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Hesipped his beer. ‘I’mgetting the feeling you didn’t like it...’
They’dhad this conversation before.Itwas safe ground. ‘Themain character is a sexist pig and the girl needs to grow a pair.AndIcould drive a truck through the plot holes.’
‘Jeez.Tellme what you really think.’
‘I’dlove to say thatIenjoyed the cinematography…but even that was a bit ropey.Sorry.’Shestirred her drink with the straw, counting on the incendiary nature of her comments to draw a response.
Hethrew his hands in the air.Bingo. ‘It’san iconicBollywoodfilm.Aclassic!’
Shesmiled. ‘Well, if it makes you feel any better,IhateGonewith theWind, too.’
‘So, you don’t like sexist movies then?’
‘Notreally.’
‘Butyour favourite film isMoulinRouge.Afilm about a place that glorifies women for their bodies.’
‘Butthat’s not what it’sabout.’Shewas enjoying herself.They’dalways loved bantering about movies.
‘You’rekidding me, right?’Heleaned his elbows on the table. ‘Satineis sold to the highest bidder.Andspeaking of plot holes, she’s dying of a degenerative lung disease, but can belt out a tune right up to the time of her death?’
Playfullyrolling her eyes, she said, ‘You’remissing the point.It’sabout stripping away societal labels and realising that we have more in common than not.’
‘Well, so isDDLJ.RajandSimrancome from different backgrounds, but they’re still meant to be together.’
‘He’sa stalker!Heliterally follows her toIndiaand insinuates himself into her family’s life by secretly trapping her fiancé and then freeing him.Thatis not normal behaviour.’
Theyboth laughed.Alittle of her tension slipped away.
Stabbingpain below her abdomen caused her to stop short.Shit.Theco-codamol was wearing off.Sheneeded to top herself up.Suddenlyshe wasCinderella, and the clock was about to hit midnight.
‘Um…sorry.Ineed to go.’Shestood abruptly and started loading herself with bags.Sheconcentrated on breathing through the pain, which made her sound like she’d just run a marathon.Probablyfor the best that she left anyway.Nothinggood would come of this little reunion.
Shesaw a flash of concern in his eyes.Hejumped to his feet and tried to help.
‘Krish.I’mfine.’Anotherstab of pain.Shehid it by bending over to pick up her backpack.Shesilently cursed.Ifher period was starting, she’d be in bed all day tomorrow and probably the next day as well.Shecouldn’t afford to lose the time.Toomuch editing to do.
Shecouldn’t wait for her operation, conveniently booked forOctober, the end of wedding season.Onlya few months to go.
‘Well, do you have a card or something?It’dbe great to keep in touch.’
Wouldit?Shewasn’t sure about that, which is why she astonished herself when her hand slipped into her pocket and put her card on the table.
Hepicked it up. ‘Youroffice is inFinchleyRoad?’
‘It’scheap.’
‘Idon’t live far from there.Ibought a flat inCamden.’
‘Yeah, well, maybe we could get together and exchange favourite recipes sometime.’Shemeant it to sound light, but it came out snarky.Thepain sometimes made it hard to be civil.
Krishflinched and she dropped her gaze to the ground, guilt at her sarcasm making her skewer the inside of her lip between her teeth.
Hermuscles spasmed again.Breathinghard,Francescaarranged her bags on her shoulders until she was balanced.Sheneeded to get out of there, fast. ‘Well, it’s been fun,’ she said before gunning for the exit.
3
Theseatbelt light pinged on,wakingStellaPrice-Knightfrom her slumber.Ittook her a moment to remember where she was.Anotherplane.Itshouldn't have been a surprise, really.She'dbeen on so many over the past six months.Itshould've been glamorous but it was hard work with a toddler in tow.Thankgod they could afford business class.
