Half Girlfriend

‘All the time.You should come sometime,’ I said.
She kept quiet. I sensed her hesitation. We stepped out of the
Maurya Complex.
‘You don’t have to come. I will bring some home-made litti-
chokha for you,' I said.
‘No, I would love to visit Dumraon. I want to meet your mother,
too. I’ve heard so much about her.’
We found an auto outside Maurya Complex. ‘Chanakya Hotel for
madam first. After that, Boring Road,’ I told the driver.
‘What did you say? Boring?’ Riya giggled.
‘What? Yes, my classes are on Boring Road.’
‘The name says it all.’
I laughed,
‘They aren’t bad. just tough to learn English in such a short time.
‘The challenge is, you have to focus on three things at the same
time: English, public speaking and, the most important, the actual
content of the speech,’ she said.
I looked at her. She had nailed the problem on its head.
The auto moved through the bustling traffic. I have no idea why
everyone in Patna loves honking so much.
We sat in silence for a few minutes.
‘Madhav,’ Riya said.
‘Yeah?’ I said.
‘Nothing.’
‘Say it, Riya.’
‘Would you like me to help you with English?’
I didn’t reply at once.
‘I’m sorry. It’s okay. I won’t ask twice.’
The auto reached Chanakya Hotel. As she stepped off, she held my
hand for a second.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply my English is superior to yours
or anything like that.’
‘When can we start?’ I said.