It turns out many other people had the same idea, because we had trouble finding a hotel room. The first four hotels we went to were booked solid. Finally we reached a hotel that had just one room available. We had no option but to share it.
Soon the four of us were chatting like old friends, focusing mainly on industry gossip, and exchanging stories about our bosses and subordinates. We also got to know each other a little bit. Anirudh and Neel worked in Delhi like me, but in different companies. Anuj had grown up in Calcutta and had lived in the US for a couple of decades. They all seemed like nice guys. As time went by, I started enjoying the bachelors night more and more.
A while later, Anuj and Neel got up and went to the balcony to smoke. I didn’t smoke and neither did Anirudh, so we stayed inside. There was a lull in the conversation. Anirudh started refilling our glasses. I picked up my phone and unlocked it to see if there were any messages.
“Are those your boys?” Anirudh asked, pointing towards the phone wallpaper. In the picture, Apurv had his serious teenager look, and Sameer was smiling wide.
“Yeah.” I said holding the screen up. “Fourteen and five.”
“That’s a big gap.” he said, taking the phone and examining the picture carefully.
“Yes….yes it is.” I nodded.
“I have two girls. Ten and eight.” he held up his phone to show me a picture.
“Very cute.” I said. “They look so alike.”
“Both took after their mother thankfully. Not their ugly father. Hahahaha!!” he laughed.
“Hahaha.” I politely responded.
“Your elder looks a lot like you. The younger looks very different. Much darker.” he said.*
Before I could say anything, Anuj popped his head in.
“Guys, it’s so fucking hot outside, isn’t it?”*
“Crazy hot.” my companion said returning my phone.
“I was thinking…. our driver is there in front. Poor fellow looks very uncomfortable. Fanning himself with a newspaper. Obviously he can’t have the car AC on all night. Why don’t we invite him in?”
“The driver????” Anirudh looked uncertain.
“Come on. He seems like a nice guy. In the US, we would have gotten him his own room. The least we can do in this oppressive heat is invite him in for a few hours. Neel is okay with it. What do you say?”
I shrugged and said,
“I don’t mind.”
“Fine.” Anirudh said, giving in.*
“Superb!” Anuj looked delighted.
Five minutes later, the driver walked in, looking a little uncomfortable. He was a young wiry guy, probably in his late 20s. Fraternizing with the working class might be common in America, but I am sure he didn’t experience this too much. As you know, the most we do in India for drivers is give them some money to eat on their own. And it is assumed that they will sleep in the car.
“Have a seat, Bhola.” Anuj said, being the nice guy. I didn’t even know that was the driver’s name. He looked very uncomfortable as he sat on a plastic chair.
“Thank you, saab.” he said to each of us turn by turn. We nodded.
With the entry of this new member, the easy dynamic that had been established in our newly formed group was disrupted. There was awkward silence for a while.