Half Girlfriend

‘At least you found out,’ I said.
‘She didn’t want me to. She wanted to dump me again.’
'She wanted to protect herself. And you.’
'Me? How did this protect me?’
'She didn’t want to be a burden in your life.’
‘Riya could never be a burden in my life. She was my life,’
Madhav matter-of-factly.
I handed him a tissue. He crushed it in his hand instead of wiping
his eyes.
‘Aren’t you happy she’s alive?’
‘I should be, but all I feel is anger right now.’
‘I can understand.’
‘Two years. Not a single day when I didn't think of her.’
‘What are you going to do, Madhav? I said.
He ignored my question.
‘When she left, I almost needed to be treated for depression,’ he
said, mostly to himself.
‘You went through a lot.’
‘Chetan sir, does what she did seem fair to you?’
'I guess not. But life is complicated sometimes. She seemed to have
her reasons.’
‘My mother? How is it even an issue? In fact, even my mother says
Riya made rne look more alive than anyone else.’
‘Riya had a bad experience. Once bitten and all that.’
‘I’m not Rohan.’
Like always, I had become over-involved in a situation. I needed to
get home. It was Madhav Jha who had to plan what to do next.
He seemed lost in thought. I stood up to pack my bags.
‘Can I stay for some more time?’ he said.
‘Sure,’ I said, shrugging my shoulders. He went to a corner of the
room to make a phone call. I zipped up my suitcase. He returned after
a few minutes.
'I called her home in Delhi. Her mother says she has not heard