Page 44 of One Indian Girl
‘Debu, what the fuck!’
‘What? What did I do?’
‘What did you not do?’
‘The hug? I am sorry about the hug, baby.’
‘It’s not the hug. It’s us. Are you so thick or are you pretending to be so?’
‘Be clear, baby.’
‘Don’t baby me.’
I pushed my plate away. I didn’t want to eat this cardiac arrest on a plate. I didn’t want to listen to the ‘baby, baby’ crap.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Debu, where are we going?’
‘Meaning?’
I picked up the remote and switched off the TV.
‘Us. Where is this relationship going? My mother wants me to get married. Are you listening?’
‘But you don’t want to, right? Not right now, right?’ he said, puzzled.
‘But where do you see us in the future, Debu?’
‘I love you, baby. I mean, Radhika. And you love me. We love each other so much. Who else do we have, really?’
‘Love is fine. Yes, I do love you. Frankly, sometimes I feel I am too involved with you. I can’t even think of another guy. Maybe that is why I flare up with mom.’
‘So that’s good, no?’
‘But do we have a future? Or are we just sharing rent and having sex?’
‘Don’t talk like that.’
I walked across the room and sat on the sofa. I switched on the TV again.
He came and switched it off.
‘Why did you switch on the TV?’ he said.
‘You won’t talk,’ I said, ‘and you tell me not to talk. So what to do? Let’s pretend there is no problem.’
‘Okay, I will talk,’ Debu said.
‘Sure. I am listening.’
‘It’s my job. I am waiting for this promotion.’
‘It’s supposed to come through next month.’
‘Yeah, but you never know. It’s crazy. Two of my peers told my boss I don’t deserve the promotion. Advertising is dog-eat-dog. I am so stressed.’
‘Well, that’s terrible. But how is this relevant when it comes to us?’
