So I went and sat down and tried to eat only the anchovies in the salad. Besides the VP, Dominic Le Bianne, and me there were a few other associates from Lederman and a couple of analysts from the Dufresne London office. The VP asked us how busy we were.

Diary, as you can understand, I couldn’t just tell him that I was working on my Wikipedia page no? So I kept quiet while the others mostly said they were somewhat busy. (Rookie mistake.)

Then he asked me specifically if I was very busy. I told him that I’d been working on that new risk management module and had hardly slept for two weeks. Just to add authenticity to the story I told him that one day I fell asleep on the tube train and went till Heathrow airport. So I came back all the way to London and then came directly back to office to save time.

He asked me how I was managing without the sleep. I told him that the other associates and analysts at the table were compensating adequately for my sacrifice. (Tricky back heel goal in extra time!)

Dominic patted me on my back and said that this meant there was no point in inviting me for the movie and pub-crawl that night. He suggested that I go back to my room and get some sleep instead.

I froze, with an anchovy in my open mouth. But seamlessly regained my composure in just one or two minutes. I told him that I was happy to let the other associates and analysts have all the fun.

Dominic said that some of the VPs, at least one board member and all the summer interns were going as well.

I told him that since he insisted so much I would try to spend at least some time with them that night.

Dominic shook his head and said no. He immediately called up his assistant on his iPhone and told her to book a cab for me to come to the hotel. He said that the company could manage if I took half a day off once in a while.

So I came back fifteen minutes ago.

What a waste. I had a golden opportunity to meet the woman of my platonic dreams. And I threw it away.

Depressed a little bit. Terrible week in general.

I think I will watch something on TV.

Gouri called while I was in the cab. But I didn’t pick up.

Not in the mood to talk about Shah Rukh Khan or his chutiya statue.

3.32 p.m.

Diary, I’ve been thinking.

And I have decided.

This will make you upset a little. But I don’t think I want to write about the wax statue incident here. I don’t see the point.

Fifteen minutes ago Gouri called again. And this time I picked up. (Otherwise she will keep calling. Sometimes she is like HDFC Bank Credit Card department.)