Page 65 of 12 Years

---

‘Tell him that,’ Payal said. She chugged the entire glass of water down in one go. ‘Now, can you give this girl a real drink?’

Nodding, I went back to the kitchen and looked at the alcohol stock. ‘We’re out of wine. Gin and tonic okay with you?’

‘Sure, anything that helps me not think of my mother.’

I made two drinks and came back to the living room.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Don’t get upset. But after my mother’s encouragement, Parimal’s parents sent something home.’

‘What?’

‘Gold bangles. It’s a tradition. Don’t read too much into it. I just told you because I don’t want to hide anything.’

‘What the hell is going on, Payal?’ I asked loudly.

‘Please, don’t raise your voice. I’ve already been in a shouting match with my mother. I asked her to return the bangles.’

‘And?’

‘She doesn’t want to. She said, “What do you know about all this?” Plus, “Parimal’s mother will feel bad.”’

‘Payal, seriously.’

‘I’ll put a stop to all this,’ she said in a firm voice.

‘How?’

‘You were right.’

‘What?’

‘We have to tell them about us.’

‘What do you think their reaction will be?’

‘Chernobyl. Hiroshima. Nagasaki.’

‘Huh?’

‘Nuclear explosions. What else? However, it’ll at least put an end to this Parimal nonsense.’

‘Will it?’

‘Yes, I’ll tell them we’re dating. I’m assuming they’ll want to meet you. And once they meet you, they’ll like you.’

‘Big, big assumptions.’

‘I’m optimistic. You’re an IIT graduate. Parimal isn’t.’

‘Is that how these things are decided?’

‘In my parents’ eyes, yes.’

‘What else?’

‘You were working abroad. Even built your own company. You can also run a business.’

‘I’ll have to make cables?’

---