‘There’s nothing fishy. There’s nothing to be worried about. We just wanted to
share our happiness. We are just two people in love,’ Ananya said as her mother
interrupted her.
‘Shut up, Ananya!’ Ananya’s mother glared at her. I wondered if she would
slap her. And I wondered if Ananya would offer her second cheek considering we
were in Gandhi’s ashram.
‘This is what I meant when I said about South Indian girls. There are so many
cases in Delhi only,’ my mother said, itching to slam Ananya’s mom again.
‘Mom, chill,’ I said.
‘What have I said? Did I say anything?’ my mother asked.
‘Get up,’ Ananya’s mother said to her husband. Like a TV responding to a
remote, he stood. Ananya’s brother followed. ‘We will take an auto back,’
Ananya’s mother said.
Ananya sat under the tree, perplexed.
‘Now you will stay with them?’ Ananya’s mother asked.
‘Mom, please!’ Ananya sounded close to tears.
Ananya’s mother tugged at Ananya and pulled her away. The guide noticed
them leave and looked puzzled. I paid him off and came back to my mother. She
finished the last few spoons of Topaz’s paneer tikka masala under the tree.
‘They are gone,’ I said.
‘Good. There’ll be more space in the car,’ she said.
nora
(Nora)
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