“…why are there men’s shoes here?”
Nilay winced.Fuck. Idiot.
He got ready to come out and confess when Ritu’s voice stunned him — “They are your neighbour’s.”
Crazy, crazy Doctor. You don’t know how to lie!
“Neighbour’s? Shailesh uncle’s? Maasi, why would Shailesh uncle leave his shoes and socks in this house?”
“Umm… he came this morning and I offered him tea. Then when his wife came home and called him, he went back barefoot.”
“His wife is in Dubai…”
Silence.
Then — “Oh… there was some lady who called him.”
“That must be his girlfriend. Was she short and looked like honeybees had attacked her lips?”
“Yes! Maybe.”
“His girlfriend. Comes to meet him on the weekends when his wife is in Dubai. But shouldn’t we go and tell him to take his shoes…”
“I told him, I told him. He will take them in some time.”
“Are you sure, Maasi?”
“You think I am hiding a man in my bedroom and making up stories?”
Nilay shut his eyes.Don’t bait her, Ritu.
“That would be fun, no?” Maya’s voice sounded closer.
Fuck you, Doctor.
He began to step back, picking up his belt and readying himself to shut inside the bathroom.
“But you and fun are step-sisters, Maasi. And anyway these shoes look like they are Shailesh uncle’s. Very uncle-types.”
Excuse me. Those were custom-made Italian leather loafers she was calling uncle-types.
He fumed. But then their muffled murmurs went farther. He relaxed. And lost interest in their conversation. Nilay flung his belt on the bed and threw himself on her pillow. Since he was shut inside her bedroom, he might as well work. He reached for his phone and thumbed open his messages.
————————————————————
The doorknob rattled and he jumped up.
“Fatela jeb sil jaayega, jo chaahega mil jaayega, rukne ka nahi thakne ka nahi…” Ritu was singing.
Fuck.
He collected his belt and phone and froze on his way to the bathroom as the door flung open.
“Bheja kyu sarkane ka, sahi boltae, sahi boltae…” she burst into the room laughing.
“You are dead.” He threw his belt and phone and dashed. She ran out of the room, screaming. She wasn’t even trying too hard to escape, rattling with mad laughter. He caught her on his first snatch and hitched her up and around, laughing with her until she struggled to be set down.
“You mad! Your heart!” She chided as he set her down.
