Page 27 of 12 Years
‘You can’t imagine the environment in my home. I told you no? The restrictions I grew up with?’
‘Yes, no meat, no eggs and no onion and garlic.’
‘And no boys. Having a boyfriend would rank as sinful as me eating a beef steak.’
‘Why?’
‘Because my mother drilled it into me—only bad girls have boyfriends.’
‘What do the good girls do?’
‘They study well and listen to their parents.’
‘Like you. You’re a good girl then.’
‘Yes. It’s who I am now. Even at Stanford, I had to top the class. It wasn’t my parents pushing me there. I just had it imprinted in me. If I lost even one grade, I’d berate myself for months.’
‘A perfectionist?’
‘A toxic perfectionist, if you ask me. To top at Stanford means having no life. Guys did try, by the way. They’d ask me out for coffee, drinks, dinner.’
Of course, they did.
‘And?’ I said, keeping my face politely curious.
‘I said no each time, what else …’
‘And yet you’re here tonight.’
She looked at me, somewhat surprised. ‘Is this a date?’ she said softly.
A trick question.If I said no, my chances would be blown forever. If I said yes, she could take it the wrong way. When there is no right answer, the best response is another question.
‘What do you think?’ I asked.
‘We met for dinner. To celebrate our wins.’
‘Correct.’
‘But, like you said, this place is a date spot. It’s full of couples.’
‘Also true.’
‘When does this become a date? I don’t know,’ she said.
‘Are you really that innocent?’ I said, and laughed.
‘Fine, make fun of me,’ Payal said, taking a big sip of her wine.
‘I’m not making fun of you. It’s just cute.’
‘I’m trying to change … I’m now aware of my mother’s over controlling nature. See, I’m pouring myself a second glass of alcohol. Another forbidden item.’
Payal refilled her glass and mine.
‘Didn’t we establish that wine is Jain-friendly?’
‘It’s not about it being Jain-friendly,’ Payal said. ‘Wine is too much fun. And as per theYashodha Jain Manual on Bringing Up Good Girls, anything fun is not to be done.’
