‘It’s fine, you modern girls are like this. That is why I want Krish to marry....’
‘Mom, I want to marry Ananya,’ I said, ‘in case it is not clear.’
My mother placed the piece of roti back on her plate and pushed the chair
back to get up.
‘Mom, please wait. I want to talk,’ I said.
‘Why should I talk? You will do whatever you want anyway. Go to the temple
right now and get married.’
‘Aunty, we want you to be happy about it,’ Ananya said.
‘Well, I am not. You can’t force me to be happy. Everyone is praising Minti’s
mother for her choice. I’ve suffered for years to bring my son up. Why can’t I have
the same happiness? I want a lavish wedding, I want the girl’s parents to respect
me, I want the girl to be approved of by my brothers and sisters.’
‘They will like Ananya! She is intelligent, educated....’
‘She is South Indian,’ my mother said, cutting me.
‘So what? Let’s see what your brothers and sisters say about Ananya. This
wedding is a perfect excuse.’
‘And who will I say she is?’ my mother asked grimly.
‘Say she is Krish’s classmate who’s never seen a Punjabi marriage ceremony
and wanted to come,’ I said.
My mother kept quiet. She picked up her roti and began to eat again.
‘Aunty, I am sorry I came unannounced. I thought Krish had told you.’
‘He never tells me anything. He is so careless,’ my mother said.
‘I agree, he doesn’t communicate well,’ Ananya said.
‘See,’ my mother said to me.
Even though they were ganging up against me, I let it pass. I wanted them to
bond in any way possible.
‘The daal is excellent, aunty, you must teach me how to make it,’ Ananya said.
nora
(Nora)
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