Three Mistakes of My Life by Chetan Bhagat

'Nice girl,' my mother said carefully. 'You like her?'
'No. Horrible student.'
Ish and Omi came at night when I had finished my unappetising dinner of
boiled vegetables.
'How are you running the shop?' my energetic voice surprised them.
'You sound better,' Ish said.
'Who is doing the accounts?' I said and sat up.
Omi pointed at Ish.
'And? What is it? A two for one sale?'
'We haven't given any discounts all week,' Ish said and sat next to me on the
bed.
Ish pulled at my pillow to be more comfortable. 'Wait,' I said, jamming the
pillow with my elbow.
'What's that?' Ish said and smiled as he saw an inch of pink paper under my
pillow.
'Nothing. None of your business,' I said. Of course it was his business, it was
his sister.
'Card?' Omi said.
'Yes, from my cousin,' I said.
'Are you sure?' Ish came to tickle me, to release my death grip on the pillow.
'.Stop it', I said, trying to appear light hearted. My heart beat fast as I pinned
the pillow down hard.
'Pandit's daughter, isn't it?' Omi chuckled.
'Whatever,' I said, sitting on the pillow as a desperate measure.
'Mixing business with pleasure?' Ish said and laughed. I joined in the laughter
to encourage the deception. 'Come back,' Ish said.
'The loans ... It's all my fault,' I told the wall. 'Mama said we can continue to
use the shop,' Omi said. 'No conditions?' I said, surprised. 'Not really,' Omi said.
'And that means?' 'It is understood we need to help him in his campaign,' Ish
said. 'Don't worry, you don't have to do anything. Omi and I will help.'
'We have to pay his loan back fast. We have to,' I said.
'We'll get over this,' Ish looked me in the eye. Brave words, but for the first time
believable.
'I am sorry I invested...,' I felt I had to apologise, but Omi interrupted me.
'We did it together as business partners. And you are the smartest of us.'
I was not sure if his last line was correct anymore. I was a disaster as a
businessman. 'See you tomorrow,' I said.
After they left, I pulled out the card again and smoothed the ceases. I read the
card eight times before falling asleep.
My break from work brought out hidden skills in my friends. Save a few
calculation errors, they managed the accounts just fine. They tabulated daily
sales, had their prices right and had offered no discounts. The shop was clean
and things were easy to find. Maybe one day I could create businesses and be
hands-off. I checked myself from dreaming again. India is not a place for dreams.
Especially when you have failed once. I finally saw the sense inherent in the
Hindu philosophy of being satisfied with what one had, rather than yearn for
more. It wasn't some cool philosophy that ancient sages invented, but a survival
mantra in a country where desires are routinely crushed. This shop in the temple