Page 152 of One Indian Girl
‘Ugh,’ I said. ‘Ugh. Rejected. I am not marrying someone called Brijesh Gulati.’
‘Why? It’s a nice name. Gulatis are Punjabis. Don’t you know that restaurant on Pandara Road?’
‘Exactly. I am not marrying someone whose name resembles a Punjabi restaurant.’
My mother stared at me.
‘What?’ I said.
‘What name you want? Amitabh Bachchan? Akshay Kumar?’
‘It’s not that. It is just that he’s just so...’ I thought of the right word, ‘typical.’
‘I think you are looking for negatives. And you can’t find any. So all this name and “typical” nonsense. Tell me one proper thing wrong?’ my mother said.
‘Exactly. There’s nothing wrong with him. But he doesn’t have like, any wow or thrill factor.’
‘You are choosing a husband. Not taking an amusement park ride for thrills.’
Ah, but love can be thrilling, mom, I wanted to say. Love can mean passion under the moonlight on remote islands. The thought of that night with Neel made me flinch.
‘Okay fine,’ I said in a brisk fashion and chose the ‘accept’ option. I put my phone aside. Ten minutes later my phone made a ‘ting’ sound. I picked it up.
‘I don’t believe this. He already sent a “Hi” with his Skype details. Mom, this is desperate, no?’
‘This is a good sign. It means God wants both of you to connect,’ my mother said. It is amazing how mothers can justify any action as divine intervention as long as it suits them.
‘Set up a call,’ my mother said in her most royal tone.
I typed back a message.
‘Skype call fixed for tomorrow,’ I said to my mother.
‘Hi,’ I said, as cheerfully as possible. One of the most awkward moments in world history has to be speaking to a shortlisted arranged marriage candidate for the first time. I sat in my living room near my window, on Skype with Brijesh.
‘Good morning,’ Brijesh said. ‘Or sorry. Good afternoon.’
‘So I am Radhika. You already saw my profile.’
‘Yes, I found it quite interesting.’
‘Really? Which part?’ I said, to enable more conversation.
‘I like that you have a good career. Investment banking is hectic, though, isn’t it?’
‘It is. But I am used to it now.’
‘I am sure. And what are your interests?’ he said.
‘I love to travel. I like music. I like exploring whichever city I live in. How about you?’
‘I mostly work. But I like watching cricket and Bollywood movies.’
Really? An Indian software guy who likes watching cricket and Hindi movies? Can it be more stereotypical?
It seemed Brijesh had read my mind.
‘Yeah, so typical, right? Cricket and Bollywood. I am kind of boring.’
