Page 131 - Half Girlfriend

tray from her. Mrs Ojha touched my mother’s feet, ‘Bless you,

Kusum,’ my mother said, Kusum scurried back into the kitchen and
brought back a tray of snacks comprising laddoos, kaju kadi, bhujia
and almonds.

'Please don't be formal,’ my mother said.

Ojha sat on the sofa across us, a fixed grin on his face.‘Rajkumar ji
came to me for assistance. I’m sorry but I explained my helplessness,’

he said.
'We understand,' my mother said.

‘Well, I have a proposal. You can help me. In return, maybe
something can be done for the school.'

‘Is it legal?’ my mother said.
Ojha laughed hard. His plate shook in his hands,

‘Nothing like that at all. In fact, a chance to make Dumraon and
your school proud.’

Mother and i waited. Ojha put his plate down.'Frankly, it’s a big

headache for me. I need your help as I’m stuck,’
‘What’s the matter?’ my mother said.
‘Have you heard of Bill Gates?’

'Bilgate? No. Is it a place?’ my mother said.

‘No, a person. Some videshi who makes computers or something.’
‘Mr Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. They make computer

software,’ I said.
My mother and Ojha looked at me as if I were a genius, ‘You know

this person?’ my mother said.
‘The richest guy on earth,’ I said.

‘Yes, that’s what I have heard, He has lots of money,’ Ojha said,
‘Sixty billion dollars,’ I said, 'How much?’ Ojha said.

‘Two lakh forty thousand crore rupees,’ I said.
Ojha’s eyebrows went up an inch.

‘What?’ my mother said. ‘So much? And how do you know all
this?’

‘Read it in a magazine. It’s common knowledge, Ma,' I said.