One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

‘So your bonus for the year is 150,000 dollars.’
‘What?’ I blurted out. I shouldn’t have but I did. What did he just say?
‘What do you mean what? Like it?’ Jon said.
‘Sorry, how much did you say again?’
‘150,000 dollars. So your total compensation is 120,000 base plus 150,000 bonus. You made
270,000 dollars for the year.’
I felt dizzy. I pressed my feet hard on the floor to keep my balance. Two hundred and seventy
thousand dollars, I repeated the number in my head to absorb it. It converted to 1 crore and 50 lakh in
rupees. Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, I kept repeating to myself.
‘You also get a base increment. It is now 140,000 a year. Keep it up.’
‘Well, yeah. Thanks, Jon. I will do my best,’ I said, my vocal chords not too cooperative.
‘You sound funny.’
‘Sorry. It is a big number for me,’ I said.
Jon laughed. ‘You deserve it. By the way, it is one of the highest bonuses at the associate level
this year.’
‘Thanks.’
‘But I must add that bonus numbers are confidential. Please do not share them with anyone in
the firm.’
‘I understand,’ I said.
‘Good. Back to work now.’
I felt lightheaded as I returned to my seat. I looked at Craig in the adjacent cubicle. I wanted to
high-five him. I couldn’t. I simply smiled. I opened a financial model spreadsheet on my computer.
However, my mind couldn’t focus. I had to share my bonus news with someone. India would be
asleep, I couldn’t call home. I called Debu.
He didn’t pick up.
Probably in a work meeting, I thought. I called Debu again after half an hour. He still didn’t
pick up. I heard Jonathan and Craig make lunch plans with their significant others.
Where is Debu when I need him?
Finally, Debu called back after an hour.
‘What’s up?’
‘Want to meet for lunch?’
‘When? Now?’
‘Yeah.’
‘I am at work. Can’t step out. Too much politics happening on an account.’
‘I got my bonus number,’ I whispered to him.
‘Oh. Cool. Tell me.’
‘I want to share it face-to-face.’
‘You will tell me at home tonight?’
‘Let’s go out,’ I said.
‘Really?’
‘Yeah. I will pick a place near your office. Come straight from work. 6.30?’