Chapter 31
Manisha stepped into the bustling Chai Time, astounded by the sheer energy and noise that filled the air.
A chalkboard sign in the back read “Bollywood Trivia Night”—that would explain the crowd.
She hovered next to a couple preparing to leave, then snagged their table the second they cleared their seats.
With just a few minutes to spare before Ali’s arrival, Manisha took out her trusty YSL blotting powder compact and gave her face a once-over. She needed to focus, but it seemed an impossible task. Her mind kept drifting back to Sunil’s email. How would she respond?
“Manisha!”
Rohit appeared in the reflection of her compact. He swept up the used glasses in front of her. “Are you here for Bollywood Trivia? I remember you saying you loved all things Bollywood.”
“Looks like a lot of fun, but I have more meetings! Let’s catch up after.”
“Yeah, sure.” Rohit was distracted by the rowdy patrons. “Better get back to this wild bunch. Let me know if you need anything, preferably before a fight starts over which brother is more successful in the Kapoor dynasty.”
“Anil,” she answered automatically. He flashed her a grin as he left to clear a table.
“Whoa, this place is buzzing!” Deena exclaimed, plopping down in the seat across from Manisha and taking in the vibrant atmosphere. “This is exactly what the community needed. So much energy!”
Manisha nodded emphatically.
“Ali should be here soon. By the way, you look incredible! That dress is perfect on you—strap issues and all,” Deena said with a grin, reaching over to adjust one of Manisha’s dress straps.
“Thanks. Suzy said the same thing, too,” Manisha added, her tone a little more serious.
“Suzy? She and Rohit must really be hitting it off. Good for him. I have to say, it’s nice seeing their relationship blossom. It gives me hope for the rest of us, you know?”
Manisha leaned in. “They’re not in a relationship.”
Deena’s eyes flared. “Wait, what?”
“Rohit isn’t dating Suzy.”
Her jaw dropped. “No way! Honestly, I can’t tell what’s gossip and what’s true anymore.”
“Unless it’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth?” Manisha replied with a wry smile.
Deena’s eyes went even wider. “Rohit’s mouth?”
“Suzy’s mouth. I bumped into her on my way here. She’s only in town for business and to support Rohit as a friend.”
Deena shook her head, still processing. “I’m struggling to make sense of all of this. It feels like major Indian news.”
“We don’t need to figure it out,” Manisha said with a shrug. “It’s Rohit’s business to share if he wants to.”
“You’re right,” Deena agreed. “All this gossip needs to stop. We need to have each other’s back. We’re the next generation of Indian kids. We should be supporting each other more.”
Manisha paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “Well, there’s more…”
Deena dramatically flopped back in her seat, groaning. “Manisha! You’re seriously killing me with this.”
“I’m sorry, I promise it’s the last thing. But, um, do you ever read the emails that come into Curry and Cupid’s admin inbox?” Manisha asked, trying to sound casual.
Deena’s brows furrowed, concerned. “Why, what’s going on with them?
The last time I checked, we had one Indian woman looking for love, even though we made it clear that Leena Auntie was looking for men.
I moved that into another folder, but I haven’t checked in some time, I’ve been so busy with the bios. Why do you ask?”
Manisha studied her cousin’s face, the shadow of worry that set in after her question.
As prepared as she was to finally fess up to her Sunil situation and get Deena’s take on things, it could wait until after her dates today.
Deena had put so much effort into setting them up, telling her now would feel as though she were trampling all over her work.
“I just wanted to make sure we weren’t doubling our efforts. I’ve been replying as the admin, so it’s all good.”
“Is that all? Good. I don’t know how much more truth I can take for one day.” She held her phone up. “The Wi-Fi in here seems to be crappy tonight. I’m getting all kinds of delays on my dating apps. Yes, I am back on them!”
“No judgment here. You know who can fix the W-Fi.” Manisha nodded her head toward Rohit, who was running between tables serving customer after customer.
“He seems a little busy. It’s probably all the people jammed in here anyway. Okay, Ali will be here any second, so I’m out. Good luck!”
Manisha bid her cousin goodbye. Still distracted by Sunil’s message, she accidentally dropped her compact as she was trying to slip it back into her bag, causing it to break into pieces.
“Clean up on aisle five!” shouted a stocky man who’d stopped at her table, doing his best grocery store clerk impression. Then he laughed. “Hey there, I’m Ali.”
“Hi, Ali, I’m Manisha. Sorry, I was distracted and, well, you can see what came of it,” she said, gesturing to the mess on the floor.
“No worries, the waiter will come over and clean it up.”
They shook hands, and she couldn’t help but notice how small his was compared to hers.
“Sorry I was running late. Surgery on a dental patient,” Ali explained.
“How did that go?”
“Great for me, bad for him—he’s dead,” Ali said, humorously imitating the lifeless body.
Manisha’s eyes widened in shock. “He’s dead?”
“I’m kidding!” Ali said with a grin as he got comfortable in the chair.
Okay, so Ali’s morbid sense of humour wasn’t quite a match to hers.
Right then, Rohit arrived at their table asking if he could bring them anything. They ordered drinks, Manisha going for a double vodka soda. Something told her she might need it.
“So, tell me about yourself,” Ali asked when they were alone again. “What kind of stuff are you into?”
“Let’s see. I’m a huge foodie! I love a good aloo paratha—my dad makes the best ones in the world.”
Ali pulled a face that Manisha gracefully chose to ignore.
“I also enjoy Bollywood movies,” she continued, “and spending time with my family. What about you?”
Ali shifted in his seat, his eyes roving the room.
“Man, this brown jam is killing my vibe. What’s up with this tonight?
I love being brown but don’t need a constant reminder.
” His fist flew forward in the air, missing the decorative Indian lamp on the table by mere inches. “Boom! Ha-ha, just kidding.”
“Did you just pretend to punch someone?” Manisha’s heart sank in yet more disappointment. She looked around for Rohit, praying for a record-time delivery of their drinks. “Where is that server with our drinks?”
“Thirsty? I like where this is heading, honey.”
Honey?
As though she had summoned him, Rohit returned with their drinks, setting them down with a quick nod before rushing off to tend to the busy night.
Manisha, attempting to lighten things up, asked, “So, Ali, what do you like to do, besides sucker-punching?”
“Surfing. Dude, it’s just so gnarly.”
“I can barely stand on a board without falling off. Maybe you could give me a lesson sometime.”
“Tell me more about you wanting lessons on my board.”
Manisha’s eyes bugged. Instead of dignifying his request with a response, she slung back her drink.
“Slow down, girl. We’ve got all night. Hey, can I ask you something?”
Manisha hesitated. “Sure…”
“Do you wear thongs? Magical thongs?”
“What?”
“You know, that stuff that tickles you in all the right places before…boom.” He punched the air again.
Manisha had had enough of Ali—his off-putting humour, air punches, flirting—all of it.
“Okay,” she said, gathering her bag. “Time to go.”
“I’m in! My place or yours?”
“You are going to your place—alone.”
“What? But I was having so much fun.”
“I wasn’t. This date isn’t working for me. I’ll pay the bill, and I suggest you go catch a wave or hit a boxing class or something somewhere that isn’t here.”
“Oh, sassy. I like it. But I feel you. All good, man. Listen, all the best, eh? Keep in touch and holla if you ever need a new set of crowns.”
When he finally left, Manisha plopped back into her chair, relieved.
Rohit appeared to clear Ali’s glass. “Where are you finding these potential clients, Manisha?” he asked, his tone slightly amused.
“Apparently, our hometown has some very interesting residents.”
They both shared a laugh at that one before he was being called from the counter and hurried off.
Deena came over from her viewing table. “What happened?”
“Didn’t you see him throwing fists around?”
“Yeah, I just thought you got him excited.”
“Oh, I did, but those were something else. By the way, what the heck is a magical thong?”
“We could Google it?”
“Forget it—I don’t want to know.”
“Manisha, are you sure you’re being open-minded?” Deena asked gently.
“Of course, but these men are living on different planets! There’s only so much I can take.”
A little while later, Deena perked up as someone entered the café. “Here comes Rahim. Right on time.” She got up, heading back to her table.
Manisha tried to rally, giving Rahim a smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“Great to meet you, too,” he said, taking the seat across from her. “How’s your day so far?”
“Actually—”
“Mine was brutal,” he interrupted. “It was a crazy day at the start-up. I just got it going and had to make some big decisions. Ever had to let go of someone after giving them so many chances?”
“Well, last year, my intern—”
Rahim cut her off again. “Like, I really liked this gal, her work was so strong, but she was always late, just couldn’t get to the office on time. That’s my pet peeve; what about you? Got any?”
“Well, I don’t—”
“And don’t get me started on elevator hogs. When people know you’re coming to the elevator but hit the close button anyway. Why make me wait when there’s room for me?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s—”
But she didn’t get to finish this sentence, or the next one, either, as Rahim kept cutting Manisha off. By the fifteen-minute mark, she had said fewer than thirty words.
“And you know what drives me crazy,” he continued after yet another monologue.