Adi smiled. He darted towards the corner table, evading the subtle, curious gazes of the other guests. His eyes gleamed, reflecting the soft, golden candle light. I looked at him – elated, amused. He’d kept his word after all. Not in my weirdest dreams did I imagine that he’d play his part to fulfil a half-serious promise. A promise he’d made twenty years ago. Twenty years! Seemed like a lifetime. Yet, it seemed like just the other day, when we, a bunch of glittery-eyed youngsters, flung our graduation hats, all set to make a mark in the corporate world. “Tomorrow, we graduate,” I said. “And then…” “And then, what, Purni?” said Adi. “And then, what?” I shrugged. “And then, you’ll go your way; I’ll go mine. You go to the US; I stay here. Out of sight, out of mind.” My last few words were warbled. I had a lump…