A knock, then the door swung open.
‘Arjun can’t make it. It’s you, Yuv and me,’ Ayaan said, walking in. ‘We’re going to celebrate by getting drunk and getting laid. Let’s go.’
I didn’t even look up from my screen. ‘I’ve got work to do.’
He groaned dramatically. ‘Bhai, you just closed Harrods.Harrods!And you’re sitting here like an eighty-year-old accountant.’
‘I need to finish this report, Ayaan.’
‘Not tonight,’ he said. ‘Closing Harrods is a big achievement. We need to go out and celebrate.’
‘Work isn’t going to get done by itself.’
‘Neither is your social life,’ he shot back. ‘Come on. You’ve earned one night out. You can go back to being a workaholic tomorrow.’
I leaned back, resigned. ‘You’re not going to stop, are you?’
He grinned, already knowing he’d won. ‘Not a chance.’
I sighed. ‘Fine.’
‘Yes!’ He punched the air. ‘That’s the spirit. We’ll toast to HoA, Harrods and your eventual downfall at the hands of tequila.’
I shook my head, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. ‘You’re impossible.’
‘That’s what makes me fun,’ he said, slinging an arm over my shoulder as we walked out. ‘Now come on, Mr COO, let’s remind you what joy feels like.’
Ananya’s desk was empty when we walked out. She’d stopped by thirty minutes ago to ask if I needed anything. When I said no, she asked if she could head out. Naturally, I said yes. It was a bit odd, though, because she always left with me.
She must have plans.
Maybe with the friend she was calling from the stockroom weeks ago. Their conversation irked me at first, but it forced me to reflect on my behaviour and fix things before they festered.
And I was glad I did. It took some time, but we’d found our rhythm.
I thought no one could complement my working style the way Kavita did. I’d resigned myself to coasting through temps until she returned, which was why I hadn’t even bothered interviewing the candidates myself.
But Ananya proved me wrong. She was sharp, dependable and a breath of fresh air I didn’t realise I needed.
Dilip drove us to 145 Kala Ghoda. Ayaan was already in an oversized shirt and pants, practically vibrating with energy. I left my suit jacket and tie in the car, undid the first two buttons of my shirt and rolled up the sleeves for a more casual look.
A narrow set of stairs led us to the bar.
Warm lights, low thrum of music and the buzz of conversation engulfed us the moment we entered. The air smelled of food and whisky.
I decided I’d stay an hour, maybe two tops, then make an excuse and leave.
‘I see Yuv,’ Ayaan said, already cutting through the crowd towards the bar. I followed.
Yuvraj sat on a stool, one hand propped on the bar counter as he said something. The woman next to him laughed. When he spotted us, his grin widened. ‘The man of the hour!’ He stood up and pulled me into a hug. ‘Congratulations, Jai.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, patting his back as he turned to clap Ayaan on the shoulder.
The bartender put down three shot glasses and filled them with tequila.
‘Shots!’ he cheered, handing one to both of us before grabbing his own. ‘To Jai!’
We clinked the glasses.
