Chapter 4: Mumbai Nights and Silent Drives

After my shower, I came out. Before I could say anything, Arjun grabbed his pyjamas and went into the bathroom himself.

Silent treatment, Indian edition. When men go quiet, it’s always trouble.

I couldn’t figure out what he was upset about.

He said I was angry, but clearly he was the one in a mood.

I lay on the bed, bored, playing a farming game on my phone, thinking about how to coax him later.

Tonight, Arjun had an event and messaged me to pick him up.

A driver could’ve done it, but he insisted I come. Maybe he just couldn’t stand me having nothing to do and wanted to find me a task.

So I went.

I hated the smell of that club, so I waited at the door. The bouncer at the door was scrolling through Instagram reels, barely glancing up as I waited, scarf pulled over my nose.

To avoid being late, I left early and ended up waiting a while.

I squatted by the curb, watching ants move crumbs. I even opened a pack of Parle-G biscuits and nibbled, sharing the crumbs with them. Dadi always said, feeding ants brings good luck. Maybe I’ll need all of it now.

Even in my worst moments, I always end up feeding someone. My dadi would be proud.

By the time the ants hauled away their third crumb, Arjun finally came out.

I heard voices and turned.

At 6'2", Arjun stood out in any crowd.

He walked like someone who owned the road, not just the car parked outside.

To his left was my dad, all 5'6" of him, with a fawning smile on his face.

His voice echoed down the corridor, mixing with the clang of steel tiffin boxes and the smell of frying onions from the neighbour’s kitchen. My father’s trademark grin—half butter, half fear. Anyone watching would know he was about to ask for another favour.

I grabbed another biscuit crumb, ready to get up and meet them, when suddenly a girl lifted her saree pallu and ran towards Arjun.

Her saree was proper silk, the kind you see only in movies or at big family weddings. She ran with full confidence, eyes locked on Arjun.

"Arjun, did you come to see me?"

Her voice was bright, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him.

"Did you know I was coming back to India today?"

The accent said she’d been abroad, but the attitude was pure Bandra.

Huh.

Old flames meeting, is it?

I squatted back down.

Kept watching the ants haul food.

So satisfying.

Grabbed another biscuit.

The ants took it again.

Wow, I’m such a good person. The ants definitely won’t go hungry today.

Small mercies. Maybe in my next life, I’ll be an ant—no drama, only crumbs.

As I watched, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

It was Arjun: [Jaan, are you here to pick me up?]

I’m here.

Watching ants.

I finished the last biscuit, stood up, and walked over to him.

"I’m here."

He turned and strode towards me.

I was about to go to him, but as soon as I took a step, I froze.

Crap, I squatted too long—my legs are numb.

This is what happens when you act like a hero in public. Karma gets you.

We weren’t far apart, so he quickly reached me and scooped me up.

"Pagal, I missed you so much."

I opened my mouth to speak but saw that girl from earlier staring at me from a distance.

My brain short-circuited, and I blurted, "Done catching up with your old flame?"

Arjun frowned. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Jaan, I—"

I cut him off. "Can we go home first?"

Stop calling me ‘baby.’

My legs are numb.

So uncomfortable.

Just want to disappear.

Arjun held my hand and said nothing.

In the car, I looked down at my phone, Googling what to do about numb legs, completely ignoring him.

We were silent all the way home.

Mumbai traffic outside, but the real jam was inside the car—words stuck in my throat, silence louder than any horn.

Once my legs recovered, I bounced over to open my pile of Myntra packages.

Shopping always helps, na? Each parcel felt like a small reward after a long, bad day.

After opening two, I got to the sanitary pads and suddenly remembered something important.

Panic mode: ON. No pads used in days. I did the math—something was off.

I grabbed my phone and rushed out.

Arjun asked, "Where are you going?"

I made something up: "I’ve been cooped up all day, just need some air."

He didn’t stop me.

I zigzagged to the pharmacy, bought a pregnancy test, and followed the instructions.

Turns out, I really was pregnant.

Terrible.

I want to disappear.

I wished for some miracle—maybe I’d wake up and find out it was all a bad dream, like in those OTT serials mum watches every night.