Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Raghav had just exited the elevator when Varun ran up and pulled him back in. Varun was breathless. Raghav’s pulse raced from proximity.

“Recovered the file?” Varun panted.

Raghav shook his head. “Before I could locate backups, Boss sacked me. He thinks Lavanya Solutions planted me at Gulmohar to sabotage our project for Saurabh Sir. An anonymous email accused me.”

Varun hugged Raghav, inhaling his scent. Sandalwood. “Let’s go up. I’ll tell your boss that Rama gloated about erasing your presentation. Obviously, Rama emailed him too.”

“Boss went home already.” Raghav wanted to tighten their embrace, but hesitated. Anticipating blacklisting from software jobs, Raghav couldn’t afford gossip about his sexuality, or else his ancestral occupation of directing pūjā would be off-limits too. Devout, erudite Raghav was a popular Gurujī, but who would dignify a gay man by that title?

Varun sensed Raghav’s turmoil and released him. “Rama’s father wants you at Lavanya Solutions.”

“That would bolster the email’s allegation of corporate espionage.”

Varun sighed. “Tomorrow morning, Saurabh Sir will defund Gulmohar unless you present to him.”

“From memory?”

“Raghav, you perform kīrtana. Your memory is phenomenal.”

The next morning, Varun drove to Gulmohar Software Solutions while Raghav napped beside him. Raghav caught Saurabh in the lobby, explained, and presented the project - entirely reassembled overnight. Impressed, Saurabh offered Raghav a job, Rs. 5 crore per month.

“Sir, I’m honoured, but without Gulmohar …“ Raghav began.

Varun sprang to his side.

“Gulmohar sacked you, remember?” Varun whispered. “Commit where your dedication is appreciated.”