‘Er, I’ve heard the keh-baabs here are really nice?’ Gautam said now with a meek smile. ‘Would you like to try the murg makhmali?’

‘No thanks, I’m a vegetarian,’ I smiled back politely. ‘But you go ahead and order what you like; I can try some of their vegetarian kebabs.’

‘Really? You’re a vegetarian? How cool is that!’ Gautam shook his head in mock disbelief. You know, Maygha, you are full of surprises? I had a completely different image of you before we met, but the Maygha I’d imagined is very different from this Maygha, you know?’

‘Umm, no, actually. I don’t know what you mean, Gautam,’ I replied feeling a little uneasy. I didn’t have a good feeling about where this conversation was heading.

‘Well I just thought you’d be like this typical Mumbai girl, you know, what with your background and all? I mean the slick, city type, full of marketing jargon? But you’re different… I mean you’re traditional and simple and you seem passionate about your job… You’re…’

‘Hey Megha!’ a familiar voice rang out, interrupting Gautam, and I turned to see Priyanka swaying towards our table with Yudi in tow. They’d probably been having dinner together and were on their way out. Priyanka had a reputation in the office of working hard and partying harder and I could see now that she was pretty buzzed. ‘Megha!’ she said again as she reached our table. ‘Fancy meeting you here! I almost didn’t recognize you, what are you wearing? You look like a sarson ka khet, babe!’

She tinkled merrily with laughter at her clever little quip and I gave a forced laugh of my own, although I was secretly squirming inside. I was acutely aware of Yudi’s presence; from the corner of my eye I could make out that he was looking at me intently. Just my luck! I had to bump into him today of all days when I was looking like a walking sunflower field in my bright yellow salwar kameez. Not to mention my tightly braided hair and long dangling earrings! I groaned silently and stole a glance at Yudi only to find myself looking straight into his eyes. He smiled his trademark sardonic smile and I felt a defiant flash of anger. He was mocking me! Well, I’d show him!

‘Actually it’s the traditional look, Priyanka,’ I said breezily, smiling at Gautam. ‘I think it suits me. What do you think, Gautam?’

‘You bet, Maygha, you look lovely!’ Gautam gave me another one of his appreciative smiles. ‘Are these your friends?’

‘Umm, oh yeah, this is Priyanka and Yudi from work. And this is Gautam.’ I broke off uncertainly, not sure what to say further, but Gautam was already shaking hands with Yudi and Priyanka and telling them in a thick American accent what a ‘pllaysure’ it was to meet friends of ‘Maygha’. They exchanged pleasantries for a few more minutes before Yudi and Priyanka left and I could get my brain to finally unfreeze itself and realize the implications of what I’d done. Not only had I inadvertently managed to impress Gautam with my traditional look and ‘passion’ for my job; I had also kind of flirted with him in an effort to defy Priyanka and Yudi!