Meeting Ben

Chapter Six : Mumbai Beat

            The next morning was an early one. I prided myself on being a quick dresser. So within no time, I was ready in a long sleeved white shirt paired with a black jacket and denim shorts, my hair neatly tied in a boho braid. I wasn’t really in the mood to dress very work-like so I just put on the first thing that I could get my hands on.

I had missed my little Beetle so much. She had a yellow sheen, with I agree, not much horsepower and neither the greatest engine but she still stood second among my prized possessions, after the violin of course. I felt like taking the longer route via the Marine Drive, so I did. I had much time to spare so I wasn’t really concerned about being late. I sat on one of the benches for a while looking at the sun’s glow over the sea, the waves meet the well-versed impermeable black rocks, when my phone buzzed.

“Al’s coming!” Sid yelled rather animatedly at the other end of the line.

“She called you first to say that?” I actually shouldn’t have been so surprised that she’d contacted him. They’d been friends for quite a while too. The ‘before her own sister’ bit is something I didn’t like.

“What can I say sweetheart? I’m special. Get in line.”

I knew he had his smug smile on. Before I could slap a sarcastic response, Sid interrupted, “Hold on, Al’s calling again.”

“Put her on conference.”

“Okay boss.”

After a few minutes I heard my sister’s voice. “Sid, I hope you didn’t tell Amby yet. She’d be kinda surprised, mad even, if she came to know I told you first. You know how she is?”

“Uh Al..” Sid said.

“No I mean, she’d start worrying if everything was alright or not and..”

“Hi Alia.” I said which was followed by a minute’s silence.

“Amby I swear I was gonna call..”

“After you reached the Airport ofcourse.” I completed.

To cut a long story short, Al was to come day after morning via a direct flight from London, while the reasons for her visit remained unknown (and she’d made it clear that it would be better to keep it that way until we met in person). She had always been such a mysterious and secretive kid. It took a while for her to open up to people, even to me, which is why I was most surprised to find that that playboy of a friend of mine, who most assuredly was the opposite of her type, had managed to crack her shell. I prayed to God my suspicions of their growing relationship wouldn’t at any cost, materialize into something more than friendship.  I loved Sid. I honestly did. But him and my sister? No thank you. Anyway I also considered the possibility that I was probably over thinking this entire matter, as I generally tend to with all matters, and tried to bury these nagging qualms.

A final glance at the sea and I was off. One thing I loved about a magazine was that the people associated in this line of work are frankly, quite mad. All kinds of characters you’d find here, among whom the first I was to greet as soon as I entered office, was my enchanting boss Adele. London return, Indian origin, a few years older but quite the looker. Most people’s bosses sucked. And bearing that in mind, I can confidently say that Adele is the finest editor/boss ever. Doesn’t mean we took her niceness for granted. We put in the hours, as did she, and it showed in the end result.

“Good Morning.” I said cheerfully.

“Amber darling! So glad to see you.” She exclaimed as I entered her cabin. “How is your father now?”

“He’s better.” Not really, he wasn’t.

“Uhun. Don’t you worry, he’ll be fine.” That brought a faint smile to my lips.