10-01-2019, 04:42 PM
'When can you be in Bombay asap? It's about that thing we discussed.'
She got a reply very soon.
'Wednesday. I will get in by 10.'
'Ok. Confirmed. Keep your afternoon open.'
Reena dialed Mansi's number.
"Hi Mansi, sorry about that."
"It's okay, aunty. I understand."
"Thanks. So what was I saying...oh yes, sorry, I am busy today. But are you free day after tomorrow, Wednesday, for lunch?"
"Wednesday, let me see." Mansi had no idea why she said let me see. She was free pretty much everyday. But she didn't want to sound too eager.
"Problem?" Reena asked.
"No no, no problem. Wednesday lunch sounds great. Let me tell you my address..." Mansi spoke up.
"Actually Mansi, if you don't mind, can you come here to the hotel again? I have a couple of hours free for lunch. But then I have some appointments right after. So traveling to and from Borivali will be..."
"I understand, aunty. I will come there." Mansi said eagerly.
"Great. Just go to the reception and tell them my name like last time."
"Thank you, aunty."
"Stop thanking me, Mansi. I will see you in two days."
Mansi hung up, feeling a little glad that their meeting would again be in that fancy hotel. Maybe she would take her to another nice restaurant again. Reena hung up, feeling glad that it had worked out so easily. And started making plans for Wednesday.
------
On Wednesday, Mansi was standing in a small line in front of the reception. In front of her was a white couple, very stylishly dressed. Behind her were two young men dressed in suits. Mansi felt glad that she decided to dress nicely.
The last time she was here, Mansi had felt very out of place in her simple almost wrinkled sari that she wore at home. Everyone around her had been so fashionably dressed. And then the hotel itself was so posh with its big chandeliers, scent of perfume wafting through the air conditioning, expensive elegant sculptures everywhere, etc. So Wednesday late morning, as she started getting ready, she decided to dress well. She wore her most expensive green-gold sari that was normally reserved only for weddings and other such functions. She didn't really own much make-up but put on some lipstick. And instead of just tying her long hair into a bun, she combed it throughly and left it open. She also took with her the relatively fanciest purse she owned, and put on a couple of gold bangles.
This small makeover did make her look even more alluring than usual. Because this time, even she noticed the glances she was getting from men around her. Nothing blatant or impolite, but still, it was clear that she was making heads turn.
"I love your sari!" the white woman in front of her suddenly turned and said.
"Thank you." Mansi blushed.
"Where can I get something like that?"
"I..I don't know. I bought it...in my hometown. Meerut." Mansi was feeling uncomfortable talking to her in English. It's not like Mansi's English was bad. She just wasn't very used to speaking it beyond helping with Pinky's homework. Besides, the white woman's tall frame and foreign accent intimidated her a little.
"Well, it's beautiful. Excuse me." the lady said as it was their turn at reception and walked away.
Mansi stood at the front of the line, waiting to be called.
"You are from Meerut?" a voice behind her said in Hindi. She turned around.
It was one of the two suit-clad young men standing behind her. They seemed like hotshot executives or MBA types.
"Yes." she answered.
"I am also from Meerut! Well, Ghaziabad technically, but that makes us neighbors." he smiled.
Mansi just nodded and looked straight ahead. She wasn't used to strangers, especially men, just casually striking up a conversation with her,
"Are you also staying in this hotel?" he continued. His friend, to whom it was obvious he was trying to chat her up, suppressed a smile.
"No." Mansi simply said.
"We are. About to check in. We are both investment bankers. Visiting from London." he said, hoping, like many investment bankers do, that it would impress her.
"I see." she wasn't sure why this man was continuing to talk to her.
"We are here to close a multi-milion dollar deal. What brings you here?"
"Just visiting someone." she said curtly, wishing he would take a hint.
"Someone in this hotel?"
"Yes."
"Oh. Ohhhhh! I understand." he said and giggled a little, as did his friend.
Mansi was too sheltered and innocent to realize the conclusion they had drawn. A good looking young woman dressed so nicely, not very comfortable in English, without any luggage, visiting someone in the hotel. They drew the only conclusion they could.
"Do you have a card or something?" he giggled and asked.
"Card? What card?" Mansi was confused. The two men giggled some more.
"Yes, ma'am?" a clerk at the reception called out. And Mansi rushed towards the desk. She was getting a bad vibe from those guys.
"I am here to meet Reena Bajaj."
"Oh, Reena ma'am? Yes, you must be Mansi ma'am." he said.
"Yes."
"Just one second." he reached out under the desk. "Here's a key card."
"Key card? I am just visiting her."
"Yes, she is expecting you in her residence."
"She lives here?" Mansi's eyes went wide.
"Yes, she has a suite on the VIP floor. The 35th floor. And that floor is only accessible by card. So here it is. Suite 3502."
All this was very new and impressive to Mansi. She knew Reena aunty worked in the hotel at a senior post but she had no idea she even lived there. And that too an exclusive VIP floor? 35th floor? Mansi had never gone that high in any building. Very impressive. She stepped into a shiny lift and entered the card in a slot meant for the 35th floor.
Mansi could not believe how fast the lift reached all the way up to the 35th floor. The lifts she was used to, took that much time to reach 4 floors. She stepped out into a floor that was even more fancy than the lobby. She felt a little intimidated. But Rena aunty was expecting her. She went to Suite 3502 and knocked.
The door was opened by an unknown person. A tall old man in a suit, with half-bald white hair and a big belly.
"Oh I am sorry." Mansi said and looked at the number outside the door.
"You must be Mansi." the man flashed her a friendly smile. "Don't worry, you're not in the wrong place."
"Come on in. Mansi!" she heard Reena aunty's voice from behind the old man. He stepped away and opened the door wide. He saw Reena aunty putting some glasses on a coffee table.
"Oh, I didn't..." Mansi was a little taken aback. She had not expected anyone else to be there. But she still walked in, feeling out of place again.
"Sorry if this gentle giant scared you." Reena aunty smiled. "Let me introduce you two. This is an old family friend of mine, Mr. Navin Dutt. And as I told you, Duttsahab, this is my old neighbor from Meerut Mansi."
"Pleased to meet you, Mansiji." he politely folded his hands.
"He lives in Delhi. Called me a little while ago saying he was in Bombay for a business trip, so how about lunch? I assumed you wouldn't mind if he joined us."
"Not at all." Mansi politely said, although she was a little disappointed. With someone else there, she would not be able to be very open in her conversations. And would not feel comfortable bringing up the topic of a job.
The three of them headed towards the plush couches in the living area.
"Some beer, Mansiji?" Dutt asked pointing at the glasses on the table.
"No, thanks. I don't drink."
"Some orange juice then?" Reena aunty asked.
"Sure."
"Let me go get it."
Reena went into another room as Mansi sat on the couch. She could not believe how deep her petite body sank in. Dutt sat on a single seat perpendicular to her and smiled. There was an awkward silence.
----------
"So Mansiji, how long have you lived in Bombay?" he broke the silence.
"Eight years. And please don't call me ji, Duttsahab. You are my elder." Mansi respectfully said, remembering her manners.
"Are you calling me an old fogey?" Dutt feigned feeling hurt.
"No no, I didn't mean it like that." Mansi immediately explained.
"Haha, relax. I am just joking. Okay, I will call you just Mansi."
She got a reply very soon.
'Wednesday. I will get in by 10.'
'Ok. Confirmed. Keep your afternoon open.'
Reena dialed Mansi's number.
"Hi Mansi, sorry about that."
"It's okay, aunty. I understand."
"Thanks. So what was I saying...oh yes, sorry, I am busy today. But are you free day after tomorrow, Wednesday, for lunch?"
"Wednesday, let me see." Mansi had no idea why she said let me see. She was free pretty much everyday. But she didn't want to sound too eager.
"Problem?" Reena asked.
"No no, no problem. Wednesday lunch sounds great. Let me tell you my address..." Mansi spoke up.
"Actually Mansi, if you don't mind, can you come here to the hotel again? I have a couple of hours free for lunch. But then I have some appointments right after. So traveling to and from Borivali will be..."
"I understand, aunty. I will come there." Mansi said eagerly.
"Great. Just go to the reception and tell them my name like last time."
"Thank you, aunty."
"Stop thanking me, Mansi. I will see you in two days."
Mansi hung up, feeling a little glad that their meeting would again be in that fancy hotel. Maybe she would take her to another nice restaurant again. Reena hung up, feeling glad that it had worked out so easily. And started making plans for Wednesday.
------
On Wednesday, Mansi was standing in a small line in front of the reception. In front of her was a white couple, very stylishly dressed. Behind her were two young men dressed in suits. Mansi felt glad that she decided to dress nicely.
The last time she was here, Mansi had felt very out of place in her simple almost wrinkled sari that she wore at home. Everyone around her had been so fashionably dressed. And then the hotel itself was so posh with its big chandeliers, scent of perfume wafting through the air conditioning, expensive elegant sculptures everywhere, etc. So Wednesday late morning, as she started getting ready, she decided to dress well. She wore her most expensive green-gold sari that was normally reserved only for weddings and other such functions. She didn't really own much make-up but put on some lipstick. And instead of just tying her long hair into a bun, she combed it throughly and left it open. She also took with her the relatively fanciest purse she owned, and put on a couple of gold bangles.
This small makeover did make her look even more alluring than usual. Because this time, even she noticed the glances she was getting from men around her. Nothing blatant or impolite, but still, it was clear that she was making heads turn.
"I love your sari!" the white woman in front of her suddenly turned and said.
"Thank you." Mansi blushed.
"Where can I get something like that?"
"I..I don't know. I bought it...in my hometown. Meerut." Mansi was feeling uncomfortable talking to her in English. It's not like Mansi's English was bad. She just wasn't very used to speaking it beyond helping with Pinky's homework. Besides, the white woman's tall frame and foreign accent intimidated her a little.
"Well, it's beautiful. Excuse me." the lady said as it was their turn at reception and walked away.
Mansi stood at the front of the line, waiting to be called.
"You are from Meerut?" a voice behind her said in Hindi. She turned around.
It was one of the two suit-clad young men standing behind her. They seemed like hotshot executives or MBA types.
"Yes." she answered.
"I am also from Meerut! Well, Ghaziabad technically, but that makes us neighbors." he smiled.
Mansi just nodded and looked straight ahead. She wasn't used to strangers, especially men, just casually striking up a conversation with her,
"Are you also staying in this hotel?" he continued. His friend, to whom it was obvious he was trying to chat her up, suppressed a smile.
"No." Mansi simply said.
"We are. About to check in. We are both investment bankers. Visiting from London." he said, hoping, like many investment bankers do, that it would impress her.
"I see." she wasn't sure why this man was continuing to talk to her.
"We are here to close a multi-milion dollar deal. What brings you here?"
"Just visiting someone." she said curtly, wishing he would take a hint.
"Someone in this hotel?"
"Yes."
"Oh. Ohhhhh! I understand." he said and giggled a little, as did his friend.
Mansi was too sheltered and innocent to realize the conclusion they had drawn. A good looking young woman dressed so nicely, not very comfortable in English, without any luggage, visiting someone in the hotel. They drew the only conclusion they could.
"Do you have a card or something?" he giggled and asked.
"Card? What card?" Mansi was confused. The two men giggled some more.
"Yes, ma'am?" a clerk at the reception called out. And Mansi rushed towards the desk. She was getting a bad vibe from those guys.
"I am here to meet Reena Bajaj."
"Oh, Reena ma'am? Yes, you must be Mansi ma'am." he said.
"Yes."
"Just one second." he reached out under the desk. "Here's a key card."
"Key card? I am just visiting her."
"Yes, she is expecting you in her residence."
"She lives here?" Mansi's eyes went wide.
"Yes, she has a suite on the VIP floor. The 35th floor. And that floor is only accessible by card. So here it is. Suite 3502."
All this was very new and impressive to Mansi. She knew Reena aunty worked in the hotel at a senior post but she had no idea she even lived there. And that too an exclusive VIP floor? 35th floor? Mansi had never gone that high in any building. Very impressive. She stepped into a shiny lift and entered the card in a slot meant for the 35th floor.
Mansi could not believe how fast the lift reached all the way up to the 35th floor. The lifts she was used to, took that much time to reach 4 floors. She stepped out into a floor that was even more fancy than the lobby. She felt a little intimidated. But Rena aunty was expecting her. She went to Suite 3502 and knocked.
The door was opened by an unknown person. A tall old man in a suit, with half-bald white hair and a big belly.
"Oh I am sorry." Mansi said and looked at the number outside the door.
"You must be Mansi." the man flashed her a friendly smile. "Don't worry, you're not in the wrong place."
"Come on in. Mansi!" she heard Reena aunty's voice from behind the old man. He stepped away and opened the door wide. He saw Reena aunty putting some glasses on a coffee table.
"Oh, I didn't..." Mansi was a little taken aback. She had not expected anyone else to be there. But she still walked in, feeling out of place again.
"Sorry if this gentle giant scared you." Reena aunty smiled. "Let me introduce you two. This is an old family friend of mine, Mr. Navin Dutt. And as I told you, Duttsahab, this is my old neighbor from Meerut Mansi."
"Pleased to meet you, Mansiji." he politely folded his hands.
"He lives in Delhi. Called me a little while ago saying he was in Bombay for a business trip, so how about lunch? I assumed you wouldn't mind if he joined us."
"Not at all." Mansi politely said, although she was a little disappointed. With someone else there, she would not be able to be very open in her conversations. And would not feel comfortable bringing up the topic of a job.
The three of them headed towards the plush couches in the living area.
"Some beer, Mansiji?" Dutt asked pointing at the glasses on the table.
"No, thanks. I don't drink."
"Some orange juice then?" Reena aunty asked.
"Sure."
"Let me go get it."
Reena went into another room as Mansi sat on the couch. She could not believe how deep her petite body sank in. Dutt sat on a single seat perpendicular to her and smiled. There was an awkward silence.
----------
"So Mansiji, how long have you lived in Bombay?" he broke the silence.
"Eight years. And please don't call me ji, Duttsahab. You are my elder." Mansi respectfully said, remembering her manners.
"Are you calling me an old fogey?" Dutt feigned feeling hurt.
"No no, I didn't mean it like that." Mansi immediately explained.
"Haha, relax. I am just joking. Okay, I will call you just Mansi."
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