Chapter 90

Unexpected visitor

His parents were literally waiting for him in Khar East when he returned much to his surprise

His Mum was able to take a week off work and decided to be in Mumbai for a short trip

She wasn’t going to go receive him at the airport or anything

But there was a certain comfort level now, he sent her occasional pictures of food or traffic or strange store signs

She didn’t hear from him until Dec 1, she wanted to know about the weekend

“Hello, hope u are having a good day, I wanted to know if you will want to see him this weekend I am hoping to bring him to a work offsite, they are paying for a half day boat ride type thing”

He returned her text around 3

“Hello Mrunalini, my parents are in town, I am hoping I can have him over for a few days?”

There was no

“WHEN ARE YOU MOVING IN?”

Mrunalini’s heart sank, she was stoic about it though

“Oh? Let me see between his tennis and chess and such how and when…”

An hour later

“?” he sent this

“Oh! Sorry, sure I will talk to him and tell him I cannot stay over you can pick him up this evening” she said resigned

“From school?”

“He hasn’t packed anything…. How about I drop him off after work”

“Sure that works”

“No problem”

An hour later

“How are you?”

“Just busy have to offload 3 cases to legal because there might be pilferage involved”

“Going to the cops huh?”

“Some destroy hotel property some steal and then want refund for 3 nights”

“How ironic”

“All sorts”

“How is life outside work?”

“Good… he goes to Kirti’s place sometime”

“That’s great”

He called

“How are YOU?” an hour later as she was heading to go pick him up from after school care

“Good ”

“Can you stay for dinner?”

“With your parents?”

She was terrified, she absolutely did not want that

“Oh no… I cant stay… sorry oh no”

“Chill” he laughed

“I have plans”

“U made them between 3 PM and now?”

“Somewhat like that” she laughed

“Its just us… and Mendys”

“Oh no… no no”

“I promise I will go bat for you” he laughed

“I can protect myself” she promised

“Ouch”

“Thanks”

He laughed again

“You are a straight shooter aren’t u” he smiled

“I hope to be a good role model” “Single parent compulsion”

“U should be less principled now there is another parent” he flirted

“U are already pretty wild”

“Oh really?”

“7 PM Mrunalini?”

“Sure”

She showed up around 8 after Dhru’s tennis lesson he was beyond excited to spend the night with his Ajji and Thatha

They were overjoyed to see him almost so they did not notice her

She made it a point to wear a kurta over jeans

A rich peacock blue pattern and a high pony tail and a bindi

Pramila Rao stared at her openly

“Jeans and blue shirt with your blue eyes? U match eyes with clothing”

“Haha” she smiled awkwardly

Somesh lowered the newspaper to look curiously

“Come in” Pramila held her wrist

“I have to go” she refused stiffening

“Aatreya…. Illi nodu” (Come here see who is here)

“Oh no” “I mean I have to go”

“Come… come” Somesh urged