The place was packed, dancing bodies pressed close and servers snaked through with drinks held high. Ananya barely made it a few steps ahead.
‘Follow me,’ I said, shouldering forward without waiting, clearing a path and making sure she was right behind me.
The deafening music cut off once we stepped past the doors. I exhaled, the calm washing over me like relief.
She pulled out her phone and opened the Uber app.
‘Don’t even try,’ I said. ‘I’m dropping you home.’
‘I live in Bandra,’ she said as if it were a reason not to do it.
‘I know.’ Thankfully, she didn’t argue any further.
Dilip arrived in the car. I told him the address, and he pulled away from the curb.
I stared out the window, looking at the city blur past, painted gold by the streetlights, but remained acutely aware of Ananya sitting cross-legged beside me.
Her laughter from earlier lingered in my head. So free, contagious. The way she tossed her head back, exposing the delicate column of her throat. The way her shoulders shook.
For some inexplicable reason, it felt like a splinter lodged beneath my skin.
‘Had fun?’
I glanced at her. ‘Yes. And I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to crash your party.’
Her face remained in shadows, but the passing lights lit it up in flashes, offering me fleeting glimpses – the sweep of her lashes, the hint of her smile. ‘You didn’t. Everyone had a lot of fun,’ she said, then added, ‘You don’t seem very drunk.’
‘I’ve only had two drinks.’
‘No way.’ Her brows lifted. ‘Really?’
‘I was out with my employees,’ I said. ‘It didn’t feel appropriate to indulge.’
‘You bought shots for everybody.’ She tilted her head, giving me a look. ‘I think that ship sailed a long time ago.’
‘I didn’t want to seem uptight and ruin their night. Drinks are a good way to loosen people up.’
A pause, then something shifted in her expression. Softened. ‘That’s very sweet of you.’
I nodded. We had almost crossed the sea link. It wouldn’t be long before we reached her building.
‘And you?’ I asked. ‘Did you enjoy yourself?’
‘Mmm …’ Her teeth sank into her bottom lip. ‘A little bit. I would have had more fun if I knew everyone better.’
‘I thought you and Rishi were close?’ The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them. Chai breaks at her desk. Easy laughter. That hug tonight. My fingers gripped the armrest.
‘He’s a good friend, yes,’ she said. ‘I did have fun with him. Until his boyfriend arrived and they … got busy.’
I blinked.
Wait –boyfriend?
The word hung in the air.
Something in me loosened, inexplicably so.
‘Good timing,’ she added. ‘I was ready to leave at that point.’
