Chapter 25
T
he next morning was a lot more relaxed than the previous one. When I woke up, Akka was once again dressed and ready to go. Deciding to postpone my shower for later, I put on jeans and the new T-shirt she'd bought for me and took her downstairs for breakfast.
After I saw her safely seated in the tour bus, I went back to the room for a leisurely shower. As I got dressed, I watched the news on TV. Since it failed to hold my attention, I picked up some notes from my briefcase and read them.
It was hard to concentrate. Just like the previous morning, I was itching to hop into my car and head for work. Deep down, I knew going to work meant seeing Prajayâeven if was only for a few minutes.
It was nearly nine when I parked my car outside the office. Maryann was already on her second cup of coffee when I walked in. “There you are. Prajay was just asking about you.”
“He was?” My heart did a joyful somersault.
“He wanted to say hi and âbye before he left for some more meetings on the Hill.” She motioned to me to help myself to coffee.
“Has he left already?” I filled my cup and sat down in the guest chair.
“You missed him by two minutes.”
My spirits plunged. So much for taking extra care with my makeup and making the effort to press my suit. I didn't bother to ask what time he was expected back. That would be too obvious. Instead I looked at my watch. “Shall we wait for our guests in the conference room?”
Jim arrived some twenty minutes later. He told us Jennifer was working on the drafts and that she'd be joining us in the afternoon. The morning's session was more about prices and time frames, so the discussion was more between Jim and Maryann. I spoke only when necessary.
Around noon, instead of joining Maryann and me for lunch, Jim went back to his office to check on the status of the drafts. He promised to call us later. Maryann and I went to a nearby pizzeria to eat.
On the drive back to the office in Maryann's car, we chatted about the company's future. “Rathnaya's lucky that when other software companies tanked during the high-tech slump, it managed to survive,” I said.
Maryann shook her head. “Not just luck. We were diversified. Although most of our customers are government agencies, we do different things. If space technology or defense were our only targets like some other companies, we'd have been dead a long time ago. Both those agencies have suffered deep budget cuts over the last several years.”
“I'm pretty new to the company, so I don't know that muchâonly the more recent developments. Tell me more.”
“Well, we started out with those two areas, but both Prajay and Nishant decided it was dangerous to put all our eggs in two baskets, so to speak. So they went aggressively after different agencies. Besides the Pentagon and the FBI, we've developed software for Health and Human Services, Labor, Interior, Environmental Protection, states and counties, big and small municipalities. We handle a lot of highly classified material, too.”
Something struck me then. “If it's classified material, shouldn't the company be hiring only American citizens? We have so many who are green-card holders, and some even on temporary visas.”
Maryann smiled as she pulled the car into a parking spot. “Not everything we do is classified. The non-citizens work strictly on the unclassified stuff. The HR department does a thorough screening before someone's hired.”
“Oh.” I was learning something about Rathnaya's hiring policies.
“Background checks are rigorous for the people who work on the really secret material. If they successfully pass all security tests and get hired, they have to sign a confidentiality contract. It gets complicated.”
“Was I screened, too?” I asked with a grin as I unhooked my seat belt and climbed out of the passenger seat.
Maryann locked her car, and we started toward the building. “Absolutely. And you came up cleanâan American citizen who recites the Pledge of Allegiance and washes behind her ears.” Her grin matched mine.
As soon as we entered her office, the phone rang. It was Jim. He and Jennifer were coming over in half an hour.
The drafts had very few problems. Jennifer and her crew had obviously done a fine job within the tight deadline. In spite of that, the entire afternoon was gone in dissecting the finer points. It was well after five before Maryann and I could go back to her office and call it a day. Once again, I used her phone to check on Akka. Her bus was on the way back to Fairfax.
“The day went so fast,” Maryann said, and stretched. “At least we got a lot accomplished. Now all we have to do is make sure Prajay sees the drafts. If he approves, you can take them back for Nishant's approval.”
I went to stand by her window and studied the parking lot. “Do you think you're going to need me for the entire day tomorrow?” My eyes sought out a silver Corvette. I didn't see it. But then it was already dark outside.
“We should be done by midmorning, tops. You're better off leaving before lunch if you want to make it back home at a decent time.”
“Good idea,” I said, and moved away from the window. “I better get going.” I put on my coat and picked up my briefcase. “See you around the same time tomorrow morning?”
Maryann nodded. “Thanks for everything, Meena.”
“My pleasure, and thank you for making my work here so pleasant,” I said, and took off.
As I got in the car and started the engine, I was grateful I'd found a spot close to the building. Large, dark parking lots in unfamiliar areas made me nervous. Then I heard a tap on my window. And nearly jumped.
Was I being carjacked? I'd heard of instances of car thefts in and around Washington. Heartbeat racing, I instantly turned my head. It was Prajay's face outside the window. Heaving a sigh of relief, I rolled down my window.
He must have noticed the alarm on my face. “Sorry. Did I scare you?”
“I thought I was getting carjacked.” I laughed shakily at my jumpiness. “Not that anybody would want my car, but it's still a reliable set of wheels.”
“I tried to catch your attention before you climbed in, but you didn't hear me,” he said. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“I'll be back in the office tomorrow, Prajay. We can talk then.” I wasn't sure if I could handle being alone with him.
“I know you have to meet Akka at the hotel, so I'll follow you there. We'll talk while you wait for her.”
I looked at the dashboard clock. “All right.” I put the car in gear and drove out.
At the hotel, we decided to have a cup of coffee in the restaurant while we waited for Akka's bus to arrive. We picked a table that overlooked the parking lot.
“What did you want to talk about, Prajay?” I was rather proud of my casual attitude. Inside I was turning to mush.
“I wanted to thank you for coming out here on short notice and working on the campaign.”
“I'm only doing my job. Besides, Paul has other things to worry about, so this is the least I could do to help.”
“Still, I want you to know I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” I looked at the parking lot once again. More vehicles were pulling in, but there was no sign of the bus. “I should really go,” I said.
“Meena.”
“Yes?” Why was he stalling?
“I met that lady on the list you made up for me. Her name is Archana Mukherjee.”
“Oh ... that's nice.” What else could I say? I was dying to know other details. Was she pretty? Was she what he'd been dreaming about?
“She seems like a nice person. She's brilliant.”
“Yeah, I know. She's an engineer. She must be smart.”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I feel like a dummy in her company. She's not just good in her field but she seems so well-read about everything. To be honest, I felt a bit intimidated.”
“
You,
intimidated?” I remarked. “I'm sure it was only first-date awkwardness. Things will get better. And I'm sure she's pretty.”
“Actually we've met twice so far. She is attractive and outgoing.”
There goes Akka's theory about a mustache and body hair
. If she was that perfect, why was she still single? I didn't know if I could sit there any longer and listen to him going on and on about this vision of perfection. “I'm happy for you, Prajay. Looks like you've finally met your match. Hope things go well for you and your ... uh ... potential bride.”
He was pensive for a few moments before turning the tables on me. “So how are things going with you? How is that young man you were seeing a few weeks ago? What was his name ... Deepak something?”
“Deepak Iyer. I'm not seeing him anymore. He's ... He's not my type.”
“Sorry to hear that.” He took a thoughtful sip from his cup.
“I'm about to meet someone else, though.” I figured I might as well start on Akka's harebrained campaign. Prajay would walk off into the sunset with his beanpoleâor rather paragonânow that I knew she was pretty. And accomplished. And outgoing.
His eyebrow arched. “Anyone I might know?”
I finished the last of my coffee and put the cup down. “You might know him, since he's from New England. He's a Konkani guy from Connecticut, someone my aunt put me in touch with. His name is Ajit Baliga.”
“For some reason the name rings a bell.” Prajay frowned at his coffee cup. “But then, if you're seeing him, he's got to be a lot younger than me, right? So he couldn't be my classmate or even my contemporary.”
“His parents live in the New Haven area. Maybe your folks know his family, since ours is such a tightly knit community.”
Prajay kept staring at his cup. “I'm pretty sure I know him, or at least know
of
him. What does he do?”
“He's a stockbroker.”
“A young financial whiz.” He paused. “I wish you good luck.”
“Thanks.” I noticed his cup was empty, too. “I've got to go. The bus is here. Akka was exhausted yesterday, and I bet she'll be in worse shape today. She'll need to eat an early dinner and hit the sack.”
He rose to his feet reluctantly. “All right. I can see you're impatient to get away from me. I seem to have that effect on women.”
“It's not that. I'm justâ”
“Relax. I was pulling your leg.” He put down some money on the table, and we stepped out into the lobby. Just as I was about to say good night, he did it again: kissed me on the cheek. “ 'Bye, Meena.”
I lifted my head to look at him. He was smiling warmly. For a moment I was so consumed by the man that thoughts of the bus and Akka's return flew out of my mind. I continued to stare at Prajay, frozen in the moment.
Fortunately the sound of voices snapped me out of my temporary paralysis, and I turned toward the entry doors. Several people were wandering in. The bus people. I stepped back from Prajay.
An instant later, Akka walked in, carrying a plastic shopping bag in one hand, her handbag on her shoulder, looking like she'd been to the moon and back.
I rushed forward. “Hi. How was the expedition?”
Before she replied her shrewd eyes took in Prajay standing behind me. “Nice. Those museums are wonderful. I have never seen anything like that in my life.” She smiled at Prajay. “I see Prajay is here, too. My own welcoming committee. I feel so important.”
“Prajay was just leaving,” I said quickly, before she got any ideas. “He came to ... uh ... thank me for covering for my boss.” I was talking too fast, but it was the only way to distract Akka. She had that speculative look about her.
“I see.” She started walking toward the elevator. “Why don't you two continue your discussion? I'll go upstairs and take a bath.”
“I'm going with you. I'll draw an herbal bath for you just like last evening.”
“No need for that,
charda
. I know how to fill a tub.”
I forcefully took the shopping bag from her while I held on to my briefcase with my other hand. “Don't argue. You're too tired to even stand on your feet. Now let's go upstairs, and I'll order room service. We both need to eat and get some sleep.” I marched her to the elevator. While we waited for it to show up, I turned around for a second. “Thanks for the coffee, Prajay.”
Akka smiled and waved at him. When the elevator doors opened, I ushered Akka inside and hit the button for our floor. When I looked up, I saw Prajay walking out of the hotel.
“Why did you give up a chance to spend time with him, Meena?” Akka looked confused.
“Please, let's not discuss it, okay? I'm tired; you're exhausted.”