Page 51 of Red Flags and Rishtas
As I took the soft piece of cloth from him, a small smile inadvertently found its way onto my face. I placed the tea cup on the stone bench next to the stall and wiped my hands. Just as I returned the handkerchief, my phone rang.
‘Hey, you,’ Madhav’s warm voice spilled over from the other side.
‘Oh, hey,’ I said. ‘What’s up?’
‘I was just about to leave from the office. I’ll see you in around 30?’ he asked.
‘Huh?’
I pulled the phone from my ear to look at the time. It was 1:15 p.m.Shit.I’d completely forgotten I’d asked him to –
‘Come over for lunch, right?’
I was conscious of Aadar’s eyes on me as I spoke into the phone, ‘Shit, man. An important client is dropping by for an impromptu meeting. I don’t think I’ll make it out in time.’
‘Oh.’ The exclamation was followed by a few seconds of silence. ‘I’d moved quite a few things around for this.’
He sounded disappointed, even a tad bit accusatory. I felt guilty.
‘I’m really sorry. It just came up,’ I offered sincerely.
‘No, it’s all right.’ The warmth was back in his tone as he said, ‘I do want to see you soon, though.’
I turned around so Aadar couldn’t watch my expression as I said, ‘Me too. I promise I’ll hit you up soon.’
When I disconnected the call, I half expected him to ask me who I’d been speaking with. I knew he was perceptive enough to know that it hadn’t been a professional phone call.
Instead, he pointed at the black Audi A3 that had pulled up in front of my office.
‘That them?’ he asked.
I nodded just as Harsh and Deepti spilled out of the backseat.
Aadar handed the shopkeeper a twenty-rupee note and deposited our cups inside a large pan. We jogged our way back to the entrance of my office building, just in time to catch the same elevator as our guests.
‘Oh, hey,’ Deepti said when she saw me.
I greeted them both and introduced them to Aadar, who had communicated with them several times over email but had never met them in person.
‘You look different from what I’d imagined,’ she said, smiling up at him.
‘And what was that?’ he asked, smiling back.
Even though it was just us four in the lift, the space felt compact and poky. I was facing away from the three of them, towards the doors.
‘You know, like an old, balding man,’ she said.
‘Sorry to disappoint.’
I wanted to read their faces, but I couldn’t turn without making Aadar move from his place. I didn’t have to wait long. The elevator doors pinged as we reached our destination.
Had I imagined it or had they been flirting a little bit in there?
Just as I was about to discard the idea, I caught a glimpse of Harsh’s face.
He looked like somebody had just waxed his nose hair.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this nervous about anything. The night before the big reveal of V’s boutique, I couldn’t sleep a wink. I pictured my friend’s mother scrutinising every little detail of the studio, that perpetual frown deepening on her brow. There was too much on the line for her to dislike what I’d done with the place. Vrinda had placed far too much trust in me, and I didn’t want it to be a waste. I’d gone with my gut. I’d taken a risk. And now, it was time to see where that would lead me.
