Chapter 15
After back-to-back disastrous dates, Manisha and Deena took the time to seriously revise their questionnaire, adding more detailed and targeted questions.
“I’m sorry the dates didn’t go as planned,” Deena said, offering Manisha a sympathetic half smile. “But once I input these new prompts, that should rule out anyone looking for a group date with his mom or a coffee critic,” she continued, attempting to lighten the mood.
“If you say so…” Manisha replied, her tone uncertain.
“Oh, come on! It was just your first two dates. Honestly, they were better than any I’ve had recently.”
“Thanks, but that’s not much consolation.”
“I know you’re feeling disappointed,” Deena said, glancing at Rohit, who was waiting for Manisha. “But you’ve got this. And so do I.
“I’ll message you later,” Deena added, attempting to sound hopeful. “And don’t worry—plenty more dates are out there.”
“Let’s hope so!” Manisha quipped, managing a slight grin.
With Deena gone, Manisha stayed behind, waiting for Rohit to finish closing the café. As she waited, she tapped out a response to Sunil.
Hey, Sunil,
Sounds like you’ve crossed paths with our good friend, Uncle “Lucky Lemons” Parm!
Whatever it takes to get you closer to that perfect plate of aloo parathas—though, between us, at Curry and Cupid, we like to keep those delicious APs to ourselves…
or maybe we just haven’t found “the one” to share them with yet.
On that note, why the stroke of bad luck? What’s been keeping you lonely at meals? You strike us as someone who knows what you’re looking for. So, what are you hoping those lucky lemons will bring your way?
Cheers,
Admin
Why not have a pen pal on the same mission as her? She heard the kitchen door open. Looking up, she saw Rohit appear at the front counter.
“Are you ready?” she asked, going over to join him.
“Yeah, I am,” Rohit replied, picking up a stack of messy papers from beneath the counter.
“What happened to those papers?” Manisha asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Sorry, I was reviewing everything this morning and—”
“And you thought it would be a great idea to turn it into a mess?” she teased.
Rohit scowled at her. “Come on, Manisha.”
“It just means more work for me to organize all of these again, and I’m pretty short on time,” Manisha added.
“Look, I accidentally tripped,” Rohit said defensively.
“What do you mean, you tripped?” Manisha asked, confused.
“I fell. Yep, a grown man tripped over his own feet. I wasn’t paying attention and—”
“And you fell?” Manisha said, then burst into laughter. “I’m sorry! I don’t mean to laugh, but…”
Her laughter only grew, spreading to Rohit, who let out a low chuckle. Soon the two of them were overcome with unrestrained guffaws.
“Yeah, I fell hard,” he gasped between laughs.
“I’m really sorry,” Manisha said, trying to catch her breath. “It’s just that I’ve had such a terrible day, and this is just too funny.”
“You and me both,” Rohit admitted. He held up a bottle of wine. “Maybe this could help?”
She smiled. “You know I’m never one to say no to a glass of wine.”
Rohit grinned and poured two glasses while Manisha attempted to right the pile of papers.
“So, difficult meetings today?” he asked, sitting on a stool next to her with a glass in hand.
“I suppose you could say that,” Manisha replied with a sigh.
“Well, let’s toast to brighter days,” Rohit said, raising his glass.
“I’ll gladly drink to that.” Manisha clinked glasses with him and took a sip. She hummed in appreciation at its smoothness. He had good taste in wines.
“And you?” she asked after a beat.
“You mean besides tripping over my own feet?” Rohit replied, causing them both to snicker.
“There’s just a lot going on,” he continued. “Moving back home hasn’t been as smooth as I expected. I always knew time stood still in Baskin…”
“You can say that again.” Manisha nodded in agreement.
“But this is only temporary for you,” Rohit said. “Soon, you’ll be back on the mean streets of London, leaving behind all the nosy aunties and uncles.”
“Spot on about the uncles!” Manisha exclaimed. “I’m so relieved it’s not just me who noticed. They’ve really taken over the gossip scene!”
“It’s out of control either way!” Rohit remarked.
“I can’t even go to the store without an uncle demanding a wedding invite,” she complained.
“At least they don’t bother me about that anymore,” Rohit said.
“Probably because they’ve already gotten one from you.” Manisha raised her eyebrows playfully.
“Touché,” he conceded, raising his glass again.
After a sip of wine, Manisha asked the question that had been on everyone’s lips in town. “So, what happened?”
Rohit shrugged slightly. “A lot happened. I don’t even know where to begin.”
He’d taken the words right out of her brain when it came to her own situation. “I get that,” Manisha said, her expression softening some.
“It’s like my story, and I want to tell it, but people have already written it for me.”
“I get that, too,” Manisha replied, her voice quieter now.
“I know the truth, my truth, and for now, that’s what gets me through the nights,” he added, his gaze distant.
Manisha tightened her lip. “What about Lucky? Don’t you ever wonder how she gets through the nights?”
“Trust me, I know she’s doing just fine.”
“So, you keep in touch still?” Manisha pressed.
“We don’t really talk, and I prefer it that way,” Rohit said, his tone firm, but there was a weariness to it.
“I prefer not to talk to my ex, either,” Manisha admitted, feeling a sudden vulnerability creep in. Was she really about to tell Rohit about Oliver?
“Your ex?” Rohit asked.
“Oliver. He called me a few days ago. I know how this works—he’s just trying not to feel bad about what he did.”
Rohit studied her for a moment. “And how do you feel?”
“I feel good—” She hesitated.
“You look great,” Rohit said. “I mean, you look like you’re doing great.”
Manisha blushed slightly, glancing down at her wineglass.
A heavy silence fell over them, both engrossed in their own thoughts.
With a small shake of her head, Manisha took another sip of wine.
“It’s fascinating how relationships are formed,” she started up again.
“You share your deepest thoughts and most intimate parts of yourself, and then sometimes, one day, it’s all just used and discarded once they’ve had their fill and moved on.
Why do people do that, Rohit?” Manisha asked, her voice sincere but laced with confusion.
“I have no idea, Manisha. Maybe people just get bored with what others find interesting. It could be as simple as that. They might be captivated, drawn to the shiny new apple,” he said with a shrug.
“Is that what happened to you? Bored of the same apple?” she asked, a hint of challenge in her voice.
He turned and looked her dead in the eye. “You know, I would have taken apple pie, apple muffins, apple cake, all from the same apple. I didn’t mind the same apple.”
“Oh…” Manisha said feebly. Her eyes narrowed in thought. “It’s just I heard you—well, I just heard differently.”
“I know what you heard, what this whole town has heard,” Rohit’s tone grew sharper. “But that’s not the full story…”
Manisha broke eye contact, focusing on the scattered papers. “Well, maybe with you being so busy here, the town will forget what they heard,” Manisha added, trying to deflect the tension.
She knew that, like Oliver, Rohit would spin his version of events sooner or later—his side of the cheating story. And though she had her own opinions on infidelity, she’d learned from her viral video fiasco that it was all too easy to get caught up in the drama.
“Or maybe they’ll remember the Khanna legacy,” Rohit said with pride. “Seva. Giving back. Helping others.”
Manisha watched as his eyes briefly clouded over, and then the vulnerability she’d glimpsed earlier resurfaced.
“It’s like suddenly, no one wants to focus on everything my parents have done…”
“Continue to do,” Manisha added, her gaze sweeping around the cozy Chai Time café.
“You’re right. I’ll keep doing what the Khannas do best. But it’s tough not to hear the whispers or see the looks people give you,” he sighed deeply.
Manisha nodded sympathetically. “Oh, I know. Have you ever gotten the look from one of the Gupta aunties? It’s like a mix of disappointment, embarrassment, and ‘I knew it all along,’ all wrapped up in one.”
Rohit squinted, raising his eyebrows and trying to perfect the infamous look. “Like this?”
“Oh my god, you’ve had the look!”
Both of them burst into laughter, the tension finally breaking.
“You know, one of these days, we should look right back,” Manisha said with a wicked grin.
“No way!” Rohit said, laughing.
“Oh, come on! You, me…against the Gupta aunties. Think of the town gossip then!”
“Me and you a team?” he said, giving her an amused look.
Manisha smiled, finishing her glass of wine.
“Alright, alright. Let’s get back on track here.
” She leafed through the scattered papers.
“These aren’t anywhere close to being in order anymore.
They’re going to need a complete overhaul.
How about I take this folder with me tonight, organize it, and we meet here tomorrow evening to go over everything for real? ”
“Yeah, sure,” Rohit agreed quickly, nodding. “It’s getting late. Sorry again about the mess.”
“No problem. We’ve all tripped up before,” Manisha said, collecting the papers and grabbing her bag. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see you later,” Rohit said.
As Manisha stepped out into the cool evening air, the heel of her shoe caught on the door sill. She stumbled, barely keeping her grip on the papers clutched to her chest.
A deep chuckle sounded from behind her.
Of course he caught that.
With a parting flourish of the hand, she threw her shoulders back and sauntered off into the night.