Page 135 of One Indian Girl
I had surprised my parents. I had come home for the Chinese New Year four-day weekend in Hong Kong. Aditi didi had also come over. Dad, Mom, Aditi didi and I visited India Gate. We took a walk along the lawns. My mother walked with me. As always, she talked about her favourite topic.
‘You will never be fully ready. It is already hard to get a boy for you. You are too successful, beta.’
‘Is there such a thing? Too successful?’
‘For girls there is. What to do?’
‘Let’s not start again, mom. I am only here for four days.’
‘What is the use? At least chat with a few good ones? I will find NRIs, okay?’
‘No, mom. I don’t want to.’
‘Do you have someone?’ mom said and looked at me. Her direct eye contact made me uncomfortable.
I have someone, yes. Someone only five years younger than you, mom.
‘Not really.’
‘Not really means?’
‘No, I don’t.’
‘So? Don’t you need a man? Every woman does.’
‘I don’t think so. I do fine on my own.’
‘There is an age, beta. You get the best matches then. After that, a girl’s appeal declines. You are twenty-six already.’
‘So I am like a car model? Depreciating over the years.’
‘You are impossible! I am not talking to you.’
My mother sulked for the next half-hour, which meant thirty minutes of peace. We walked along Rajpath all the way to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Her tough and sullen expression matched that of the security guards on duty.
‘What do you want, mom?’ I said finally.
‘You say you are not ready. But give me a time-frame. When will you start looking at boys seriously?’
‘I don’t know. Three years. Four?’
‘You will be thirty. How do you expect me to find a good guy for you?’
‘I will also be an even more successful banker.’
‘So? That makes it worse.’
I rolled my eyes.
‘I would have a lot of money of my own. That will help me and my husband get a good start in life, no?’ I said.
‘You don’t need to make so much. Your man will.’
‘Mom. Please.’
‘One year. I will wait one year, then you cooperate. We start looking seriously, okay?’
‘Just one year?’
