Chapter 21

We drove in silence. It was a two-minute ride to Palladium. We got off in the parking lot.

"Starbucks. Will that do?"

"Yeah, I am good."

"By the way is there a Barista around this place or anywhere nearby." I enquired.

"Yes, there is one but I do not recall visiting one ever. Do you want to go to Barista?"

"Umm no. Starbucks is good. Though I am fond of Barista frappes and calzones,...

"Interesting, we can go to Barista...

"I owe you one, not the other way round. And I am open to trying new outlets."

"Good then." I was surprised at the small talk we were indulging in.

We walked in silence because both of us seemed to have run out of topics and this was getting awkward.

"You own a bike and a car and that is quite impressive," I spoke to start the conversation.

"Indeed it is. Thanks to the offers from the bank for loans, I can enjoy both."

"So where do you stay?"

"That's pretty fast!" And he looked at me with a naughty grin on his face.

I broke into a burst of impromptu laughter and it sure reached my eyes and changed my body language. From a stiff on alert mode to enjoying the banter with a friend. We were still not friends though.

"You really have a talent to decipher my words."

"Yeah, I do." And he took a perfect bow for showering him with kind words.

"I stay in a rented apartment at Mahalakshmi. You met Sujoy the other day, he co-habits with me. I am fixated and he is the one moving around."

"It's nice to be staying with friends," I remarked. I was suddenly nostalgic, missing my friend and my city.

"Where do you stay?"

"I stay with my aunt at Duncan Road."

"Nice locality." He quipped. "You get to experience the real Bombay life while I am cooped up in a high-rise."

"Hmm. I don't know much about the Bombay way of life but whatever I am experiencing, is making me miss my home."

"Okay, what do you miss the most?"

"The most I miss is the comfort of a toilet inside my house and 24X7 running water."

He looked at me with pity. "Papa's princess."

"Yeah, I am and am totally unapologetic about it. I am not craving for luxury but the basic amenities."

"The real struggle of the common people in Mumbai is about the basic amenities. Their desire for better living conditions, safe and hygienic water, proper sanitation, a respite from high rent, the constant travel in local trains and the list is endless. You have to see these people beyond their struggles. They rise with hope every day. They work harder to ensure they can have a better life the next day. Mumbaikars are people with grit." I just stared at him while he spoke with so much passion about the city and its people. His eyes sparkled with an unknown fervour as if he belonged to the city.

"You identify yourself with this city. So, you believe in the Mumbaikar's ideology?"

"There is no such ideology. It will take you some time to look at the city differently. Most people just admire the glitz and the glamour of Bollywood, and obviously, turn up in the city with starry dreams. But this city is a whole lot more about things other than Bollywood. It is the financial capital of India."

"There I can see where you are going, Mr FBN reporter?"

He raised his hands and mocked me with a stance of being hurt by my words.

"That's comical and not a tragic reaction."

"Is it?"

"Obviously."

We went inside the café and found a nice cosy place across the end of the parlour. He ordered a double shot espresso for himself and a frappe for me.

"Anything to munch?"

"No, this would do. I didn't even take a look at the price of the order. I am sure I will have to curtail some expenses to ensure I can survive this high-end coffee.

"I think I am going to eat something."

"Sure, go ahead."

And he ordered a chicken chipotle wrap. I don't know if I was having a mini-heart attack, because what I wasn't sure at the end of the day was about was the bill and the course of our relationship. Fancy of him to get me laid here. What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I speak in such sexual innuendoes when he is around me? And he stopped my heartache with his smooth-talking.

"Where did you study?"

"Proud to be a Xaverian."

"Overrated."

And that made me roll my eyes at him.

"What?" he said bemused.

"Where are you from?"

"JNU."

"No wonder such high handedness."

"Okay, I think we started on the wrong note. Let's steer the conversation to my relationship status."

And that had me turn red with embarrassment.

"Hey, I am so sorry. I had no intention of being intrusive or asking that question."

"Chillax girl. Totally fine. I am single and ready to mingle." And with those words, the smirk on his face radiated a meaning that I did fathom but didn't want to accept.

"From woman to a girl, one spectrum to the other."

"I thought you got offended when I said 'woman' to you, so I decided to play a little safer with the girl."

I snorted at his stupid reasoning. "I wasn't offended as such, the way you are exaggerating. I found it funny to be termed a woman when I am just twenty-one."

It was his turn to look flabbergasted. "Just twenty-one. Like that's too young."

"Oh, hello, women in India are allowed to get married at 18, drink at 21, and well consensual sex is also permitted at 18." I was totally riled up by his random remark.

"Wow, thank you for a comprehensive class on the law. I wasn't aware."

"You act like such a douche."

"Do I?"

"Totally!"

"Okay fine. What about your boyfriends?"

"I am single and have no time to mingle."

"Ouch." And he acted like he was hurt by my words. "Well, I am not hitting on you."

"Good because my next question to you is why the interest in me?"

"A guy can hope." And I contorted my face in disinterest.

"I am not hitting at you, if that is what you are thinking this coffee is all about. I am just trying to know you better. Maybe we can be friends and you can have someone to fall back on in Mumbai."

While I would have loved to believe him, something never added up. Agam trying to be my friend and not trying to get into my pants was a new revelation. Why single me out among all the interns? This was a nagging question.

"Agam, I won't beat around the bush and I am seriously not the ones who will lead you on and then leave you high and dry."

"What's with you and your choice of words?"

"Even you noticed it. Isn't it? Sparks from you." And I started laughing at my own stupid joke.

"Your horses run pretty fast and I admire that. But you are overthinking on this." He continued speaking without batting an eyelid. "I kind of see you like a lost puppy amongst all these people around you. And you look so vulnerable. That makes me feel...let's say protective about you."

"Well, that's not a bad thing to say to a girl and it might really sweep her off her feet but...I am an exception."

"Let's change the topic." And I agreed immediately.

"Tell me about the story, you were working on with Mansi if I am correct?"

"She was working on a feature about Reyhana and her affair with the leading superstar." I shifted in my chair at that moment.

"Not comfortable with the story idea?"

"How can you say that?"

"Your body just cringed at the thought of it."

"Wow...psychologist."

"Well, I did study psychology and I am fascinated with human behavioural aspects."

"Interesting."

I continued my story. "Well it's true I don't agree with the feature idea. I mean to me this is crass, probing into the personal life of the star. I mean what they do behind the silver screen is their life! Why do we need to unnecessarily probe that aspect?"

"Well, I see it like this, if you want the fame you need to be privy to the intrusion too."

"Okay agreed. If you are in the public eye certain aspects of your life are there for everyone to judge. But why the scrutiny about the love life and what I am doing behind doors. And yes, if well, you are scrutinizing me, who gave you the right to judge me or pronounce moral diktats on me?"

"What if they love this scrutiny?"

"Common Agam, who would?" Let me tell you for a fact that Mansi's whole story is speculation and not a fact. I mean she has got a psychologist to speculate on their relationship with each other through their posture and stance with each other. I mean that's stooping so low."

"But what if there is some truth in it?" Agam tried to reason with me.

"I am not denying the part that there could be a budding romance between the two. Heck, they are beautiful people, spend time with each other, could have been attracted and screwing too."

I was shocked at my own use of words. Agam didn't flinch a second seeing me use foul language.

"I am sorry pardon my language."

He just smiled.

"What I am trying to say is Reyhana is no more to tell us her side of the story and well the superstar, as Mansi said, is too busy handling his alcoholic wife."

"Are you a Reyhana fan?"

"No." And I dismissed his question haughtily.

"I am sorry but I didn't even know she existed until today. I mean I read about her extensively during my research. And throughout, I felt bad for her. I mean, she was a talented actress, let's remember her for her work than scandals."

"Point taken."

It was time for me to collect our order.

"I will get that."

"Sure."

I was back with the coffee and wrap for him. He dug into the food as hungrily as he had done on the train. God this guy was totally a lost cause around food. I took a sip of my frappe and waited for our conversation to resume.

"You know Abhi, this is what I have learnt in my short stint of a career in this field. Every journalist starts with a fire in a belly to drive a change, but that simmering cause loses its credibility, once they realize the wielding power of the driving forces. You cannot work with only ethics to feed your dreams. Drive a change but you should know when and how to do that."

And precisely amidst the most serious conversation, my phone rang.

"I am at Starbucks," I told Pooja. I got a little unnerved by the abrupt stop to our conversation.

"Pooja is here," I informed Agam.

"Good, happy shopping then."

We stood up to part ways.

"It was an interesting conversation. I enjoyed it." I offered my hand for a shake.

He took my hand in a firm grip and said, "Pleasure is mine. Anytime."

Before we parted ways Agam turned around and said, "Take care of yourself and have a nice time."

He genuinely wished me well and I did the same. I bade him goodnight and went to Shopper's Stop to meet Pooja.