•
Probably rehearses speeches in the mirror. Shirtless. With lighting.
I read and re-read them.
One of the cons sits heavy.
Aaditha is not happy with this alliance; that is as clear as a bell. I hoped that for all the protocol and noise around me, she would see me somewhere.
I shake my head and smile as my eyes fix on the moniker. Has she saved my contact details on her phone as Annoying-VRS?
I look at my watch; it’s not yet 11 a.m. Aaditha is at her office, maybe, dark hair dropping around her shoulders, fingers on a keyboard, punching out a pros and cons list on me.
But who is the mail meant for? Who is she going to call?
An hour slips by before my phone tears through my thoughts. It’s Aaditha.
‘Hello, Vedveer, Aaditha here. Is this a good time?’
Her voice is soft and businesslike, but even at the best of times, there is an edge to her tone.
I don’t realize it, but I’m smiling.
‘Hello, Aaditha, how are you?’
‘I’m good,’ she says after a longish pause, before adding, ‘and you?’
‘Not bad.’
‘This has been a crazy day!’ she says.
‘Has it?’ I can’t stop smiling.
‘Can you ignore the mail I sent you? I mean, delete it from your memory, pretend you haven’t read it?’ The words come out in a rush.
‘What mail?’ I feel like giving her a hard time. You can’t just have no recall ofthatkiss?
I hear the breath that escapes her lips. For a moment, she buys into what I say, only for a moment.
‘Please,’ she says, ‘can we at least pretend? I’m so embarrassed. I don’t think I have ever done something like this.’
‘What? Lists?’
Aaditha laughs. ‘Stop it, Vedveer! You are evil.’
‘No! Come on! I make lists, too!’
Her laugh hits a soft, musical note.
‘How have you been?’ I ask.
