Page 141 of One Indian Girl
‘This is your career,’ Neel said after a few seconds.
‘I know what I am giving up. My career is the one thing I truly had as my own,’ I said.
‘So why?’
‘I have no choice. My career is intertwined with you. If I have to leave you, both have to go.’
‘So don’t leave me.’
‘And do what? Become your mistress?’
‘What rubbish.’
‘What else am I? Mistresses at least get some rights and privileges. I am worse, actually.’
‘You are no mistress. You make your own money. Mistresses take money from the man. They are dependent. You do it out of choice.’
‘Which in some ways makes it even worse. Can we hurry up, please?’
‘You won’t let go, is it?’ Neel said.
‘I have decided, Neel. As you can see, I have nothing to lose. You do. So please.’
‘I am sorry about what I said yesterday, okay? That mother thing.’
‘It’s not just what you said or didn’t say. This whole thing is wrong. And now if I have any self-respect left, I need to end it.’
Neel looked at me carefully. I kept my eyes on the view outside the window—the Hong Kong harbour.
‘You make me feel so bloody guilty,’ he said.
‘You should feel bloody guilty,’ I said, still without looking at him.
‘We did this together. Nobody forced you.’
‘I know. I feel guilty. So about time you do too.’
‘Give me two hours.’
‘What?’ I said, turning to him.
‘Come back in two hours. Can you?’
I shrugged and left his office. I went back to my cubicle.
My desk phone rang after two hours. I went back to Neel’s office.
‘Leave me if you have to. Don’t quit the firm,’ Neel said.
‘So are you resigning instead?’ I said.
‘Can you stop being so harsh? We have happy memories.’
I smirked at him. He continued, ‘You can take a transfer to another office. New York. London. Wherever.’
I looked at him.
‘I suppose not New York,’ he said.
