One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

will have my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins come down. My parents will do the talking with
yours. Don’t worry. You just handle the boy’s side.’
‘Me?’
‘Yeah. Don’t give them too much time to react. Just say you can’t do this and they can leave.
You don’t have to tell them about me until our wedding is over.’
My heart started to beat at turbo speed.
‘Debu,’ I said.
‘It sounds crazy, baby, but this is the only way. Your relatives will murmur a bit, but at least
they won’t say that the wedding was cancelled. As for the boy’s side, who cares? We will be in New
York in no time.’
‘What?’
‘You can get a transfer back to New York, right? Or if you want to remain in London, I can
come there. Will do whatever you say. I am sure you are in an important role now.’
‘Debu, what are you talking about? All this.. .okay, now I need to go,’ I said.
I stood up and walked out of the restaurant. He followed me. He came up close behind me and
whispered, ‘Have faith in me, baby.’
My phone rang. Brijesh. I stepped aside to take the call.
‘Hey,’ I said.
‘I sent you a message.’
‘Sorry, I didn’t see.’
‘Where are you now?’
‘I’m,’ I said and wondered what to say, ‘around. Just around only.’
‘Another sunset walk? Like yesterday?’
Debu went back to pay the bill and smiled at me from a distance. I spoke to Brijesh. ‘No, I
don’t want to go for a walk.’
‘Oh okay,’ Brijesh said, disappointed.
‘But I need a drink,’ I said.
‘There’s that open air lounge in the Marriott.. .’ he said as I interrupted him.
‘No, away from the Marriott. Somewhere else. I need to get away,’ I said.
‘Should I ask for a car?’
‘I want some fresh air. Also, I don’t want to go with a driver. Can you arrange a bike?’
‘You mean one of those rental Activas?’
‘Yeah. Can you ride one of those?’
‘Well, yes. I did in college.’
‘Good. See me outside the Marriott in fifteen minutes.’
I hung up.
‘All good, baby?’ Debu said, coming out of the shack.
‘I am going out with Brijesh,’ I said.
‘Oh,’ he said, sounding disheartened.
‘I am not doing this to hurt you.’
‘You can hurt me. I hurt you as well. But please think. This is about our future. You can’t be
with a guy you don’t love.’
‘All this is messing me up, Debu. I need to breathe.’
‘Sure, baby. Take your time.’
‘Thanks. Now don’t come near me. Stay put for five minutes while I walk away.’