Page 200 of 12 Years

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‘Like what?’

She pondered over whether she should share more with me. She spoke after a pause, ‘Dad just got dragged into a case.’

‘What case?’

‘Parimal and Dad. Parimal is contesting in court, for his stake in Dad’s business.’

‘It is your dad’s business.’

‘Yes, but Dad trusted him a lot. He’d assigned him the power of attorney in the past. Anyway, it’s all a mess. I’m helping Dad get good legal advice, prepare the necessary documents, etc.’

‘Sorry to hear that,’ I said. ‘May I help in any way?’

‘No, Saket,’ she said, her voice firm. ‘It’s being handled.’

‘Okay. I was just trying to—’

‘I can handle my stuff. As a divorced, vulnerable woman, I do pretty okay. Decently functional.’

‘Ouch, someone hasn’t forgotten. Payal, about tha—’

‘If I can close a three-and-a-half-billion-dollar deal for my company, I can handle my life on my own. I don’t need to cling to anyone.’

‘I know, Payal. Can we forget about that day now?’

‘I have. Anything else?’

‘Yes. I think of you sometimes. About the time we spent in Dubai.’

‘I thought this was a work call?’

‘All right, fine. Speaking of work, I’m looking forward to coming to Mumbai, for the closing dinner.’

‘Yes, it’s in two weeks, right?’

‘Yeah. And as you wanted, I might just do the comedy act. I’ve started preparing for it.’

‘I didn’twantyou to do it. It was just a suggestion. It’s up to you. You don’t have to. The closing dinner will happen either way.’

‘Why are you being so curt?’

‘Curt? No. I’m in office, working, that’s all.’

‘Right. Also, I told Tania I definitely need a break. I need to figure out what I want.’

‘Cool. Yeah, am sure you’ll figure things out. Maybe get someone even younger and prettier. A famous model perhaps?’

‘Why are you talking to me like this?’

‘Like what? It’s true. You can afford anything now, isn’t it? If something doesn’t work for you, you can simply change it.’

‘That’s not what I meant.’

‘Do whatever makes you happy, really. Anyway, I’ll have the authorized signatory list sent today,’ she said before ending the call.

PART III

MUMBAI

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