Page 208 - Half Girlfriend

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Our VIP guests had come to the haveli for lunch.
‘What a son you have,’ Kanta aunty, one of my mother’s childhood

friends, said.
‘He deserves to be king. He is our asli rajkumar,’ said Bela chachi,

a third cousin of my mother.
I thanked my aunts for their compliments.

‘Ma, I need to go upstairs to my room.’

‘Why? What about your lunch?’
‘I’m tired. I’ll have it later.’

I ran upstairs and shut the door to my room. I took out the
envelope again. Inside was a computer printout of a letter.

Dear Madhav,
I want you to remain calm when you read this. And, if possible, be

calm afterwards too. I am writing this letter to tell you something
important. I am leaving Patna.

I am not well, Madhav. I think you noticed my cough over the past
month. It is not an allergy. Lung carcinoma is what the oncologist

said. Lung cance. I don't know how.You know I don’t smoke. But
sometimes it happens to non-smokers. And I had to be one of them.

I don't know why many things happened in my life, actually, so
maybe this is all part of the crazy plan God has for me. Marriage,

divorce and disease, all within a span of three years, The funny thing

is, you came into my life at various stages too. Perhaps we were not
meant to he. I must thank you for accepting me as a friend again,

Madhav. I was so lost. I made mistakes. I held so much back from you
and yet you cared for me. I know you wanted more, but I'm sorry I

was unable to give it to you. The first time, it wasn’t the right time.
The second time, well, I have no time, I couldn't have asked for a

better two months than those l spent in Patna. To be able to help you
prepare for your speech was a wonderful and special time. The best

part was that despite the challenge, you never quit.