Over the next few days Priya told me everything about how her first date went. She told me about how they had kissed and how she drank and how she smoked. When I told her smoking is not good for her health she just shrugged off my objection saying that all of her friends smoke and she thinks that smoking makes her look cool.
From the way she spoke about Mark and their date it was quite clear to me that she was already looking forward to going out again with him. And Mark didn't disappoint her either. Over the next couple of weeks he took her out frequently to movies, to malls, to restaurants, to pubs. Priya's social life calendar had suddenly become so packed that I hardly ever saw her at home in the evenings. After coming back home from parties she would often tell me how she had fun with Mark and rest of her friends.
That evening, as usual, I was sitting on a sofa and waiting for my wife to come back from her party. When she finally arrived little before midnight we made some small talk and then she came and sat close to me.
She said, "Rajesh I want to tell you something."
"What is it honey?"
"You know how most of the Chinese students have two names. They have one Chinese name, which is their legal name, and they have one English name which they use in their daily life."
I had an inkling suspicion why she was telling me this but still I asked her "Yes I know this. But why are you telling me this?"
"Well, I have also decided to adopt an English name."
"What??? But why? You have such a lovely name. Why would you want to change it?" I said with surprise and hurt in my voice.
"Don't get upset Rajesh. I am not changing my name. I am just adopting, shall we say, a nick name. Legally my name will still remain Priya."
I looked at her with a blank face. I realized that she had already made up her mind to change her name and there wasn't much that I could do now.
"Have you decided what would be your new name?"
She smiled a bit and said "Mark thinks Jane would be a cute name for me."
I was upset with Priya and so I couldn't stop myself from saying sarcastically "Oh, so you thought it fit to talk to Mark even before you had discussed this with your husband."
Priya retorted in a slightly raised voice "Don't start a fight now Rajesh. I had warned you earlier that things will change if I start a relationship with Mark."
At that moment I knew it was a lost cause. I gave in. I gently took her hand in my hand and said "I am sorry Priya. I didn't mean to upset you. But it's just that I think a person's name is his foremost identity. And if someone changes his name then it's almost as if he has transformed into a completely different person."
"Yes I agree with you," said Priya. "And maybe that is why I want to adopt a new name. When I am around Mark I want to transform myself into a new person."
I smiled back at her acknowledging that I understood what she meant.
"Can you also start calling me Jane instead of Priya? I want to get used to this name."
"It will be slightly awkward but I will do my best, Jane" I said with a fake smile.
"Thanks Rajesh. I love you." She leaned forward and gave me a deep kiss. Her warm lips felt so nice that I was instantly transported into heaven.
But that night we did not have sex. I tried to make advances but Priya just said that she was very tired and wanted to sleep. This was the first time she had turned me down. Indeed things were changing and I had to prepare myself for the far greater changes that lay ahead of me.
Priya came to drop me at the airport when I had to go on an official travel for a week. As I got out of the car she smiled and kissed me lightly on the lips.