One Indian Girl(48)

‘Radhika,’ a voice from behind startled me.

‘Debu?’ I turned around. He wore a white printed T-shirt and Bermuda shorts. He came running to me, huffing and puffing as he caught his breath.

‘Are you following me?’ I said.

‘No. I stay in that property,’ he said and pointed to a hotel building at a distance.

‘Don’t stalk me.’

‘I am not. . .’

‘Oh really?’

‘I am just waiting for your reply. I hung out at the beach all day. Honestly, I saw you alone so I couldn’t resist. Sorry.’

I looked around.

‘I don’t want anyone to see us,’ I said.

‘There’s a shack on the other side, nobody will find us. Can we talk?’ he said.

‘No, Debu.’

‘Please,’ he said.

I checked the time on my phone.

‘Ten minutes,’ I said.

We went to King’s Shack on Miramar beach. We sat on sea-facing cane chairs. The evening sea breeze cooled our skin. He ordered a beer. I had a glass of water.

‘How was your day?’ he said.

I showed him the mehndi on my hands.

‘That’s pretty.’

‘Thanks. What did you do?’

He lifted the left sleeve of his T-shirt. He had a two-inch tattoo on his upper arm. It said ‘Radhika’.

‘What the hell, Debu?’ I said.

‘I had nothing to do all day. I decided to get one. I should have done it a long time ago.’

‘You are getting tattoos with my name while I get married to another man? Have you gone mad?’

‘I love you, Radhika. Call it madness if you want.’

It is not just what Debu says. It’s how he says it. It can make even the most hardened bitch of a heart melt. He placed one hand on his chest and looked at me with his drooping eyes. He brought forward his hand to hold mine. I shook my head. He withdrew.

‘Please, baby,’ Debu said, ‘one more chance.’

‘I have to go back,’ I said. I signalled the waiter to give us the bill.

‘I have made the plan. You break the news to the family just one day before your wedding. I will have my parents, aunts, uncles and cousins come down. My parents will do the talking with yours. Don’t worry. You just handle the boy’s side.’

‘Me?’

‘Yeah. Don’t give them too much time to react. Just say you can’t do this and they can leave. You don’t have to tell them about me until our wedding is over.’

My heart started to beat at turbo speed.

‘Debu,’ I said.

‘It sounds crazy, baby, but this is the only way. Your relatives will murmur a bit, but at least they won’t say that the wedding was cancelled. As for the boy’s side, who cares? We will be in New York in no time.’

‘What?’

‘You can get a transfer back to New York, right? Or if you want to remain in London, I can come there. Will do whatever you say. I am sure you are in an important role now.’

‘Debu, what are you talking about? All this. . .okay, now I need to go,’ I said.

I stood up and walked out of the restaurant. He followed me. He came up close behind me and whispered, ‘Have faith in me, baby.’

My phone rang. Brijesh. I stepped aside to take the call.

‘Hey,’ I said.

‘I sent you a message.’

‘Sorry, I didn’t see.’

‘Where are you now?’

‘I’m,’ I said and wondered what to say, ‘around. Just around only.’

‘Another sunset walk? Like yesterday?’

Debu went back to pay the bill and smiled at me from a distance. I spoke to Brijesh. ‘No, I don’t want to go for a walk.’

‘Oh okay,’ Brijesh said, disappointed.

‘But I need a drink,’ I said.

‘There’s that open air lounge in the Marriott. . .’ he said as I interrupted him.

‘No, away from the Marriott. Somewhere else. I need to get away,’ I said.

‘Should I ask for a car?’

‘I want some fresh air. Also, I don’t want to go with a driver. Can you arrange a bike?’

‘You mean one of those rental Activas?’

‘Yeah. Can you ride one of those?’

‘Well, yes. I did in college.’

‘Good. See me outside the Marriott in fifteen minutes.’

I hung up.

‘All good, baby?’ Debu said, coming out of the shack.

‘I am going out with Brijesh,’ I said.

‘Oh,’ he said, sounding disheartened.

‘I am not doing this to hurt you.’

‘You can hurt me. I hurt you as well. But please think. This is about our future. You can’t be with a guy you don’t love.’

‘All this is messing me up, Debu. I need to breathe.’

‘Sure, baby. Take your time.’

‘Thanks. Now don’t come near me. Stay put for five minutes while I walk away.’

He nodded. He opened his arms wide, asking for a hug. I looked around. Nobody could see us. I hugged him. He wouldn’t release me.

‘It feels so nice to hold you, baby,’ he whispered.