Page 80 of Made in Mumbai
“I am waiting in your office with the report on Nilay Patel.”
“Right,” he squinted. “Yes, please leave it there, I will take a look first thing tomorrow and get back to you.”
“Sure. Where are you?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean… are you at home? I was thinking of coming to your street to see a friend… I can drop the file at your place directly.”
Gautam felt Maya stiffen. But in that pause, he also felt his mistake, because Maya quietly got up with her empty plate. Before he could respond, she had walked to the kitchen, far away from his conversation.
“No, leave it on my desk, please. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Gautam ended the call and went behind Maya. She was by the sink, washing their day’s tiffins.
“Why did yo…”
“You can call her, it’s ok. I’ll be inside the room,” Maya smiled. “And don’t worry. I will double down my efforts to hunt for a place…”
He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, water splashing all around them.
“Repeat that now.”
“G…”
“That’s right. G. Tell me the last time you called me G and I called you M with this ease.”
“But…”
“Did I ever tell you that I want to call Sahyadri here and you are a problem?”
“No.”
“Did I ever tell you that I want you to find another place?”
“No.”
“Then?”
Her eyes lowered, and Gautam couldn’t have that. He held her chin and tipped it up — “Look at me, M.”
Those pretty eyes that had lit up his day throughout today looked full of trepidation now.
“I don’t want to… be a burden on your lifestyle. And also… if I am being honest, I don’t want to be a pile-on and see things that are not there.”
“Like what?”
His heart beat fast.
“Like this.”
“Like what, M? Spell it out.”
“You know what.”
“No I don’t.”
“Then there’s no point of me telling,” she began to push away from him but he twirled her in and took her mouth. Her body tautened. Gautam stopped. His eyes met hers, and hidden among the haze of shock was desire. Clear as day. He dipped his head, and this time, she reached up on her tiptoes and met him halfway, her arms twining around his neck as her mouth met his.
