“You get the idea.”
“Yes, I do…”
His doorbell rang. Nilay frowned.
“Are you expecting somebody?”
“No… must be Rajiv. To take my BP. Fuck, I forgot to go to him at 9…” he chuckled. “Would you like to hide in the bathroom or meet him?”
“How many people will I hide from?” She followed him.
“At this point, you are only hiding from your niece.”
“As are you.”
He turned the lock and opened the door. Only to come face to face with his father.
Age was just a number for Parmeshwar Patel. One good thing he had passed on in the gene pool, Nilay thought, staring at a man twenty-five years his senior but looking like a mirror image of him, just a few years in the future. His hair was all white though. And if he looked closely, his hairline was thinning.
“Daddy.”
“You ran off Sanket this morning…” he trailed to a stop, his eyes falling behind him. “Who is this?”
“Come in and let’s talk properly.” Nilay stepped out of his way, hearing his hiss at the silent insult. The only way to cut his father’s cold dictatorship was to become warm and sly. It didn’t work on his brother. His ego wasn’t as fragile.
“Would you like some dinner?” He asked, not meaning it. Therewasnodinner left.
His father grunted, eyes still on Ritu. Parmeshwar Patel had one hell of a frosty look.
“Ritu, meet my father. Daddy, this is Dr. Ritu Kapadia.” He introduced, out of his respect for Ritu.
He nodded at her. “Colleague?”
“Why don’t you tell me why you are here?”
“It’s a private matter.”
“Ritu is no stranger.”
“Not a colleague, then. Are you getting engaged?”
Ritu’s silent gasp was audible beside him. Nilay tamped down his urge to laugh. He wished. Wait. Where had that thought come from?
“It’s the right time now,” his father went on. “All this money you have made, but the reputation you have tarnished frolicking with men and women and… the things you do with all of them together… at least settle down like a respectable man in your old age now. Where are you from, Ritu?”
She went to open her mouth but Nilay cut her off — “Why are you here?”
“Are you going to get married to her?”
“If you are here for Mummy’s barsi, then my answer is the same as this morning.”
“I want to know the background of this girl. Kapadia means Vania…”
“Bullseye.” Nilay locked his hands behind his back. “You came here after Sanket went and whispered in your ear about Ritu. I have owned this apartment for 9 years, when have you seen the inside of it otherwise?” He laughed. “You came here to check if there was actually a woman with me, and…”
“For a change!” His father shot out. “And you are still as hopeless as ever. Whatever this girl might be like at least she is a girl…”
“Don’t you d…”
