Bombay Romance

[ 01 ] Coffee and the White Bikini

1985. Bombay.

'Who does that Gauri think she is? Zeenat Aman??'

'She looks like her though. A bit'

'If I get to dress like that, even I'll look like Zeenat Aman!' comes the reply, even though she knows this isn't true. Not everybody can look like Zeenat Aman. And certainly not everybody can dress like Gauri.

It's quarter to three in the afternoon; lunch hour at Bhushan Associates. A pale blue-painted duplex house, the ground floor finely converted into a law office and the upper floor is Vidhya Bhushan, the main lady's home. 

The receptionist and the accountant are huddled at the desk from where they have a clear view of the spacious pantry (and Gauri). Typist Rukmini is quietly seated at her desk. 

'She has that grace'

'But she isn't even that fair! She is just a show-off. Showing off her dresses, shoes, and whatnot!'

'She doesn't show off' The receptionist points out breathlessly. 'She wears such nice dresses that we can't help asking her about it. And her English is sooo good, she doesn't make mistakes at all! Also, I asked her yesterday, she said she does watch Hindi movies when she is bored of English movies and feels Rajesh Khanna is quite handsome'

'But the way she walks, the way she sits, stands..my god...it's...it's so...'

'Stylish' the other girl finishes, slouching a little. 'I try so hard to be like her. I think it's impossible'

'We don't have to be like her! Chee! She doesn't have proper sanskaar. She talks sooo much with boys! And so easily! Look at her talking to that new guy so closely' The receptionist's stomach burns with a steady flame. 'I wanted to talk to him since he joined. But I get so nervous'

'They are high school friends it seems'

'Even I went to high school. But I never spoke to boys like this. Did you?' The accountant shakes her head vigorously. They hear loud laughter is heard from the pantry.

'Did you hear? Did you hear that? She said something about bikinis. Imagine, she is talking about a bikini with a boy! So shameless!!' The accountant exclaims. They stare at her a little more. 

'And just listen how loudly she laughs. My god!'

●●●

'Dad got transferred to Pune, and then Nagpur. But it's nice to be back in Bombay after so many years. And you're stuck in this office since?'

'A year. I interned here' Gauri says fondly. 'And I'm not stuck. I like it here'

They are facing each other on the two-seater sofa in the pantry. Lunch boxes have been emptied, coffee cups filled, finished, and washed. But Gauri's mug is still halfway filled with steaming hot coffee. She likes to sip it slowly as she works. Because it's cool and she bought the glossy black insulated coffee mug recently.

'I'm glad you're here now' Gauri smiles. 'I don't get along with those girls. They are talking hogwash all the time. And you know about Rumkini'

'You seem to really like this place though'

'Yea, it's nice' She crosses her legs smoothly. 'Vidya gives petrol allowance. Paid leave. No dumb rules like girls should wear sarees or kurtis all the time. And we can turn on the radio while working. And the best part? I got my own visiting card last year! Hah!'

Roger considers this.

'And she pays well' She stretches out her leg, twisting her two-inch wedge boot-encased ankle. 'I bought these last month'