Half Girlfriend (1)

famine. I bought the two-rupee ticket for both of us.
‘You could have bargained. He would have agreed for eighteen
thousand,’ I said.
‘I couldn’t let go of the place. I’m going to live there. It’s
important,’ she said. She clicked a picture of the bronze plaque, which
read: For perpetual prevention of famine in this province This
Granary Completed on 20th July 1786
We climbed the steps that took us to the top of the dome. We saw
wide green fields on one side and the clamour of the city on the other.
The dome walls were covered with paan stains, and couples’
names had been etched on the surface. Losers who think little before
destroying a city’s heritage do this sort of stuff. There’s a reason why
people say we Biharis are uncouth. Some people in my community
work hard to earn us that tag.
‘If they clean this place up, it will be awesome,’ Riya said.
‘Yeah, the authorities don’t care,’ I said.
‘It’s not just the authorities. If the people cared, the authorities
would care too,’ Riya said.
I nodded. Empty cigarette packets and peanut shells lay strewn all
over the steps and on the floor.
‘This could be a really cool IMAX theatre.’
‘What’s that?’
She told me about IMAX theatres in London; they had screens four
times the normal size.
I adjusted the heavy rucksack on my shoulder.
‘Books?’ she said.
I nodded. Her yellow-and-white dupatta fluttered in the breeze.
‘You want to know what classes I’m taking?’ I said.
‘I can’t ask you again,’ she said and smiled.
‘English. Spoken English.’
‘Oh,’ she said.‘Do you really need them?’
‘Yes, on an urgent basis,’ I said.
We walked down the Gol Ghar steps. I told her how the Gates