Arrogance and Assumptions

Your side of the family must be so Proud

I wake up to my mother “Chandani! Hai, I thought you were going to die!” she over exaggerates as usual. “Mom, I’m ok.” I let out. She looks at my wavy hair, groggy eyes, and drained face. “Oh, you don’t look it, didn’t they have a mirror in that boys house?”  she throws me a curious look, “Mom, I’m fine.” I sigh and plop on the couch. “Radhika!” My father moans “She’s barely in the house and you already ask too many questions.”

My mother turns to my father, “And you Mr.Bilgrami, don’t ask enough! Did she find a nice boy? How many times did she dance? And why did she decide to go swimming in the middle of October?”  that last one was aimed at me, and now both of my parents are waiting for an answer “I-I fell in.” I protest “You don’t think I’m that stupid to try and go swimming, in this weather, in my sari!”

They both are still staring at me “I’m serious! I fell in!” I roll my eyes. “What was the boy doing there?” my mother puffs “I didn’t know he was there mom! He was on the other side of  the dock” I start to rub my head. “Ok,” my dad says opening a book, and leaning back in his chair. “Ok, Ok? That’s it!” my mother shouts placing her hands on her hips “Radhika, what else can I say?” my father grumbles still reading his book.

“Nothing, you say nothing!” my mother turns and storms out the room. “Papa,” I begin, “Chand,” he puts his hand up “I believe you.” I smile at my dad, get up, and slowly walk upstairs to shower.

After a long warm shower, I throw on some jeans, a green shirt, and head back downstairs. On my way I hear a man’s voice, not my fathers, its familiar though. “Oh, Mohan you are so funny!” I hear my nani laugh, and in that instant I freeze on the staircase. Mohan Varma is my grandmother’s favorite person in the world, and one of the most annoying people I know.

Since we were kids he was always following me, and asking me to go out with him. I shriek at the thought of a date with him. Its not that he isn’t good looking, he’s medium height, has straight black hair, light brown eyes, and has a manly presence. However once you speak to him, his entire looks fade into the distance, and you wish they took you with them.

His family and him have lived across the street for as long as I can remember. He would always run over, bringing me his mothers samosas, and telling me a story of how he would someday inherit his home. “Me and you can live there with my parents, and yours right across the street!” he would boast. Tempting.

“You should be glad he lets you eat all those samosas.” My nani would often tell me. “Don't be picky. Your pretty but nobody wants a moti for a biwi!” Thanks for the boost of confidence grandma. I was a little over weight as a child, okay, a lot. But still, just because of one physical flaw she expected me to settle with Mohan?

“Nani,” he starts “where is Chandani?” oh god! Please tell him I’m not here. “Up stairs, she wasn’t feeling good, she went swimming or something last night silly girl!” I can see my grandmothers face in my head, she probably rolled her eyes. “Really? In this weather, why would she do that?” he asks “Who knows.” My grandma laughs, and so does Mohan. He has such a distinct laugh, its high and sounds like lawn mower. Ugh.

I quickly yet quietly turn back around and head back to my room. With Mohan here I’ll be trapped up stairs for hours. I need to get out. But how?  I grab my phone and text my friend Neelam, I tell her to meet me at the Starbucks down the street in about an hour. She responds with a “K”, I grab my keys, tossing them and my phone into my purse, I slide on some flip flops.

My hair is still a little wet, but I don’t have time to spare so I brush it out and add some styling gel. I walk out of my room and slowly shut my door behind me. I take a deep breath, I feel like Tom Cruise in mission impossible.