Page 110 of Made in Mumbai

“Then where do you plan to go?”

“A service apartment. I’ve already booked it.”

“No.”

“Gauta…”

“Sit back, and be quiet.”

“You pray for this car to never stop. Because if it will, I will be dancing over your dead body.”

Thankfully, the bungalow was just down the lane, on the Carter Road promenade. He drove the car inside the gate and before she could make him a dead body, he got out and closed the gate, locking it tight.

“Gautam!” She was out, and he took the opportunity to reach from the other side and grab MM’s carrier. “Hi!” He played peek-a-boo with her, eliciting her tiny smile.

“You can dance in the garden, I am not becoming a dead body for at least the next 50 years.”

Gautam didn’t wait for her, marching inside the new house. In his haste, he had left it all open. But no foul done. It was easy to bring them home like that. If he had taken his own sweet time unlocking the gates and doors, Maya would have run again.

“You thief! I’ll complain to the police.”

“The Police Station is to the left. They won’t give you time immediately though, so if you are hungry in-between, come home.” He kept striding through the empty hall. It was almost done, the panelling, wallpapering, everything complete. The added alterations of baby-proofing the corners was underway. He had also had them install all safety precautions including baby gates at the two ends of the staircase.

“Gau…” she stopped, glancing around the house. Bingo. This house was his best argument in his defence. Maya’s gaze roved around the hall. He kept striding, having her quietly follow him as she took in all the baby-proof work that had been abandoned, tools and all pushed to one side. He walked around the massive open kitchen and out into the courtyard, just leisurely strolling around the verandah so she got a good tour of the open garden in the centre. The old Portuguese pillars, terracotta floors, arches, stone walls… It was a beautiful place, a haven in the middle of Mumbai’s bustle. Gautam showed it all to her without a single word and went on, swinging MM happily in her carrier as he climbed the outer staircase to the first floor.

They spilled into a family room with one whole wall opened up for an arched bay window. He continued into the master bedroom, depositing MM on the bed that was already made. This bedroom and the adjoining smaller room had been made ready a long time ago, fitted with all the furnishings, beddings, and all the changing tables and cot and playthings MM might need.

“What is all this? You did this in one night?” She gasped, stopping at the threshold of the bedroom.Theirfuture bedroom.

“Come on in,” he extended his hand. She hesitated. The afternoon light dappled from two windows into their room, making the space just perfect for her. Gautam walked up to her and took her hand gently into his, walking back, helping her in. The spring breeze swayed the curtains and gently flowed into their bedroom from an old-school balcony, bringing with it the salty scent of the sea. The crashing of waves and the zipping of cars punctuated the silence.

“You give me too much credit if you think I could do all this in one day.”

She glanced around, stopping at the wall opposite the balcony. On the photo from 15 years ago. The one that she had taken at the end of their eventful night. He had framed it. Two strangers, two teenagers, two kindred spirits. There was another frame he had had hung beside it. A frame of her pregnancy test mounted up. It had remained with him that day in Coorg, and even without knowing what their future would hold, he had let it remain in his house, in his room, in his drawer. He didn’t know why then, but now, as Maya was brought to tears at the sight of it, he knew why.

“I had the interior designer leave space for a third frame, one of all three of us.”

“G, please don’t do this to me again…” Maya choked, wet eyes on the photos.

He closed the distance between them and took her face in his hands — “I am sorry. So so sorry. I was not in the right frame of mind last night. I should not have done that and I am sorry, so sorry. You were my everything. And then she came along,” he nudged his chin to their happy baby enjoying all the sunshine in her new home. “And sheiseverything.”

Silent tears flowed down Maya’s face but she didn’t give him her eyes. He tipped her face up, holding her gaze, his thumbs brushing tears that kept flowing.

“We have been in a relationship… no, we have been a couple ever since you shifted into my house, M. And she? She has been mine ever since she has kicked me through your stomach. I know I have no claim over her or you. Legally. But please don’t take you both away from me. Please. Give me this one chance, M. I am a slow learner. But I have always excelled at second chances in life. Give me this one and I promise you will not regret it. Please.”

She was quiet, her tears nowhere close to stopping.

“M?”

Maya’s eyes blinked at him, as if his words were finally registering. A small sad smile began to bloom on her lips. His answering smile was big enough to blind her. Gautam pressed a kiss to her brow, pulling her into his arms and keeping her tight. His body felt loose again, like it was filled with nothing but air and light. He inhaled, tipping his chin down to meet her eyes.

“Marry me, M.”

“What?” She pushed back. He didn’t let her leave the circle of his arms.

“Hear me out, it’s not something I am proposing in desperation.”

“Oh yeah? Do go on, please. Because where, between last night when we ‘weren’t in a relationship’ and today, did you decide to marry me?”

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