“You seem to remember the roads.”
“Hmm.”
“Left from here.”
“Right takes you towards Racecourse.”
“You don’t need to take that route now, take the Coastal Road. We will cross over in 10 minutes.”
“It’s opened?”
“Take the left.”
“If it’s not open…”
“You are going at 40, now 30, anyway. What would one detour matter?”
Ritu sneered, but trusted him and turned left, driving down Marine Drive.
“Keep left.”
“It’s open! That one, right?” She couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes widening at the entryway that looked like it was right out of a sunroom. The sun was streaming through the translucent tunnel dome as the road sloped down into the sea and under it.
“It should have, considering I came through an hour ago,” he quipped. His phone began to ring, and he startled.
“I am losing network soon, tell me if it’s urgent,” he barked into his phone.Andhe was back.
Ritu heard the snappy breaths out of his mouth as he grunted, then his colourful curse just as they went completely under and the network died. The underground tunnel was slick and well-made, the traffic so well-behaved. Some of America’s best roads had nothing on this. Ritu stared enraptured, hitting the speed limit slowly. Her ears popped, then closed, and she felt the purr of the engine under her fingers. The quiet here was something else.
“You’ve driven in Mumbai?”
“First time.”
“You know how to drive, right?”
She glanced pointedly at the steering wheel.
“Driving license?”
“They still need those here?”
His brows drew together. “If you get caught without a license, don’t expect any gentlemanly treatment from me.”
“Ok.”
“I mean it, Doctor. I am taking my car and driving away.”
“Ok.”
“You have a license.” He realised loudly.
She remained silent.
“You are messing with a man whose resting heart rate can shoot up?”
“Nothing will happen to you.”
“Is that why you weren’t speeding back there?”
