Page 46 of Made in Mumbai

CC:Gautam Kumar; Sahyadri Rao

Subject:My Pregnancy Announcement

Dear Trisha,

I hope this email finds you well, although I know you are rocking today with that red kurti that I just told you looks like Anushka’s from Breakup song.

This email is to officially inform you about my pregnancy. I am officially 11 weeks along, which means I will be delivering my baby on 20th January as per the date provided by my gynaecologist. I read our company policy on maternity leave, and would like to inform you that I will be on leave starting 1st December. However, I think I will go crazy without work, so I request you to come up with a system where I can take work home for at least a few weeks before I deliver and then after.

Awaiting your response.

Warm Regards,

Maya Kotak

Senior Textiles Designer

MADE IN MUMBAI

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“Maya?” Trisha tapped her shoulder fifteen minutes after she had hit send.

“Yes?” Maya turned, suddenly nervous. Her tentative voice must have cued her, because Trisha smiled benignly between her and the rest of her designers — “Can I see you in my office, please?”

“Sure.”

“What did you do?” Riya’s eyes widened as Maya got up to follow.

“Oh, umm… nothing. Let me see.”

Maya padded into the HR office and closed the door. When she turned, Trisha embraced her tight. “Congratulations!”

Maya’s chest lightened. She circled her arms around her and squeezed, “Thank you.”

“Wow, it’s not visible at all,” Trisha pulled back, looking at her belly. Maya grinned — “It’s visible on the hips,” she turned, earning an amused eye roll.

“Come, sit. I have also invited Gautam Sir and Sia down for this.”

“Why?”

“Nothing serious or formal, but it will be better if we talk it out and manage projects as per your maternity…”

Two knocks sounded.

“Yes, Gautam Sir, please come in.”

Maya sat surprised as the grumpy boss knocked and entered nicely here when he had barged into her office last week and threatened to shut off the lights.

“Hi, Maya, congratulations,” Sia smiled, following him. She seemed so happy for her that for a moment Maya thought she genuinely was. Then she realised that she was with Gautam, and that she always acted weird around him.

They all took their seats.

“So, you both have read Maya’s email, I assume. I called everybody here to discuss a preliminary plan for Made in Mumbai’s upcoming projects. And also to discuss if we can create a work-from-home arrangement for Maya.”

“Of course we can!” Sia exclaimed. “In fact, I suggest you take hybrid days early on, and then completely work from home.”

“Thanks, Sia.”

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