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5.00 p.m.
I was about to leave for home when Vijaywada came to my desk. Overcome with emotion at the great deed he was about to do, he put a hand on my head again and said, ‘Kasturi Beta, you are like a daughter to me. My fifth daughter.’
I almost choked on nothing.
10.30 p.m.
I was waiting outside Purva’s hospital in the evening when Pitajee called. Purva had been in surgery the whole day and asked me to come over to the hospital so that we could grab a quick meal before he headed back into the ward.
‘Dost,’ I said, in a happy voice. Purva was late and waiting made me feel very bored.
‘Kasturi,’ he said.
I could not remember the last time Pitajee had called me Kasturi.
‘I am going to Mumbai tonight.’
‘Oh my god,’ I said. That Pitajee’s voice was laden with worry and stress was not lost on me.
‘To meet that stupid Ahya.’
‘Oh my god.’
‘They like Saumen, the IAS guy, and think he’s God’s gift to women and Anu would be the luckiest girl if she can marry him and his car with the red beacon light.’
‘Oh my god.’
‘They now, urgently, want Anu to meet the guy.’
‘Oh my god.’
‘So, I am going to meet Ahya and Govind,’ he said. I heard the slight shudder in his voice.
‘Oh my god.’
‘To see if Anu and I can make them see how much we love each other and that Anu does not really need a car with a red light.’
‘Oh my god.’
‘I am so scared, Kas … I will have to face the collective wrath of Govind and Ahya…’
‘Oh my god.’
‘Kasturi?’
‘Yes?’
‘Please stop saying “Oh my god”?’
‘Oh my god … I mean … sure...’ I said, numbly.
10
Our Apartment, 12 February 2013, 2.00 a.m.
I woke up with a start.
Disoriented, I looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings of my room. The glow-in-the-dark whale grinned idiotically at me. I shook my head. That will have to go sometime soon, I promised myself again.
