‘Silk is very popular in the South also, we have Kanjeevaram saris,’ Ananya’s
mother said and she kept the sari in her bag.
We didn’t speak much until we reached the resort.
Hotel staff received us with a garland of flowers and a fruit-punch welcome
drink. None of us had ever stayed in a five-star hotel.
‘Isn’t this expensive?’ my mother said.
‘They gave me a deal. I promised I’ll get Citibank to do their annual conference
here,’ I said.
‘Welcome, Mr Krish, we have two garden view rooms booked for you,’ the
receptionist said. ‘And I have some good news. One of the rooms, we are offering
an upgrade to a larger, sea-view room.’
‘Wow,’ Ananya said, ‘I’ve never stayed in a sea-view room.’
Of course, Ananya and I weren’t staying together. I was to share a room with
my mother while Ananya would be with her parents. And since they were three of
them, I made the choice.
‘Ananya, your family can take the larger room. Mom and I will take the other
one,’ I said.
The bell-boys carried the luggage to our room. ‘Nice place, no?’ I said to my
mother as we passed a flower garden.
My mother didn’t respond.
‘Everything OK?’ I said.
My mother gave a brief nod. She kept quiet until we had reached the room.
‘They are very rude people,’ my mother said.
‘Who? The hotel staff?’ I said as I opened the curtains to see the garden view.
‘Shut up, these people you want to make your in-laws. Are they in-laws? They
are making their son-in-law pick up luggage?’
‘Huh? When?’ I asked.
‘At the airport. You don’t even realise you have become their servant?’
‘I....’ I said, searching for a response, ‘I wanted to help.’
nora
(Nora)
#1