‘One cold drink-ji,’ Kamla mami begged Duke’s mother, who shook her head.
“We are not hungry,’ Duke’s father said. Duke, his parents and a dozen close
relatives sat on the sofas next to the stage. Half a dozen waiters stood by with
trays but the boy’s side ate nothing.
‘The snacks are not hot, go get fresh ones,’ Minti’s father screamed at the
waiters. His anger was misplaced. The boy’s family had not refused food because
of its temperature.
‘Ask what’s the matter. Something is wrong,’ Shipra masi said.
‘Who will ask?’ Rajji mama said. ‘They are not saying anything.’
Kamla aunty wore a worried expression. Ten minutes passed.
‘What’s going on?’ Ananya said.
I shrugged. Shipra masi told the younger cousins to move back. She folded
her hands and went to Duke’s father. He looked the other way.
Ananya and I stepped back a few metres. We could see the elders but not hear
them.
My mother and her two brothers folded their hands in front of Duke’s parents.
Like a landless farmer, they waited for the feudal lords to respond. A few minutes
later, one of Duke’s aunts spoke to my mother.
My mother nodded as she listened carefully. After Duke’s aunt finished, my
mother came back to huddle with her siblings.
‘This is too much drama. I have to know what’s going on,’ Ananya said.
I pulled my mother aside.
‘It’s the Santro,’ my mother said.
‘What? It doesn’t start?’
‘Be serious, Krish.’
‘Sorry, what happened?’
‘Some misunderstanding has occurred. When Rajji gave the Hyundai keys,
Duke’s parents thought it was Hyundai Accent. But it was a Hyundai Santro.
Accent costs five lakh, Santro only three lakh.’
nora
(Nora)
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