The Naani Diaries by Riva Razdan

Author:Riva Razdan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Published: 2022-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

I watched Zain nervously as he picked up the watch. It was a limited-edition Rolex, worth six months’ salary. But it was worth it. After all, how many times did one get to make an impression on one’s father-in-law?

‘This is not for Kabir?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘It’s for his father.’

‘Radhika,’ Zain looked flummoxed. ‘This is a white gold GMT. It costs—’

‘I know, I know,’ I said, shaking my head. I didn’t want to hear the price pronounced out loud. It still gave me a fright. ‘But they’ve invited me to Switzerland with them this month, on their family holiday, and I didn’t want to bring a cheap gift the first time I met his father.’

Zain let out a low whistle. ‘Well, it definitely isn’t cheap.’

‘Do you think it’s nice though?’

‘It’s very nice.’

I exhaled, relieved, and sat back down on the bed. The layers of my anarkali settled on my thighs, damp from the sweat of walking through Bombay’s dense traffic. The flowing skirt was undoubtedly beautiful, but I wished Kabir wouldn’t buy such elaborate pieces. I was waiting to peel off my skin-tight leggings, and the dress above it, and take a cool shower once Zain left. But he showed no sign of moving. In fact, he was staring at me with a concerned expression.

‘Does Mrs Anand know about this trip to Switzerland?’

‘Not yet.’

‘You should tell her.’

I shrugged, turning away from him to keep the gift in my bedside drawer, thinking that this was the end of the conversation. When I turned back, Zain was standing right behind me.

‘Radhika,’ he said, very seriously. ‘You have to tell her.’

‘I will, Zain,’ I said, startled at how close he was.

‘I thought you, of all people, would approve of a spontaneous vacation with a boyfriend,’ I laughed slightly to lighten the mood.

Three months of observation had made it obvious to me that Zain was happily non-committal. He had a string of girlfriends and a bunch of best friends. An impulsive, illicit holiday should appeal to his instincts, if anything.

‘If it was just a spontaneous vacation, I would. But this is different. You’re going abroad with the family of a guy you’ve known only, for what, three months? It’s not exactly safe.’

I laughed, surprised. ‘They’re not the Corleones and this isn’t the Godfather, Zain. We’ll be at a five-star resort in Zurich with Wi-Fi connection the entire time.’

He shook his head, looking more and more unsatisfied by my answers.

‘Plus, he’s not some random guy,’ I added. ‘I’m marrying him.’

‘Radhika …’ he said, glancing at his work bag. ‘I have something to tell you.’

I narrowed my eyes a bit defensively. I didn’t like the expression on Zain’s face. It was the one my mom had when she had told me that I had to give up the chocolate-coloured Cocker spaniel I had been gifted on my eighth birthday. ‘Go on then.’

‘It’s about Kabir’s ex-girlfriend,’ he began hesitantly. My hackles rose immediately. ‘Do you know how—’

‘I don’t want to know, Zain,’ I said, annoyed. Was he really going to try and make me suspicious of my fiancé? That was low.

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