“What did Maya say?”
“Not right now.”
“Right fucking now,” he pushed back, crossing his legs and sitting in front of her. “I am not leaving until you tell me what made you so angry.”
“Leave, Nilay.”
“No!”
“Leave, I said.”
“No.”
“Fine, I’ll leave…”
“Keep sitting.”
Those seemed to be the magic words. She glared at him, but her movement stilled. She breathed. Slow. Spitting fire from her eyes. He took it. All of it. Sitting quietly.
“Maya.” She finally bit out. “Went and told Dimple that I have a plus one for her cocktail party and that we will be coming tomorrow.”
“Who is Dimple?”
“My cousin.”
“So?”
She wet her lips. “Jimmy fuva’s daughter.”
Never had an opportunity strutted so perfectly to him. His blood settled, his body went slack. Cool.
“Tell her we will go.”
“Nilay, I don’t want to go, and I am not taking you.”
“You can come or not, I am going as your plus one.”
“That does not even make sense!” She fought back. “Nilay, please. I don’t want to make a scene in front of them. They mean nothing to me anymore and I would like to leave India without any…”
“No scene will be made tomorrow.”
“I am not going.”
“We are.”
“Nil…”
“No scene will be made tomorrow. You have my word.”
“But…”
“RSVP for the two of us, Ritu.”
16. Jiya Jale Jaan Jale
— NILAY —
Kya karoon, kaise kahoon, raat kab kaise dhale… Jiya jale jaan jale, nainon tale…
