Page 124 of 12 Years
‘What the …?’ I looked up at him, irritated.
‘Let’s get out of here. Our site is down. It’s a forced day off.’
Mudit took me to Topgolf. Located in the Emirates Golf Club, it’s a snazzy, hi-tech golf driving range plus bar and restaurant. We hired one of the many bays from where you can hit golf balls into the large ground in front. Mudit also ordered two large pints of beer and burgers for both of us.
‘My diet, Mudit,’ I said.
‘Uff, what are you? A Miss Universe model?’
I sneered.
‘You’re too stuck up,’ Mudit said. ‘Loosen up. To misquote a little, “Pardon my French, but Saket is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you’d have a diamond …”’
‘That’s fromFerris Bueller’s Day Off. Great movie,’ I said.
‘Thank God, you still remember some fun things,’ Mudit said. ‘Come, hit some balls with me.’
Mudit stood up and collected a ball from the automatic ball dispenser. He took a driver and hit a hard shot. The geotagged ball flew, and the screen in the bay trajectory showed it landing 140 yards away.
‘Not bad.’
‘Your turn, mister.’
I hit a shot.
‘110 yards?’ Mudit smirked. ‘So much for the pumping-iron man. You’re weak, bro.’
‘Dude, I’ve never played golf in my entire life. This is the first time I ever lifted a club,’ I said.
‘Maybe you should take it up then. Have some fun, Mr CEO,’ Mudit said, taking another shot.
‘I’m going to bust your ass,’ I said, ‘eventually.’
‘In your dreams.’
We played for an hour. Mudit’s best shot was 170 yards. I couldn’t go beyond 140. We finished the game and sat down on the couches in the bay.
‘I have to come and practise,’ I said. ‘This isn’t acceptable.’
‘Ouch, someone is hurt,’ Mudit said, grinning. ‘This ain’t deadlifting, bro. This requires skill and coordination.’
‘Deadlifting does too.’
‘Yeah, right, so much skill,’ Mudit said. He stood up and did a mock deadlift with a golf driver, pretending to struggle and making a grunting sound.
I laughed.
‘Good to see you laugh, bro,’ Mudit said. He lifted his beer glass to clink with mine.
‘Thanks for bringing me here,’ I said. ‘I needed this.’
‘What has got you so wound up anyway?’
‘Nothing. Work. The company.’
‘Do you know the buzz about our next funding round? A three-hundred-million-dollar-plus valuation! You’re travelling to New York next month to meet the investors. Things are looking good.’
‘I don’t know. It doesn’t feel as good though.’
