As you can imagine, I have a very bad feeling about this.

But it is not all bad news today. The JHA follow-on project is back on track! Woo hoo! We’ve been asked to prepare for a preliminary meeting next week.

Today after work, the JHA team went out for drinks and dinner to celebrate the closing of the old project, receiving full payment for it and the potential of a new project. We went to the Italian place near Carter Road and ate so much. I had one whole pizza, one whole prawn risotto and half of a chocolate fondue. I could barely breathe.

When I reached home I met Jignesh’s cousin Megha: Shilpa Shetty’s body, Jennifer Aniston’s skin and Eddie Murphy’s sense of humour.

After Gouri, she is the most amazing lady I have met in my life. And she hangs around at home all day in these short shorts that reveal legs that glow and shine.

She has only been around for two days but we already have an awesome platonic relationship going on. Megha is just so much fun to be with. Of course all this without jeopardizing my faithfulness to Gouri. That is beyond question.

Jignesh told me that Megha had volunteered to cook dinner and wanted me to join them. I initially protested, but then she came out of the room wearing a halter-top and a short Fabindia skirt and I agreed immediately.

Was there a streak of suggestiveness in the way she shook me by the arm to convince me? Perhaps I should tell her that I have a girlfriend. Better to admit that upfront rather than lead her on pointlessly.

But wait… my relationship with Gouri is a private matter and I should leave it that way. It would be unfair to Gouri otherwise. I needn’t tell Megha anything.

Dinner was paneer and aloo double-stuffed parathas with batter-fried chicken breasts and then an effortlessly put together apple crumble with fresh cream and strawberries in a glass bowl. The woman was unstoppable once she started feeding us. After one paratha I told her that I was really very full, but she just wouldn’t listen. You know how persuasive these lively, vivacious ladies who are uncomplicated with their sexual presence and mildly suggestive communication are. At one point, when she bent over to toss me a paratha, she was quite clearly inviting me to take a peek inside her top. I averted my eyes as soon as I realized that this was probably not an accident but just more suggestiveness.

After two parathas, three chicken breasts and two slices of apple crumble I had to lie down under the fan in the living room to cool off. I was beginning to sweat, my joints were beginning to ache and you know how chicken and prawn on the same night gives me terrible gas. Unfortunately Megha and Jignesh sat with me in the living room till two in the morning. And I was afraid to … you know … relieve my gastric pressures. In case I was perceptibly loud. I just couldn’t. Not with that goddess around.