7. Truth and Lies
Truth and Lies
Ananya
I heard Jasmine before I even entered the break room. ‘You spoke to him once. He doesn’t have a crush on you.’
I swiped my card in the vending machine and bought a pack of Lay’s. I was hungry and wanted a quick snack.
‘We had a meaningful conversation about his time in Oxford and – stop giving me that look!’ Isha said, slapping Jasmine’s arm. ‘He even gave me the look in the lift the other day.’
‘What’s going on?’ I asked, tearing the packet open and popping a chip into my mouth.
‘After our party, Isha thinks Jai has a crush on her,’ Jasmine said. ‘Actually, Ananya, you’re the one closest to him. You’d know who he likes.’
They turned to me expectantly, hungry for gossip. It wasn’t just Isha. Both of them had talked to him once in their lives at the party that was one month ago and had developed massive crushes. It was ridiculous.
‘Guys, he’s our boss. This is inappropriate.’
‘Oh, come on. You’re with him all day. Don’t tell us you’re immune to that face. Or don’t wonder what’s under those suits.’
‘He’s so much more. He’s kind, caring and incredibly smart. Not to mention—’
‘Ooh, you like him,’ Jasmine sang. ‘Welcome to the club.’
‘I don’t! You’re missing my point. Jai—’
‘Ah! Have you seen him get angry? He looks so hot,’ Isha said.
‘I thought I was the only one! The vein on his temple pops and—’
‘You find his anger attractive?’ I asked. Unbelievable.
‘Well, he’s a fair and generous boss. So, it’s always well deserved,’ Isha replied. ‘Anyway. I think …’
Irritation flared. Their whole conversation was absurd. I was already jittery because of my lunch with Rekha in an hour. This was making my mood worse.
‘You girls carry on. I need to get back to work,’
I said tightly and then left.
I knocked on Jai’s office door before walking in and taking my seat.
We were working on the new line, and Jai thought it would be more efficient to do it together. So, I’d been working from here a lot recently.
‘Lay’s? Really?’ he asked. ‘You need real food.’
‘Hey! Don’t diss my Lay’s. And I’m not that hungry.’ I ate another chip and got back to my research.
I clicked on an article on the Mahala family from a dusty textile blog.
They were the last ones still practising the kauseya weave – a lightweight silk weaving style known for its sand-ripple textures. It had been passed down through generations and was now teetering on the edge of extinction. Which made them perfect for Jai’s new line.
Bingo. I copied the contact details and mailed them to him.
His laptop chirped with a notification, and his face lit up. ‘You found it.’
I clasped my hands under my chin and smiled primly. ‘Who’s the best assistant in the world?’
‘Kavita,’ he said in an instant, still typing away.
I sent him another email: a sad emoji.
‘I was kidding. It’s you.’ Jai’s eyes met mine. ‘But don’t tell her I said that.’
Warmth pooled in my stomach. ‘Be nice, and I’ll consider it.’
Jai and I had hit a few speed bumps in the beginning.
But the dinner in his office shifted the tone between us.
We remained professional, but we also became …
I wouldn’t say friends, but friendly. We worked hard, but we joked and laughed too.
Working as his assistant wasn’t what I wanted, but I’d come to enjoy it.
Although for the past month, he had been acting strangely.
It was nothing too obvious, but small things like not noticing when I’d accidentally burnt his chai, not catching all my jokes, or catching them and not reacting the way he usually would, or even losing focus during meetings (I had nudged him back to attention a few times).
I’d been working for Jai for almost two months now, so I knew him a fair bit. All of these things were unnatural for him. Like a hippopotamus in a desert.
Today, finally, he felt like his usual self. Focused. In control. Present.
My phone rang, and Maa’s name flashed on the screen.
She had called a few days ago. I told her I’d call her back and then forgot about it. A pang of guilt ran through me. ‘It’s my mom.’ I flashed Jai an apologetic glance before pressing answer.
‘Hi, Maa.’
‘I knew you wouldn’t call me back,’ she said. ‘You’ve forgotten us now, haven’t you?’
I sighed. ‘I’m sorry. You called while I was at work, and then it slipped my mind.’
‘Of course it did.’ A pause. ‘How are you doing? Are you eating well?’
‘I’m alright.’ I glanced at my Lay’s. Meh. ‘And eating well.’
‘Arey waah,’ she said. ‘Good girl.’
I smiled, glancing at Jai. He seemed focused on his work. ‘Maa, I’m actually at work. Can I call you later?’
‘I just called to remind you about Seema’s wedding in three weeks. It’s on the weekend. You have to be there. No excuses.’
Seema was my first cousin; there was no chance I was getting out of this. ‘Okay, I’ll be there.’
The next hour passed smoothly. And then, it was almost time.
‘I … um …’ Just say it, Ananya. ‘A friend wanted to meet me. I thought I’d use my lunch hour to have a quick meal with her.’
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘Where are you going? I can have Dilip drop you off and bring you back.’
‘No, it’s okay,’ I said quickly. ‘I’ll take a cab.’
He nodded.
I packed up and rose. ‘See you later.’
A taxi stood right by the entrance. I hopped in and gave the address.
Rekha had texted me two days ago to meet her for lunch today. Rhea and I had been discussing her sudden request since.
After my dinner with Jai in his office, I had … softened my reports. Nothing much, just skimmed over the meeting details. Left out the new line he was developing. But there was no way she had picked up on it; I’d kept it subtle.
Rhea suspected she wanted to update me on the job offer for the position of Suraina ma’am’s assistant. I feared it was because she had found out I was hiding information from her.
This was supposed to be an opportunity, my big break into the design industry. Was I about to lose it?
Rhea told me just to be honest and tell Rekha about the line Jai was creating; it would convince her to have faith in him.
But I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone, and I didn’t want to break it.
Maybe if I told her I didn’t think Jai was the problem, she’d believe me. I was the one working closest with him. She would trust me, right?
I got dropped off at the gates of Peshwa House.
Set in a five-storey townhouse overlooking Marine Drive, it was a members-only club where luxury met power. It offered exclusivity, status and all the frills money could buy. It was also a place where I felt self-conscious, underdressed and like I didn’t belong.
I flattened a hand over my dress to smooth out any creases.
Inside, a staff member led me to a restaurant.
It had sage green walls, dark wooden floorboards and large windows with white trim. The chairs and sofas were covered with colourful block-printed fabric, and antiques and artefacts were scattered throughout the room.
Rekha, dressed elegantly in a peach silk sari and diamonds, was sipping on a glass of wine. A lone lily sat in a vase on the table next to her sunglasses and Birkin bag.
‘Good afternoon,’ I greeted, my voice coming out overly perky.
Tone it down, Ananya.
‘I’m so glad you could make some time for me,’ she said warmly as I took the seat opposite her. ‘You look lovely.’
‘Thank you.’ I smiled lightly, still nervous.
The server arrived with menus, and we placed our order – pan-seared bass for her, and an herb-tossed farm salad for me (Lay’s had surprisingly filled me up).
‘So,’ Rekha said, sipping on wine. ‘What’s it like being Jai’s assistant?’
‘It’s been alright,’ I replied. ‘Busy.’
‘Hope he’s not working you too hard.’ She pushed a lock of hair away from her face, the stones on her finger glittering under the warm light. ‘When he is focused on something, he loses sight of all else. It’s not his fault; he gets it from his father.’
‘It’s not like that,’ I said. ‘He’s actually a great boss. I’m learning a lot.’
‘That’s good.’ A smile touched her face. ‘I suppose I’ve taught him well.’
‘You have.’ I nodded. My fingers curled under the table and picked at the edge of my nail.
‘I’m very grateful to you for all that you’re doing for my family,’ she said, an earnest look on her face. ‘You have no idea how much it means to me.’
The server returned and placed our orders in front of us. The food was beautifully arranged and looked delicious. But I had no appetite.
‘I will say,’ I began carefully. ‘After working closely with him for months … I have found Jai to be hardworking. And dedicated to the company.’ Just say it. ‘I think you’re looking in the wrong direction.’
‘He’s always meant well.’ Rekha cut into her bass with gentle precision. ‘But meaning well and doing well aren’t the same. Especially when the stakes are so high.’
I took a sip of my water.
‘Things can get blurred in such situations.’ She reached for her wine. ‘When you’re in proximity to someone, working late, sharing ideas … people bond. It’s natural.’ She shrugged lightly. ‘That makes it hard to stay objective. Harder to see the bigger picture.’
She took a small bite of her fish and chewed slowly.
‘Which is why I’m relieved you’re on my side,’ she added. ‘You’ve been so dependable. I’d hate to see anything compromise that.’
‘I haven’t forgotten why I’m here.’ My throat felt dry, even after the water.
‘Good.’ She smiled. Her voice was light, but everything she said felt loaded. ‘It’s easy to get swept away in someone else’s vision. But you have your own, too. I hope you haven’t lost sight of that.’
‘I’m here to help you,’ I muttered.
Rekha nodded, pleased. ‘So, tell me. Has anything stood out? Something small, even. A phone call from an unexpected person? Shifts in mood?’
I hesitated. My gut refused to let me tell anyone about Jai’s new line. And it aligned with the company’s interests, so she didn’t need to know about it.
‘You’re on the cusp of getting the job you want,’ she said, her voice light. ‘Don’t let hesitation cost you your future.’
Her words were gentle, but their weight was unmistakable.