EPISODE 1 - “Pilot”
After RIA KHARE gets skipped over for a promotion, likely due to her gender, she takes deep breaths to calm down. Ria begrudgingly congratulates VENU, the arrogant engineer who was promoted. Their boss, MR. SUBRA discusses a possible security breach with an American client, MR. STERN, before joining in on the celebration.
Ria’s best friend, ESHA, comforts her, as she knows how much Ria wanted that promotion, but in doing so, Esha is oblivious when their awkward co-worker, NARESH, tries to flirt with her. NEHA, the office gossip, introduces the team to VIKRAM. Her interactions come off as insulting, but Esha turns the tables and makes quick work of Neha.
Once they’re alone, Esha invites Ria to the ladies’ room (their “private office”) to tell her she’s heard about a potential opportunity to work in the United States for Mr. Stern. It sounds like a great opportunity, but Ria does not think she will get it and is not very interested.
Esha sees Ria checking her phone all day and teases her about her unspoken crush on SURAJ, their former classmate who currently lives and works in the United States. Esha is correct, as when Ria goes to the train station after work, she makes a secret phone call to Suraj for a typical
round of subtle flirtation.
When Ria goes to board the train, she is attacked by a mugger. Ria fights him off but falls and injures herself on a train track. She barely escapes the situation with her life.
Ria boards the train and sees her friend AARTI, who gives her a seat and some water and helps her feel better. Ria calls her family to fill them in on the accident. When Ria’s father, MANOHAR, arrives, he takes her to the doctor, who reminds Ria that she’s nearing 30 and that her biological clock is ticking; if she is to start a family, it must be soon!
Ria returns home, thinking that nothing could possibly get any worse for her today, only for her aunt MADHURI to immediately greet her with the news that Ria is getting married. Ria takes deep breaths to calm down again; this is a coping technique she will utilize for months to come.
Mumbai Girl