Half Girlfriend

‘What?’
‘Ask me things. I will reply if and when I can. If I don’t, please
don’t ask me again.’
‘Really?’ I said.
‘Yes.That is when it seems pushy.’
‘Fine. I don’t want to be pushy.’
‘Whenever you are in Patna we can meet up. Maybe you can show
me the city.'
‘I am here this weekend.’
‘Sunday is my day off. I have some apartments to look at, though.’
‘Would you like me to come apartment-hunting with you?’ I said.
She fell silent. I had become too familiar too soon.
‘It’s okay. We can meet another time,' I said quickly.
'No, come. You are right. They will quote crazy rates to me
otherwise.'
'I wasn’t going to ask twice,’ I said and she laughed.
What time should I fix to meet with the broker?’ she said.
‘I have a morning class until eleven and then I’m free until four-
thirty,’ I said.
‘Class?’ she said.
I’d rather not talk about it right now.’
She raised an eyebrow.
'Really?’
‘Don’t ask the same question twice. Applies both ways, right?’
I heard her laugh again, the most beautiful sound in the world.