“Maybe I’m a lonely man who’s in the middle of something
That he doesn’t really understand…”
~ Paul McCartney.
March, May & June 1998.
Michael leaves class early after completing an exam and meets Rupa, who is running late, beneath a blooming cherry tree. She mentions a class she’s planning to take, and the book she needs is the same on which Michael has gift-wrapped in his satchel. Rather than handing her the copy, they exchange phone numbers.
Meanwhile, Samina celebrates Jiya’s first birthday. Though Ronit has been distant for the past few months, she chalks it up to fatherhood and the lack of intimacy between them since Jiya’s birth. In actuality, however, Samina’s hiatus from work has left him financially strapped. Out of options, he agrees to launder money for a Dubai-based cartel through his production company.
As graduation approaches, Michael and Rupa speak on the phone for hours. The community sends him to Nicaragua for a few weeks but Michael spends his days thinking about Rupa. On returning back to NYC, Michael attends Hugh’s “Profession Ceremony” in Bayshore as he officially becomes a Brother in the community. Afterwards, Michael reveals to Father Jim the feelings he has for Rupa along with their budding relationship and decides to leave the community.
