Chapter 17: Doubles

Aakash walked out of the university, a sheaf of papers under his arm.

“Professor Aakash!”

Aakash turned, “Yes, Professor Ratan?”

“Ah, I just wanted to thank you for helping me with those reports last time. May I invite you for a late lunch?”

“Please don’t mention it. And,” Aakash gave a good-natured smile and checked his watch. It showed 4:45.

“I’m sorry but I’ll have to decline the offer. I’m running late and I’ve to pick someone up. Not to mention, I’ve already had my fill at the canteen just now!”

Professor Ratan chuckled lightly, “Then-”

“Maybe next time?” Aakash enquired politely.

“Sure. Bye then, Professor.”

“Goodbye.”

*****

The red Honda Amaze came to an easy stop right in front of the company’s main gate, right beside the two women.

“Speak of the devil,” Aanya laughed to her companion just as the window slid down. Aakash heard the words and raised his eyebrow in question to which she just tipped him a wink.

“Well, I’ll be going then, Jui.” She waved to the blonde woman, opened the door and slid into the front passenger seat.

Aakash nodded to the woman called Jui to which she replied with a polite smile. Then, he pressed the accelerator and the car pulled away.

“So, care to explain how I became the devil?” He adopted a mock hurt expression as he looked at his partner but the corner of his lips twitched, barely restraining his grin.

“It’s just a phrase and you know it. And eyes on the road while driving!” Aanya poked his cheek, gently turning it to the front.

“Who was that though?” Aakash asked as he stopped the car; the traffic light had just turned red.

“Jui is the secretary of the man whom Cabir is going to defend in court.” Aanya cracked a smile. “She has quite a genial attitude.”

“If his secretary is here, it seems he isn’t concerned about the lawsuit...since he still seems happy enough to work on new business deals,” Aakash observed.

“Precisely. It’s someone trying to frame him. He’s actually quite an accomplished businessman whose company never had any sort of black mark against them.”

“His company HQ is in Delhi, right? Then-”

“Oh, the accusing party filed the complaint against their branch in Mumbai. The CEO was coming over to Mumbai to talk about our cooperation anyway, so I guess he decided to handle this case himself. Jui just came over earlier to discuss the main points.”

“Oh, okay.” Aakash answered as he started the car; the traffic lights had turned green.

“Anyway, what were those two doing when you left?”

“Playing DBZ Xenoverse.”

“Hasn’t Cabir had enough of losing?” Aanya sighed.

“I guess not.”

*****

A few minutes after the couple rang the doorbell, a lanky figure opened the door.

“Hullo,” Cabir greeted the two and then threw his arm across Aakash’s shoulders, “We’ll go out within half-an-hour for-”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Drinks, right?”

“Oh ho?! You guessed?”

“You do this every time. It was to be expected.” Aakash sighed as he let Cabir drag him to the living room.

“Well, you two chat. I’ll go upstairs to change.” Aanya nodded at them. “Wait, where’s Aarav, Cabir? Is he out playing?”

“No, Mom...I’m back!” A resigned voice sounded from the top of the stairs. A boy with shaggy brown hair stepped into view. “I just went up the stairs when you guys arrived.”

“As long as you didn’t overexert yourself.” Aanya gave her son an affectionate smile. “Go, get changed now.”

That said, she made her way to stairs while the boy disappeared around the bend in the stairway, no doubt heading for his room.

The two best friends meanwhile went back to the living room.

*****

Aakash spotted Aarav’s badminton racquet lying on the sofa; the boy had probably forgotten to place it where it was kept. As he picked it up to keep it back, he noticed Cabir at the console and asked curiously, “Have you been playing all this while?”

“Huh? No! My client called. We talked for quite a while. He sent me some files, so I went over and looked through them on my laptop. I just managed a meagre fifteen minutes of practice!”

“Practice, huh?” Aakash snorted.

“Oh, shut up!” Cabir snapped at him, his eyes momentarily swinging in his direction. He caught sight of the racquet in his hand and cracked a small grin.

Turning his attention back to the game, Cabir said, “Remember that time we got challenged by Jeet and Jatin to a badminton match? In Class 3?”

Aakash raised an eyebrow, “Where’s this coming from all of a sudden?”

“Oh, I suddenly remembered that incident when I saw the racquet in Aarav’s hand. We have been talking about old times so it hit me suddenly then. That was one hell of a match, wasn’t it?”

Aakash gave him a piercing look, “Are we remembering the same game here?”

“Whaddya mean? I’m talking about that first doubles, obviously.” Cabir finally tore his eyes away from the screen, pausing the video game.

“Well, as far as I remember, it wasn’t much of a match. We were utterly destroyed by them.” Aakash replied in a bemused tone.

“Well...don’t mind the petty details...haha.” Cabir laughed weakly.

“Petty?!” Aakash’s jaw fell open.

“Well, anyway. What I mean is, funny how it all began with that name, right?” His finger pointed at the name etched onto the cover of the racquet in bold letters-

COSCO.