And in some cases, these states play havoc in our love lives.
I came inside when the train reached Bhopal at dinnertime. My relatives
couldn’t contain their excitement that Rajdhani Express offered free meals.
‘Take non-veg, the Madrasis won’t give you any,’ Shipra masi advised
everyone.
‘OK aunty, for the next three days, there are no Madrasis, only Tamilians,’ I
said.
Shipra masi separated the foil from her chicken. ‘Yes, yes, I know. Tamil Nadu
is a state. But we are going to Madras only, no? Why does the ticket say
Chennai?’
‘It’s the same. Like Delhi and Dilli,’ Kamla mami said as she slurped her
chicken sweet corn soup.
‘Is it true their chief minister is an ex-film heroine?’ my mother’s cousin said.
‘Yes-ji,’ another aunt said, ‘these South Indian women are quite clever.’
‘God has given them a brain, nothing else,’ came another loose comment and I
considered jumping off the train.
nora
(Nora)
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