‘Radha, you must listen to Shobha. She knows best,’ Ananya’s father said.
Indian men slam their wives for their sisters with zero hesitation.
Ananya’s mother nodded as Shobha aunty started to discourse in Tamil.
Ananya’s dad and mother also responded in Tamil. It was irritating to watch a
regional language movie in front of me.
After five minutes I spoke again. ‘Excuse me?’
‘What?’ Ananya’s father said.
‘Can you speak in English? I can’t follow the conversation,’ I said.
Ananya looked at me, shocked. Back off, her eyes said.
‘Then learn Tamil,’ Ananya’s father said.
‘Yes sir,’ I said meekly.
‘Anyway, this doesn’t concern you,’ he added.
I nodded. I heard various technology companies’ the boys’ names. I felt like
upturning my banana leaf on Shobha aunty’s face.
I left soon after dinner. Ananya came outside to help me get an auto. Ananya
held my arm as we came on the desolate street.
‘I am not talking to you,’ I said and extracted my hand from her.
‘What?’ she said.
We passed by a bungalow with coconut trees in the garden.
‘They are planning your marriage. What the hell is nakshtram?’ I said.
‘It’s the astrological chart. They are fantasizing. I am not getting married to
anyone else but you.’
She held up my hand and kissed it. I extracted it again. I hailed an auto.
Ananya would have to negotiate with him in Tamil else I’d have to pay double.
‘How am I going to win them over? It is impossible to get through. Sitting with
your father is like being called to the principal’s office.’
Ananya laughed.
‘It’s not funny.’
nora
(Nora)
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