Every Time It Rains

by Nikita Singh

  Laila and Maahi looked up from their phones and out the glass windows at the same time, to see JD, tall and happy, striding towards the shop.

  13

  BARGAIN

  ‘Does that mean yes?’ Maahi exclaimed as soon as JD entered the shop. ‘You’re here, when we were supposed to be hearing from you. You’re here, and you’re smiling—so is that a yes?’

  ‘He’s always smiling,’ Laila pointed out.

  ‘Did she just talk about me in third person, right in front of me?’ JD looked from Maahi to Laila.

  ‘You did the same just now,’ Maahi said.

  ‘I know. Funny, right?’

  Maahi did not look amused. Laila’s eyes were cold as she stared fixedly at JD. The rest of the team followed suit.

  ‘Tough crowd,’ JD muttered. ‘Okay, down to business. I have a condition—’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Is this a joke—’

  ‘Relax, people! Have a sense of humour,’ JD said quickly and turned to Laila. ‘My condition is that I’ll tell you Roast House’s decision if your boss lets me take her out on a date after.’

  ‘Done,’ Javed said.

  ‘Traitor.’ Laila glared at Javed, before turning to JD. ‘That’s just stupid—I’ll have to go out with you even if you say no?’

  ‘Fair. So you’ll go out with me if RH says yes?’

  ‘Has RH said yes?’ Maahi asked excitedly.

  ‘If I say yes to the date, will you tell us RH said yes even if they said no?’ Laila asked. ‘If so, will you then go back to RH and convince them to say yes, or just lie to us now and then tell us “Sorry, no” later?’

  ‘Wow,’ JD said shortly.

  ‘I don’t … What?’ Maahi looked confused.

  Laila and JD looked at each other—and neither of them looked away. After a few seconds, Laila took it upon herself to not be the first one to look away, so she continued glaring at him.

  ‘Guys, you’re killing me,’ Maahi said, looking from Laila to JD and back at Laila. This Laila knew because she could see Maahi from the corner of her eyes, while her eyes remained locked with JD’s.

  ‘Say yes,’ JD said softly, his eyes not leaving Laila’s. Laila felt a strange weight in her stomach as she looked at him and remembered the last time she was with him. He was behaving completely normally, as if nothing strange had happened that night.

  ‘Are they serious?’ Aparna whispered.

  ‘Say yes,’ JD repeated.

  ‘You say yes,’ Laila said.

  ‘Yes,’ JD said instantly.

  ‘What?’ Laila was taken aback enough to break eye contact.

  Her team shouted together, ‘WHAT!’

  ‘Yes,’ JD repeated.

  ‘Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God,’ Maahi jumped up and down briefly, before throwing herself on Laila. ‘We’re in, Laila, we’re in!’ she chanted happily.

  The rest of the team hugged each other, and then joined Laila and Maahi, making it a big bear hug, which JD joined without invitation, grinningly widely.

  ‘We did it,’ he breathed, and Laila frowned at him over Maahi’s shoulder. After a moment of celebration, JD said, ‘There’s a … um, more to it though.’

  ‘What?’ Maahi narrowed her eyes. Everyone looked at JD as if he was a criminal.

  ‘Can we sit down?’ JD asked, looking around himself at the suddenly hostile group of people looking at him. He ushered everyone back to the table they’d been occupying for the past several hours and sat them down. He pulled up a chair and joined them, keeping a safe distance. ‘We met on Monday to tally the votes, and then again on Tuesday to discuss the top ten bakeries individually. Today, we met once again to put the longlist to a vote. Every member voted for three bakeries, and that’s how we now have a shortlist of six bakeries, including Cookies + Cupcakes.’

  ‘How many will you pick from the shortlist?’ Laila asked.

  ‘Two.’

  ‘Two out of six?’ Maahi asked, her forehead frowning. ‘Are those odds better or worse?’

  ‘Worse,’ Laila said.

  ‘Wait, how?’ Aparna asked. ‘Aren’t we one step closer?’

  ‘Yes. But 10 out of 27 to make the longlist meant 1 out of every 2.7 bakeries. But for the shortlist, 6 out of 10 meant 1 out of every 1.6 bakeries, which were much better odds. And now, 2 out of 6 means 1 out of every 3 bakeries.’

  ‘So, from 1 out of every 2.7, we went to 1.6 and now we’re at 3.0, which are the worst odds of all?’ Aparna recounted dramatically.

  Javed spoke, scowling at the calculator on his phone. ‘We had a 37 per cent chance to make the longlist, then a 62 per cent chance to make the shortlist and now only a 33 per cent chance to, like, win?’

  ‘It’s like you guys are running a maths club over here,’ JD observed.

  ‘Shh.’ Laila turned to the team. ‘These odds are based strictly on the number of bakeries participating. That’s all. There are so many other, more important factors that come into play—taste, quality, saleability, ease of transport, perishability.’

  ‘Right,’ Maahi added. She looked at JD and said sincerely, ‘There wasn’t a single crushed cookie or smashed cupcake when we transported them to the party last Friday.’

  ‘Good to know,’ JD said. ‘But, to be honest, we considered most of those things in the initial stages. I’m now inviting representatives from each of the shortlisted bakeries for private meetings with the team at RH. Over the next week, we plan to meet with each of you and hear about your plans to scale up. So, you know, figure out details like packaging, which will depend on the target demographic, both for RH and C+C, in this case. Then there is the setting up of the team. Of course, we can help set you up at the Roast House factory—we have a budget, but you’ll have to hire and train the team, and come up with a solid plan of how you’ll scale up from pilot size to factory. Adjusting recipes, buying raw materials—’

  ‘Ingredients,’ Laila corrected.

  ‘Ingredients, yes—that sort of thing. They want to see if your establishment is sturdy enough to handle such a big change in scale of production and distribution. And marketing—because we’d like each bakery we collaborate with to have a good story behind how it happened, when it happened, what the founders and the team are like—basically your core vision and mission,’ JD finished.

  Laila thought over it for a minute. Everyone else was quiet, thinking, occasionally glancing at her. Laila smiled at last. ‘Sounds wonderful.’

  ‘It does?’ Maahi asked.

  ‘It totally does.’

  ‘Perfect,’ JD said and stood up. He stuck his hand out to Laila. ‘Pleasure doing business with you!’

  Laila took his hand and got up, disappointed at his impending departure. ‘You’re leaving?’

  ‘You don’t want me to go?’ JD continued holding her hand.

  ‘You can go if you want. Or, you could join us. We promised everyone a treat if we were selected,’ Laila said, looking at Maahi. ‘And even if we don’t make it in the end, the rest of the team has already done their part and they deserve to celebrate!’

  ‘Yes, come with us!’ Maahi said, getting up excitedly.

  ‘It’s Wednesday—ladies’ night at most clubs,’ Aparna said. ‘Let’s go clubbing!’

  ‘Who am I to say no to three beautiful women?’ JD grinned and turned to the boys, ‘What do you say?’

  ‘Sure,’ Javed said.

  ‘Absolutely!’ Ram added.

  ‘All right then. We’ll worry about work tomorrow. Tonight, we party!’ Laila chimed in. ‘Now, if only you would let go of my hand…’

  ‘Right.’ JD chuckled and let her go.

  As the team began filing out of Cookies + Cupcakes, Laila, who held back to close the shop, said to JD, ‘You suck at bargaining, by the way.’

  ‘Yeah?’ JD raised an eyebrow.

  ‘I would’ve gone out with you anyway. Even if you’d said no.’

  ‘I would’ve said yes anyway. Even if you’d refused to go out with m
e.’

  Laila laughed. ‘I figured. Guess we both suck at bargaining then.’

  ‘Or we both want the same things.’

  ‘Or that.’

  Maahi rounded through the shop, turning off all the lights and making sure nothing was plugged in, and came out front. ‘Ready?’

  ‘Yep,’ Laila said. They closed the shop and walked together to the parking lot and caught up with the rest of the team. It didn’t take them long to decide. Aparna swore by a club in Chanakyapuri, where Wednesday ladies’ nights were apparently lit AF. Laila and Maahi went with it because Chanakyapuri was really close to home. Laila drove with Maahi and Aparna, while JD followed in his car, and Javed and Ram came on Javed’s loud motorcycle. On the way, Laila was hounded by both Maahi and Aparna with questions about what was going on between JD and her. She refused to say anything, but couldn’t contain her smiles at the mention of his name, which attracted a lot of ‘Oohs’ and speculation about possible romantic scenarios that might arise between them in the future.

  They met outside the hotel where the club was located, and Aparna said something about being glad she was wearing heels to work because apparently the bouncers didn’t allow you in unless you were hot enough. She dragged Laila and Maahi to the ladies’ room and insisted they put make-up on. Thankfully, both Laila and Maahi were wearing outfits that were club-appropriate. Laila was in tight, distressed high-waist jeans and a spaghetti-strap crop top and ankle boots—all in black, and Maahi was wearing a dull pink flare dress that ended above her knees, teamed with a denim jacket and wedges. Aparna, who took dressing up for her job very seriously, was very pleased with herself for wearing a successful work-to-party outfit, including four-inch pumps.

  As they painted their faces in the restroom, Aparna texted the boys to go ahead without them. Maahi, who wasn’t as interested in make-up as she was about music and dancing, grew more and more annoyed with every stroke of Aparna’s mascara. Laila was getting impatient too, but she hid it, lest Maahi realize that she was eager to join JD inside. So instead, she stood by the door with Maahi, watching Aparna outline her lips carefully with a shocking red pencil.

  ‘Can we please go now?’ Maahi moaned, practically on her toes, her ears cocked towards the thumping of music inside the club every time the doors opened.

  ‘Okay, done,’ Aparna finally said, shoving everything back into her bag and following Laila and Maahi out of the restroom.

  They walked across the foyer and the bouncer checked their IDs and stamped a pink panda on the inside of their wrists, after which they promptly rushed in through the doors. Aparna hadn’t been kidding—the club seemed to be very popular, especially with it being ladies’ night, which meant free drinks. For a club, they were there quite early, but the place was already at capacity. The dance floor was pulsing with people dancing to Nicki Minaj.

  Once they got their drinks, Laila spotted JD over several popping heads, and made a beeline towards him. Laila smiled at JD, feeling a rush of relief and excitement. After five agonizing days of being unsure if she would ever even hear from him, it felt amazing to have him around again. Also, he smelled amazing and Laila had to force herself to look away from his mouth.

  Javed and Ram decided it was a good idea to chug down their drinks and head straight to the dance floor. A minute later, they were all dancing happily in a loose circle, with strangers popping in and out every once in a while. The song changed to a Disclosure number, and Javed brought out his best moves.

  Laila danced with JD and Maahi on either side of her, and even though she wasn’t the average club-going type, right at that moment, she couldn’t think of anywhere else she’d rather be. For all his goofiness, JD had some fancy moves. They kept stealing glances at each other, smiling as if they held a secret between them. Every time he smiled at her, Laila felt warm inside. There was something between them—a fire, an undeniable, thrilling energy.

  While they danced in a circle with the others, Laila and JD formed an invisible bubble of their own, and the group was clearly having a good time too. They danced for hours, pausing occasionally to cool down with another drink and getting right back on the floor. Several times unknown men circled their group and tried to dance with one of the girls, only to be blocked by Javed and Ram, who had taken up the roles of body guards. Laila found it hilarious how protective they were being and was also grateful, because neither Maahi nor Aparna seemed to be in a mood to engage with strangers at the moment. And Laila was already dancing with the one person she wanted to engage with. They were all very self-sufficient in their group.

  Laila leaned in towards Maahi and spoke into her ear, ‘No more boys?’

  Maahi smiled and said, ‘Only Siddhant!’

  Laila smiled back, glad that at least her friend knew what (or who, in this case) she wanted. Beaming, Maahi held her hand and dragged her to the bathroom, where they waited in line for several minutes.

  ‘How’s it going with JD?’ Maahi yelled.

  ‘Girl, way too loud.’ Laila frowned, narrowing her eyes against the light above. They were in the back of the club, the corner with the most light and least music.

  ‘Sorry. How’s it going though?’ Maahi giggled.

  ‘You’re drunk.’

  ‘And I’m going to keep asking!’

  ‘It’s going okay,’ Laila said finally. ‘I mean you’re there, you’re seeing it too.’

  ‘You should go take a walk with him outside. They always do that in the movies—going out to get some air.’

  ‘Dude, go pee.’ Laila rolled her eyes and pushed Maahi softly towards a stall that had just emptied.

  When they got back to the dance floor, the music had mellowed. Javed and Aparna said they wanted another drink, and Ram said he would go with them too. Maahi nudged Laila pointedly, and followed the group to the bar.

  ‘What was that?’ JD leaned towards Laila and yelled.

  ‘She wants you and me to go outside to get some air or something,’ Laila confessed.

  ‘Cool. Let’s go outside and get some air or something,’ JD said and marched towards the door. Laila stared at his back as he walked away, then at the bar where the group was, and back at him. He kept walking, and so she followed.

  ‘Having fun?’ he asked, once they were outside the doors and in the foyer, brightly lit in the sort of beige light that immediately looked expensive.

  In her boots, Laila reached JD’s shoulders, and had to look up to speak to him now that they were walking so close to each other. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Javed is on fire!’

  ‘That dude can dance!’

  ‘You’re not so bad yourself,’ Laila said, and JD laughed.

  ‘I have six moves total. I keep looping the same six over and over.’

  ‘Which is what anyone who dances not-professionally does. We don’t need to follow a choreographed routine to have fun!’

  ‘True. But Javed, that guy can bring the house down,’ JD pointed out. ‘Let’s get out from under these cruel lights.’

  They walked out of the building, after making sure the bouncer would let them back in once they showed their pink panda stamps. They remained within the premises, strolling by the side of the hotel building where the lights were much less harsh.

  ‘Does this count as a date?’ Laila asked, looking straight ahead as they walked.

  ‘This walk?’ JD asked, and Laila felt his eyes on her, but she continued looking ahead.

  ‘Yeah, why not? I hear quiet walks at night are super romantic and all.’

  ‘Well, let’s see. You’re not walking barefoot on the grass, slinging your shoes in your hand, with your other hand holding mine. There’s no moon—at least I can’t see it from here. The breeze is quite nice, I’ll give you that. And of course, the great pleasure of your company—I think this could be a great date!’

  ‘Also, there’s that fountain,’ Laila pointed out, spotting a round three-tier concrete overflow fountain straight ahead. It wasn’t very big, but the pool that encircl
ed it was lit from within, which made it look beautiful so late at night.

  ‘Definitely adds to the romance of it all,’ JD agreed.

  They walked towards it and sat down on the concrete edge. A few droplets of cold water splashed on them every now and then as they sat facing each other, the fountain on their side.

  ‘I would like to take you on a real date, but if that’s not going to happen, I guess I’ll take this,’ JD said seriously, looking up at the fountain, and then at Laila, his face lit on one side by the light reflected from the water.

  The grin was still there, but Laila could read the question he was hiding underneath. ‘You think it’s not going to happen?’

  ‘It didn’t seem very promising the last time we did something date-ish.’

  Laila laughed. ‘Just ask.’

  ‘Fine.’ JD sighed exaggeratedly, making light of things for Laila’s sake. ‘Why did you freak out after we kissed?’

  ‘During the kiss, actually. If we’re getting technical here—’

  ‘We’re not.’

  ‘I’m just saying, if we are—’

  ‘Seriously, woman, you infuriate me!’ JD groaned. ‘Just tell me what’s up.’

  Laila smiled at his agonized expression. ‘You really like me, don’t you?’

  ‘Not right now, I don’t! You’re torturing me.’

  ‘You do though. Fine, I’ll tell you.’

  ‘Sometime tonight?’ JD asked, his annoyance evident.

  ‘I didn’t freak out. Or … I guess I did. But it wasn’t anything you did or said. I don’t know how to explain this without telling you my whole life story, and I’d really prefer not going there right now,’ Laila said, studying JD’s face. She realized that she was nervous about his reaction. She didn’t like talking about her past, and hoped he wouldn’t prod further.

  JD nodded slowly, as if trying to make sense of her non-explanation. Then he said quietly, ‘Okay. I don’t need to know your whole life story right now for sure. But … are you good? Just tell me that you’re okay and we’re okay and you’re still interested.’

  ‘Who said I was ever interested to begin with?’