Chinese for Dinner
Jai
‘Fucking hell,’ I groaned into Ananya’s shoulder, every muscle in my body pulled tight as I moved against her. ‘I’m so deep inside you.’ My hand swept down her stomach and grabbed her hip, feeling the way her breath fluttered under my touch.
‘Jai,’ she gasped as she clenched hard around me. ‘I— I’m close.’ The sound shot straight through me. My control frayed.
‘Me too,’ I rasped, my teeth grazing her neck.
As if that’s what she was waiting for, her breath hitched, and she gripped me tighter. ‘Jai,’ she said, my name a promise and a prayer on her lips. Her orgasm tore through her with a cry. Her head tipped back as she convulsed beneath me, moaning loudly.
The sight pushed me over the brink.
My body strung taut as everything inside me broke open in a sharp, dizzying rush.
The world blurred, and Ananya became the sole focus of my attention. Her breath. Her heartbeat. The way she felt around me. But it wasn’t just that. It was also the way she looked at me. Like I was the only one that mattered. It was everything we’d lost and found together, crashing all at once.
I collapsed on the bed beside her. Silence followed, heavy with the sounds of our breathing.
Ananya turned to me, placing a hand over my chest. ‘I missed this,’ she admitted softly.
I covered her hand with mine. ‘I did too.’
Her cheeks looked sunken.
My gaze lowered to her body. Her ribs were more prominent, her stomach flatter, her thighs slimmer. She must’ve lost quite a few kilos in the last few months.
‘It cost her herself. The anxiety. The panic attacks. She couldn’t even eat on some days. She was a mess, Jai. I don’t understand how you didn’t see it.’
‘You’ve lost weight,’ I murmured.
She bit down on her lip. Nodded.
‘After leaving Harish uncle’s, I’d come here. You weren’t home, but Rhea … she filled me in on what you went through,’ I said softly. ‘She told me about your anxiety. Panic attacks. And that you couldn’t eat.’
Moisture lined her eyes as she took in a sharp breath. ‘I told Rekha I didn’t want to do it multiple times. But she kept blackmailing me.’ She swallowed. ‘It led to panic attacks. It was … terrifying. I–I even threw up once. When I told you I was dizzy.’
I struggled to get the words past my throat. ‘I’m sorry. I wish I’d noticed. Wish I could have done something about it.’
‘You did. The best way you could. By being there with me. I’m just glad it’s over.’
I kissed a tear off the corner of her eye and then pressed another kiss on her lips. ‘I am as well.’
We stayed there for a while, revelling in each other’s presence, soaking it in.
The blare of my ringtone startled us. I grabbed my phone from the side table. Dad. I ended the call and put it away.
‘It’s okay if you need to talk to him. With everything happening at the company and with Rekha …’ Ananya said gently. ‘He needs you.’
‘He doesn’t.’ I swallowed. ‘He … kicked me out.’
Shock hit first, then concern followed close behind.
‘From what you told me, I knew Rekha had a hand in Lehenga Bazaar stealing our work.’
I took in a breath and started recounting the events of the day: how Dad blamed the Mahalas and told me they were dropping the new line because dealing with artisans was too much hassle.
Her hand tightened around mine.
I continued, ‘When I told them it was Rekha, both he and Ayaan were furious. But I refused to back down. That’s when Dad kicked me out.’
‘Jai, I’m so sorry,’ Ananya whispered. ‘That must have felt horrible.’
‘It did.’ I swallowed hard. ‘It still does.’
It felt like he had tossed me out of the family.
‘I didn’t want to go home right after that.
It reminded me too much of you. So, I went to Harish uncle’s house.
There, I realised he was one of the few people who had the proposal early enough for LB to roll out the collection this quickly – I’d given him a draft the morning we first met to get his opinion.
’ I hesitated. ‘I–I thought he had helped Rekha.’
Ananya’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Did he really?’
I shook my head. ‘I asked to see the file. That’s when he realised it was missing. Thankfully, he had a CCTV camera in the room. Rekha stole it when I went there with my family to celebrate the board approving my pitch for Rivaayat.’
Ananya’s mouth dropped open. ‘That woman is deranged. Why would she do something like that?’
‘I think she did it to make me appear less worthy to the board, so she could push Ayaan forward for CEO.’
Ananya looked stunned. ‘Did you tell your dad about it? He needs to know what Rekha is capable of. And you need to clear your name. None of this was your fault.’
I shook my head. ‘Rekha gave the proposal to Lehenga Bazaar’s VP in her car.
Her driver has attested to it. I also got my hands on emails between the VP and the CEO.
’ I exhaled, forcing the anger and frustration away.
‘Dad is probably calling me because I sent them to him along with my letter of resignation.’
Ananya gasped softly. ‘But the company meant everything to you.’
‘It did. But they refused to let me file a lawsuit against Lehenga Bazaar, because having a leak – which is Rekha – would ruin the company’s and the family’s reputation,’ I said.
‘The board is supposed to do the right thing; Dad is supposed to ensure it. But they’re all the same.
I refuse to work in a place without a moral compass. I won’t be complicit.’
Ananya’s gaze was steady and full of compassion. She understands. She always does. I knew she would, and I suppose that’s why I came here in search of her that night.
‘I want no part in the family or the company anymore. I’m suing Rekha and Lehenga Bazaar. The Mahalas deserve to have their legacy preserved as theirs. And Rekha needs to be taught a lesson.’
‘I agree with your decision,’ she said softly, but firmly. ‘But all of this is a lot. How are you doing, Jai?’
‘I’m … okay.’ I genuinely was. Rekha and Dad had never truly treated me like their son.
Like family. For the longest time, I was the only one who made the effort to hold us together.
It was almost liberating not to have to try so hard to be part of that system anymore.
‘I’m more concerned about fulfilling Dadaji’s dream. ’
‘You don’t need to work at HoA to fulfil it,’ she said gently.
She was right.
But working for someone else and potentially going through similar experiences sat like bile in my throat.
Only one option remained. ‘Maybe I’ll … start something of my own,’ I said tentatively.
The more I thought about it, the better the idea seemed.
‘It’ll be nice to do what I want without being restrained by Dad or the board. Something that actually matters.’
‘I’ll stand with you, whatever you choose. You’re not alone. You’ll never have to do anything alone,’ she said, her voice fierce and unwavering.
I leaned forward and brushed my lips against hers in a soft, grateful kiss. ‘Thank you,’ I whispered, and in that moment, I felt a little more whole knowing she was there.
The doorbell rang.
‘Rhea must’ve forgotten her keys,’ Ananya said. ‘I’ll be right back.’
She quickly put on a pair of shorts and an oversized T-shirt before slipping out of the bedroom.
I waited for a while, but when she didn’t come in, I too got dressed and stepped outside.
‘… can you stop?’ Ananya grumbled.
Rhea placed a large white plastic bag on the dining table and turned. The mischievous grin on her face widened when she spotted me. ‘It’s you. Here I thought Ananya was finally making use of the vibrator I gifted her on her birthday.’
‘Oh my God, Rhea!’ Ananya whined, covering her face in embarrassment.
She chuckled. ‘I was just kidding. But come on. Look at your hair. Your clothes. I had to tease you.’
‘No. No, you did not!’ Ananya said, but dragged her hands down her hair, trying to fix it.
‘I brought Manchurian gravy, Schezwan rice and spring rolls for all of us.’
‘You’re forgiven,’ Ananya said instantly and then turned to me. ‘Prepare yourself for the best meal of your life.’ Then, she looked at Rhea again. ‘I know you told him where I was, but how were you so confident he’d be here?’
‘I had a hunch,’ she replied, pausing as she looked at me.
‘We even now?’ I raised a brow.
‘I hear you also bribe people with reservations to The Masala Box,’ she replied, grabbing plates and cutlery from the kitchen.
I chuckled. ‘I do. Tell you what, I’ll make sure you get a table whenever you want it.’
‘We’re more than even,’ she said, looking happier than she did when she saw us back together.
Ananya’s eyes softened as she looked at her friend. ‘Thank you.’
‘Of course.’ Rhea smiled and then settled at the dining table. ‘Now tell me how your meeting went.’
Ananya and I sat down too. ‘Do you remember Navya?’ she asked me.
I nodded.
She told me about making her sari before leaving for Banaras. That Navya had a small following on Instagram and that the video she posted of her sari went viral, which led Naina to message Ananya for a collab.
‘That is fantastic news,’ I exclaimed. ‘I’m so happy and proud of you.’
‘Thank you. The meeting went well,’ she said, glancing between Rhea and me. ‘Naina was great and seemed really interested in making something with me. The money isn’t much, but she promised me visibility on her page. I haven’t read the contract yet, but if it’s okay, it’s basically a done deal.’
It immediately raised alarm bells in my head. ‘How much money?’ I asked.
‘She’s paying me for the raw materials,’ she admitted, biting down on her lip.
Unwillingness to pay someone fairly for their work was unacceptable.
Ananya would get exposure from Naina’s posts, but the motive of this deal wasn’t to advertise Ananya’s work; it was for Naina to wear and flaunt her design.
The ‘advertisement’ was just a by-product.
My gut screamed it was Dipti’s idea to steamroll Ananya into providing free labour because she was still new to the industry.
There was a reason why Naina’s manager had always rubbed me the wrong way.
‘Can I see the contract?’ I asked.
Ananya grabbed her bag, pulled it out and handed the papers to me. She began serving us dinner while I scanned it.
I knew exactly where to look – the footnotes and the fine print. Almost immediately, a clause jumped out at me. Naina would own the design. I bet there were more predatory terms hidden in the contract.
‘Don’t sign this,’ I said flatly, dropping it on the table. ‘I’ll give Dipti a call tomorrow morning and work out a fair contract. And get you actually paid for your work.’
The warmth in Ananya’s eyes gave way to something more charged. ‘Okay,’ she said, this time more confident. ‘Thank you.’
After almost two weeks, I sat for a full meal and enjoyed it. As promised, the food was amazing, but the company made it better.
Rhea told us about yet another failed date that had us laughing and sympathising with her. Ananya’s face glowed with a kind of lightness I hadn’t seen in her before.
This was her. The real her. No lies, no secrets weighing her down. Just Ananya.
And I felt a rare peace.
I didn’t feel it when I’d signed the deal with the Mahalas and thought I’d fulfilled Dadaji’s dream. I didn’t feel it even when I’d sent that email to Dad.
Ananya’s smile deepened, warm and unguarded.
But in this moment, it belonged to me.