Page 169 of 12 Years

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‘Oh. What then? Pizza? Pasta?’

Those are the few safe choices that Jains have when they travel abroad. It’s either Indian food, pizza or pasta. Or packed theplas your parents forced you to take on the trip.

‘Let’s have a bottle of wine and a cheese platter for dinner,’ I said.

‘Wine?’ Parimal looked shocked, as if I’d suggested we snort cocaine.

‘Yes. We’re in France, the land of wines. We must try it here. Like a tourist experience.’

‘But it’s alcohol.’

‘It’s okay, Parimal. God will forgive us this one time.’

‘But …’

‘I need it. Okay? I feel like it’ll help me open up to you better.’

Parimal thought about it for a few seconds. ‘Okay, fine,’ he said finally. ‘Please don’t tell our parents at home.’

‘Are you crazy? Never.’

We walked away from the Eiffel Tower towards a street with several eating establishments.

‘I’ll start easy. Maybe mix my wine with some water first,’ Parimal said as we entered one of the cafés.

‘Careful,’ Parimal said as I stumbled into a chair upon entering our hotel room in Paris.

We had finished a full bottle of red wine. I’d drunk most of it.

‘I’m high,’ I said, collapsing on the bed.

Parimal sat on the chair next to the study table in the room. He held a bunch of receipts in his hand and began typing something on his phone.

‘What are you doing?’ I said.

‘Accounts for the day.’

‘What?’ I said, taking off my shoes.

‘Checking how much we spent in Paris today. I always like to keep track of daily expenses.’

‘Even on your honeymoon?’ I said in a muted voice.

‘What?’

‘Never mind. Come here,’ I said, patting the bed next to me.

He looked at me, surprised. ‘Now?’

‘Yeah, I’m nice and high. Why not?’

‘I thought we do that at night. There’s still light outside.’

‘Is it illegal to do it if there is daylight outside?’ I said.

‘No. Actually, it gets dark late in Paris. At ten. It’s because the geographic location—’

‘Don’t teach me latitudes and longitudes. Just come here,’ I said, interrupting him.

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