‘But she is fair complexioned?’ Swaran aunty said, genuinely confused. For
her years, her eyesight wasn’t bad at all.
Shipra masi passed by, looking expensive. Everything she wore – clothes,
jewellery, handbag and shoes – contained real gold of varying proportions.
‘Shipra, see this, a gori Madrasin,’ Swaran aunty screamed.
‘Hello Kavita, how are you Krish?’
‘Fine aunty, meet my friend, Ananya,’
‘Oh, we all know what kind of friend. Yes, she is fair.’
Shipra masi called for Rajji mama and Lappa mama’s wives, Kamla and Rajni,
respectively.
‘Come, see Krish’s friend. The Madrasin Kavita told us about,’ Shipra masi
shrieked.
Rajni aunty and Kamla aunty came over. We exchanged polite greetings. My
mother explained how my father had viral fever so he couldn’t come. Everyone
knew the truth but nodded in total support. Shipra masi even suggested some
medicines.
‘Ananya Swaminathan, aunty,’ Ananya repeated her name to Kamla mami as
she hadn’t caught it the first time.
‘You are so fair. Are you hundred percent South Indian?’ Kamla mami asked.
She is also an IIMA pass out and a brand manager at HLL, I wanted to say. But
those are things you discuss in Chennai, not at the Taj Palace, Delhi, during the
Talreja’s sagan ceremony.
‘By South Indian standards, she is quite pretty,’ Shipra masi added insight.
‘I know, otherwise how black and ugly they are,’ Kamla mami said.
Everyone laughed, apart from Ananya. She had braved a smile all along, but it
disappeared. I moved next to her and gently patted her back.
I didn’t want her to react. Smile like a ditz and your chances of being accepted
will improve. Sometimes, love is tested in strange ways.
‘The boy’s side has come!’ Kittu, my youngest cousin, came running inside
like Amitabh Bachchan had lost his way and rung the doorbell.
nora
(Nora)
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