Page 20 of 12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story

‘You agreed?’

‘Yes, I live with my parents now.’

‘What about your friend Akanksha? How is she?’

Payal looked up at me and gave me a wry smile.

‘What?’

‘She and I aren’t friends anymore.’

‘Why?’

‘Her husband, Suraj …’

Payal said and stopped mid-sentence.

‘What about him?’

‘He hit on me once at a party. Made a move. I told Akanksha.’

‘Oh. And?’

‘Akanksha withdrew from me after that day. Eventually, she cut off completely,’

Payal said, pursing her lips.

I nodded, unable to figure out an appropriate response. I checked the time on my watch.

‘Oh, it’s already seven. Almost dinnertime,’

I said, changing the topic.

‘We spent four hours here?’

Payal looked surprised.

‘Yes. And I’m kind of hungry. For real food. Do you have dinner plans?’ I said.

Payal shook her head.

‘We can eat together then. Come, let’s go,’

I said, standing up.

‘Where are we going?’ she said.

‘Might as well show you some of Dubai. Let’s go to Sushisamba.’

Sushisamba, located on the fifty-first floor of the St. Regis Hotel in the Palm, has one of the most spectacular views in Dubai, if not the world. Towering high on the only skyscraper on Palm Island, the restaurant offers a 360-degree view of Dubai. On a clear day, one can see as far as the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab to the north and the Ain Dubai, or the Dubai Eye, to the south. Apart from this, the entire Palm Islands, shaped like a palm tree, lie below.

We arrived just as the sun had set, and the sky, streaked with orange and pink all over, made the already stunning views even more dramatic.

‘What is this place?’

Payal said, her mouth wide open.

‘People actually eat here?’

‘Yes.’

I laughed.

‘What kind of food?’

‘Japanese-Peruvian. And before you say it, don’t worry. They have good veg options. I checked.’

‘You checked?’

she said, smiling, her eyes coming alive.

‘The menu is online.’

We sat at a table by a window, facing the Dubai Eye. Payal ordered a couple of vegetarian dishes, and I added a chicken dish for myself. The food came quickly. The eggplant skewers and the Peruvian corn salad were delicious.

‘You heard my story. What about you?’

Payal said in between eating.

‘What about me?’

‘Are you happy?’

I took a moment to respond. ‘Yes,’

I said.

‘Can’t complain. Life’s good.’

‘Okay, how about …’

Payal trailed off.

‘How about what?’

‘Okay, don’t answer if you don’t want to. But are you dating anyone?’

I looked at Payal. She gave me a sheepish grin.

‘You saw my phone that day, didn’t you?’ I said.

‘I didn’t mean to,’

Payal said. ‘Sorry.’

‘It’s okay. Yeah, I’m seeing someone. Her name is Tania.’

‘Tania … Nice name.’

‘Yeah. Ukrainian. She’s from Kyiv.’

‘Oh,’

Payal said.

‘How did you meet her?’

‘Mudit arranged it.’

‘Arranged it?’

Payal’s eyebrows went up.

‘Yes. She moved to Dubai and was looking for friends. We’ve been together for almost a year.’

‘Okay. What does she do in Dubai?’

‘There’s so much to do here. Shop, visit places.’

‘I meant for work.’

‘She’s looking. Although she wants to become an influencer.’

‘Okay …’

‘Meanwhile, I support her.’

‘That’s nice. A guy must support his girlfriend and be there for her.’

I smiled.

‘I don’t mean emotional support. I meant actual financial support. I help her out with her living expenses in Dubai. She’s young, so she needs that,’ I said.

‘How old is she? If you don’t mind my asking.’

‘Twenty-four.’

Payal looked into my eyes, trying her best not to be judgemental.

‘We do like each other,’ I said.

‘Okay.’

‘Want to see her picture?’

‘Sure.’

I took out my phone and showed Payal a picture of Tania. In the picture, Tania wore a tight and sexy short black dress. Maybe I’d chosen the wrong picture.

‘That’s Tania?’

Payal said.

‘Yeah. And there’s Paulina too.’

‘What?’

I swiped through my phone gallery and pulled up Paulina’s picture.

‘Who’s she?’

Payal said.

‘She’s also … I support her as well. We’re close too.’

‘Close, as in? You’re dating her also?’

Payal looked shocked.

‘Yeah,’

I said.

‘But it’s not what you think. I’m not cheating on Tania. She knows about this. In fact, Tania introduced me to Paulina.’

Payal shook her head in disbelief.

‘Wait, Tania and Paulina both are your girlfriends? And you support both of them? Financially?’

‘Yes, why are you asking in that way?’

‘What way?’

‘A judgy way.’

‘I’m not. I’m just a bit confused and surprised. I’ve never heard of something like this before.’

‘Times have changed, Payal.’

‘And you like this … relationship … system … arrangement?’

‘I love it,’

I said.

‘Which guy wouldn’t? Two perfect tens, dating you at the same time. Meeting your every need.’

‘Every need?’

‘I mean the needs I have now. They meet them. That’s all I want now—no emotional drama, no obsessive attachments. Just have fun and keep things easy. I feel free.’

‘Great,’

Payal said.

‘Now, you cannot leave Sushisamba without trying their dessert. Mochi ice cream. You’ll love it,’ I said.

After dropping Payal back at her hotel, I came back home and lay in bed. I opened my phone and checked Payal’s display picture on WhatsApp. I saw the typing prompt under her display picture, and then it disappeared. This happened a few times.

Meanwhile, Tania messaged me.

‘Free to meet, baby?’

‘Sorry, baby, have work tomorrow. Some other time,’

I replied.

I was about to keep my phone aside when Payal’s message finally popped up.

‘Thank you so much for a fabulous tea and dinner. And thank you for listening to me.’

‘Welcome,’

I typed back and kept my phone aside, switching off the lights to go to bed.

‘We’ll easily attain an eighteen per cent average growth in the next three years. What are you even talking about?’

I said, my voice tense.

‘Eighteen per cent is too aggressive. I would trim it down to a fifteen,’

Payal said.

The due-diligence team had just presented its findings to me and SecurityNet’s upper management.

‘I disagree,’ I said.

‘It’s what the due-diligence team believes. There are new markets that haven’t been tested. To think business will boom there isn’t realistic,’

Payal said.

‘It is correct,’ I said.

‘In my opinion, it’s not,’

Payal said.

Our eyes locked. In contrast to our heart-to-heart on Saturday, this was a heated professional argument.

‘And what impact does your opinion have?’ I said.

‘I’ll recommend to the CloudX team that they revise their offer. Four billion is too much. Maybe three and a half is better,’

Payal said.

‘What? A half a billion dollars less because you think so? No, I don’t think so,’ I said.

‘It’s not just my thinking. It’s based on data. This would’ve come up even in the IPO due diligence.’

‘We have a term sheet for four billion,’ I said.

‘Subject to due diligence and any material findings that might cause us to revise the bid. It’s written in that same term sheet. Clause 3.1,’

Payal said.

Damn, she was good. I remained quiet. I looked at her angelic face and delicate fingers, both of which camouflaged the tigress inside. The tigress who was going to cut down my company’s price by over four thousand crore rupees.

‘Would you like to see the clause in the term sheet?’

Payal said calmly.

‘No, I know the term sheet,’ I said.

‘Good. Three and a half is still a good price,’

Payal said before standing up to leave the room.

I was on my way out when I ran into Payal in the office lift lobby.

‘Done for the day?’ I said.

‘No, I still have work to do. Just going down to the café to get some lunch,’

Payal said.

‘At 5 p.m.?’

‘Yeah. I lost track of time. How about you? Done with work?’

‘Yes. Leaving early today,’

I said.

‘It’s the first day of Navratri. I usually go to the temple today.’

‘Oh nice. There’s a temple in Dubai?’

‘Yeah, in Jebel Ali. I’ll go home first, change and then go.’

The lift arrived and we got in.

‘That was a tough meeting,’ I said.

‘Yeah. Sorry if I was too firm.’

‘No, I understand. You were doing your job. I would do the same if I were in your place,’ I said.

‘Really? You’re not upset with me?’

‘No. I appreciate you doing your work professionally.’

‘Thank you. You sure you’re okay? It’s half a billion dollars.’

‘It does sting, but you made sense. Anyway, it’s just business. Forget upset, I’m proud of you,’

I said, and corrected myself immediately.

‘sorry, I mean, you should be proud of yourself.’

She looked at me and smiled.

‘Means a lot coming from you,’ she said.

What did she mean by that? Nobody can decode girls, I tell you.

The lift reached the ground floor.

‘Have a nice evening,’

Payal said as we exited the lift.

‘Say a prayer on my behalf, please.’

‘Sure,’

I said.

‘And you have a nice evening too.’

I was almost at the entrance when I stopped and called after her. ‘Payal.’

She turned around. ‘Yes?’

‘Do you want to come to the temple with me?’

‘When? Now?’ she said.

‘No. Have your lunch. Finish your work. I’m going home first anyway. The temple is open until nine. We can go a little later. Say, around eight?’

‘Okay,’

Payal said.

‘But I’d like to go change too. I’m wearing a corporate suit.’

‘So what? God isn’t going to judge you for that.’

Payal laughed. She still had that same beautiful laugh, the one I remembered from when I’d seen her at the comedy club twelve years ago.

‘I’ll still go to my hotel room and change into something more traditional.’

‘Sure. I’ll send you the location pin for the temple. See you later.’

I stood outside the pristine white Hindu Temple in Jebel Ali, waiting for Payal to arrive. The main temple room, with its intricately designed central dome, housed several beautiful idols of Hindu gods and goddesses. The impeccably clean temple had a serene and peaceful vibe, and it was popular amongst the large expat Hindu population living in Dubai.

My phone buzzed—it was Tania.

‘Hey, baby,’

I said, picking up the call.

‘All set, sweetie? We’re meeting at Ling Ling at nine, okay?’

Damn. Ling Ling. I’d made plans with Tania and some of her friends to bring in her birthday at midnight. How could I forget about it?

‘Oh,’

I said.

‘is that right?’

‘What? You know what’s tonight, right?’

Tania said.

‘Yes, it’s my baby’s birthday,’ I said.

‘Yeah, Ling Ling. In the new Atlantis. Near your place, in the Palm itself.’

‘I’m not in the Palm right now though.’

‘Oh, where are you?’

‘Jebel Ali. Came to the temple here. It’s Navratri.’

‘Navi what?’

‘It’s a special religious day for us. I can’t drink or eat much. But I’ll come. I don’t have my car today, so I’ll take a cab.’

‘What happened to Riyaz?’

‘Riyaz is fine. The car’s gone for servicing.’

‘Oh, I can pick you up, baby. I have a car today.’

‘You do?’

‘Well, my friend Sofia does. Her boyfriend gave her a Porsche, you know.’

‘Wow.’

‘Hint, hint. Birthday-gift ideas,’

Tania said, giggling.

I remained quiet.

‘I’m kidding,’

Tania said.

‘You give me lot. Anyway, Sofia is letting me drive her Porsche since it’s my birthday tomorrow. Let me come pick you up.’

‘No, Tania, it’s okay. I can easily take a cab.’

‘Why? I want to come pick you up. Gives me an excuse to drive.’

‘Fine,’

I said and checked the time. It was 8 p.m.

‘Come by 8.45 p.m.,’

I said.

‘I’ll send you the location pin. Bye.’

A little distance away, I saw Payal get off from a taxi. She wore a white salwar kameez with a red border, along with a matching dupatta. As she walked closer towards me, I also noticed the tiny red bindi and the dangly gold earrings she was wearing. A mere change of outfit had transformed her from a feisty capitalist banker to a traditional and demure-looking Indian girl. She had showered, and her hair was still wet. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

I have two stunning Ukrainian models in my life. Why am I looking at Payal like this then?

‘Hi,’

Payal said.

‘Am I late? Sorry, took a while to finish up at work and then get ready.’

‘No, you’re perfect …’

I said.

‘I mean, you’re perfectly on time.’

Damn, what happens to me when I’m with her?

‘Shall we go in?’ she said.

I nodded and led her into the main temple hall. Given that it was the first day of Navratri, the temple was busier than usual. We went to pray at the Vaishno Devi idol, both of us with our hands folded. I smiled as I watched her mumbling some silent prayers. Her mumbling was the same as when she typed out emails. I was still staring at her and smiling when she suddenly opened her eyes and caught me looking at her.

‘What?’ she said.

‘Nothing,’ I said.

We bowed in front of the idol, foreheads touching the floor. We went up to the other idols and prayed there as well. Finally, we went up to the priest, who put a tilak on both of us. We sat down on the temple floor for a few minutes.

‘Thank you for bringing me here. I feel so peaceful,’

Payal said.

‘I’m glad you came.’

‘Anytime you want to come to the temple while I’m here, I’ll be happy to join you,’ she said.

We stood up to leave.

‘Listen, Payal,’

I said as we came outside the temple.

‘I didn’t realize this before, but I had dinner plans tonight. Someone’s birthday.’

‘Oh, okay,’

Payal said.

‘Tania’s birthday, actually. I can’t get out of that. I won’t be able to join you for dinner.’

‘Oh, that’s absolutely fine. I didn’t assume we were going to eat dinner together.’

‘Yeah, but it’s late and …’

‘Relax. I eat alone daily. I’ll go back to the hotel and just order room service.’

I checked the time. It was 8.15 p.m.

‘I do have an idea though,’ I said.

‘What?’

‘I have about half an hour before Tania picks me up. You see the building next door? That’s a gurdwara.’

‘Okay … and?’

‘They have a langar. In case you’re interested, you could eat there. I’m fasting, but I can give you company.’

‘Langar?’

Payal sounded excited.

‘I love gurdwara food. Come, let’s go.’

We went inside the gurdwara. I placed a headscarf on my head and Payal covered her head with her dupatta. We bowed and paid our respects to the holy book, and sat down for a few minutes, listening to the kirtan together.

‘This is amazing,’ she said.

We left the darbar and came to the langar area. We sat on the floor and volunteers served Payal with some dal, aloo sabzi, phulkas and raita.

‘Best idea ever,’

Payal said as she ate the sabzi with the phulka.

When we came out, I spotted the silver Porsche convertible with red interiors instantly. My phone rang. It was Tania.

‘I can see you. Wait, walking towards you,’

I said to Tania and cut the call.

I pointed towards the Porsche.

‘I need to go there,’ I said.

‘Okay, I’ll stay here only. You go ahead. I’ll order a cab.’

‘No, it’s fine. Come,’ I said.

We walked up to the Porsche.

‘Hi Tania,’ I said.

‘Hey, you,’

Tania blew me a kiss. She was wearing a short

red-wine-coloured dress, which matched the interiors of the car.

‘Payal, this is Tania. Tania, meet Payal. Payal is a colleague at work. We came to the temple together,’ I said.

I saw the surprise on Payal’s face at my introduction of her.

‘Oh, nice,’

Tania said.

‘Sweetie, you ready to go?’

‘Yes,’

I said.

‘Bye, Payal, I’ll see you in office,’

I said before walking around the car and getting in.

Payal nodded and waved me goodbye.

Tania looked up at Payal.

‘Nice meeting you,’

she said, smiling.

‘And nice outfit, by the way.’

Then she turned to me.

‘Let’s go, baby.’

Even as I fastened my seatbelt, the car zoomed off with a loud roar.

‘Easy, baby, I’m tired,’

I said to Tania as she pushed me towards the bed.

‘I want you,’

Tania said sexily.

‘The birthday girl wants you.’

We had partied until 2 a.m. at Ling Ling with six of Tania’s friends. Afterwards, she’d insisted on coming back to my place.

She removed my shirt and pulled off her dress in one quick move. Her slim and curvy body glistened in the moonlight streaming in through my window. Hovering over me, in her itsy-bitsy lace lingerie, she looked like she was made of fresh cream and honey.

‘Take it off, baby,’

she said, guiding my hand to her bra strap. When I didn’t do anything, she removed the bra herself. Her perfect breasts dangled above my face. I placed my hands on them—they felt soft but cold. I removed my hands. What was happening to me? I had a gorgeous woman in my bed, on top of me, waiting for me to have sex with her. Yet, I didn’t want to. I closed my eyes.

Payal. In the white salwar kameez. Praying. Eating at the langar. Walking. Smiling.

‘Tania?’ I said.

‘Hmm?’

she said, busy kissing my neck.

‘What is it, baby?’

‘Is it okay if we stop?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’m just tired,’ I said.

‘Really, baby?’

she said.

‘We haven’t met in a while …’

‘I want to. But, at the same time, I can’t seem to, tonight.’

‘Let me work on you for a few minutes, baby, and you’ll be ready. Trust me,’

she said, unzipping my pants.

‘It’s okay, baby, just stop,’

I said, pulling myself away.

‘Something’s wrong, isn’t it?’

Tania said.

‘No, I’m fine. Is it okay if we call it a night? Let’s meet another time?’ I said.

Tania sat back up on the bed.

‘You don’t find me attractive anymore?’ she said.

‘Are you kidding me? You were the most gorgeous girl at Ling Ling tonight.’