09.04.2017 Views

half-girlfriend-chetan-bhagat

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

I thought about Shailesh’s statement. I nodded, even though in<br />

<strong>half</strong>-agreement.<br />

Jyoti, a thin, five-feet-six-inches-tall girl, appeared. She wore a<br />

formal black skirt and shirt with a jacket.<br />

‘Hi, Madhav. Have heard so much about you,’ Jyoti said and<br />

extended her hand. She sounded like Samantha, except she had brown<br />

skin and black eyes.<br />

"Me too. Sorry to bother you until I find an apartment.’<br />

'Stay as long as you want. Work keeps us so busy. At least<br />

someone can use the place,’Jyoti said and turned to Shailesh. 'You<br />

ready to go, honey?’<br />

Shailesh nodded.<br />

*<br />

l unpacked my clothes in the guestroom while making plans for the<br />

next couple of days; the internship did not start until the day after. I<br />

wondered if any live music bars would be open now.<br />

I lay down for five minutes and woke up five hours later,<br />

disoriented. Jet lag had made me lose track of time and space. I needed<br />

a local SIM card. I checked the dollars in my wallet, picked up the<br />

house keys and left.<br />

*<br />

Manhattan has a grid-like structure. Numbered streets run north to<br />

south. The wider avenues run from east to west. Shailesh’s home on<br />

Third Avenue and 83rd Street was close to Central Park, which had its<br />

eastern side on Fifth Avenue.<br />

The park, a landmark of the city, is three-and-a-<strong>half</strong> square<br />

kilometres in area and runs all the way from 60th Street in the south to<br />

120th Street up north, and Fifth Avenue on the east to Ninth Avenue<br />

on the west.<br />

The park helped me orient myself. Its southern tip had shops<br />

where I could buy a SIM card.<br />

I walked west from Third to Fifth Avenue, and then down south<br />

twenty-three blocks from 83rd Street to 60th Street. In twenty minutes,

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!