‘She is different. She is confident, independent and intelligent. But she is
caring and sensitive too.’
‘She is too intelligent to be a good daughter-in-law.’
I had no clue how to respond to that, but I had to calm her. ‘She isn’t that
intelligent, mom,’ I assured her. ‘She did economics, but I beat her in that
subject.’
‘We don’t have bahus in Punjabis like that, no matter how high-profile. We
keep them straight,’ my mother said.
‘So we will too,’ I said to pacify her.
‘She is out of control.’
‘Mom, she is here with her parents here. But I am marrying only her; once she
comes to our house, we can control her. You only say, no, that South Indians are
docile and scared,’ I said whatever my mother needed to hear.
‘I don’t want my daughter-in-law to raise her voice or answer me back. She has
to be under my thumb.’
‘Fine, make her toe the line.’ I said, ‘but be normal now.’
‘I heard that,’ Ananya said, her face red. Ananya stood there with her parents.
Damn, I hadn’t shut the door after Ananya left.
‘Ananya? I didn’t realise you were here,’ I said.
‘And I didn’t realise what I was doing. So, I will be taught to toe the line after
marriage. Well done, Krish, it’s not just your mother, it is you as well,’ Ananya
said.
‘Ananya, I....’ Both women stared at me with tear-ready eyes, ready to shoot
their ultimate emotional laser weapons.
Ananya’s father tapped his wife’s shoulders, signaling departure.
‘I told my parents your mother will apologise. But you guys are making bigger
plans,’ Ananya said and walked out of the room with her parents.
I ran out and caught up with Ananya. “Wait, where are you going?’
‘We’re done,’ she said, her words firm despite the wobbly voice.
‘What do you mean?’
nora
(Nora)
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