‘Why? You have a potential client?’ Bala asked as if the only reason people
existed was to become priority banking customers.
‘Possibly,’ I said. One good thing about banking is that you don’t feel bad
about lying at all.
‘It is in Nungambakkam. Apex Plaza,’ he said.
The waiter reloaded our sambhar and delivered the banana dosa. The latter
tasted like a pancake, and I have to say, wasn’t bad at all. ‘Oh, that’s where I am
staying, right?’
‘Yes, the Citi chummery. My first home too,’ he leaned forward and patted my
back.
I suppose I had a good boss. I should have felt happy but didn’t. I wondered if I
should call HLL first or straight land up there.
I came back to my desk in the afternoon. I met some customers, but most of
them didn’t have time to stay long. Ms Sreenivas had given me a lucky break, but
it wasn’t that easy to woo conservative Tamilians, after all.
‘Fixed deposit. I like fixed deposit,’ one customer told me when I asked him for
his investment preferences.
At three in the afternoon, I had a call.
‘It is for you, sir,’ Sri said as she transferred the line to my extension.
‘Hi, I’d like to open a priority account, with my hot-shot sexy banker.’
‘Ananya?’ I said, my voice bursting with happiness, ‘Where are you? When are
we meeting? Should I come to HLL? I am sorry my flight...’
‘Easy, easy. I am in Kancheepuram.’
‘Where’s that?’
‘Three hours from Chennai. I’ll head back soon. Why don’t you come home for
dinner?’
‘Home? Your home? With your mom and dad?’
‘Yes, why not? You have to know them anyway. Mom’s a little low these days,
but that is OK.’
‘Why is she low? Because of us?’
nora
(Nora)
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