Chapter 16
— NILAY —
Kya karoon, kaise kahoon, raat kab kaise dhale… Jiya jale jaan jale, nainon tale…
“Nice,” he commented, manoeuvring the car down the busy Worli road at dusk. “Works for me.”
His lost passenger startled — “Huh?”
“This song. What do you think?”
Her eyebrows shot up — “Yes. Has rain in it.”
Nilay turned into the hotel gate and brought the car to a halt under the porch.
“Wait for me,” he told her and got out, his door held open by somebody. He heard the unmistakable click of the opening of her door behind him. Nilay rolled his eyes, handing over his key to the valet.
“NiP, hello, sir, welcome to St. Regis.” A man who looked like the Manager came running down the door. “I am Anuv Sinha, the Manager of the hotel. I welcome you on behalf of St. Regis. Where would you like me to escort you, sir?”
“One second.” He turned to get Ritu, whatever little he could, but she was already there, rounding the car to him.
And his breath stuck in his throat. He had sent her the dress, knew how it looked, had seen her walk out of her building and into his car through the barrier of his windshield.
But nothing compared to seeing her in flesh, up so close.
The black cocktail dress slithered down her curves, dipping like a piece of art at her chest, moulding to her breasts and tiny waist before flaring to life down her ample hips.
And when she walked… His gaze slid to the slit in that black silk, her shapely calf appearing, then disappearing, then appearing again — teasing every cell of his body,
“I told you to wait,” he scolded low enough for her ears. She flipped her hair behind her shoulder, blow-dried like a queen. Her mouth was redder than usual, the bangs framing her cheeks baiting his fingers to reach for them and tuck them back so that he could have her entire face in his view.
“I can open my own doors.”
“But I would have liked it more.”
“Why?” She frowned up at him, her eyes touching his mouth in her tiny heels. He gazed pointedly at the sliver of bright skin visible from between the slit of her dress. She reddened, those browns going wide, angry and shy. “You are so vulgar.”
“It’s not vulgar, Doctor. It’s sensual.” He reached out and loosely tucked her bangs behind her ear. He was a man of vanity. He knew how much a good curl meant to a woman. “You look sensual.”
“I almost used safety pins to close some of this slit.”
“Now that I think about it, it’s better you do.”
“Isn’t it? Let me visit the ladies room and…”
He caught her hand before she began to walk into the hotel. “No.”
“You just said it’s too much.”
“I didn’t say it’s too much. I meant it’s better for my sanity if you don’t show so much skin. I feel… my BP will shoot when gazes turn to you.”
“Then it’s under control,” she laughed. “This looks good but not as good as you are exaggerating.”
She was so naive. He pulled her closer by the hand he had caught and anchored his fingers on her waist, just in time for Gautam’s car to glide in behind theirs. They descended, and Maya was literally strutting to them, beaming — “Look at that!”
“He ordered it, don’t start, Maya.”
“Fine, Maasi. If I say you look hot, you will start telling me all the reasons why that’s so stupid, so,” she held up her hands. Gautam was close behind her. He smiled at Ritu but his eyes were hard when they met his. Nilay nodded.
“Who was the manager here?” Nilay ran his eyes over the lot gathered there for him.
“Sir, that’s me. We are delighted to serve you and your party today. Would you like me to escort you to one of our restaurants…”
“Asilo.”
“Our rooftop bar. I regret to inform you that it is booked for the evening but we can arrange a table if…”
“We are at that party.”
“Oh,” his face lit up. “The Gandhis. This way, sir, ma’am.”
Nilay walked through the one-sided conversation of the Manager falling over his feet to offer them their suite for the night if they were too tired to drive back, complimentary services and other things that went in through one ear and out through the other.
The hot skin under his hand was all that he thought about.
And the slow, hitched breathing from the woman in his arm was all he cared about.
The elevator doors opened and they stepped in.
Maya and Gautam stood with them, the Manager too.
That is why all he could do was squeeze Ritu’s waist reassuringly.
She glanced at him, and the wariness in her eyes slowly settled. The pride in his heart swelled. That he could make her nervousness go away was his biggest win. Nilay leaned down to her ear, not caring about the other three occupants.
“I am with you.”
The door to the 39th floor dinged open and they stepped out on the rooftop bar.
It was enclosed in glass on all sides. Mumbai’s skyline spread out like a panoramic camera finder around them — dark, twinkling with lights, rife with countless dreams that were resting for the night.
At the bar itself, the music was upbeat but soft, drinks flowing, families of the happy couple mingling.
“Ritu ben!” A young woman came barreling to her, then stopped short as if electrocuted. Her mouth dropped open. “N…” she closed her mouth, eyes wide and on him. “Ni… NiP?” Her mouth opened wide, hands went to her lips, and she screamed so loud that the entire party turned towards them.
“Are you dating NiP, Ritu ben? He is your plus one?! OMG! OMG! OMG! Hi,” she held her hand out to him. Nilay had his right hand around Ritu, and he wouldn’t let that go for the world. He nodded with a smile — “Congratulations.”
“Wow, I am… such a huge fan. Your last summer’s collection.
It’s insane. Literally, insane! I am wearing you for my wedding.
The final fittings are pending and… wow, am I dreaming?
Oh, meet my fiancé…” she snatched the hand of a poor unsuspecting man hovering behind her and started to chatter about her wedding ghaghra.
Nilay stared with his patent smirk, knowing the entire party had frozen for them.
“It’s good to meet you, Dimple,” he finally cut her off, bringing the madness to a halt. He enjoyed the worship, and would have let it go on for longer had Ritu not started to squirm in his hold.
“OMG, you know my name?”
“Ritu mentioned it downstairs.”
That’s when the girl realised it — that he was her cousin’s date. She grabbed Ritu’s hand and pulled her to herself — “You are so sneaky, Ritu ben! When did this happen? I want the deets, please!”
“All in good time, babies,” Maya joined them, ushering them into the party.
“Why has everybody frozen like statues. Drink, drink. The party is on!” She announced, and loosened the space up.
Nilay slipped his hands inside his pocket, meeting Ritu’s gaze as she turned over her shoulder, being ushered away from him. He blinked in reassurance.
“We are so honoured to have you at our daughter’s cocktail party, NiP.” An older woman came gushing to him. She looked like the mother of the bride. There was a man beside her. A familiar-looking man, whose right hand was wrapped in a splint.
“Congratulations.”
“Our daughter wanted nothing but your lehenga to get married in,” she gushed. “The stunts she pulled to get that, I tell you. I wanted to get a saree too but your waiting for customised blouses went just too long. I am on the list…”
“That’s unfortunate. I hope you get one soon.”
“The women of my house are never satisfied with just one.” The older man butted in. He held his hand out — “Hello, I am Jimmy Gandhi, Dimple’s father.”
Nilay took his hand. Gave it a firm shake. “Congratulations, Mr. Gandhi.” He gave him a warm smile. “A special day for you.”
“Special month. The festivities are never-ending. Before you get swept into the party, let me extend an invitation to you for this entire week leading up to my daughter’s wedding. I will get your number from Ritu and send you the invites personally, but I insist that you grace all functions…”
“That will not be required. Where Ritu goes, I will be there.”
“Oh,” his smile wobbled. “Darling, get him a drink. What are you doing?”
“Of course, what can I get you, NiP?”
“A sparkling water.”
“No way! It’s a cocktail party! That’s a sin!”
“I’ll start with it.”
“Aah, go gentle into the good night,” she smirked at him, chuckling at her own joke and disappearing. Leaving him alone with Jimmy Gandhi.
“How long have you known Ritu?”
“Not long.”
“She is our shining star.”
“I know. I am a collector.” Nilay grinned at him, letting his eyes linger on him a second longer. He froze, perturbed.
“Let me seat you at your table…”
“I’ll find my way. Please, entertain your guests. I will come find you later, Jimmy.” He nodded — slow, deliberate. The older man’s face was stunned for a moment. Then he stepped back, chuckled uncomfortably, and scuttled away.
“What is your game?” Gautam stepped up beside him. Nilay glanced at his profile. How long had he stood there?
“Listen, Gautam, I am sorry for yesterday afternoon.” He turned to him, shrouding both their faces in the shadows. “It did not look good from your side, and I completely understand that. I was not there with any wrong intention. Ritu and I…”
“Ritu is returning to New York in a month. Less than a month. I don’t know what you are doing but Maya is weaving dreams as usual. Ritu is mum about everything. If this is just a fling…”
“No.”
Gautam stilled.
“It’s still early days. But, this is not just a fling.”
“For you. What about Ritu?”
Nilay glanced at her, standing with the backdrop of the entire Mumbai twinkling behind her, shining like the goddess she was, attracting eyes — of men and women.
Not because they were curious about her whereabouts and life out of here, but because she was smiling at Maya.
That smile. That smile that men could go to war for.
That smile that he would lose a war for.
Her eyes met his, and that smile widened. Like a spark was lit.