16-06-2025, 01:05 AM
“Yes,” Abhi said, a little surprised. “Though not often these days. Why?”
“I might need a small favor tomorrow,” Sandeep said.
“There’s a half-sari function for Madhavi’s niece in Secunderabad. I was supposed to take her, but something's come up at the plant. Production snag.”
“Oh,” Madhavi said softly. “Is it serious?”
“Could be. They need me on the floor for most of the day. Otherwise, I'd have gone.”
He turned to Abhi. “It’s around 9:30 in the morning. You could take my car. It’s a bit of a drive, but not too bad. You’d be back by evening.”
Madhavi looked up at Abhi briefly, her expression somewhere between surprise and hope.
Abhi hesitated, but only for a moment. “Sure, I don’t mind. Happy to help.”
“Perfect,” Sandeep said, clearly relieved. “She doesn’t like booking cabs alone for these kinds of events. And some of her cousins will be there, so she won’t need you to hang around.”
“I’ll bring a book,” Abhi joked.
“I’m sure they’ll feed you well too,” Madhavi said with a small smile.
Sandeep laughed. “That’s true. You might not come back.”
They all chuckled. Then Sandeep stood. “Let me get the spare car keys.”
As he walked to the other room, Abhi turned slightly to Madhavi. “I didn’t know you had a niece.”
“Lots of things you don’t know about me,” she said softly, then added, “It’s my cousin’s daughter actually. She’s turning fifteen.”
“Ah,” he said. “Big day.”
She nodded, then after a moment said, “Thanks for offering. I know it’s not exactly your Sunday plan.”
“It’s fine,” Abhi said. “I could use the drive. And the company.”
Their eyes met for a moment—gentle, unreadable.
Sandeep returned with the keys and a small printed card. “Here’s the venue. Parking might be tight, but just call if you need anything.”
Abhi took them with a nod.
After dessert—Madhavi insisted on warming the gulab jamuns just a little—they all sat for a few more minutes before Abhi stood to leave.
“Thanks for dinner. It was wonderful,” he said sincerely.
“You’re welcome anytime,” Madhavi said, walking with him to the door.
Sandeep waved from inside. “Don’t forget 9:15 sharp tomorrow!”
As the door gently clicked shut behind him, Abhi stood in the corridor for a second longer than needed. The air was cooler now, the jasmine scent stronger.
The evening had been simple. But under its quiet surface, something unspoken had moved.
“I might need a small favor tomorrow,” Sandeep said.
“There’s a half-sari function for Madhavi’s niece in Secunderabad. I was supposed to take her, but something's come up at the plant. Production snag.”
“Oh,” Madhavi said softly. “Is it serious?”
“Could be. They need me on the floor for most of the day. Otherwise, I'd have gone.”
He turned to Abhi. “It’s around 9:30 in the morning. You could take my car. It’s a bit of a drive, but not too bad. You’d be back by evening.”
Madhavi looked up at Abhi briefly, her expression somewhere between surprise and hope.
Abhi hesitated, but only for a moment. “Sure, I don’t mind. Happy to help.”
“Perfect,” Sandeep said, clearly relieved. “She doesn’t like booking cabs alone for these kinds of events. And some of her cousins will be there, so she won’t need you to hang around.”
“I’ll bring a book,” Abhi joked.
“I’m sure they’ll feed you well too,” Madhavi said with a small smile.
Sandeep laughed. “That’s true. You might not come back.”
They all chuckled. Then Sandeep stood. “Let me get the spare car keys.”
As he walked to the other room, Abhi turned slightly to Madhavi. “I didn’t know you had a niece.”
“Lots of things you don’t know about me,” she said softly, then added, “It’s my cousin’s daughter actually. She’s turning fifteen.”
“Ah,” he said. “Big day.”
She nodded, then after a moment said, “Thanks for offering. I know it’s not exactly your Sunday plan.”
“It’s fine,” Abhi said. “I could use the drive. And the company.”
Their eyes met for a moment—gentle, unreadable.
Sandeep returned with the keys and a small printed card. “Here’s the venue. Parking might be tight, but just call if you need anything.”
Abhi took them with a nod.
After dessert—Madhavi insisted on warming the gulab jamuns just a little—they all sat for a few more minutes before Abhi stood to leave.
“Thanks for dinner. It was wonderful,” he said sincerely.
“You’re welcome anytime,” Madhavi said, walking with him to the door.
Sandeep waved from inside. “Don’t forget 9:15 sharp tomorrow!”
As the door gently clicked shut behind him, Abhi stood in the corridor for a second longer than needed. The air was cooler now, the jasmine scent stronger.
The evening had been simple. But under its quiet surface, something unspoken had moved.
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