right word, "incident"
Hanu nodded, "I wanted to move to Berlin. The new capital of the Globe might offer me some kind of opportunities", he turned towards Emese, "but she decreed me to stay here"
Raghav looked at the ground, "Life's still a mess, Hanu. The last time I met you, you survived the greatest loss in your life. This time…", Raghav gasped unable to process his emotions.
"I'll get you guys some lemonade", Emese told Janu as she started walking towards Hanu's territory, the kitchen. Janu followed her giving the two friends some time alone.
She heard Hanu whisper, "I'll be here till the loan's done"
Emese looked up at Janu and smiled as she closed the fridge. Janu went first, "So, you live here all alone?"
Emese replied as she filled the glasses from the jug, "Yeah, until last month. With Hanu, since then"
Janu continued, "Parents?"
Emese pursed her lips, "They moved to Vienna with my only sister", she realized, "I guess I'll give you a house tour. Hall's full"
Janu nodded gladly.
Emese took her to the master bedroom, now occupied by Hanu. She asked, "What's your story, Jane?"
Janu smiled as she walked out, "A neuroscience intern at Heidelberg. Parents in India. Came to Germany for its free and top notch education", she thought for a while, "That's all about me. By the way, it's Janu, not Jane"
"Er… Sorry", Emese bit her tongue.
"It's fine. I'm used to it", laughed Janu, "so this is your little den?"
They had walked their way to Emese's room. Emese welcomed her in, "A little burrow, it seems"
Emese continued, "So how did you get to know of Raghav?"
Janu took a moment and winked, "Same as you"
Both of them sat there and chatted about SARaNG until Emese got reminded of the lemonade and the boys. They came to the couch and sat near Raghav, flanking him on either sides. Though Hanu had heard enough of Janu from Raghav, he still started a conversation. Janu cut him off with "I've heard a dozen tales about you, Hanu"
Janu continued, "What's with you guys?", squinting her eyes and rolling them between Hanu and Emese.
Hanu emptied his glass before answering, "An intransigent yet irreplaceable best friend."