“I’m trying to get ready for the temple. I promised Nanamma I’d join her. It’s some auspicious day today.”
Anu nodded. “Paati is making us all go also. I just hope we don’t run into the Hebbar family again. I cannot stand Mrs. Hebbar.”
Aditi stopped midway in the application of her lip balm. “You met her recently?” she asked, her focus now on her sister.
“Yes.” Anu frowned, looking like thunder. “Amma and I saw her at the market a couple days ago. She was boasting about all the proposals she is getting for her son and Amma was fuming. I don’t know why you ever dated that fool.”
“I know you don’t like Harish,” she started, only to be interrupted by her annoyed sister.
“Even street dogs don’t like Harish. Other people named Harish don’t like Harish!”
“Anu!” she admonished, unable to hold back a chuckle. “No matter how mad you are, please don’t mention to Amma and Appa that Harish is in Mumbai too, okay? They’ll make me come home otherwise.”
“I cannot believe that he got into the same programas you.”
Aditi grimaced, nodding in agreement. She’d been delighted at her acceptance into the rotation at Sanjog Hospital with the mentor she had wanted. It had come as an unpleasant surprise to see that she would have to work alongside Harish Hebbar, her ex.
Aditi and Harish had dated each other in medical college. Young and naively in love, she had hoped to marry him once they graduated, planning on working on their post-graduate doctoral degrees together. Nearly three years into dating, she had finally admitted this to her parents who, despite their conservative outlook, had agreed to meet with the Hebbars to finalise a proposal. They were all part of the same social circle, and Aditi had been hopeful that despite the differences in their language and background, both families would find a way to come together for the sake of their kids.
In the end, it was Harish who had broken that dream and blown it to smithereens.
Aditi looked back on that outcome with relief.
She had no doubts whatsoever that marriage to Harish would have given her only two things—mental health issues, and an ugly divorce.
She supposed she should be thankful that the only side effect she was still experiencing from that embarrassing episode in her life was the pressure to get married soon, and well.
Both families had been in silent competition ever since the break up. The mothers would inevitably exchange barbed comments when they met in any social setting, gloating over which of their children was more in demand on the marriage market.
For that reason alone, Aditi was glad to be living away from home for a few months. She didn’t like feeling like she was about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder at any given moment. Not that she had much respite from thinking about grooms even here, she accepted grimly, brushing her hair as she absentmindedly nodded at something Anika said.
Meeting more suitable men that her parents had picked had been one of the conditions she’d agreed to in order to be allowed to come to Mumbai alone.
It seemed silly that as a twenty-six-year-old educated woman, she still required her parent’s approval for this. But in a culture that discouraged girls from leaving their homes unless their destination was their husband’s house, she knew it was a reality that thousands of other women like her dealt with every day. At least her family loved her immensely. It made it a little easier to put up with the many restrictions she still operated under, knowing that these limitations came from a place of sincere care.
“Adi?” Anika called, bringing her attention back.
“Hmm?” Aditi stood up, adjusting her dupatta along her shoulder before picking up her phone once more.
“Are you okay with having to see Harish everyday?”
“I can’t be bothered with him anymore, Anu,” she replied, pulling a pair of matching sandals that she’d left at the foot of her bed. “Maybe extra prayers at the temple will work today and I’ll find myself a good guy in Mumbai.”
“You do that, and don’t let Harish stress you out! You’re eating well, aren’t you?” She heard the worry in Anu’s query.
“Yes, yes, I’m eating. I won’t forget.” Aditi pacified her sister, listening to the same lines that she’d been told to repeat as a mantra if ever she was tempted to skip her meals.
“Remember, your body is your temple!” Anika chirped.
“Okay, if my body is a temple then where is the devotee who’s supposed to worship at my altar? I’m a lonely goddess, wilting away,” Aditi grumbled, pushing her foot into her sandals, letting out a frustrated grunt when it slipped off again.
In a hurry, she picked up her phone and shoe both, irritatedly thrusting the phone under her chin, keeping it held against her collar while she fumbled with the strap. “It’s been so long since I’ve been worshipped, I’m forgetting what sex feels like.”
Justas she said this, she turned and gasped, finding Rian standing stock still at the doorway to her bedroom. She straightened immediately, uncaring that her phone slipped down her front and toppled onto the floor, face down, the video on it hidden from her view.
Aditi barely registered her sister’s dull hellos after that, nor the click of the call ending, her entire attention on this man who had appeared out of nowhere.
“Nanamma’s waiting in the car,” he said, his expression indecipherable.