Chapter 2: The Business Trip and the Barrage

Mum didn’t expect me to refuse. She opened her mouth, ready to persuade me: “Meera, be good. Mummy is going to work…”

I grabbed the edge of her dupatta and wouldn’t let go, my voice wobbly like I was about to cry in front of the whole mohalla: “Mummy, help me ask for leave. Take me on the business trip. I’ll be good.”

I buried my face in the cool cotton of her kurta, breathing in the faint smell of Pond’s powder and sweat. I could feel her heartbeat, fast and nervous, as if she didn’t know what to do with my sudden stubbornness.

“Meera,” Mum stroked my cheek, “why are you sad? Mummy will be back in a few days, you have to be good.”

Her fingers were a little cold. She wiped my tears with the edge of her dupatta, trying to smile, but I could see her worry beneath it.

“I don’t want to.” I said again. “I already know everything the playschool teachers teach. Take me with you, Mummy, please…”

Mum couldn’t resist me when I acted cute.

I pouted, eyes big and watery, and she sighed, just like mothers do when their kids are too clever for their own good. Her eyes softened, and she finally called the playschool teacher to ask for leave.

She reminded me, “Meera, you have to listen to Mummy when we go out. When Mummy is working, you mustn’t run around, okay?”

I nodded hard.

I did a little happy dance in the living room, arms in the air, like the heroines on TV when their wishes come true. So Mum took me with her.

This was my first time going to another city. Because Mum was always busy, she usually hired a maid to look after me.

The train journey was long. Vendors pushed by with baskets of samosas, the smell of fried onions mixing with the cool breeze from the window. I counted coconut trees and listened for the next station—"Nagpur!" someone shouted. On the way, the barrage comments kept rolling in front of my eyes.

[Little Meera went with Mum on the business trip. If only she could find Dad and the three could reunite.]

[Exactly, they obviously love each other so much, but never talk. I wish I could go in and ask them, why so much ego, boss?]

[The company the female lead is visiting is right next to Arjun’s, isn’t it? They have a chance to meet again.]

[Sob sob, I really hope Arjun finds out Priya gave him a daughter.]

Find Dad?

I know all the kids in playschool have dads. Mum said my dad was far away, so I thought he was dead. But is he not?

Actually, not having a dad was fine.

Sometimes, when we watched serials together, I’d ask, “Where’s my papa?” and she’d just stroke my hair and say, “He’s far, far away, beta.” But the barrage said Mum works so hard to raise me, so Dad should help too.

I decided to find Dad.

They don’t talk, but I can.

“Mummy, what does my dad look like?” I asked Mum for the first time.

Mum’s expression stiffened, her smile faded, and there was something in her eyes I couldn’t understand. She asked, “Meera, why are you suddenly asking this?”

“I want to know.”

I watched her face as she thought. She turned away, busying herself with folding a dupatta, as if that would hide her feelings. After a long while, Mum said softly, “Your dad is very good-looking, but he has a bit of a bad temper.”

That must mean his temper is really bad.

Even someone as gentle as Mum couldn’t stand him.

But even if he has a bad temper, he should still raise his child.