“I’ve been through eleven. Maybe twelve is my lucky number.” Aditi swiped at her phone. “Or maybe not.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t seem to book a decent spot for dinner tonight.”
“Who needs dinner, kanna?”
Aditi spun around in surprise, gasping in delight when the friendly face of Chitra Shetty stared back at her.
“Nanamma! What are you doing here?”
“I came for some routine blood work,” Chitra explained, pulling a little tiffin out of her bag. “I saw you so I thought I’d say hello. I also made fresh tamarind rice. I was going to ask the front desk to give it to you. Eat this for lunch. You have been working too hard lately.”
Aditi swiped the lunch box, taking a whiff of it. She pounced on Nanamma, hugging her like a kid who’d been given dessert before a meal.
“Now what is this about dinner?” Chitra asked, laughing when Aditi refused to end the hug.
“Oh! I can't seem to find an open table anywhere good for that matrimonial date tonight.”
Chitra nodded, stopping when she saw Nina. Aditi stepped back, belatedly remembering her manners. “Nina, meet my Nanamma. Nanamma, this is my friend and colleague, Nina.”
“Hello Nanamma, I have heard so much about you,” Nina held a hand out, letting out a small squeak when Nanamma pulled her closer for inspection.
“What a beautiful young lady you are. Are you single?” Chitra asked, taking both women by surprise. “I know a young man who is also unmarried.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me again, Nanamma?”
Aditi whipped back to see Rian approaching them, struck anew by how good-looking he was, his long legs eating the distance between them easily. She watched Nanamma make introductions,obviously pushing Nina and Rian together, and Aditi couldn’t curb the tendril of irritation she experienced at the situation.
“We need to get back to doing our rounds,” Aditi interrupted, shooting an apologetic glance at Chitra. “Bugs, you should take Nanamma home.”
As Aditi manoeuvred Nina away from the conversation, she felt a bizarre chill rush up her spine. She entered the elevator and turned, catching sight of Rian, who was watching her with an indeterminate look.
Unable to help herself, her lips tilted and the tightness in his expression faded slowly. She lifted her hand in a singular wave goodbye, watching him finally glance and nod at Nanamma who was, oddly enough, pointing at Aditi as well.
Or maybe she was talking to Rian about Nina, she conceded, unable to hold back a frown as the two ladies stepped out. The open layout on the second floor allowed them a clear view of the lower-level entrance of the hospital.
When her phone buzzed suddenly in her pocket, Aditi pulled it out, her brows shooting up in surprise.
Table for Aditi Krishnan reserved at The Mumbai Map for 7 pm.
Nanamma’s reason for gesturing suddenly became clear.
She looked down, scanning the message to confirm that she hadn’t misread it.
She’d never visited Rian’s restaurant before. She took a few steps towards the indoor railing, catching sight of him ushering Nanamma out the spinning doors.
Should I follow him and thank him in person?Aditi wondered as she chewed the inside of her lower lip.
“So, who was that?” Nina’s curious voice cut into her thoughts.
“Rian.”
“He is delicious.”
Aditi chuckled. “He’s a chef so that line is appropriate in more ways than one.”
Nina bumped shoulders with Aditi playfully. “Why aren't you eating him up, girlie?”