Page 137 of 12 Years
I let out a huge sigh. I told him the entire story about meeting Payal at the airport lounge that night.
‘Wow. You met Payal …’
‘By accident,’ I said. ‘I didn’t plan it.’
‘And you didn’t tell me?’ Mudit said.
I shrugged.
‘Should I be worried, bro?’ Mudit said, looking closely at my face.
‘No. I swear, we just ran into each other at the Emirates Lounge. Made some small talk, ate together, and that’s it. We went our separate ways after that.’
‘She did. You haven’t.’
‘I have too. I’m not in touch with her. Nothing since that day.’
‘So why are you still checking her Instagram account one month later?’
‘I don’t know.’
Mudit scrolled and saw some of Payal’s posts. ‘Every picture is with her husband,’ he said.
‘Yes. She’s happily married.’
‘Maybe it’s good you saw this. Should help you close the chapter,’ Mudit said, shaking his head.
‘Yes, maybe.’
‘Now do you agree with me?’
‘About what?’
‘That you need to move on. Date other people.’
‘I have moved on.’
‘Okay, then let me set you up on a date? There’s this girl I’m sort of seeing right now. She has a cousin who seems nice. Shall I introduce you to her?’
‘No, Mudit! Not right now.’
Mudit pursed his lips. ‘See?’
‘It’s the company. We need to grow it, take it to the next level. That means ten times the work. Where is the time to date?’
‘Really? Nobody in our company dates?’
I stayed silent and turned sideways, looking towards the buffet counter where employees loaded their plates with dal makhani and paneer tikka masala.
‘Saket, look at these pictures,’ Mudit continued. ‘She has her arms around her husband. She lives with him, travels the world with him, sleeps with him. You ran into her by accident, but otherwise, she’s never bothered to check where you were or how you were doing. Do you realize all that or not?’
I looked at Mudit.
‘Here’s the reality, bro. She threw you out of her life. Like one throws garbage out of their house. So, should you still be investing so much emotion into this?’ he said.
‘No, I shouldn’t,’ I said, sighing. ‘That’s why I’m wary of dating. I end up investing too much. It happened with Raashi and then with Payal too. I get into a relationship, and it just takes over my life. Eventually, I get fucked emotionally. It’s not worth it.’
‘Who’s telling you to get emotional? You think I’m emotional about Nadia?’
