Three Mistakes of My Life by Chetan Bhagat

'Stud-boy,' Ish slurred, standing up, 'This business and its profit is all owed to
Stud-boy, Mr Govind Patel. Thank you, buddy. Because of you this dropout
military cadet has a future. And so does this fool who'd be otherwise jingling bells
in the temple all his life. Give me a hug, Stud-boy.'
He came forward to give me a hug. It was drunk affection, but genuine enough.
'Will you do me one more favour buddy?' Ish said.
'What?'
'There is someone who wants maths tuitions,' Ish said.
'No, I am full, Ish. Seven students already...,' I said as Ish interrupted me. 'It is
Vidya.' 'Your sister?'
'She finished Class XII. She is dropping a year now to prepare for the medical
entrance.'
'You don't need maths to become a doctor.'
'No, but the entrance exams do. And she is awful at it. You are the best man,
who else can I trust?'
'If it is your sister, then I mean...,' I took a breath. 'Wow, Vidya to join medical
college? Is she that old now?'
'Almost eighteen, dude.'
'I teach younger kids though, class five to eight. Her course is more advanced. I
am not in touch.'
'But you got a fucking century in that subject, dude. Just try she needs any
help she can get.'
I said nothing for a while, trying to remember what I knew of Vidya, which was
little.
'What are you thinking. Oh, I know, Mr Accounts. Don't worry we will pay you,'
Ish said and took a big sip.
'Shut up, man. It is for your sister. Ok, I'll do it. When do we start?'
'Can you start Monday ... no Monday is Parekh-ji's feast. Damn, Omi what the
fuck are we going to do there?'
'The things we do to keep your Mama happy.' I couldn't wait to move to
Navrangpura.
'Parekh ji is supposed to be a great man,' Omi said. 'And I always listen to you
guys. Come for me this time.'
'Anyway, Tuesday then,' I said to Ish. 'So is she going to come to the bank?'
'Dad will never send her out alone. You come home.'
'What?' I said. Maybe I should have accepted a fee. 'Ok, I'll move some classes.
Say seven in the evening?'
'Sure, now can you answer one maths question, Mr Accounts,' Ish said.
'What?'
'You ordered a crate with ten bottles. We drank three each. Where is the tenth
one?' Ish stood up swaying.
I stood as well. 'The question is not where the tenth one is, but who does it
belong to.' I lunged for the ice bucket. Ish dived in as well. Cold water splashed
on the floor as we tugged at the bottle. After a ten-second tiff, he released it.
'Take it, dude. What would I do without you?'