Nita's little mystery
The appointment at the office of the Registrar of Marriages the next day was simple. No drama, no surprises.
Both Amit and Nita had handed over every document to Vakilkaka well in advance. He’d even arranged two witnesses, as promised.
The only moment that spiked Amit’s pulse was the introduction.
“This is Vasudha,” Nita said. “My oldest friend.”
For a split second, Amit’s mind stalled. Oh no. A Sudha again? Then he caught himself and laughed silently. Nita’s eyes flicked to him — she never missed anything.
I’ll need a cover story, Amit thought. If “Sudha” ever comes up in Wai, it’ll be a disaster.
Vasudha turned out to be nothing like the name suggested. A doctor, quick-witted, with a laugh that filled the small office. She made the paperwork feel less like a government errand.
Forms filled. Signatures done.
The officer didn’t even look up. “Notice will go up on the board today,” he said. “If no one objects, you can get married after thirty days.”
Thirty days. The clock was now official.
Once the formalities were over, Nita left for office with Vakilkaka. Amit didn’t go back to the service apartment.
He took a bus to Thakurdwar.
Last night, Aajoba’s words had been looping in his head: “What he can do in the future is more important.”
He hadn’t lied to Aajoba. He had been studying AI every evening for two years. Notebooks full of ideas, pen drives full of code snippets and papers. But telling Aajoba was one thing. Delivering something real in three or four months — that was another.
He unlocked his room, pulled out the notebooks, the pen drives, the scribbled diagrams. Packed everything into a cardboard box.
Disappointing Aajoba is not an option, he thought. Not after that visit.
He caught a bus to go back to the service apartment.
For now, this table would be his office. Later, Nita had promised him a proper one. But the work — the real work — started today.
Nita turned up as usual around 7 p.m. Today she was wearing a beautiful knee-length frock of some special material. With every movement of her, her curvaceous body looked utterly graceful.
Amit was on the bed, back resting against the bed rail, legs stretched out. Notebooks and printouts scattered around him like a battlefield.
Nita glanced around, pulled a chair, and sat gracefully facing him.
Oh my God, Amit thought. If she’s going to look this beautiful from now on, how am I going to control myself for six months?
Unaware of his thoughts, Nita was already thinking about the future. She looked completely relaxed now. Cool. All the nervousness from Aaji-Aajoba’s house was gone.
Amit went biological for a few seconds. How nature has designed man and woman. They need each other for a full life.
Nita suddenly asked, “What were you telling Aajoba about future plans? I didn’t understand.”
Amit closed the notebook on his lap. “I’ll show you everything and explain it — the day we are married,” he said. “Right now I am your employee. And I am not telling you what I have been doing in my private time.”
His tone, that firm stand — it was something new for Nita. Something shifted inside her. She started looking at Amit with a new pride. A new admiration.
I was wrong about him, she thought. He can be a real man. A real tough guy when the occasion comes.
She looked at Amit and said, “Amitji, I was thinking today… we should start planning many things now. Our daily schedules. Household arrangements. Servants. Food. Isn’t it?”
Amit was completely thrown. He had always assumed Nita would continue staying with Aaji–Aajoba, just as she did now.
“What do you mean?” he said. “You stay with Aaji, isn’t it?”
Nita gave a mysterious laugh. “I wanted to talk to you about that only.”
Amit was totally confused. “I have a little secret which I kept away from you,” she said. “Tomorrow, we’ll go again to the building where Aajoba lives.”
“Should I wear yesterday’s dress again?” Amit teased.
“Shut up! You fake!” she shot back. “You can come in your swimming briefs also. I won’t mind.”
Then, suddenly, she realized what she had actually said. She blushed. Her cheeks turned red.
Amit froze. Nitu was looking so beautiful. He just kept looking at her.
“I… I meant you can come in casuals,” she mumbled.
Amit got up and went toward her. He bent down, cupped Nita’s face in his palms, and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Her eyes widened. For a second, neither of them breathed.
She just looked down toward the table — a natural reaction. Both of them said nothing for a minute or so as they recovered from that sudden outburst of emotion.
Amit moved back and sat on the edge of the bed, his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Nita finally looked up, controlling herself. “What did you eat for lunch?” she asked.
Amit kept quiet.
“Amit!” Nita whispered.
Nita got up from chair and sat close to Amit on the bed, her legs also touching the ground below. She turned Amit’s cheek towards her with her palm an asked him. “Are you unwell? Why didn’t you eat? Will you tell me?
“I am perfectly well Nitu. You know I started from that marriage office
and then thought that I should get all
my study stuff here as I have start my work as earliest as possible. When I
came here it was already past three and kitchen below was closed. I made one
large mug of coffee and ate some biscuits too. Please don’t worry.”
“OK, I was scared for a moment.” Nita felt
relieved. “We can eat now.” Amit suggested. They ordered some chicken Parathas
with curds and enjoyed the food.
“Tomorrow,” Nita said, softer this time. “Be ready by 6-30 in the evening. It’s a working day, so we’ll go after office. Casuals will do. No swimming briefs required.”
Her cheeks colored again at her own words.
Amit had a suggestion. He thought that he could directly go to Aajoba’s house
saving unnecessary trips for Nita. “That
is a good idea. You come down to the gate and call me. I would come down and
pick you. ”Nita said. “Why? I can come up. I know the way.” Amit said. “No.
Tomorrow I only will come down and fetch you.” Nita said and again gave her
mysterious smile.
“I am going home. Aren’t you coming down?” Nita
asked Amit. Then they left. Before
leaving Amit looked at the notebooks, then at the chair where she’d sat. He
could still feel her cheek under his palm.
Four crores suddenly seemed very far away. And
thirty days — very, very close.
The next day, Amit called Nita around 6:25.
“Should I start now?” he asked.
Nita sounded confused. “Hey! I’m just in. Give me a few minutes. I thought you were already downstairs.”
“No,” Amit said hurriedly. “I’m still at the service apartment. I’ll start now. I didn’t leave earlier because I was afraid of crossing the company car taking you home. The driver would’ve recognized me. Who knows what would’ve happened?”
Nita paused, then said, “You’re right. Come.”
Amit called again when he reached Aajoba’s building on foot. Nita was waiting. She started coming down and they met near the gate.
Nita escorted him upstairs to Aajoba’s floor. But instead of pressing the bell, she asked him to turn around and pointed to another door, right across.
She produced a card. With a click, the lock released. She opened the door, took a few steps inside, and said dramatically, “Welcome, Mr. Amit, to my little abode.”
The flat was an exact replica of Aajoba’s — same layout, same windows — but looked simple. No decoration. No photo frames. Just a few pieces of furniture.
Nita took Amit around. Three bedrooms. A huge hall. Kitchen. An airy balcony. It was a slice of heaven in South Mumbai.
Amit had no words. Finally he said, “Do you live here alone?”
“Not really,” Nita said. “There’s a connecting door. Aaji keeps tabs on me all the time.”
“But… where do you sleep and eat?” Amit was confused.
“Depends,” Nita said. “Sometimes I cook, though my skills are rudimentary. Mostly I order. I have a bai who makes breakfast and dinner sometimes. Other servants do the cleaning, etc.”
She looked straight at him. “Most important thing for you — you’ll be living here for the next six months.”
“With three bedrooms here, I can have one room where I can sleep,” Amit said, thinking aloud.
She stepped closer. “Another thing. In this place, you’re going to be my hubby only. All that fake drama of being a genius — you do that in your office. No work here. No late-night work.”
Nita was gleaming with pure joy.
Amit’s hopes of quietly working here were dashed.
“Remember, my dear sir,” Nita added, wagging a finger, “Aaji has her spy network that extends here. Any misbehavior on your part shall be reported. And proper punishment given.”
Nita kept giggling, then finally came near
Amit and hugged him. “I am so happy, Amit. This will be our world. Our own.”
Then they sat down to discuss management
and responsibilities. She took notes on her iPhone — groceries, bai timings,
who cleans what, no-laptop rule after 9 p.m.
Around 8 p.m., Nita’s phone rang. It was Aaji.
She said, “I’m sending something to eat for both of you.”
A maid came through the connecting door with lots of food. They enjoyed the Maharashtrian cuisine — pav bhaji, misal and some sweets— as much as anything else.
Amit left around 10 p.m. and walked home.
Today has brought new challenges, he thought. Life for the next six months is going to be very complicated.
And to add to this confusion was Nita, who kept blowing hot and cold. He had a feeling she was doing it purposely to torment him.
My time will come too, he thought as he reached the service apartment. He slept very soundly that night.
(Continued in Chapter 7)
(All characters places except for geographical names events actions of people are fictional. Any similarity found is purely accidental. All images AI generated)
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