Ex Factor

by Varsha Dixit

  Subodh shook his head. “I’m the Deputy Business Editor but as my boss is on leave because of health issues, I’m heading it temporarily.”

  “You sound as if you don’t like being the boss.”

  Subodh nodded. “I’m a reporter at heart. I like chasing stories more.”

  “Now you sound like Ky,” Gina said.

  Some people moved in her peripheral vision. Gina turned her head and then quickly looked away. Lowering her chin, she sucked in her breath. Oh, good lord!

  The hostess was showing Ojas and his lady friend the table next to her and Subodh.

  Ojas too paused when he saw the proximity of his table to Gina and Subodh. “Are there any other tables?”

  “There are a few outside,” The hostess replied. “Would you like to sit outside?”

  “Outside is too humid.” Ojas’s friend said.

  “There is a table near the door, but there is too much traffic with the door constantly opening.” The hostess said.

  “This one is fine. I like this table.” Ojas’s friend said.

  Subodh was busy perusing the menu. Gina winged a glance at Ojas from under her lashes. He gave Gina an apologetic smile as if to say ‘sorry, I tried’ and then sat down once his lady friend was seated.

  “Have you decided what you want to have?” Subodh asked.

  “I’m not sure.” Gina picked up the menu feigning to read it.

  Of all places, Ojas has to be here. What is he doing in Mumbai? Thought he hated travelling.

  Since their last meeting six months ago, Gina had not stayed in touch with Ojas. She thought of him often but she could never bring herself to reach out to him.

  Puru had texted her sporadically to let Gina know that Ojas was seeing a therapist and that he was on the mend. After a couple of texts, Gina had politely requested Puru to not text her anymore as she too was recovering from depression and a clean cut from her past was recommended by her therapist. Puru had agreed, wished her the best, and signed off. That was nearly four months ago.

  “Fried calamari is good here,” Subodh said, flicking the pages of the menu.

  “Not too fond of sea food.” Ojas’s voice came from the side.

  Gina’s lowered eyes widened. She kept her head bent. I’m not too fond of seafood! “Umm…sure! Let’s get that and the tomato crostini.”

  Subodh waved the server down. After noting the appetizers, the server asked Subodh and Gina what they would like to drink. Subodh ordered a beer and then it was Gina’s turn.

  “Moscow mule would be a good choice.” Ojas’s voice again came from the adjoining table.

  Gina clamped her lips. She had been about to order a Moscow mule for herself. Gina went ahead and ordered Doyal’s favorite drink for herself. “A Bloody Mary, please!” Gina emphasized the word ‘bloody.’

  As the server moved away, Gina’s eyes met with Ojas’s eyes. His were crinkled at the corners. Gina realized the ‘seafood’ and ‘Moscow mule’ comments had been no coincidence. He was messing with her. She gave him a brief glare even as her lips twitched

  Gina was surprised at the reciprocal humor that rose in her. Ojas gave her a bland look even as his lips pressed down at the sides. He was fighting a smile.

  Gina gave Ojas a slight shake of her head as a warning and then turned to Subodh. This time, her smile to him was blinding and the humor in her eyes genuine. “So, what’s the latest buzz in your side of the world? Impress me!”

  Subodh ran an appreciative glance over Gina’s face. He leaned forward like he was about to reveal a big secret. “Off the record, I might be about to break a big story.”

  “That’s great! Good for you. Can you give any details?” Gina asked, tilting her head to the side.

  Subodh sat back. “I wish I could—”

  “Then you should.” Ojas’s voice came from the side. This time even Subodh turned around to glance at Ojas.

  “You should order whatever you want,” Ojas said to his companion.

  She smiled. “I plan to, because you are paying.”

  Gina and Subodh looked at each other. Subodh gave her a secretive smile and restarted the conversation between them.

  “All I can say is that when the story comes out, it’s going to be on the first page for several weeks and months. A lot of big names are about to get in trouble,” Subodh said, his chin jutting out. “So, how long since you and Kyra have known each other?”

  “Since college,” Gina was quick to reply before someone else on the other table beat her to it. She tucked her hair behind her ear and used that movement to glance at Ojas. He narrowed his eyes as if saying ‘Chicken!’

  Gina gave Ojas a pointed look, her eyes shining with mirth, as she shifted her focus to Subodh. “How long have you known Ky?”

  Subodh was completely unaware of what was going on between Gina and Ojas. “Kyra started working as a freelancer with the newspaper while she was in college. I think she was in the final year of her Bachelors. I met her on her first day at the job!” His eyes glazed like he was recalling a fond memory. “She was spunky! She had a nose for finding stories. The more formidable and dangerous, the better.” A wry smile lifted the side of his mouth. “The management was just waiting for Kyra to finish college and join us full time. And she did not disappoint.”

  Gina tipped her head to the side. “I did not know that Ky was writing for the newspaper since college.”

  “I learnt it the hard way that Kyra only tells what she wants you to know. We worked on a story together. I refused to team up with her again,” Subodh’s voice held no ire.

  “Ky has had a difficult past.”

  “I did not know that.” Subodh said. “Why was it hard?”

  Gina shook her head and avoided the question. “You should ask her. Sorry!”

  “Don’t be.”

  It wasn’t Subodh who said that. Gina rolled her tongue against her cheek. What is Ojas doing?

  Subodh gave her a conspiratorial smile. Gina’s answering smile was part guilt and part helplessness.

  Subodh’s cell phone rang, distracting him. He looked at the number. “Sorry, I have to take this.” He was already on his feet.

  Gina said a small prayer of thanks as Subodh walked away. She turned to look at Ojas. Her eyes narrowed even if the anger was only skin deep.

  “Hi Gina!” Ojas said in his deep voice even as his eyes positively glowed.

  Gina gave him an incredulous look which she quickly altered as his companion turned to look at her.

  Ojas made the introductions. “Malvika, this is Gina. And Gina, this is Malvika, my ex-therapist.”

  In one glance, Gina took in Malvika’s beautifully made up eyes, thin face, a pierced narrow nose, and the bow shaped mouth. Malvika was a looker. “I didn’t know therapists could date their patients.” The words just slipped out of Gina’s mouth.

  “Ex-patient. Two sessions with Ojas and I knew I could not see him only as a patient. So, I told him honestly and threw him out of my office,” Malvika said, tossing her hair back.

  Gina saw tips of Ojas’s ear turn red as he picked up a glass and took a big swallow of the water. He met Gina’s eyes. “Malvika is direct like that.”

  “Why waste time saying things we don’t mean and not say the things we want to.” Malvika sat back, her look smug.

  “So, you are on a date?” Ojas said, putting his glass down carefully.

  “Yes, just like you.” Gina gave him a pointed look.

  Ojas looked down and then looked at Gina, his expression hard to read. He shrugged. “Of course. Just like me. So Ritesh?” Ojas said, even though he knew very well that Gina had called off her engagement with Ritesh. Being in the same town as Gina’s best friend, Meher, helped. Sometimes, he gleaned important nuggets of information.

  Gina felt her cheeks flush. “Ritesh and I did not work out. Subodh is Kyra’s friend from work. It’s our first date.” Why do I sound so defensive?

  Ojas nodded, avoiding looking at Gina. “Good for you
.”

  “To the firsts of many!” Malvika raised her glass. The way Malvika gazed at Ojas, Gina was sure Malvika was toasting Ojas and herself and not Gina and Subodh.

  “Well, hope you have a good time too.” Gina moved back as the server came with her drink and the appetizers. Gina glanced over her shoulder. There was no sign of Subodh.

  “You should eat. You don’t have to wait for him,” Ojas said to Gina.

  “I know that. Have you guys been here before?” Gina changed the topic.

  “Not here. Ojas doesn’t come to Mumbai often. We are celebrating a milestone,” Malvika shared.

  It’s not his birthday. Gina cast a questioning glance at Ojas. “What milestone?”

  “Last month, Ojas’s ankle surgery was a success. The shrapnel was removed. He is six months sober and…” Malvika paused, raised her finger, and lobbed a satisfied look at Ojas, “he just returned from his trip overseas.”

  “A trip overseas is a reason to celebrate?” Gina could not keep the hardness out of her smile. Why am I not happy or indifferent? Our lives are separate! Did I expect him to be sad and moping? For whom and why? Gina’s thoughts made her frown.

  Ojas misunderstood Gina’s frown as ire directed at him and hurried into an explanation, “I haven’t really left the farmhouse for the last few years. So for Malvika, who just needs an excuse to celebrate, that became a milestone.” His smile was indulgent and tender.

  Her movement jerky, Gina grabbed her drink and took a long swig of it. It tasted bitter. “That is great!” She swallowed heavily. “Really great. So, now your ankle is all healed?” she asked, her gaze bouncing all over the room, not looking at Ojas for more than a second or two.

  “It will never be healed completely,” Malvika chimed in. “But yes, the shrapnel is out so no further damage to that ankle. And with physiotherapy, his limp will reduce considerably. In fact, it already has. Right?”

  “Hmm!” Ojas nodded. “But it won’t heal completely. It never will,” he said holding Gina’s gaze. His direct stare lacked warmth.

  Gina’s features softened as she met his stern gaze. “There are worst things than that.”

  A pained look flashed in his eyes. “And we both know that, don’t we?” Ojas’s voice was low and soft.

  Gina and Ojas stared at each other. The silence between them abruptly grew heavy. Under the table, Gina raised her hand as if to reach out to him but then dropped it.

  What am I doing? Gina averted her face as her chest felt tight.

  Ojas cleared his throat, gripping his glass of water. He was quick to relax his fingers around the fragile stem. “So, how is Singapore?”

  “Must be good. I moved back to India six months ago.” Gina glanced over her shoulder again. C’mon Subodh, don’t be a dick. Come back.

  “Your friend Meher was very helpful.” Malvika said.

  Gina swiveled her head sharply. “What? Meher?”

  Ojas was quick to add. “Meher’s boss is a top-notch surgeon. He operated on my ankle.”

  Gina blinked her voice flat. “That’s great!” Why didn’t Meher tell me? She reached out and broke a piece of the crostini. “Screw him! I’m hungry.” She muttered to no one in particular.

  Ojas’s eyes widened briefly at Gina’s tone and the angry gleam in her eyes. Why is Gina mad? Did I say something I shouldn’t have? Raising his eyes, Ojas scanned the restaurant for any sign of Gina’s date. How can he just leave her alone like that at a table? Mixed with his anger was some gratitude for the reprieve he had been given, however brief. Even though Gina’s happiness was of paramount importance to Ojas, it wounded him to see her with any other man. He felt like kicking himself for choosing this restaurant tonight. He had just gone by the reviews and its proximity to the airport.

  Ojas saw Subodh walking back to the table. “He’s coming.”

  Gina gave a quick nod and hesitated. “Umm…he doesn’t know about you.” She gave an apologetic look to Ojas and Malvika. “Sorry!”

  “That’s okay!” Malvika shrugged. Ojas nodded.

  For Gina, the food and the conversation were a blur after that. Ojas’s presence and his flowing conversation with Malvika grated on her nerves.

  They spoke on many subjects, revealing their closeness. While Gina and Subodh’s conversations was like a woodpecker going off on a tree.

  Fortunately for Gina, Subodh was a talker and very knowledgeable on so many subjects that Gina would ask him a question and he would elucidate on it for several minutes, sometimes finding common threads between other similar subjects and moving onto those. For instance, as they were eating their starters, Gina had asked which companies’ stocks she should invest in. Finally, while they were midway during their entrées, a suspiciously well-timed and loud ‘enough already’ uttered by Ojas, who appeared to be glaring at whatever was on his plate, had caused Subodh to end his long answer.

  “So, which government would you be voting for in the coming elections?” Gina asked after that. She was more interested in listening to Ojas and Malvika’s tête-à-tête.

  “Geez, a death wish!” Ojas muttered, putting his fork down on his plate.

  Startled, Malvika laughed. “Are you okay?”

  Subodh turned around and kept staring at Ojas, his eyes narrowed in a pensive way.

  Gina used her napkin to hide her smile. She glanced at Ojas.

  “I thought I told them I did not want mushrooms in my pasta,” Ojas said to Malvika. “Look how many mushrooms they have put in it.”

  Liar! He loves mushrooms. In fact, the first thing I learnt to cook for him was Mushroom Risotto. Gina’s smile dimmed. She exhaled and turned to Subodh. “So, how’s your fish?”

  Subodh turned away from Ojas and looked at his plate. “It’s good! And yours?”

  “Awesome!” Gina said, cutting in her lasagna.

  Subodh leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I think the guy on the next table is messing with us.”

  Who, my ex-husband? Gina kept her head lowered. “Really? I don’t think so. They are just talking.” She put a small piece of food in her mouth and chewed slowly, smiling all the while.

  Subodh went back to finishing his dinner. Gina glanced at Ojas from under his lashes. He too was looking at her. Gina quietly mouthed ‘stop.’

  Ojas grinned at her and mouthed back, ‘No!”

  It felt like someone had pushed open the door to her past. Gina became still. Ojas’s smile took her back to a time she thought she had forgotten—a time when she loved him. Loved him so much!

  Ojas’s face sobered. Both their gazes held pain, but also a memory of something more.

  Gina was the first to look away. She found Subodh staring at her. Gina tensed, thinking he was about to say something, but he gave her a thoughtful and unsettling look and went back to his food. He must have sensed something, for after that, the conversation between them went from sparse to negligible.

  Gina skipped dessert. Subodh did not press.

  As they got up to leave, Gina gave Ojas a brief nod.

  “Should I drop you?” Subodh asked, walking out with her.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll take taxi.” Gina glanced at her watch. “It’s just ten. This is Mumbai.”

  “Okay. So, do you want to do this again?”

  Gina hesitated too long.

  “I get it.” Subodh put his hand out. “It was nice to meet you, Gina.”

  “Nice to meet you too.” Gina took his hand. She was hoping his touch would spark something in her like someone else’s once had. It didn’t. She withdrew her hand. “You should have let me pay my share.”

  Subodh waved his hand. “I would say ‘next time,’ but I don’t. . .” he trailed off, his expression hopeful.

  There was an awkward silence of a few seconds between them. Avoiding looking at him, Gina glanced at her cell. “I should order the cab.”

  Subodh took the hint. He put his hands in his pocket and nodded. “Yeah, sure. I will wait with you.”

  Chapter 1
9

  Over Malvika’s head, Ojas watched Gina and Subodh walk out of the restaurant. He put his fork down and took a large swig of the chilled water and grimaced.

  “Need something stronger?” Malvika said, watching him.

  Ojas sat back and put his fork down.

  “Done?”

  “Yes, I had a big lunch.” His smile did not quite reach his eyes.

  Malvika too sat back. “There is no room for me or any other woman, is there?”

  Ojas jerked his head back. “Excuse me?”

  Malvika sighed. “You are still in love with Gina. Totally smitten.”

  Ojas traced the rim of his glass. “Nothing like that.”

  Malvika snorted. “Don’t lie to me, Ojas. I saw how you came to life around Gina. Chatty, humorous, teasing, protective! In a short amount of time, sitting on another table with another man, she aroused emotions in you that I didn’t even know you possessed.”

  Ojas sighed. “Malv—”

  “I always thought you were the serious brooding types who rarely smiled. But that is not true.” Taking a deep breath, she smiled wistfully. “The man I saw you become today around Gina is the man you truly are.” Malvika dabbed her lips with her napkin.

  Ojas opened his mouth to deny Malvika’s allegations but the words just didn’t come out.

  “Damn!” Malvika looked up at the ceiling and then at Ojas. “I just realized. I get it.” She leaned forward, putting her elbows on the table. Her eyes shone like she was on the brink of some sort of a discovery. “You and Gina didn’t fall out of love or grow apart. You and Gina are like a husband and wife who had a fight but never made up.”

  Ojas flinched like someone had delivered a slap on his cheek. His eyes narrowed and his voice was harsh. “It’s not that simple. I treated her badly; I did not respect my marriage and worse. I’m not proud of any of that.” He picked up his glass and then put it down with a thump. “I need a drink.”

  “You think you do but you don’t!” Malvika said firmly, her chin jutting out. “Cut yourself some slack. You were depressed.”

  “And Gina wasn’t? She went through so many things alone. I put her in that position.” Ojas’s mouth became pinched as his eyes blazed with hatred for himself. “For five years she went through it all alone.”