One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

My stomach hurt. When I went to the bathroom I discovered that Neel was right. It was that
time of the month. In the middle of all this drama I had to deal with the first day of my period. Did I
tell you it sucks to be a girl sometimes?

‘What’s this?’ Neel said, surprised.
He slid the letter on his desk towards me.

Josh Ang,

Distressed Debt Group

Goldman Sachs

Dear Josh,

I would like to submit my resignation from the position of vice president in the

Distressed Debt Group.

Thank you so much for the wonderful experience.

Radhika Mehta

‘That reached you real quick,’ I quipped.
‘Of course. I have to sign off on it,’ Neel said.
‘Can you please do that, sir?’
‘Will you stop it, please?’ Neel said, his voice low.
‘Fine. Whatever. I’ll be quiet.’ I exhaled and kept quiet.
‘This is your career,’ Neel said after a few seconds.
‘I know what I am giving up. My career is the one thing I truly had as my own,’ I said.
‘So why?’
‘I have no choice. My career is intertwined with you. If I have to leave you, both have to go.’
‘So don’t leave me.’
‘And do what? Become your mistress?’
‘What rubbish.’
‘What else am I? Mistresses at least get some rights and privileges. I am worse, actually.’
‘You are no mistress. You make your own money. Mistresses take money from the man. They
are dependent. You do it out of choice.’
‘Which in some ways makes it even worse. Can we hurry up, please?’
‘You won’t let go, is it?’ Neel said.
‘I have decided, Neel. As you can see, I have nothing to lose. You do. So please.’
‘I am sorry about what I said yesterday, okay? That mother thing.’
‘It’s not just what you said or didn’t say. This whole thing is wrong. And now if I have any
self-respect left, I need to end it.’
Neel looked at me carefully. I kept my eyes on the view outside the window—the Hong Kong