He couldn’t hold back a soft laugh. This woman had a problem, he decided. She was too nice.
“Are you really offering me help when you already have the entire population of your extended family waiting for you to do things for them?”
“As long as I’m in Mumbai, I’ll always make time for you,” she said nonchalantly, turning to look outside the window as they drove across the sea link bridge, a gentle smile upon her lips.
When they reached home, Rian observed her rush towards Nanamma, sharing the treats she’d insisted on purchasing for his grandmother. Despite the chatter, her words echoed in the recesses of his mind.
I’ll always make time for you.
For a man who had learnt not to rely on others, to have someone he barely knew say this to him shouldn’t have mattered so much.
Then why did it?
More importantly, he asked himself, why did he want to believe her?
8
Dickhead Date Diaries
Aditi
Aditi stood in linewith her close friend and colleague, Dr. Nina Jaiswal, waiting patiently for her turn to be served. The busy cafe that operated within their hospital was the most popular spot for doctors and visitors alike to grab their favourite cup of joe.
Nina and Aditi had joined the same specialisation group, hand-picked by their supervisor to work at Sanjog General while they completed their postgrad degrees. As much as she had hated seeing Harish as part of the program, she had found an immediate friend in Nina.
She usually looked forward to their morning coffee break together, but right now it was an unwelcome reminder that she still had a long work day ahead. Just the thought of it made her groan out loud.
“Rough morning?” Nina asked, following Aditi to pick up their drinks as the two ladies headed to one of the open tables, ready to rest their feet for a short while.
“Awkward morning,” Aditi replied, letting her head loll back while she closed her eyes. “Everyday I’m at the clinic, I find new cases that surprise me.”
“What happened?” Nina sipping on her drink, watching the passers-by before turning to her friend. “Did you detect a complicated pregnancy? That’s always tough on me.”
Aditi shook her head, sitting up before she reached for her cup. “Nothing that serious. It was a bit funny actually. I had this couple come in asking for a full evaluation on the lady’s health. They’ve been trying for a child for over a year with no luck, so I ordered every test possible, even genetic. The pathology reports came back clean. Today, I finally diagnosed the problem.” She sighed into her coffee.
“What was it? Don’t build the suspense, Adi. Spill it!”
Aditi’s nostrils flared as she tried to control her reaction to the memory of sitting with her patients, the reality of their situation finally dawning upon her.
“It turns out that they come from conservative, orthodox families,” she started.
“So?”
“So,” Aditi drawled, waving one dainty hand in the air. “Sex education was negligible for them both.”
“Wait. They weren’t having sex?”
“Oh, they were definitely having sex.”
“Then?”
“He’s been ejaculating into her belly button.”
Nina spluttered as she tried to take a sip, some of her drink spilling onto the table. With a defeated laugh, Aditi pulled out a few tissues and handed it to her.
“He didn’t!”
“He did. According to him, babies grow in the belly so he figured the belly button would be the most direct route. He couldn’t believe his process kept failing.”