Page 90 of Made in Mumbai

“It’s best you talk to Maya.”

Gautam sensed the unease. He began to stride out, the employees gathered in clusters, murmuring, glancing at him then looking away. He pulled out his phone, dialling her number. It went on ringing. His heart rate accelerated as he ran out of the property and onto the road. How long could it have been? He had just gone up to talk… Gautam looked left, then right, trying to locate her. It was dark, darker than usual, some streetlights off even though Diwali lights glowed.

Gautam got into his car and sped home, trying to dial her again and again. She did not pick up. His temper rose. What was she thinking? What the hell had happened?

He reached home in record time, parked the car and rushed up into his flat, only to find her drinking water by the kitchen counter. Still in her party finery.

“Whew,” she breathed, then noticed him. She smiled — “Seriously, paani ka kaam toh paani hi karta hai!’

“What’s wrong with you?” He thundered. “Are you crazy? Walking out of there like that? Did you walk home all the way? Why aren’t you even picking up your phone.”

“G…”

“There’s a limit to irresponsible behaviour! Everything is not fun and games all the time. You are happily drinking water here when I have been scouting the streets all the way home! What the hell…”

“Will you hear me out?”

“No. Because what reason could there be for you to dramatically walk home in the dark, with so many potholes…”

“So you don’t know?” She raged back.

“What?”

“They all know!”

“Who know what?”

“That I am living in your house!”

“The office people?”

“Yes. They know now.”

“So what? It’s our life, our decision.”

“You are a man, the owner of those people’s jobs and so it’s easy for your to say this. Not so much for me,” she gestured to her belly.

“What is that supposed to mean?” He advanced on her, his temper now going out of his control.

“It means your favourite employeeSahyadrican spend her life flirting with you but you won’t be vilified but she will come and say two things about me and all the respect I’ve earned would go poof!”

“Do not talk in circles,” he gritted.

“I am talking straight! She just wouldn’t stop. And where were you? Didyoutell her?”

“Tell her about us living together? Why would I?”

“I don’t know? You share a lot of things with her!”

“B*****d!” His hand banged on the counter. “I did not…”

“Ahhh!” Her scream startled him. And he realised she had turned away, her arms covering her face and stomach. He froze. A second ticked. Two. And Maya slowly recovered, turning back and letting go of her stance, her expression shocked.

“I wouldn’t have touched you,” he clarified in a small voice. She nodded.

“Who hit you?”

She remained silent. Gautam raised his hands in the air, stepping back from her — “Maya, who hit you? Was it your father?”

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