Page 59 of Made in Mumbai

“What happened?”

Maya’s head was buried inside her phone screen, going rapidly down the years, through hundreds and thousands of photos. 2012, 11, 10… 2009.There!

“See?” She showed him her phone screen, the photo she had snapped of the two of them in this very place that night. “That bungalow is in the background. You bought it, G!” She grinned at him, incredulous at this twist of fate.

His face was mildly amazed too, as he took her phone in his hand and looked at the picture. The two of them, young and exhausted after a long day, still smiling wide, the bungalow behind them. She still remembered he had told her that she was the nicest person he had met. It was a tragedy that she had broken that delusion of his the next morning.

“Can you send this to me?” He returned her phone.

“Of course!” She downloaded it. “And this also. Remember the walls of murals?” She held up her phone again. He nodded, something bubbling in his eyes but his face still staring impassively. Maya sighed, getting the photos into his chat. Then, silence reigned.

Waves crashed, traffic zoomed, passersby chatted. They remained quiet, staring out at the sea.

“So,” she broke it, eyeing his pretty profile. “A proper family home and all in Mumbai, huh?”

He continued staring at the dark sea — “Yes, but I wouldn’t want a family inside it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I am more than sufficient on my own. I do not ever want another person’s burden on me.”

“Then why build such a big house?”

“For me. To prove to myself that I made my place in Mumbai. To prove to this city that I belong here… Why, you still want a family after all that you have been through?”

“I mean,” she pointed at her tummy with a chuckle. “I am having one.”

“Not like that. I meant a husband and home.”

“No,” Maya shook her head. “To be fair to myself, I gave it a try. But I wasn’t… likeable enough in that department. I guess I am a happy person when I am single. The world doesn’t like me as part of a couple.” She tried to smile through that confession, but froze when his fingers held her chin and pulled her face towards his.

More waves crashed, more traffic zoomed, more passersby chatted. Gautam’s eyes, intense and a little angry, held hers.

“Listen to a man who thought he hated you admit this — M was adorable, but you are so much more likeable, Maya.”

Her mouth opened, to take as much air as she could because those few words had robbed her of her breath.

“Oh ho… kaay re?” Somebody banged a stick close to where they sat. Maya startled, and turned her head in time to see a Police Havaldar standing between them, stick in one hand — “Girlfriend ko leke public area mein chumma-chaati?”

Before Gautam could, Maya turned in her place. The Havaldar’s eyes widened at her baby bump. If he thought they were an immoral couple trying to get cosy in public, this would solve it.

“To maajha navra aahe, Inspector saheb,” she grinned up at the officer, pointing to Gautam as her husband in Marathi.

“Inspector saheb, huh?” The Havaldar preened at her purposeful bump in his designation. “Mi Inspector disto, kaay?”

“Ho, ho… tumhi naay kaay?” She made a pouted face. “Personality Inspector-sarkhi aahe…”

He laughed, leaning on his stick. Then turned strict eyes at Gautam — “Kya re? Pregnant baiko ko leke aise public mein yeh sab karta hai? Chal, sab pack kar aur wife ko ghar leke jaa…”

“Havaldar sahab, aap…” Gautam pushed to his feet.

“Aye, tu mujhe Havaldar bola? Chal, ab 500 nikaal.”

“Kyu?” He glanced from him to her. Maya barred her teeth. The stupid man had to open his stupid mouth! She had gotten the situation under control…

“Kyu-kyu kya? Chal nikaal. Yaa tera gaadi ka chalan kaatun?” He searched for their car. “Woh neeli wali teri hai na, hero?”

“Inspector sir,” Maya got to her feet, then pushed back, both hands on her belly. “Ooohh… oohhh,” she doubled over. “Shit…”

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