Page 117 of One Indian Girl
‘More champagne, sir?’ the waiter said as he picked up our second empty bottle.
‘Actually, no. I am pretty...’ Neel said as I interrupted him.
‘Actually, yes. We’d like another one,’ I said.
‘Really?’ Neel said, looking at me as the waiter left.
‘Well, I have told you a lot about me. We still have to cover you. We need a drink for that.’
Neel shrugged and smiled.
‘Okay, bring it on,’ he said. ‘What’s your read on me, as a person?’
‘Well,’ I said, resting my left palm on my glass. ‘You are a bit of an enigma.’
‘Enigma?’
‘Yeah, mysterious. You are smart, clearly an overachiever. Fit, good-looking, charming.’
‘I could get used to this. Go on,’ Neel said.
‘But...’ I said.
‘But what?’
‘I don’t know if you are truly happy. You should be, right? You have everything the world aspires for, right? But you don’t seem truly happy.’
‘I am happy. Look at me. Being paid to be on an island.’
‘Yeah, you get paid. A lot. But that’s not all it takes to be happy.’
He didn’t respond. He looked searchingly at me.
‘What makes you think I am not happy?’ he said slowly.
‘I feel you put on a mask. This perfect mask. Hard-working family man, controls his diet, exercises regularly. It’s almost too perfect. Like your perfectly ironed shirts, there isn’t an out-of-place crease. You know what they say in due diligence, right?’
‘What?’
‘If it is too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true,’ I said.
He looked at me, his eyes wide in surprise. He put his glass down.
‘Did I cross the line?’ I said, a little anxious.
He shook his head.
‘No, no. It’s okay. What else makes you feel this way?’
‘You never talk about your family.’
‘I do. I told you. Kusum. My two kids.’
‘Factual stuff.’
‘Meaning?’
‘It’s like data. No feelings.’
