“What happened?” Maya turned.
“Hmm?”
“Did you hear that thud? Something fell inside…”
“Must be my intern. These Gen Zs have been a pain in the ass.”
“Tell me about it!” Maya kept going, breaking into some Gen Z story that he did not even register. The moment she was out though, he shut the door and plotted to lock it and disconnect his intercom.
“She saw your shoes!” Ritu came out barreling.
“She also heard your WWF inside!” He shot back.
“Why would you wear the same shoes today?”
“Would I dream about her coming here and seeing them?”
“And then you went and told her they were handmade! Couldn’t you lie and say that they were from some shop?”
“I don’t wear off-the-rack.”
“Snobbish, obnoxious pig!” Ritu cursed just as her mobile rang. She reached inside her pocket. “It’s Maya! Fuck…”
She picked it up and he shamelessly leaned close to her ear.
“Hey!”
“Maasi, where are you?”
“Home…”
Nilay looked pointedly at her.
“I mean, reaching home. I came out to buy… bread.”
“Why are you awake at 9 in the morning first of all? Anyway, I am also coming there. I’ll pick you up.”
“No, not needed. I am already walking. In fact, go to the bungalow. I will meet you there.”
“Cool. And today you are having dinner with us. You haven’t left the apartment since you went there.”
“Done.”
Nilay hissed at her.
“Then pack a bag and come to the bungalow for the day. Or better yet, come back. If you are going to wake up early every day anyway, and not come home at all, then better come back only!”
“We’ll see.”
“No, no, I will send G with you to grab all your luggage.”
Don’t go back,Nilay glared at her. She glared back but kept talking — “We’ll see, Maya. Now I’ll see you in sometime. Ok?”
The moment she hit end, Nilay got into her face — “You are not going back to their bungalow.”
“Excuse me?”
He froze. Who was he to order her around? Nilay calmed his racing heart.
