One Indian Girl(92)

‘You want to introduce me properly?’ Debu said, clearing his throat.

‘Of course I will.’

‘Yeah, because sorry, Debu, I don’t know you and so it is all a bit confusing and surprising. . .’ Neel was saying when I cut him off.

‘Both of you are my exes. My past lovers,’ I said.

If there were prizes for priceless expressions, Neel and Debu could both share a Nobel.

‘Sorry, I don’t understand,’ Neel said. ‘I am an ex but who is he?’

‘Debu. My boyfriend in New York, remember?’

‘Oh, that guy,’ Neel said.

‘Neel is your ex too? Sorry, when was this?’ Debu said.

‘Hong Kong.’

‘Oh,’ Debu said, and became silent. He studied Neel openly.

‘Yeah, he’s older, Debu. Much older,’ I said. ‘Neel’s married too.’

Debu realized I had caught him staring at Neel and took his gaze away from him.

‘I was. Not now,’ Neel corrected me. ‘So Debu’s come to attend your wedding? That’s nice.’

‘He’s not come to attend it. He’s come to marry me. He wants to sit in the groom’s place. Right here, in Goa.’

‘What?’ Neel said. ‘I thought things ended badly for you guys. Debu’s the same guy who made you leave New York, right?’

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Change of heart now. Just like you.’

I guess it takes a while for people to realize my worth.

I turned to Debu.

‘And, Debu, Neel is here to stop the wedding too. His style is a bit different. It involves chartered planes.’

Debu’s eyes popped open.

‘You see, he is rich. Something you always had a problem with.’

‘I. . .I. . .I. . .’ Debu stuttered as he struggled to string a sentence. ‘I have no problem with someone who is rich. Who said I did?’

Neel interjected, ‘Radhika, I didn’t mean to display my wealth. It just seemed like the best option.’

‘Neel, it doesn’t matter. But understand the situation, guys. Both of you are here to stop my wedding, which is in a few hours. Not only that, you want me to marry you instead. As you can imagine, you have put me in quite a predicament.’

The waiter arrived with our food. As he served us, Neel and Debu shifted in their seats, avoided eye contact with each other. I leisurely spread peanut butter on my toast. I saw the unease on their faces. Debu spoke after the waiter left.

‘Sorry, Radhika. I didn’t realize you have another ex-boyfriend here. Was this gentleman even a boyfriend, actually? He is so much older and married.’

‘Not married anymore. And my name is Neel, Neel Gupta,’ Neel said, loosening the collar of his shirt.

‘Yeah, whatever. But, Radhika, I thought you and I are meeting here alone. In any case, you need to come with me.’

‘Why? You forgot how you treated her? She had to leave the country for you,’ Neel said.

‘Even for you, Neel,’ I said.

Neel looked at me with a stumped expression.

‘Radhika, I said sorry. I never disrespected you. I may have had some confusion. But now I don’t. I am only human.’

Debu interrupted Neel.

‘Mr Neel, find someone your own age.’

‘It’s the connection that matters, not the age. And sorry to say, I seem fitter than you,’ Neel said.

I couldn’t believe the discussion. I had to make an effort not to grin. For a few seconds I relished these two men fighting over me. I imagined them in a fistfight; though I knew Neel would clobber the intellectual Bengali babu in the end, I could have watched them duel all day. But I did not have the time.

‘Boys, boys, stop arguing. And listen to what I have to say for once,’ I said.

‘I know you love me, baby,’ Debu said. ‘I am your first love.’

‘Which is often a mistake. We connect, Radhika, beyond love. We are similar. You know that,’ Neel said.

‘Why do you guys love the sound of your voice so much? Can I speak, uninterrupted?’ I said.

Both of them nodded. Neel clasped his hands and placed his elbows on the table. Debu took a sip of his orange juice.

‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘Sorry, I am doing this to you together. Just more efficient. Also, maybe you can learn something from each other.’

‘It’s fine,’ Neel said, eager not to censure me.

‘Debashish Sen, you remember our walk in New York? You said women could do anything. You quoted feminist texts. Essentially, you said women could and should fly.’

‘Yeah,’ Debu said.

‘Nice in theory. In real life the girl throws a party for her guy’s promotion but the guy cannot handle the girl’s bonus. Yes?’

‘That’s not. . .’ he said but I stopped him.

‘Let me speak. You said fly, but when I flew high, you wanted to clip my wings. Fly, as long as you fly beneath me, is it?’

He looked down. I turned to Neel.

‘Neel, you loved me as the flying bird. You wanted me to fly higher and higher.’

‘Of course,’ Neel said.

‘But you know where you went wrong?’

‘Where?’ Neel said.

‘You didn’t want me to have a nest.’