Page 60 of 12 Years

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‘Bye, Payal.’

‘I’ll see you soon. I’m staying over at my parents’ place tonight. But I’ll come back to yours after work tomorrow.’

‘Why? You won’t go jewellery shopping?’

‘What jewellery shopping?’

‘For the wedding ceremonies? What comes first in Jain traditions? Roka?’

‘Not funny.’

‘He’s a Jain too, right? That must help.’

‘I don’t care what or who he is. I only care about you.’

‘What does Parimal do for a living?’

‘He’s a CA, like his dad. Why?’

‘Cool, well-educated too. Parimal and Payal. Wow, your wedding card can have a “P weds P” thing on the opening page.’

‘Stop it, Saket,’ Payal said. ‘And bye. I love you.’

I kept quiet.

‘No “I love you” for me?’ Payal said.

‘Bye,’ I said and hung up.

I opened my laptop and decided to write a new comedy set to distract myself. Maybe some chartered-accountant jokes.

‘Who is it?’ I screamed from the bedroom as my doorbell rang five times in a row.

I rubbed my eyes and checked the time on my bedside clock: 2 a.m. Who would ring my doorbell at this hour? I dragged myself out of bed and walked to the main door. I looked through the peephole.

‘Payal?’ I said, quickly opening the door.

‘Surprise!’

Payal wore a maroon-and-golden salwar kameez, with elaborate zari embroidery on the dupatta.

Was I dreaming?

‘You ordered for me, sir?’ she said coyly, stepping in and closing the door behind her.

‘Huh? What?’ I stared at her, still sleepy and confused.

‘My madam told me to come see you,’ Payal said. She ran a finger down my face. ‘That you were lonely and needed some cheering up.’

‘What’s going on, Payal? Aren’t you supposed to be at your parents’ house?’

‘Shh, I’m not Payal. I’m Shabnam. Payal is your girlfriend, right?’

‘Huh?’

Okay, are we in a surprise role-play situation?

‘Let’s go inside,’ she said, pushing my chest.

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