wedding day. And so, I want to see if we can do that. Also, I didn’t think we had
done anything wrong that we had to run away.’
Ananya’s parents kept a deadly silence. Either they were listening carefully or
the ice-cream had been too cold.
‘And ever since I came to Chennai, I have tried to be accepted by you. I don’t
expect you to love me like you do Harish, but at least you can accept me.’
Ananya’s mother wanted to talk. I signaled her to wait. ‘And while you may not
love me, I don’t want you to merely tolerate me either. Somewhere in the middle
lies the acceptance I am talking about.’ I slid my right hand inside my trouser
pocket and collected the four mini boxes with my fingers.
‘Keeping all that in mind, considering your daughter’s happiness and taking a
view of what you know of me,’ I said and paused to breathe. I took out the four
little red boxes and kept them on the table. The boxes said “Muruguppa
Jewellers’ on top. I opened the four boxes. Each had a gold ring. I stood up from
my chair and kneeled on the floor.
‘I, Krish Malhotra, would like to propose to all of you. Will all of you marry me?’
I said and held the four boxes in my palm.
Ananya’s parents looked at her and me in quick succession. Manju’s mouth
was open, the coconut ice-cream very visible inside.
Ananya’s father gestured to Ananya on what to do.
‘After you, mom and dad,’ Ananya said, ‘and Manju, you too.’
Manju picked up his box. ‘Nice, real gold?’ he asked.
I nodded.
‘Argentum, atomic number seventy-nine,’ Manju said as he held the ring inhis
hand.
‘Uncle?’ I prompted. My knees had started to hurt on the concrete floor.
‘if you promise to take care of my daughter,’ Ananya’s father said, ‘then it is a
yes from me.’ He bent forward and picked up his box.
Ananya hugged her father. ‘Thanks, dad,’ she said, ‘I love you.’
Ananya’s father blessed her with a hand on her head.
nora
(Nora)
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