Page 165 of 12 Years
‘Paratha, yes. Not the chole. They are already made,’ the waiter said.
‘Okay, then one plate paneer parathas. No chole. And dal khichdi. Make everything Jain, okay?’
‘Yes, sir,’ the waiter said.
Parimal and I sat in silence after the waiter left, wondering what to talk about. I felt zero chemistry with him. I don’t think people like Parimal can even be associated with a subject like chemistry. There’s only one subject they know and understand—accounts.
‘They have a combo deal too,’ Parimal said suddenly, flipping through the menu again. ‘Oh, the mocktail comes free in the combo deal. We could’ve ordered from here, better value.’
‘You can call the waiter and amend your order,’ I said, keeping a straight face.
Parimal gestured to the waiter to come back and changed our order.
‘That was a good idea,’ Parimal said, smiling for the first time since we’d sat down.
‘Glad you found a good deal,’ I said.
‘Yes, it saved four hundred rupees straight. We would’ve had to pay for the jamun lemonade otherwise,’ he said, my sarcasm flying well above his head like a badly aimed frisbee.
‘Parimal, you know why this lunch has been arranged, right?’ I said.
‘Yes. So that we get to know each other better.’
‘Correct. I don’t know what you want out of a marriage or a partner. And whether I’m the right person for you or not.’
‘Of course you are. Everything fits—age, family, religion.’
‘There’s more to marriage.’
‘Like?’
‘Like compatibility. Emotional connection. Passion. Matching interests. Chemistry.’
‘Chemistry?’
‘Yes. How you feel with the other person. Do you have a certain chemistry with them or not. Either it’s there or it’s not.’
‘Do you feel we have it?’
We have as much chemistry as two inert rocks kept together, I wanted to tell him but didn’t.
‘I don’t know. But our families are rushing us to get married. Possibly, in the next few weeks or perhaps a month.’
‘I’m okay with an early date. The things you’re talking about, all that can come later,’ Parimal said.
‘What can come later?’
‘The closeness.’
‘I don’t think I’m ready to get married,’ I said.
‘Who is ready ever? The point is, if we’re a good match, and if our parents want us to get married, then why not?’
But you and I are not a good match, I wanted to say.
‘I don’t know,’ I said.
‘Anand uncle is like a father to me,’ he said.
