Page 46 of One Indian Girl
‘It’s okay. They promoted two others too.’
‘It’s huge. You know it is. Anyway, I got to go. Need to make some calls. What time will you be home today?’
‘7.30. Why?’
‘Nothing. I might get a little late. Okay, MrSenior Creative Director, bye!’
I hammered out a quick plan. I messaged Avinash, Ashish and Nidhi.
‘Kind of big news. Debu got promoted. My boyfriend is a senior creative director! Surprise celebration drinks. Our place. 7 p.m. sharp. 55B, 50 Franklin Street, Tribeca.’
Within minutes everyone confirmed. I messaged a few others. Some wanted to bring their friends along. In half an hour, I had a mini-party organized with about a dozen confirmed guests. Finally, I dashed Debu a message.
‘Busy day. May get late. Have dinner and sleep.’
‘Surprise!’ everyone shouted in unison as a clueless Debu opened the door. His shocked and dazed expression had everyone bursting into laughter and made my hours of frantic preparation worthwhile. I had ordered pizzas from Ray’s. The salads, nuts and bar snacks came from Whole Foods. Champagne was chilling in the freezer. It was the first time Debu and I had so many guests in our little apartment. Chatter and laughter filled the living room. It made my world seem complete. My house felt like a home. I dimmed the lights and turned up the music.
‘What a great party!’ Nidhi said.
‘Template for you. You never do such surprises for me,’ Ashish, now her husband, said.
‘We are married. They are boyfriend and girlfriend. There’s a difference.’
‘Whatever,’ Ashish said. Nidhi laughed.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around. It was Debu. He looked deep into my eyes.
‘I love you,’ he said.
‘I love you too,’ I said.
Debu pecked me on the lips. Avinash whistled. Everyone looked at us. I covered my face in embarrassment. The house felt warm and fuzzy. I had never been happier in my whole life.
‘I just told you this afternoon. How did you do all this so fast?’ Debu said.
‘I took the rest of the day off.’
‘Thank you for making me feel so special, superwoman.’
‘You are welcome. But you are still helping me clean up after the party, okay?’ I said.
Three months later
‘Superb job on MegaBowl. We will recover thirty million, not twenty-five. Well done, Radhika!’ I read Jonathan’s old email on my laptop. He had copied Jon Cruz, a partner in the Distressed Debt Group. Jon had sent a ‘well done’ email as well.
‘Baby, shut your laptop. Come, lie down,’ Debu said in a drowsy voice. I was sitting next to him on the bed. I had switched off the room lights. However, the glare of the laptop screen bothered him.
‘It’s still too bright. What time is it?’ Debu said.
‘11.30,’ I said. ‘Only a few more minutes, I promise.’
He exhaled noisily.
‘What are you working on?’ he said, putting his arm around my waist. I nudged the laptop higher to accommodate him.
‘My own performance review. I have to turn it in tomorrow.’
‘You are amazing,’ he said and nuzzled my shoulder.
