“Ok. I am out of here.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
She set the receiver down, grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Mr. Patel, get these tests done and double down on your lifestyle changes. You are young, your cardiovascular health is good, there is a probability you can overcome this without a procedure…”
“How are you going?”
“Huh?” She stopped.
“You have a car?”
“Uber, fuck, Uber!” She breathed, pulling her mobile down with Maya’s breaths in her ear. She pulled up the app.
“I will drive you.”
“What?”
“It’s an emergency, Doctor. Just let me drive you.”
Ritu did not think. He gathered his reports, and she switched off the lights. “I will drive.”
“What? Why?”
“You do not get to have adrenaline rushes. Hand over the keys,” she opened her palm. She thought he would fight at this ‘emasculation’ but he just dropped the keys in her hand and plucked her phone. “What should I do with Maya?”
“Connect it to your car’s Bluetooth.” Ritu hit unmute and toggled the speakerphone. “Maya?”
“Yes, Maasi?” She was breathing slower now.
“Can you feel your back now?”
“Barely.”
“Ok, ok, MM is not crying now?”
“I think she cried herself to sleep.”
“Ok, relax. Keep breathing. We are on our way,” she kept striding out of the clinic and down the alley of the heritage building. Instead of taking the lift that might cut off the network, she took the stairs, running down — “You take the lift,” she ordered Nilay as she snatched her phone back.
“Ritu?”
Her name on his mouth made her turn at the base of the stairs.
“The Moonlight Blue Porsche Cayenne parked right outside.”
4. Maine Koi Jaadoo Nahi Kiya, Tu Hi Mere Piche Aaya Piya
— RITU —
Nilay Patel’s Porsche was everything that he wasn’t — cool, calm, polished, and ready to surrender to her control. The red interiors didn’t scream but sang the story of luxury, soft Mumbai FM radio coming to life as soon as she started the car. The passenger door opened and he slipped in, vibrating.
“Come on.”
She passed her phone to him and he connected it to his car’s system. Maya’s voice came on as she manoeuvred the car out of the tight parking spaces arranged haphazardly around the old compound.
“Maasi, it’s better. I think I will try and get up.”
“No. Try to move first,” Ritu advised. “Left to right and the other way. Very slowly.”
