Page 41 of One Indian Girl

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‘Can you stop criticizing every aspect of my life? I am not ready to get married or even look at any options.’

Well, I didn’t need more options. My option had messaged me thrice as he waited for me for dinner.

‘So what do you want?’ mom said.

‘Many other things. I want to do well at work. I want to be promoted this year, get a good bonus. I want to travel. Enjoy New York. Come home and visit all of you.’

‘Is there a boy?’ she said.

My heart skipped a beat. My mother’s sixth sense had sprung up.

‘No. Not really,’ I said. I guess telling her about my live-in status with a guy for the past one year would be too much to share at one go.

‘Meaning?’

‘I have friends. Like this guy, Debashish. He is also from SRCC.’

‘Debashish who?’ she said, her voice curious.

‘Debashish Sen. Senior in college. Didn’t know him then. Works in Manhattan at an ad agency.’

‘Bengali?’ she said, a tinge of disgust in her tone.

‘Yeah. Why?’

‘Nothing. They are smelly, no? They eat a lot of fish.’

‘What nonsense!’

‘Anyway. I hope he is just a friend.’

I had an urge to tell her that we had contraceptives on our grocery list.

‘Yes. I hardly get time. But I have met him.’

‘Met him?’

‘In groups, nothing more,’ I said hurriedly.

Why am I not telling her? I should tell her. However, this Debu has to get his act together and tell me first.

‘You are not the boyfriend and love types. Aditi was like that.’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’ I said, my voice loud enough to startle two skinny girls sitting next to me.

‘Nothing. You are the studious types. What boyfriend and all you will make? We will have to find someone for you.’

‘Really, mom? You would do that for me? Thank you. How can I ever repay you?’

‘It’s okay. We are parents. It is our duty.’

She doesn’t get sarcasm at all.I wanted to lash out more. I wanted to say, Sure, thanks, mom, do hook me up with someone. For who else would take your unlovable daughter?

I chose not to aggravate the situation. I took a deep breath instead.

‘My station has arrived. You made tea?’

‘Yeah, I did. I can talk some more. Your father is still in the bathroom.’