Chapter 18

Freed chains

She spent the next couple weeks sneaking in mand out of work and taking bank loan officer’s calls in the stairwell outside her bullpen.

She was just not eligible for 50 lakhs in loan

She knew Sagar had invested crores in her name at the bank his company did business with, he had added more to it in the last 8 years

She was being sent paper statements home, he texted her to ask “If it was OK if he invested the 15 crores using his wealth managers”

“Its not my money so you should not be asking me” she had told him

All the while cringing over living in that apartment

There was going to be no one that was going to fork Rs 5 lakhs for her

She didn’t have big money that wasn’t given to her by her parents or grandparents

Her mother of course had not given her any money

She suffered from zero guilt

She called more banks and credit institutions

She was told she “should rent” and not think of buying until she has enough saved up

It was quite distressing

Canyon Oaks was less 7 kms from Chembur, though her office was going to be a bit far

She couldn’t quit now, could she, she had to pay EMI for the next 30 years

She met Sai for lunch one afternoon, she was allowed a certain number of “free” or discounted coupons to dine at the restaurants

Sai could not afford to buy a meal otherwise

Mrunal would do anything for her

They ate at a Chinese restaurant and giggled over the silliest of things

Sai was a few years younger, after a bad breakup she was not ready to commit

She loved Jaidrith

“I don’t have rey, nai to mei de deti tere ko”

“Don’t be silly, I don’t want ur money”

“Just take ur Baba’s na… it will be one time, tu aisa soch na u stayed there for 9 years why not take Rs 5 lakhs?”

“No way yaar, that would mean he owns a portion of the house and me”

“Toone apna naam Ghatge rakha Jai ko bhi diya”

“I cant name him after the Dad”

“Mila tujhe who?”

“Not after that day in the lobby, it was weird”

“Maybe he wants an affair, sab mard ek jaisa” Sai was disgusted

“I didn’t ask him if he was married… he is my age? Or younger or older… must be married”

“Cute tha?”

Mrunal nodded smiling awkwardly “Bacha hai na mere paas”

“Itta hot tha abhi bhi?”

“Hahahah” “Abhi main naap ke batayegi tujhe”

Mrunal rarely spoke Hindi the first 22 years of her life living in the gilded (c ) age, only English, only overseas vacations, no buses no locals

But her life of last 9 years had brought her in close touch with the real Mumbaikars, Sai was the first…

She was compassionate and real, didn’t judge Mrunal when she chose to have the baby

Many of her high society friends had frowned

Shocking!

“Its like there are no men left in the world, main waapis use ke paas jaayegi, after having his secret baby” Mrunal whispered laughing uncontrollably

“Usko kyon bataane ka?”

“Jaidrith looks like a mini twin” Mrunal’s smile got wiped out

“Aisa kya?” Sai looked worried

“I don’t think he suspects my child is his, that’s too filmi rey”

“Dekha nai abhi” Sai muttered digging into her noodles

“I told him I am busy and cannot meet and not to come back”

“Sai boli rey” Sai burped after sipping her coke

“We both are thinking he will want the child… which man wants his affair baby” Mrunal laughed

She was going to do everything to protect Jaidrith

There was no other way

“Both cute hai who haan? Us din jab tu chhodi usko, he says “Maushi, Aai ka boyfriend rehta na to mujhe tang nakko karti”

Mrunal burst out laughing “That little crab”

“Soch rey”

“Hey I am going to ask Mrs Gomes if she will accept less money”

“Try kar” Sai said grimly sighing

And so Mrunal DID, over an hour and a half one evening

After explaining everything about who she begged and how she came up with 60ish lakhs

Mrs Gomes, told her taking a Rs.5 lakh hit was not doable

Mrunal went through her carved wooden jewelry chest in her cupboard

It was one of the things she had received from her friends for her 18th birthday, it was studded with real pearls

She didn’t have much inside, except for a gold chain and a pair of gold anklets she had bought Jai when he was a baby, and her own sparse jewelry 

She took Jaidrith’s chain  and a pair of her own bangles to a trade in place and cashed it and called Mrs Gomes again, asking her if she will be willing to take Rs.2.2 lakhs instead of 5

“Sure darlin” Mrs Gomes said with a resigned sigh

Mrunal sat in the stairwell at work and wept