a few people as asked. However, I didn’t really think I had a chance.
‘It’s a tough challenge but a great opportunity,’ Jane was saying. ‘Are you going to accept this
or do you want to be in another department?’
‘Yes, of course, I accept,’ Mark said. ‘Am going to kill it.’
‘Totally accept,’ Carl said; his voice had an American accent even though he was ethnically
Chinese.
‘You, Raa-dee-kaa?’
‘Yeah. Well, I am thinking.’
What was I thinking? Has there been a mistake? Can I do this? Is this too difficult? This is
what girls like me do. The boys in front of me jumped up in confidence. I, on the other hand, triple-
guessed and quadruple-guessed myself.
Mini-me, will you be supportive and be quiet for once? I took a deep breath.
‘Yeah, I accept,’ I said.
I signed the offer letter and felt a surge of excitement. I wanted to share this with someone. I
decided to call home later when India woke up. However, mom and dad would have little idea about
my achievement.
‘Debu,’ I said as I called him after I left Jane’s office, ‘I got distressed debt.’
‘Didn’t I say you could do it?’
‘Yeah, you did. We will see if I can last. What are you doing?’
‘You will do amazing. I’m at work. Busy with a presentation. We are meeting tomorrow,
right?’
‘Yeah. Can it be my treat? Training ended, I did make it to the best group. I think we should
celebrate.’
‘Sure. I can’t wait,’ Debu said.
I made another important call.
‘Completely Bare? I want to book a waxing appointment.’
‘Champagne, madam, just as you ordered,’ the waiter said. He poured two glasses and put the bottle
in an ice bucket.
We had come to Aquagrill in Soho. The restaurant specialized in seafood. Debu had told me
he used to have fish with every meal back home in Kolkata. We chose the set dinner.
The waiter arrived with an appetizer made of salmon and asparagus.
‘This is amazing,’ Debu sighed.
‘You like seafood, that’s why I chose this place,’ I said. He nodded and grinned, his mouth full
of food. I found his curly hair, beard and smile more adorable every time I met him.
My dress ended high on my thighs. I had not eaten any lunch to avoid love handles. I wondered
if he noticed.
‘We have seen each other every week since the first time we met, right?’ he said. I gazed at his
lips.
Yes, we have, but why haven’t we kissed yet? Is it wrong for a girl to think that? Should he
be asking me that instead? Where are the rules?