The world seems different this morning. My body is lighter. The tightly wound spring
within me that makes me jump and run every morning seems to have gone limp. I
open my eyes and gaze around the clean surrounding. Wait a minute! Clean!! My
bachelor pad is far from clean. The kindest description is usually “Eewww”.
Ah! It dawns on me – I am home. After almost a year of
relentless running around to meet deadlines and targets, I am on a holiday. No
wonder my body is as limp as a cat. I roll over and lounge some more feeling
like a stroked kitten. I may even have mewed a little before falling asleep
again.
This time when I wake up my belly is growling. I wander
towards the kitchen. “Oh! You’re up,” mama says brightly, “You’re just in time
for lunch. I’m just making hot chappatis.”
Such love and acceptance, I glow warmly taking my place on the table with dad and
younger brother.
First bite.
Mama: You like the food?
Me: Fantastic. (After almost a year of my cooking, or a
maid’s inedible food or eating out, this pretty much feels like ambrosia)
Mama: So what do you do with all the money you earn?
Cornered by the flank attack, I look at my dad for help.
Dad: Exactly what do you do?
Me: I send some home and manage my khana-peena with the rest.
Dad: Peena????
Mama: Ladka haath se
nikal raha hai. We have to get him married.
Then come the “suggestions” from both that last till I get
up to wash my hands and run away from there.
This happens at every meal. Note the cleverness of timing –
meal. You are trapped. You want to eat. You cannot move from the ma-ke-haath-ka-khana. Meal after meal after meal till deadlines, targets and
impossible bosses become the more attractive option.
And the brother? To him this is the most entertaining
sitcom.