Page 129 of 12 Years
‘You look good. Fit, as always.’
‘Thanks.’
‘What about me?’ Payal said. ‘How do I look, compared to five years ago?’
‘You look fine as well,’ I said.
To me, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
‘I have to wear these glasses now,’ Payal said, removing them and keeping them on the table. ‘Especially when I’m working on the laptop. Otherwise, I get a headache. I’m getting old.’
‘You’re not old. I’m the one getting old,’ I said. ‘Forty next year, can you believe it?’
‘You don’t look like it,’ she said.
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘Anyway, travelling alone?’
‘Yeah, am on my way back to Mumbai from New York. Finished a work trip. How about you?’
‘I’m on my way to New York, for work.’
‘Ah. I don’t even know if my flight will leave today,’ Payal said, looking at the flight-status board. ‘It says there’s a four-hour delay.’
‘Mine’s delayed by five hours. Took me three hours to reach the airport from home, instead of the usual thirty minutes.’
‘Home? You don’t live in Mumbai?’
‘I moved to Dubai many years ago. Started my own company here.’
‘Oh. How come?’
To get over you.
‘Better opportunities here,’ I said.
‘What about stand-up?’
‘I left all that.’
‘Really? You left stand-up comedy?’
‘It’s not like I was that great.’
‘You were,’ she said.
Our eyes met properly for the first time.
‘How’s Parimal?’ I said, switching topics and looking away.
‘Parimal is fine. Busy with the business. He’s doing well.’
‘That’s great,’ I said.
‘How about you?’ Payal said.
‘What about me?’
‘Are you married?’
