One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

Neel was saying when I cut him off.
‘Both of you are my exes. My past lovers,’ I said.
If there were prizes for priceless expressions, Neel and Debu could both share a Nobel.
‘Sorry, I don’t understand,’ Neel said. ‘I am an ex but who is he?’
‘Debu. My boyfriend in New York, remember?’
‘Oh, that guy,’ Neel said.
‘Neel is your ex too? Sorry, when was this?’ Debu said.
‘Hong Kong.’
‘Oh,’ Debu said, and became silent. He studied Neel openly.
‘Yeah, he’s older, Debu. Much older,’ I said. ‘Neel’s married too.’
Debu realized I had caught him staring at Neel and took his gaze away from him.
‘I was. Not now,’ Neel corrected me. ‘So Debu’s come to attend your wedding? That’s nice.’
‘He’s not come to attend it. He’s come to marry me. He wants to sit in the groom’s place. Right
here, in Goa.’
‘What?’ Neel said. ‘I thought things ended badly for you guys. Debu’s the same guy who made
you leave New York, right?’
‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Change of heart now. Just like you.’
I guess it takes a while for people to realize my worth.
I turned to Debu.
‘And, Debu, Neel is here to stop the wedding too. His style is a bit different. It involves
chartered planes.’
Debu’s eyes popped open.
‘You see, he is rich. Something you always had a problem with.’
‘I.. .I.. .I.. .’ Debu stuttered as he struggled to string a sentence. ‘I have no problem with
someone who is rich. Who said I did?’
Neel interjected, ‘Radhika, I didn’t mean to display my wealth. It just seemed like the best
option.’
‘Neel, it doesn’t matter. But understand the situation, guys. Both of you are here to stop my
wedding, which is in a few hours. Not only that, you want me to marry you instead. As you can
imagine, you have put me in quite a predicament.’
The waiter arrived with our food. As he served us, Neel and Debu shifted in their seats,
avoided eye contact with each other. I leisurely spread peanut butter on my toast. I saw the unease on
their faces. Debu spoke after the waiter left.
‘Sorry, Radhika. I didn’t realize you have another ex-boyfriend here. Was this gentleman even
a boyfriend, actually? He is so much older and married.’
‘Not married anymore. And my name is Neel, Neel Gupta,’ Neel said, loosening the collar of
his shirt.
‘Yeah, whatever. But, Radhika, I thought you and I are meeting here alone. In any case, you
need to come with me.’
‘Why? You forgot how you treated her? She had to leave the country for you,’ Neel said.
‘Even for you, Neel,’ I said.
Neel looked at me with a stumped expression.
‘Radhika, I said sorry. I never disrespected you. I may have had some confusion. But now I
don’t. I am only human.’
Debu interrupted Neel.