“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 an exam and runs into Rupa on her way to class. Standing beneath a blooming cherry tree, Rupa again mentions the Philosophy class she’s planning to take and asks Michael if he still has the book. With the book still gift-wrapped in his satchel for more than a year, he admits he does have it and they exchange phone numbers.
Meanwhile, Samina celebrates Jiya’s first birthday. Though Ronit has been distant for several 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 in a difficult financial situation. Desperate, he finally agrees to use his production company to launder money for a Dubai-based cartel.
Prior to graduation, Michael and Rupa speak on the phone for hours. The Montforts send him to Nicaragua for a few weeks but Michael spends his days thinking about Rupa. On returning to NYC, Michael attends Hugh’s “Profession Ceremony” in Bayshore and is relieved that it’s Hugh and not him taking vows. Afterwards, Michael reveals his feelings for Rupa to Father Jim, and they agree it’s best for Michael to leave the community.
