One Indian Girl(56)

‘So what do we do here?’ Neel said.

‘We get a buyer,’ I said.

‘Meaning?’

‘We talk to big hotel chains. This business needs a high-end global brand. Otherwise people are not going to come,’ I said.

‘Hmmm. . .’ Neel said.

‘I am thinking Aman Resorts, Four Seasons. Something in that category,’ I said.

Neel looked at me. I saw pride in his eyes.

‘You are smart,’ he said.

‘Not really,’ I said, like a stupid fool.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Nothing. Thank you, I meant. Would you like me to show you the financial model?’

‘Sure,’ he said.

Over the next hour I went over the numbers. The company had fifty million dollars worth of loans. It could probably repay only half. Neel listened with full attention, cross-questioning me several times.

‘That’s good. I think we have a sense of what is going on here,’ he said when I finished.

The flight attendant served us breakfast: fruit, cereal, milk and omelettes.

‘I could also build another scenario. . .’ I said as Neel interrupted me.

‘Enough. Do you only think about work?’

‘No, I just. . .’

‘Let us enjoy our meal. No more talking shop.’

‘Sure.’ I ate a strawberry with my fork.

‘How do you find Hong Kong?’ Neel said.

‘Efficient. Everything is close by.’

‘You found an apartment?’

‘Yes. On Old Peak Road. I am moving in next week.’

‘It is a good area,’ Neel said.

Old Peak Road passed through the Midlevels, an area midway to the Peak. A one-and-a-half bedroom apartment in this expat area cost me 6,000 US dollars a month in rent.

‘Where do you stay?’ I said.

‘Repulse Bay. On the South side. You should visit. I do team dinners at my place sometimes.’

‘Sure,’ I said.

He applied jam on his toast. I noticed his slender fingers. I continued to gaze at them until he spoke again, startling me.

‘Kusum would love to meet you,’ he said.

‘Kusum?’ I said.

‘My wife. We have two kids. Siya and Aryan. Seven and three.’

Of course, a man so amazing had to be married.

‘Oh, how nice,’ I said.

‘Yeah. How about you?’

‘Well, I am not married,’ I said and smiled.

‘Of course. But where’s your family?’

‘Delhi. Mom and dad. I have an elder sister.’

‘Great. You close to your parents?’

I paused for a few seconds to think before I answered.

‘In some ways I am close. Dad is really quiet. I am close to my mom. But we fight a lot,’ I said.

Neel laughed.

‘Really? Over what?’ he said.

‘The stupidest things. Mostly it is about her obsession to get me married.’

‘Oh, you are young. Why marry so soon?’

‘Exactly. If only she would get that.’

‘Typical Indian parents, right?’ Neel said.

I nodded.

‘When did you leave India?’ I said.

‘When I was twelve. I grew up in London after that. Undergrad at Oxford. Harvard for my MBA later. Met Kusum there, actually.’

‘Oh, college sweethearts,’ I said. I realized I should have shown more restraint. I was speaking to a partner, my boss’s boss.

‘You could say that,’ he said and laughed.

The captain’s announcement about the flight landing interrupted our conversation. When the plane hovered above Manila, Neel spoke again.

‘Why did you leave New York?’ Neel said.

‘Personal reasons,’ I repeated my rehearsed answer.

‘Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to. . .’ Neel said as I interrupted him.

‘I had a break-up. A bad break-up.’

Neel looked at me. He raised his long eyebrows.

‘Really?’ he said.

‘Yeah, why?’ I said.

‘You moved all this way for a guy?’

‘Worse. Not for a guy. But for a guy who didn’t want me.’

Again I felt I had crossed the line of acceptable conversation with a partner. Neel fumbled with his seatbelt as he searched for a suitable response.

‘Well, anyway. Welcome to the Philippines,’ he said.

The flight landed with a gentle thud.



‘I spent years to build El Casa. No logic why I did it. Just wanted to show the world how beautiful my country is,’ Marcos said.

We sat in the El Casa office in Palawan across from the owner and CEO, Marcos Sereno, who had a portly frame and wore a Hawaiian shirt.

We had taken another short flight from Manila to Palawan and come for the meeting straight from Palawan airport. On the way, I saw a sleepy city full of palm trees and long, powdery beaches.

‘Your country is stunning. It was evident even in the short journey from the airport to here,’ Neel said to Marcos.

‘You have to see the resorts. This is nothing,’ Marcos said dismissively.

‘Yeah?’ Neel said.

‘You are staying at one tonight, right?’ Marcos said.