One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

‘Yeah, sure. It’s only my mind that’s beautiful,’ I said. I am a fisherwoman. I fish, fish, fish.
‘Of course not. But it isn’t appropriate for me to comment on the rest of you. Protocol,’ he
said.
‘We need to get something straight,’ I said and sat upright.
‘What?’ Neel said.
‘Are we friends or are we colleagues or are you my super-senior boss?’ I said.
‘That’s a tough one,’ Neel said.
‘Is it?’
‘Well, yes. Fact remains I am the head of the group. You are the VP. Cheers.’
We touched glasses again. I look a big gulp.
‘So that’s who we are. Colleagues?’ I said.
‘Well, no. I feel like after all those breakfast meetings I know you somewhat. You know me
too. In fact.. .’ he said and paused.
‘In fact what?’
‘In fact, I am going to miss our breakfast chats the most after this deal,’ he said and stared into
the horizon. ‘Our oatmeal and peanut-butter-toast conversations.’
‘Don’t forget the honey,’ I said.
He laughed.
‘I will miss our breakfasts too,’ I said.
‘Well, life goes on. Another day, another deal,’ Neel said.
‘Wait. So we are not friends?’
‘Can we be?’
‘Why not?’ I said.
‘Many reasons to not be. I am your senior. Twenty years older. Married. Two kids. You, on the
other hand, young and single. Smart and attractive.’
‘Attractive?’ I said and smiled.
‘Yeah, of course. You are really attractive, Radhika. I am just being factual.’
Ah, the sweet, soothing feeling of receiving a compliment from a worthy man.
My life, at this moment, felt perfect.
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘You are pretty cool too.’
‘What is this? An overworked bankers’ self-praise society?’ Neel said.
We laughed. The waiter refilled our champagne glasses.
‘We are friends,’ Neel said. ‘I don’t see you as a junior now.’
‘Do note I get too casual with friends. Tell me if I overstep the line. After all, you are my
senior,’ I said.
‘I am not the typical senior. You can be honest with me. Speak your mind.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah. Try me,’ Neel said.
‘Okay. What do you truly think of me?’ I said. ‘As a person.’
He wiped the water droplets on his glass with his thumb.
‘Go on, hit me. Be frank,’ I said.
He smiled.
‘You are smart, of course. But you are also simple and a little lost. You are one of the most
attractive women I have met. Yet you need external validation, a lot of it. This could be because you
have self-esteem issues. You are sensitive, but have closed yourself. After what has happened in New