Page 64 of One Indian Girl
‘Berries are good for you. Start with this while the pancakes get cooked.’
He waved his hands.
‘Don’t you have to go to work?’ he said.
‘I do.’
‘You had an important meeting in the morning, right?’
‘Yeah. I will have breakfast with you and then get ready.’
The smell of buttery dough filled the living room. The pancakes turned golden-brown. I arranged two of them on a plate, drizzled maple syrup on them. I cut a banana into thin slices and arranged them around the pancakes.
‘How about you?’ Debu said as I gave him his plate.
‘I am making more,’ I said.
Does he think I am less hardened now?I wondered. He ate in silence, perhaps wondering if this was a dream. I made my pancakes and sat in front of him.
‘They are delicious,’ he said.
‘Thank you.’
‘I should say thank you. You put in so much effort. What time did you wake up to make all this?’
‘Five. Just an hour earlier,’ I lied. I hadn’t slept at all.
‘You do look tired.’
‘It’s okay. I will be fine.’ I cut a piece of pancake.
‘Radhika, I want to say something,’ Debu said.
I know you will say sorry. It is okay,I said to myself. He must feel guilty now after he saw how much I care for him.
‘What?’
‘This is really sweet.’
‘Thanks. So are you. A sweet gesture for my sweet boyfriend.’
‘Thank you, Radhika. This is really sweet but...’
‘But what?’
‘Today you are making breakfast like this. This is awesome. But I am not happy.’
‘Not happy about what, baby?’
‘Us.’
‘Why? Is this about last night? We were both angry,’ I said. I found it difficult to swallow the slice of banana in my mouth.
‘It’s not just about yesterday or about being angry. I have been thinking about it for many days. Weeks, actually.’
‘Really? And you didn’t discuss it with me?’ I said. I felt a little stupid about cooking all morning.
‘There is nothing to discuss. I know I am not happy.’
