Ishaan rolled the Bullet under the Legacy Construction porch and cut the engine. Ari flew out of the glass doors, jumped on the pillion and wrapped her arms around his waist so tight he felt her heartbeat.
"You won't believe this," she screamed into his ear. "Joining bonus. Ten lakh rupees. Credited right now!"
Ishaan twisted the throttle once just to hear her laugh.
"Ten lakh on day one? That's mad!"
"Mad and real," Ari said. "But if we go home straight, Ma will smell it from the gate. She'll snatch the phone, transfer everything and tomorrow she'll be wearing new gold. So we spend one lakh fifty thousand today on things we actually need. Rest eight lakh fifty thousand I will transfer to Ma tomorrow morning myself. Smart plan?"
"Smartest plan ever," Ishaan said. "Phoenix. Hold on."
They shot out.
Halfway to Kurla Lajja called. Ari picked up.
"Ma, I'll reach late." Lajja: "Late? Why—"
Ari: "Will explain everything when I come. Bye."
Call cut. Phone silent. "No lies, no drama. Just three hours of freedom."
Food court. One medium Domino's, extra cheese. Ari fed Ishaan the first slice.
"This is for the bonus," she said. "This one is for not letting Ma eat it all."
Zara.
Ari picked exactly what she needed:
- two silk-mix blazers (charcoal and navy)
- three silk shirts (white, ivory, light blue)
- two pencil skirts (black and grey)
- one pair of formal trousers
Total bill: thirty-eight thousand.
Salesgirl: "Ma'am, very elegant choices."
Ari swiped her card. "Elegant and office-ready."
Arrow for Ishaan.
- two formal shirts (white and sky blue)
- one navy trouser
- one midnight-blue blazer
- one pair black leather shoes
Total: twenty-two thousand.
Ari: "Now you look like the man who closes deals."
Seiko boutique.
Ari went straight to the green-dial GMT.
"One lakh exactly," she told the salesman. "Pack it."
Ishaan tried to stop her. "Ari, one lakh for a watch—"
She clasped it on his wrist herself.
"Non-negotiable. You wear this when and you deserve this."
Perfume shop.
Denver Hamilton for Dad – five thousand six hundred rupees.
Smells expensive, costs sensible.
Baggit store.
Large black leather tote for Ma – fifteen thousand rupees. Looks premium, won't make Ma faint.
Grand total spent: Around, One lakh Eighty thousand.
On the ride home Ishaan shouted over the wind.
"Tomorrow morning nine sharp Ravi and I are going flat hunting. Santacruz East. Proper 3BHK on rent, sea breeze, no more landlord drama. I'll send you photos, videos, rent agreement, everything. The second you say yes, we pay the deposit and shift."
Ari pressed her forehead between his shoulders.
"Send every detail. Kitchen size, balcony view, morning light. If it feels like our home, lock it today itself. I trust you completely."
Building gate.
Lajja and Misahay waiting like income-tax officers.
Lajja's eyes counted the bags. "Eight bags? First day and shopping?"
Ari dropped them gently.
"Office clothes, Ma. Looks rich, costs smart. Clients see blazer first, brain second. Good clothes = bigger projects = bigger commissions = more money for the house."
She pulled out the Baggit tote.
"This is for you, Ma. Fifteen thousand. Big enough for kitty party, small enough to not look like I robbed a bank."
Lajja opened it, ran her fingers over the leather, eyes softening.
"Real leather… nice."
Then the Denver for Dad.
"Five thousand six hundred. Spray once and you'll smell like a man who owns buildings."
Misahay sprayed on his wrist, inhaled, smiled for the first time in weeks.
"Strong… very strong."
Ari smiled. "Tomorrow morning eight lakh lands in your account, Ma. For household, furniture, gold, whatever you want. Today we just bought what we needed to look the part. Everybody happy?"
Lajja hugged the Baggit. "Everybody happy. But next bonus you take me also."
Ari laughed. "Next bonus is commission."
Bedroom door closed with a soft click.
Ari slipped out of her blazer, kicked off her heels, changed into an old cotton kurta and climbed onto the bed.
She pulled the blanket up to her chin and lay on her side, facing the wall, the way she always did.
Ishaan rolled out the thin cotton mattress he kept folded in the corner, laid it on the floor beside the bed, exactly two feet away.
He sat cross-legged on it, still wearing the midnight-blue shirt, turning the green Seiko under the zero-watt bulb.
He looked up at her silhouette against the wall.
"Thank you for the watch, Ari. Not for the one lakh… for the way you laughed today. I've never heard you laugh like that. Your trust feels bigger than any bonus. I'm really happy tonight."
Ari's voice came small and warm from under the blanket.
"Me too… good night, Ishaan." He switched off the light, stretched out on the floor mattress, hands behind his head, staring at the dark ceiling.
The green dial glowed faintly from his wrist. Eight bags stood quietly by the door.
Ari breathed slow and steady above him. Ishaan smiled into the darkness.
For the first time in years, the floor didn't feel cold.