Page 82 of 12 Years
‘What are you doing here? I told you to get lost,’ he said.
Okay, not the best start.
He turned to his daughter. ‘What’s he doing here, Payal?’
Payal didn’t respond.
‘I came to the temple,’ I said. Technically, I wasn’t lying. However, Ganpati knew the real story. I hoped he would forgive me for concealing the truth for the sake of love.
‘Yashodha, let’s go,’ Anand said, still gripping Payal’s arm. Without another word, they marched out of the temple, dragging Payal with them into the courtyard.
I ran up behind them. ‘Mr Jain, Mrs Jain, please. Wait. I just need to talk to you once. Nothing else.’
‘We’re not interested in anything you have to say. Please, leave us alone,’ Yashodha said.
‘We’re here in Ganpati’s home. This is about Payal and my life. Please,’ I said.
‘You don’t have to worry about Payal’s life,’ Yashodha said, pulling her daughter close to her.
‘Mom, Dad, please, don’t grab me.’ Payal spoke for the first time. ‘And what’s the big deal about having a talk?’
‘Stop talking back—’ Yashodha said.
‘I’m not,’ Payal interrupted her. ‘I’m asking you to consider his reasonable request. Let’s just sit down and talk, like mature people. Not run away. We’re all adults here.’
‘What adult stuff you do, we know,’ Yashodha said.
‘I could’ve run away with Payal,’ I said in a calm yet firm voice. ‘But I didn’t. Legally, you can’t stop us.’
‘Are you threatening us?’ Anand said, sounding incredulous.
A few temple-goers noticed the altercation between us.
I lowered my voice and continued, ‘I’m here out of respect for you both, sir. There’s a tea shop outside the temple, near the mithai shops. It’s open. Let’s go there. I want to talk to you about something.’
‘Talk about what?’ Yashodha said. She looked at Payal with a worried expression, as if I was going to drop a bombshell about Payal being pregnant or something.
‘Just a normal conversation. Over a cup of tea. Please …’ I said.
‘Mom, Dad, it’ll only take a few minutes,’ Payal said.
Anand and Yashodha exchanged wary glances. Then Payal’s father gave a brief nod.
Feeling a little relieved, I led them out of the temple complex to the tea stall.
‘Four teas, please,’ I said to the owner of the tea stall.
We sat down on the rickety wooden stools kept outside the shop.
‘Without sugar for me,’ Yashodha said. ‘And none for him as well,’ she added, pointing to her husband.
‘Less sugar, not completely without sugar. Less milk, and really hot,’ Anand said.
No matter how upset Indian parents are, they’re still particular about their tea.
‘Say whatever you want to say. Make it fast. We don’t have time,’ Anand said.
I’d been waiting for the tea to arrive, hoping it would calm the hot tempers. ‘Yes,’ I said, sitting up straight on my stool. ‘Firstly, once again, I apologize for what happened that day … when you walked into what we thought was our private moment.’
