Page 255 - Half Girlfriend

vegetables, arrived on our table.

I ate a spoonful.
‘This is like chokha,’ I said.
‘Chokha?' Priya said.

‘It’s a popular dish in Bihar. Which part of India are you from?’

‘I’m from Minnesota,’ she said. I realized that NRls born in the US
did not like being referred to as Indians.

‘Oh,’ I said.‘Anyway. This is similar to a local dish we have.’
‘My parents are from Andhra Pradesh,’ she said.

Shailesh refilled my glass of wine.
Jyoti ordered more food. We had a trio of Greek dips, consisting of

tzatziki, a thick yogurt dip; taramosalata, a dip made of fish eggs; and
melitzanosalata, made with char-grilled eggplants and extra-virgin

Greek olive oil. It came with pita bread.
‘I’m sorry, but this bread is also like our chapati,’ l said.

‘Yes, indeed. These are all flatbreads. From Greece and Turkey to

the Middle East and all the way down to South Asia, flatbreads are
popular,’ Priya said.
‘Is she Wikipedia?' Shailesh asked Jyoti and we all laughed.

‘She is. Just be happy she’s not discussing the Greek economic

crisis because you came to a Greek place,’ Jyoti said.
'Oh no, please. I read enough economic reports in the bank,’

Shailesh said.
‘Hey, I’m a nerd and a proud one. Cheers.’ Priya raised her glass.

All of us lifted ours.
‘Don’t worry, UN boy, I won’t bore you with my little nuggets of

wisdom anymore,’ Priya said. She clinked her glass against mine.
The girls decided to make a trip to the ladies’ room together. Why

do they go together for a solo activity?
‘Like her?’ Shailesh said, after the girls had left.

‘Huh?’
‘Priya. She’s giving you the eye, dude. Isn’t she hot?’

‘What?’ I said.