Page 57 of 12 Years

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‘What?’

‘Get married.’

‘Oh.’

‘And you’re not ready for that.’

‘Not right now. You know what I went through. It’s been less than a year since my divorce.’

‘They don’t believe in dating, living-in and not getting married.’

‘I know.’

‘Now you see why I can’t tell them about you? When we have a plan, I will.’

‘Punjabi, older, divorced and a stand-up comedian. It’ll be hard to tell them.’

‘I’ll deal with it, Saket,’ Payal said.

‘I love you.’

‘Thank you.’

‘No “I love you” back?’

‘I’ll tell you tomorrow.’

‘Why tomorrow?’

‘Let me see no what the kamaal ka rishta is,’ she said.

I threw a cushion at her. She laughed as she caught it and threw it right back at me. I grabbed her. ‘I’ll show you something else kamaal ka right now,’ I said, turning off the lights.

‘Can you talk?’ I had a message from Payal.

I was in a meeting with Reliable Polymers, discussing the event flow for their upcoming annual retreats.

‘In a meeting, baby. Call you back?’ I messaged her.

‘Soon, please,’ she replied.

‘I’ll see you at home in the evening?’

‘I can’t come to Bandra tonight.’

‘Why?’

‘Call me. Will talk then.’

I finished my meeting and called Payal from the cab on my way back home.

‘Hey, sweets, what’s up?’ I said.

‘How was your meeting?’

‘Good. Finalized everything. Flying to Goa for their first event next week. Then travelling for a week to the remaining conference venues.’

‘Terrific.’

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