expression had everyone bursting into laughter and made my hours of frantic preparation worthwhile.
I had ordered pizzas from Ray’s. The salads, nuts and bar snacks came from Whole Foods.
Champagne was chilling in the freezer. It was the first time Debu and I had so many guests in our little
apartment. Chatter and laughter filled the living room. It made my world seem complete. My house
felt like a home. I dimmed the lights and turned up the music.
‘What a great party!’ Nidhi said.
‘Template for you. You never do such surprises for me,’ Ashish, now her husband, said.
‘We are married. They are boyfriend and girlfriend. There’s a difference.’
‘Whatever,’ Ashish said. Nidhi laughed.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around. It was Debu. He looked deep into my eyes.
‘I love you,’ he said.
‘I love you too,’ I said.
Debu pecked me on the lips. Avinash whistled. Everyone looked at us. I covered my face in
embarrassment. The house felt warm and fuzzy. I had never been happier in my whole life.
‘I just told you this afternoon. How did you do all this so fast?’ Debu said.
‘I took the rest of the day off.’
‘Thank you for making me feel so special, superwoman.’
‘You are welcome. But you are still helping me clean up after the party, okay?’ I said.
Three months later
‘Superb job on MegaBowl. We will recover thirty million, not twenty-five. Well done, Radhika!’ I
read Jonathan’s old email on my laptop. He had copied Jon Cruz, a partner in the Distressed Debt
Group. Jon had sent a ‘well done’ email as well.
‘Baby, shut your laptop. Come, lie down,’ Debu said in a drowsy voice. I was sitting next to
him on the bed. I had switched off the room lights. However, the glare of the laptop screen bothered
him.
‘It’s still too bright. What time is it?’ Debu said.
‘11.30,’ I said. ‘Only a few more minutes, I promise.’
He exhaled noisily.
‘What are you working on?’ he said, putting his arm around my waist. I nudged the laptop
higher to accommodate him.
‘My own performance review. I have to turn it in tomorrow.’
‘You are amazing,’ he said and nuzzled my shoulder.
‘Unfortunately, no such option here. I have to write details on all the deals I worked on in the
past year.’
‘They know you are good. Come, sleep. Let me hold you.’ He pulled me closer.
‘You sleep. I know the laptop is bothering you. I will sit in the living room,’ I said.
‘It’s cold.’
‘I’ll turn on the heat in the hall,’ I said. I kissed Debu on the forehead, climbed off the bed and