“All yours.” he swapped their plates. And then, Ritu enjoyed every bite of hersadasandwich. Buttery bread, chutney singing in her mouth like the best orchestra, masala turning to magic between the salad and butter.
“What are you doing this weekend, Doctor?”
“Not sure. Why do you ask?”
“Will you fly with me to Patan?”
The bite she was about to fill in her mouth stumbled. “Excuse me?”
“As my doctor,” he clarified.
“As your doctor? Are you the President or something? Why would a doctor fly with you? You are not in any danger. Relax. Nothing will happen to you. I asked you to inform one of your team members for safety’s sake…”
“Yes, but what if a doctor accompanies me instead? It might be a fun day for you. We will leave Saturday early morning, return by Sunday afternoon. All expenses paid, of course. A day of shoot at Rani ni Vav. It’s an iconic stepwell in Patan. The weather will be good too.”
Ritu set the piece of her sandwich down. “You do not need care like that. Trust me, everything is fine. You are fine.”
He nodded. But his face was back to that neutral territory, where nothing was visible behind his bored, entitled mouth.
“Patan is where they make Patola sarees?” She asked. His face lit up. But he held his own, nodding, finishing his last bite and folding the paper plate into a small crumble.
“What time will we be back on Sunday?”
“You mean you want to come?”
“I am considering it.”
“There are no PVRs there.”
“Ok, you pushed me to the other side.”
He laughed. Really laughed. And Ritu finished her sandwich, hating that she couldn't look at him a little more.
7. Jaage Jaage Armaan Hai, Jaage Jaage Hum
— RITU —
She felt like a teenager, lying to her parents and sneaking off to an outing. And she hadn’t done those things even as a teenager! Maya and Gautam had happily waved her off, thinking she was flying to Patan to meet an old friend who was married and settled there. She was an adult and did not need permission. Then why was she scared and thrilled at the same time that she had succeeded in fooling Maya?
Ritu pushed all those thoughts aside as her Uber glided into the Kalina Private Airport atrium. She was on time, and he, as she had discovered, was before time. Standing at the entry gate with nothing in his hand, not even a duffel bag, he exuded charisma. He wasn’t the usual business-formals-wearing man today. Even his shirt made heads turn — white, button-up, but Mandarin collar, tucked into simple but stately black pants. The security was looking at him, probably wondering where they had seen him. Or, if he had already opened his big, mean mouth, then plotting to detain him. He had that air about him — like he owned the air thatyouwere breathing. When he was in his NiP zone, that aura multiplied a few dozen times and made him so obnoxious.
She noted his gaze catch her in the Uber, and he began to descend the steps. Five people behind him scampered. That’s when she noticed it. They held bags and handbags and outfit bags. Four out of five were laden with things.
The Uber came to a halt, and her door was opened.
“Ok,” Ritu muttered, knowing who it was that had opened her door, as she started paying the Uber driver. “What is this for?”
“You are my girlfriend.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?!”
“Quiet,” he whispered, bending down to her ear level. “You are not officially coming as my doctor.”
“This is not a third-grade romcom,” she paused in her bid to hand over the money. “I am turning back if this is your game.”
“It’s not a game,” he panicked. “Ok. Friend. I haven’t told them anything except that I am expecting a friend. Afriend. Ok?”
