Half Girlfriend

'I don’t want anyone,’ I said.
‘Then leave him. He is too weak for you.’
'I expect nothing,’ I said. She handed me a tissue when she saw my
tears. ‘He does.’
Rani Sahiba folded her hands.
‘He is all I have. If you stay here, he will never move on. You may
be a big shot in Delhi. However, the Prince of Dumraon won’t be with
a Marwari divorcee. Respect in society is also worth something,’ she
said.
I wasn’t respectable, I guess.
‘What do you want me to do? Stop meeting him?’
‘That won’t be enough. He won’t stop chasing you. You have done
mayajaal on him.’
Before I could answer, Madhav arrived. He pulled me by my hand
to take me to the classroom.
Mayajaal, an illusory trap. Nice one, Rani Sahiba.
5 March 2009
I’m in Delhi. Dad passed away last night.
I saw him in the ICU yesterday afternoon. He could barely talk.
He said I had to meet Gupta uncle, his lawyer.
I went to Gupta uncle’s office. He told me my father had stashed
away some money for me in a secret account.
‘Don’t tell your brothers or anyone at home. They may sue and
the matter will be stuck in the courts for years,’ Gupta uncle said.
I signed the papers. I remained silent during the funeral.
I was in two minds. I knew why Dad was giving me the money. It
was hush money, money for me to go away from his mind, from his
conscience, from his guilt. But I told myself to be practical. I will
need the money where I’m going.
Also, maybe I was ready to forget and move on. Not forgive, but
forget.
14 April 2009
I leave in three days. No more drama. No more dealing with