secretary must have asked a hotel in Delhi to send them.’
I remained silent. I had no idea. Maybe rich people found it normal
to send flowers across continents to other rich people who had viral
fever. I stood up to leave. She came to the door to see me off. ‘So, we
cool?’ she said.
I nodded. In reality, I didn’t know what to say. I needed my
friends, like, now.
- I summoned my expert panel for an urgent meeting. All of us sat
cross-legged on the grass lawns outside Rudra. I narrated my
conversation with Riya, my failed attempts at kissing her, her frequent
hugs and Imally the deal on the table—half-girlfriend. I skipped the
flower delivery, though. I didn’t want to bring another variable or
person into the picture.
‘Half isn’t bad. Depends on how you look at it,’ Ashu said. ‘Half-
empty or half-full.’
I idly tugged at blades of grass, waiting for everyone in iny expert
panel to make their opening remarks.
‘Pretty sucky, if you ask me,’ Shailesh said.
‘Pessimist,’ Ashu said. ‘Always glass is half-empty.’
‘No. The half that is missing is pretty vital,’ Shailesh said.
‘Raman?’ I said.
Raman let out a deep sigh. ‘Fuck, if a girl won’t get physical with
you, it’s a warning sign,’ he said.
‘Hell, it’s more than a warning sign,’ Shailesh said. ‘It’s a fire
brigade siren on maximum volume using thousand-watt amplifiers.
Don’t you get it, Mr Dumraon? She is playing with you.’
‘Ashu, you agree?’ I said.
The fat Bihari, always soft and supportive, looked me in the eye.
‘Do you like her?’ he said.
‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Do you trust her?’
‘I think so. The way she hugged me again and again. Or how she