He looked at me with an exasperated expression of a father who tries to reason something with a particularly obstinate kid. When I paused to think, it really wasn’t that different.

“I’m just trying to strike a balance, he can live without her, he’ll find someone else, yours is a different story, buck up kid, make the call.”

I finally dialed her number, “but what am I going to say?” I said panicking.

“Use your brains, numbskull”

The phone rang and rang, relief flooded me as I realized she wasn’t going to pick up, we’ll have to do this another time, with better…. “Hullo” she said sleepily.

“Tanu”

I ventured

“Who else would it be, what’s up with you calling this late”? I looked over at him, “she is too sleepy to understand anything right now”, I muttered to him with my hand over the receiver.

“Meet her for lunch tomorrow” he encouraged.

I thought for a second, and then took the plunge. “Ummm, Tanu, can you see me for lunch tomorrow?” I asked her.

She thought for a second, “I don’t know, a few of us buddies at work were thinking of grabbing a meal together tomorrow.” She replied

“Is Rehaan one of the buddies?” I asked

“Yeah, what’s going on, you almost sound jealous, why this sudden desire to meet me anyway?” their was a little amusement in her voice. The traces of sleep had vanished.

“Nothing, I was just missing you.”

“Oh” her voice softened at once, “sure we can get together, I’m sure I can convince the gals to do it another day.”

“So you’ll see me tomorrow.”
“Sure, ab so jao, and lemme sleep, I have to go to work tomorrow, I’ll call you in the morning. Ok”

“Yeah, good night Tanya”

“Good night sweetie” she disconnected the call.

I looked at the phone in my hand.

“Why do you keep a phone anyway?”

“I have a real penchant for cool gadgets” he held up his hand to show me a classy Tissot watch.