Page 108 of Made in Mumbai

“What is he doing here holding MM?”

“Maya, babe, please tell your goon that I…”

“Don’t call her babe,” Gautam threatened, turning burning eyes to the man who was already half-shrunk in the corner.

“Give her to me,” Maya opened her arms.

“First tell me why is he here.”

“None of your business. Now please leave us alone to finish this.”

He didn’t move.

“G, leave!”

He glanced from her to the reptile, then back again. Maya was glaring at him this time. There was no other way out. So he strode towards the door, meeting her halfway.

“This door remains open,” he warned her. “And dare you cross 5 metres into her space,” he warned behind him. Then strode out with MM in his arms. The office was filling fast now, people trying to see what was going on inside.

“Rustom!” He called out.

“Yes, sir?”

“Maya is in there with her ex-husband. Keep a watch.”

He didn’t have to elaborate. Rustom and three others went and stood outside her office, far enough to not overhear but close enough to intervene. Gautam respected her order and left, climbing the stairs slowly with MM happily bobbing in his arms. She was such a happy weight. Just one night away from her and he had forgotten how solid she was.

“Or have you grown overnight?” He nuzzled her hair, pushing open his glasshouse door and switching on the ventilation systems. He sat down on his chair and pushed the switch to open the sunroof. Bright light sieved in from the tree canopy above the glass roof. And MM’s eyes opened wide, her head moving curiously as he lay her horizontal in his arms to absorb all the nature. He pushed back his chair until the sun wasn’t in her eyes, caressing her soft baby hair, inhaling the sweet baby soap scent that surrounded her. She smelled so good, of a unique entity. Maybe of herself. Gautam held her close to his chest, “Never again.”

Her eyes met his at the sound of his voice. And his heart swelled with pride.

“You recognise me, don’t you, MM? I am yours, no? And you are mine,” he cooed, reaching down to kiss her forehead, her tiny ear, her cute nose. His prettiest girl in the whole wide world. How had he not wanted a family? This was it. This was everything. She was everything.

“What’s your problem, huh?” Maya came barreling into his office, MM’s carrier on her arm.

“What’s my problem?” He repeated, sitting back. Her fuming like this was a first. Usually he was the one doing the logical talking. A part of him enjoyed it, even though he knew he was at stake here.

“Don’t act smart with me now,” she snapped. “Give me my daughter back and get on with your life. We will leave your flat by this afternoon.”

“Yes you will,” he agreed. “But you and our daughter will come with me to our new house.”

Her mouth dropped open. She began to counter but he sat forward — “Maya, I am sorry. So sorry for yesterday. I didn’t mean any of that. I was in a bad phase, something bad happened, and I… took it out on you.”

Her expression was stricken. Then she swallowed whatever she must have felt because she was sour again. “I understand, now give memyMegha.” She set the carrier on his desk and pulled the buckles out.

“I am not giving you my MM. If you want, you go alone.”

“You can’t steal my baby!”

“She is not only yours.”

“Oh yeah? Let’s check her birth certificate! It says Maya. M. A. Y. A. Maya!” She pointed to her herself.

“And who has changed most of her nappies? Gautam. G. A. U. T. A. M. Gautam.”

“That’s… that’s not how you own a baby!”

“Yes you do. You didn’t hear it because you were busy yapping in somebody’s ears when this rule was announced.”

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