Page 267 - Half Girlfriend

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'Surprise!’
A crowd of people screamed as I entered Shailesh’s house. Jyoti

had arranged an unexpected farewell party for me.
‘Wow,’ I said as I entered the apartment. I found twenty guests,

Shailesh and Jyoti’s friends, waiting for me.
‘Hey, Priya, good to see you,’ I said, wondering if she would slap

me.

‘Hi,’ she said.
‘I’m really sorry about that night.’

‘Just go easy on the wine,’ she said and laughed. I smiled back at
her. She was really attractive. Many men at the party had their eyes on

her.
A black man came up to me.

‘Olara,’ I said and hugged him.
‘Your friends are damn nice. They dug out my number and invited

me.’
‘I'm so glad you came.’

Jyoti dragged me away from Olara to give a short speech.
‘I want to thank Shailesh and Jyoti, who hosted me, and treated me

like family,’ I said.
‘Cut it out, let’s party,’ Shailesh interrupted me. He offered

everyone tequila shots and turned up the volume of the music player.

Conversations required people to shout. Male bankers huddled
together to discuss expected bonuses. The girls made another group.

They discussed the best value offers in town, whether on Netflix or
Sunday brunch deals in Manhattan. I chatted with a few people.

‘Gates Foundation. They are like huge, man,’ one banker said to
me.

‘I just run a small school they fund,’ I said.
‘I need a Gates Foundation grant. Do they fund bankers who need

an apartment in Manhattan?’ said another. Everyone laughed.