One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

‘It’s okay,’ Jon said. He passed me a box of tissues. If this were an Indian office, the boss
would have asked five times what happened, and would require all the gory details. In strait-laced
America, no matter what, they let you be, unless you want to share.
‘I hope you feel better,’ Jon said as I wiped my face.
I nodded.
‘Listen, I am not going to tell you what to do. However, you do know how much we value
you,’ Jon said.
‘Yeah,’ I said, staring at the glass before me to avoid eye contact.
‘So if there is anything we can do to keep you... If you need a long break or time off,
anything.. .’
I shook my head.
‘What next?’ Jon said.
‘I have no idea. Leave New York. Maybe go home.’
‘You want to tell me what the issue is?’ Jon said.
I kept silent.
‘Sorry, it’s not my place to ask. You don’t have to tell me. Just wanted to help if I could.’
‘I can’t be in New York,’ I said.
‘Okay. Do you need to be someplace specific?’
‘No. Just not New York. Too much baggage.’
Jon nodded, leaning back on his ergonomic Herman Miller chair.
‘A relationship ended. I didn’t realize I was this attached. Or it would hurt so much.’
‘Hmm.. .’
Jon was probably wondering how his favourite associate could be so foolish as to leave a job
and a city over a guy.
‘Now every corner of Manhattan reminds me of him,’ I said.
‘You could always move to Brooklyn,’ he said and smiled, pointing to the window.
He looked at me. Of course his joke had not worked.
‘He lives in Brooklyn now,’ I said in a plain voice.
‘Sorry, sorry. I was just being funny. Didn’t work, obviously,’ Jon said.
‘You probably think I am insane. To throw away a career for a guy. That too a guy who is not
with me anymore.’
‘I don’t judge people. And I know you are not insane.’
‘Thanks, Jon. Anyway, I want to thank you. I have had a wonderful experience.. .’ I said as he
interrupted me.
‘Wait. How about we keep you? But we transfer you?’
‘Transfer?’
‘To another office within the group.’
‘Where?’
‘Wherever we have offices. Your last deal was that China one, right?’
‘Yeah. Luxvision.’
‘So that deal needs to be monitored until we exit. You could do it from Hong Kong. That will
get you started. Plus, find new deals there. Asia is growing.’
‘Hong Kong?’ I said.
‘That’s as far as it gets from New York by the way, on this planet,’ he said and smiled.
‘You are saying I could transfer to distressed debt in Hong Kong?’ I said.