Wait

“Babe…” called Tarun slumped into the sofa staring into his mobile. “Babe?”

“Yes, babu,” came the reply from the other room.

“We’re getting late.”

“Just two more minutes, baby. Doing the eyelashes”

“They’ll be waiting.” There was no reply. “Babe?”

“Wait, na. Your friend can wait some more time. He’s not the president of the America or something.” The door opened. “How do I look?”

“Patakha,” he replied. “Now let’s go?”

“Just two more minutes. The lipstick smeared,” said she returning back into the room.

He slumped deeper into the sofa.

“Why do you even want to meet them? I’m telling you, your middle-class friends are pulling you down. You should hang out more with people from our society,” she spoke pausing in between for the lipstick. “You’ll get business ideas. How many more years will you keep running? I’m telling you, start investing. You understand what I’m saying?”

“Yea babe,” came the reluctant reply.

“Or just ask your father for money. I’ll start a business. I was talking to Sheena. She was telling me that lots of sportsmen are starting up restaurants. Lots of money in it. Or I could start a clothing range—name it after me, you know? Or something like a range of clutches and bags or whatever. Sheena knows about it. I could be like its brand ambassador or something. She knows the people from Wildcraft. Just ask your father for some money, babe, I’ll take care of the rest. Okay?”

“Okay….”

“What could we name it?” she asked.

“We should of course name it after you, babe. How about Witchcraft?”