Page 105 of 12 Years

---

I stumbled into the kitchen, opened the fridge and took out some ice cubes from the freezer. I came back to the living room and made myself a drink.

‘What are you doing? Did I hear ice cubes dropping into a glass?’ Mudit said.

‘Maybe. Anyway, what’s up?’

‘Are you drinking?’

‘I’m having cold water, dude.’

‘Bullshit, I can smell the whisky through the phone.’

‘It’s rum. But nice try.’

‘It’s two in the afternoon, bro.’

‘How does it matter? Any particular reason you called me?’

‘Two reasons. One, your mother called me. You haven’t returned your parents’ calls in a week. Can you just call them back and tell them you’re alive?’

‘You could’ve told them that.’

Mudit remained silent.

‘Fine, I’ll do it. What’s the second thing?’ I said.

‘There’s an enquiry for a corporate show.’

‘No, can’t do it.’

‘Bangalore. Easy money. One of those tech conferences. You could even do a day trip.’

‘I’ll pass, Mudit. Give it to one of the other comics.’

‘They asked for you specifically.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. They saw clips of your previous corporate shows.’

‘I’m not the same guy anymore.’

‘Come on, bro, you can’t throw away your career like that. It’s a great gig. Many tech-company CEOs will be there. You’ll get more shows after this.’

I gulped down the rum.

‘Okay, that’s a disgusting sound,’ Mudit said. He could hear the alcohol glugging down my throat. ‘Why are you drinking rum like it’s water?’

‘Sorry,’ I said, slamming the empty glass on the coffee table. ‘Anything else?’

‘So, I just decline it? Say no to a lakh you could earn in a few hours making jokes you already know?’

‘Yeah. Whatever. I have to go. Anything else?’

‘Yes. Just don’t check Instagram for a while.’

‘Why?’

‘You follow that Payal’s friend’s account, right? That hot diva housewife or something?’

---