Bollywood Confidential by Sonia Singh Page B

shutterless and, Raveena realized, pigeon-accessible. It was also facing the sun, which meant sleeping in would be difficult. The walls were bare except for a Sathya Sai Baba calendar. The orange-robed man held his hand up in blessing.
    Nandini crossed the room and opened the double doors of an ancient Godrej wardrobe. Raveena’s mother had had one just like it in India. Smiling, Nandini gestured towards the empty shelves. Raveena smiled back and nodded. Nandini then crossed to a door Raveena hadn’t seen. It led to a small guest bathroom.
    Raveena was pleased to see the toilet was sparkling clean. There was a mirrored cabinet for her toiletries and an enormous green marble bathtub big enough for two people. Raveena was more of a shower person, but the bathtub looked fun. Not that she’d be doing any entertaining in it.
    Raveena thanked Nandini and drifted towards the window. Looking down she could see into the courtyard. A young man was struggling with her suitcases. Chotu, she presumed, and continued to watch as Uncle Heeru came running out of the house and started shouting. Chotu shouted back. Uncle Heeru pulled at his hair again and stomped his foot.
    Raveena’s mother had said something about the family regarding Heeru as a sort of swami.
    If that were true—
    He was the most stressed-out swami Raveena had ever met.

Chapter 15
    The next morning Raveena was having breakfast alone when Randy Kapoor’s secretary called.
    Nanda brought her the phone and silently handed it over.
    â€œThank you,” Raveena said.
    Nanda’s expression remained sulky.
    Nandini was definitely preferable.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œGood morning, ma’am, I’m calling from Mr. Kapoor’s office. Mr. Kapoor would like you to meet him here at one P.M .,” a woman said in precise Indian English.
    No wonder outsourcing was going to India. The professionals here spoke better English than Raveena did.
    â€œOkay,” Raveena said. “The only thing is, I don’t know where his office is.”
    â€œYes, ma’am, I will give you the directions. Where exactly are you residing, ma’am?”
    Since arriving in India she’d been called madam and ma’am more times than in her entire life put together.
    â€œUmm, I’m in Bandra. Portugal Road.”
    â€œVery good, ma’am. A beautiful area. Our office is in Bandra as well.”
    â€œIt is?”
    â€œYes, ma’am, Bandra is home to many producers, directors and stars. Now, tell the auto-rickshaw driver to take you to Turner Road and—”
    â€œAuto-rickshaw?” Raveena interrupted. No way was she getting in one of those things. “I was planning on taking a taxi.”
    â€œOh no, ma’am. A taxi will not take you such a short distance, and why pay extra money besides? Tell the auto-rickshaw driver to take you to Turner Road and from there 14th Road. We are located at 29 Jains Arcade, on the 2nd floor.”
    Raveena was scribbling this down as quickly as she could. “Jains Arcade. Got it.”
    â€œWonderful. I will tell Mr. Kapoor to expect you at one. Have a nice day, ma’am.”
    Raveena set down the phone and ate some more of the scrambled eggs Nandini had made. They were delicious, flavored with green chilies, tomato and cumin.
    Stuffed, she pushed the plate aside and a large black crow immediately swooped in through the dining room window and scooped the egg off her plate. She screamed and threw up her hands.
    The crow then perched on the ledge of the window, gazed at Raveena with a beady eye and promptly guzzled the piece of egg.
    Since yesterday, she’d been startled by all manner of winged creatures flying in and out of the house. Because of the heat and Uncle Heeru’s devotion to birds, all thewindows were open all the time. When she’d asked her uncle why he didn’t invest in air-conditioning, he’d responded by saying he did not want to catch a cold.
    The