Page 66 of One Indian Girl
‘I am fine,’ I said as I continued to cry. ‘I am fine.’
‘You are this simple Indian girl. You need to love and be loved.’
‘Yeah, I am,’ I said, sniffling as I composed myself.
‘I will take care of us. Don’t you just want to be there for me and our future kids?’
I checked the time.
‘It’s 7.20. I really need to rush.’
I walked towards the bathroom. Debu spoke behind me.
‘See. This is what you do. I am discussing something with you,’ he said.
I turned to him at the bathroom door.
‘I have a morning meeting. I am presenting a deal. I told you.’
‘But I am discussing something important. Leave the meeting today.’
‘I can’t. I have to present the China deal.’
I went into the bathroom, took a quick shower and changed from my nightclothes to a white shirt and black trousers. When I came out Debu was still sitting at the dining table.
‘This is what I fear. Even as a mother this is what you will do. Then what?’ he said.
I didn’t respond. I stared at him for five seconds. He cowered a little, nervous at what I would do next. I reached the entrance door and opened it. I stepped out of the house. I glared at him one more time and slammed the door shut.
15
‘Whoa, big party night yesterday?’ Jonathan said. We sat in the meeting room waiting for others to arrive.
‘No, I was at home. We had the China deal call, right?’ I said.
‘But your eyes. They are red.’
‘I didn’t sleep well, actually.’
‘Deal stress?’
‘Life stress.’
Jonathan smiled.
‘I know the feeling,’ he said.
Craig, Jon and a few other VPs and associates from the Distressed Debt Group arrived in the next few minutes. I presented the Luxvision deal to get everyone’s views.
‘I would get a local Chinese property developer involved soon,’ Jon said.
He was right. China had too many regulations; you needed a strong local partner to navigate the system.
‘Sure,’ I said. ‘Hong Kong office is visiting the factory. Will ask them to talk to a few developers too.’
I finished my presentation and sat down. Another team presented their deal. My head hurt from lack of sleep. I was trying my best to pay attention to the speaker when my phone buzzed in my trouser pocket. I ignored it at first. It buzzed a few more times. The meeting room was dark as the speaker made a slide presentation. I slid out my phone and held it in my hand beneath the table. I had several messages, all from Debu.
‘Radhika, I can’t do this anymore.’
