Munni's LIA - A Serial Fiction - Episode 31 (final)

Note: All characters and venues are totally fictional; any semblance to real persons or places is merely coincidental. 
Synopsis:Shanti and Reddy go home to Chennai for a traditional marriage ceremony.

Munni's LIA - Episode 31

The Arranged Marriage

In late January, Reddy told his folks in Chennai that he had met Shanti and liked her. In a separate video chat, Shanti too told her parents that she'd like to marry Reddy. Then they joined together and had video chats with each household. Then everyone discussed the various scheduling issues, and agreed on a date for the wedding that was suitable. Shanti was able to get a break from school for two weeks between semesters and Reddy was able to take 10 days off from work during the same time. Reddy's older brother and Shanti's father went ahead with local preparations; they had video chats with either Shanti or Reddy every weekend to give them updates. Reddy and Shanti made travel arrangements: Shanti would travel first and Reddy would come a few days later and after the wedding they would travel back together. As the marriage date got closer, Shanti convinced Reddy to travel with her to Chennai, and if he couldn't get any more days off from work, return earlier, on his own. Eventually that is what he ended up doing.

The flight from Detroit to Frankfurt was uneventful. Shanti was tired, having run around to buy various little things that she thought her mom and new sister-in-law might like, packing suitcases and checking to make sure she had everything from the "list". She also bought several small gifts for Reddy's household and packed Reddy's suitcase. In the flight, they had an empty seat in their 3-seat row, and Shanti was able to raise the arm-rests and put her head on Reddy's lap for an extended, albeit scrunched up, slumber. She felt safe and cozy with Reddy's hand around her under the airline blanket. They skipped dinner and ate the breakfast before landing at Frankfurt. At the transit, they changed planes, and found themselves with almost a full plane of south indians going home to Chennai. Daytime flight, coupled with talkative people, made the cabin more "lively" than the first flight across the atlantic. 

When they arrived in Chennai, it was very close to midnight. It took them a further hour to go through immigration, pick up their luggage, exchange money and walk out. They walked out slowly, Shanti in front, scanning the faces of people who had come to receive. Reddy was in the back pushing the cart with their suitcases. He had not told his family about the change of his plans to arrive early. Shanti had decided it is ok for her brother to take them both home, and no need to rouse two households in the early morning hours of the arrival.

Shanti's brother located her and waved; she went forward to meet him.
Her brother noticed:"you look happy….but where are your bags ?".
She asked him a question in return,"amma, appa…doing well ? …and how is your new wife ?"; and handed him her shoulder bag.
"Appa is in the car …Amma is ok….new wife is good..….you will meet her soon..", her brother answered.
"Car ?" asked Shanti.
"no…no.…just a call taxi", brother corrected himself, and noticed Reddy joining up at his sister's other side.
Shanti explained,"…he is coming with us also….he will stay with us tonight".
Her brother was confused; he asked,"who is the saar ?".
Shanti laughed,"what anna ?….he is not "the saar"…he will be your brother in law.…after the wedding".
Her brother was visibly flustered and looked at Reddy's face again in the dim sidewalk light, and apologized. Reddy laughed and consoled him saying that he couldn't be expected to remember Reddy from the few video conferences. He came around and asked Reddy to let him push the cart with the suitcases.
Reddy said,"no..no…it is ok…you know where the taxi is...you lead…walk ahead with Shanti ….I will push this behind you two.".
Shanti agreed,"….come…anna…". Her brother wanted to call Reddy's home immediately on his "mobile", and Shanti shushed him. When they went to the taxi, a small van, it turned out to be a tight fit with Shanti in the middle of her father and Reddy on the back seat. Although both father and son were happy to see Shanti and take her home, they were quite unprepared for her bringing along her bridegroom. Reddy joked that she needed him to haul the suitcases. Father and brother of the bride couldn't show the traditional deference to a future son-in-law in a crowded taxi, especially with the daughter almost sitting on the lap of the youngman. They had a quiet ride home, brother speaking up now and then to give directions to the driver; and father nervously taking an occasional sideways glance at his child and the "stranger" she had brought home. 

When they got home, Shanti's mother and sister-in-law were confused as well when an extra person got off the taxi and helped with the suitcases. Her father walked up ahead and explained to his wife that their daughter had brought along her "intended". Reddy carried the suitcases up to the 1st floor. Shanti went in first and hugged her mother. After washing her feet and face in the bathroom, Shanti diappeared into the kitchen with her mother and sister-in-law. Reddy took off his shoes and socks. His future father-in-law showed him to the bathroom. When he came out, his f-FIL gave him a dothi to wear, and left him to join the kitchen conference. Reddy wore that and took off his pants and shirt and folded them and laid them on his suitcase. Then Reddy sat on the double-sofa in the living room and stretched. Shanti's brother sat in a cane chair across from Reddy and contributed to the awkward quiet. Reddy broke the silence:"well…please go ahead and sleep….it is past 2 AM now….we will talk after sunrise…ok ?". Shanti's brother asked,"…you will be fine?….you need anything ?". Reddy smiled and anwered,"I am fine…if I need anything…I will ask your sister…please go and rest…". Shanti's brother was pleased with that considerate, unassuming behavior. He was happy for his sister. He understood why his sister could be at such ease with that man. He left Reddy on the sofa and went to his room to sleep.

After about 10 minutes, Shanti came to Reddy and gave him a glass of Bournvita and asked,"....are you doing ok ?".
Reddy said," I need to straighten out some kinks in my back...otherwise...fine". Shanti offered,"drink that…I will come back and give you a massage".
"what?…you are not serious…are you ?", asked Reddy, but Shanti had gone around the corner by then. She came back with a rolled-up mat and a pillow. Shanti, asked him to get off the sofa, moved the sofa forward a bit, and rolled out the mat on the floor behind the sofa. Reddy laid stomach down on the mat. Shanti stepped on and off his back going from his shoulders to the lower back and over his butt. "there..there...few more steps... right there...": directed Reddy and felt much better. After a few minutes, Shanti's mother came out and saw her daughter walking on her future son-in-law. She chuckled to herself, quietly slipped back into her room, and restrained her husband from coming out and interfering with the living room goings on. She was happy and assured that her child had found someone quite nice. After about half an hour, Shanti herself stretched out on the double-sofa and Reddy remained on the floor behind the sofa. They were both tired, but couldn't fall asleep. Very soon, it was sunrise and the noises of their hometown waking up filled their flat. Shanti's mother, sister-in-law and Shanti were already in the kitchen chatting and preparing coffee. 

Reddy had coffee, breakfast idlies and engaged Shanti's father in small talk. After Shanti's brother left for his work, Reddy took a shower, got dressed and after talking Shanti's father out of accompanying him, took a call-taxi and went home with his suitcase. His mother and sister-in-law were at home when he arrived. They were both surprised and happy to see him. He explained how his plans had changed and he didn't want to wake-up anyone at home in the middle of the night when he arrived. Reddy's mother was astonished as to how well he had turned out from that tall, scrawny youth they sent away six years ago. He washed his feet, changed into a dothi and went to sleep. His mother came into the room now and then, during the day, and stood by his bed and enjoyed the scene of her son, healthy looking and strong, returned from America, at home in bed. In the evening he woke up after his niece came back from school. Later that evening, Shanti's father came to invite the family to come to their house the next day for dinner and the meeting of his daughter, the bride in the upcoming wedding of their home.

Between their arrival and the wedding day, Shanti was a lot busier than Reddy. She had to go to sari shop, tailor's, to invite some of the local relatives and friends in person, and to the local beauty salon. Reddy had lost connections with many in his home town, but Shanti had many school and college friends and colleagues in the college she had worked as a lecturer before she went to America. For a couple of days, Reddy accompanied her to visit many of her friends she wanted to invite to her wedding. Often, Reddy chuckled to himself at the "prize hog at the state fair" aspect of his presence, but then he relished the idea of how well he could take on and carry that role. He was rewarded in how happy Shanti looked when she introduced him to her old friends and colleagues while handing them her wedding invitation. One morning, they met at "the" bus-stand, stood back and watched girls and boys jostle in trying to get into the bus.

Their wedding was arranged at a wedding hall in a sub-division of the city. A traditional south indian wedding of the Telugu community started from the evening before the wedding day and ended the morning after the wedding day. Reddy's older brother, almost 10 years his senior, and his wife stood in when some of the ceremonies required the presence of the parents of the groom. Reddy was very compliant in carrying himself through all the required ceremonial events.

On the eve of the wedding, Reddy went to a temple nearby, got dressed in his white silk shirt and dothi, and after the requisite pujas and archanas at the temple, he made the ceremonial, processional walk to the wedding hall. That evening, he met several of the relatives of Shanti from her parents' generation and many of her cousins. Reddy talked with each of them and listened to them patiently as well as asked questions to let them know he had listened. Then there were some minor ceremonies involving the "reading of the wedding announcement" and confirming who'd marry whom, with their ancestral backgrounds and the date of the wedding. Shanti was mostly in the quarters of the bride's side and received many reports of Reddy from her cousins and other relatives who had talked to him that evening. She was very pleased with such reports of Reddy's interactions with her extended family. After several years of hard work and no social life, Reddy found himself thoroughly enjoying the socializing aspects of the wedding rituals. 

On the wedding day, when Shanti was given away to Reddy, and she received the mangalsutra that he tied round her neck, she wanted to get off her father's lap and hug him. However, she restrained herself, her eyes filled with tears, as she listened to Reddy repeating the mantras after the purohit, seeking her support to him for one hundred years of married life. After the frenetic drumming required for that event quieted down, Shanti's father shook his hand, addressed him as son-in-law and congratulated him. He too seem to be shivering with an overflow of emotion. After Shanti and Reddy had thus been formally wedded, they went through the further ceremonies as couple. Then they went around and did namaskarams at the feet of select elder relatives on both sides of the family, and received the ceremonial toss of (turmeric coated) rice over their heads and blessings. This was followed by the receiving of guests. Reddy and Shanti met each of the guests who had come to their morning wedding ceremony. As Reddy expected, Shanti had a lot of guests and he had but a few. Then there was a typical south indian wedding lunch-meal served on plantain leaves. Shanti and Reddy got their first respite of a brief nap after their lunch. Then the couple had to make ceremonial grahapravesha visit to his brother's flat, and then return back to the wedding hall. In the evening they received more friends of Shanti and friends and colleagues of her brother, Reddy's brother and other guests during a reception. At that evening reception guests were served sweets, savories, coffee and soft-drinks and had a live carnatic music recital for entertainment.. For an hour or so the newlywed couple stood, dressed-up, wearing flower garlands and received guests. Then they walked around to the tables and chatted with the visitors at several tables. 

After dinner, at around 9 PM, the wedding hall had only the parties of bride and groom. All were quite satiated with the celebration, socialization, noise, catching up and everything else. Reddy was sent off to the groom's quarters to get back into his dothi-shirt outfit and Shanti went to wear a new silk saree and blouse for the nuptials night. The nuptial bed chamber was decorated with jasmine flower garlands and rose petals were strewn on the bed. And the airconditioner had been on for a few hours, and there was a ceiling fan going at a slow, quiet setting. The room also had an ensuite bathroom. Reddy was asked to wait in the room. Reddy found a tray of indian sweets and a flask of warm milk on top of a dresser. After a few minutes, he heard the door open and some commotion of giggles outside the room. Shanti came in and shut and locked the door behind her. Reddy walked to the door and hugged her. She asked,"aentee...how are you doing ?..." Reddy replied,"...not too bad...I actually enjoyed the whole thing....how about you ?". "everyone in my family likes you....how did you manage that ?", she smiled. As they walked to the bed, Reddy said, "What is not to like ?….aren't I a nice fellow ?." "yes..that you are....", blushed Shanti. "come..let us go to bed...we'll have a busy morning as well..", invited Reddy. She gave him a glass of milk, drank her milk and went to the bathroom, to brush her teeth and change into a nightie. After they got into the sheets, Shanti took a deep breath to appreciate the mix of rose and jasmine in the air and said,"...some of my friends asked me if ours was an arranged marriage or a love marriage ...". "And ?"...."I gave credit to your sister for arranging the girl-dekko...and sort of implied that we were arranged...and gave you credits for asking me out on movie and dinner dates....". Reddy laughed and said,"don't you think we had one of each kind of marriage ?." Shanti kissed him and proposed,"If you asked me....I will agree to any kind of marriage with you". That night they slept like logs.

Couple of days later, Shanti took Reddy and a few others who wanted to come along to Tirupathi. Reddy had rented a microbus and arranged lodgings for the night. Shanti had promised that she'd come to Tirupathi and offer prayers for Reddy's good health (Episode 26)during the early morning hours when she was making a brunch for Reddy in her Ann Arbor apartment.

After a few more days of Chennai, movies, shopping and packing, Reddy came back to Detroit on his own. Shanti spent the remaining days at home with her parents before she too came back to her new home in the US. Their lives in the US would go through a well beaten path of the desis: graduate school, employment, USC aquisition, I-130, I-485, I-751, I-551 and quite a number of I-43's (twitter lingo for I-love-you) between them. They would wonder about R2I, would plan, suffer the n+1 syndrome, raise children in the USA and always do whatever that is right for their children...and themselves. 

-----oo00oo-----

Munni's LIA - A Serial Fiction - Episode 30

Note: All characters and venues are totally fictional; any semblance to real persons or places is merely coincidental. 
Synopsis:The Engagement Party for Shanti and Reddy was celebrated at Tio Pepe's Restaurant. After the Shahs leave for California, Reddy and Shanti begin their life together.

Munni's LIA - Episode 30

More New Secrets to Keep

On Black Friday, Kamla took Sheila, Nikki, Shanti and Aishwarya to the desi shops as well as a local mall. Benny had rented a minivan with a baby seat, so that they didn't all need to scrunch into Kamla's car. At an Indian jewelry store, the women tried on many items. Nikki tried on bangles, chains, rings and ear studs. They also encouraged Shanti to try many items, including rings. Kamla went to an inner sanctum of the store, and chatted with a couple of ladies who were part of the family that owned the store. Aishwarya walked around and enjoyed her reflection in all the mirrors; she was rightly deemed "cute" by the store owner ladies and they presented her with silver anklets. She put the anklets on and walked some more. Sheila bought several pieces for Nikki, Aishwarya and herself; she also bought a ring that Shanti had tried on and liked.

At the mall, they shopped for clothes and shoes; and Nikki bought a new digital camera. They had lunch at the food court in the mall; Kamla sat next to Shanti and asked her many questions about India, Chennai, her family in Chennai, her studies, what she'd do after graduation, and about Reddy. In the course of that chat, the information that Shanti would marry Reddy had slipped out. Kamla was both happy and excited about the news. She decided to take everyone home earlier than planned and rest, so that they could celebrate Shanti and Reddy's engagement in an early evening party. Although Shanti didn't mean to cause all that excitement, she was happy and decided to go along and celebrate. She thought Reddy would be surprised, but not annoyed at her for letting that news slip out. Just to be sure, she borrowed Sheila's phone and called Reddy to warn him. Shanti was glad to find out that Reddy was quite pleased about that leak. When Shanti gave the phone back to Sheila, she too talked to Reddy briefly before ending the call. Kamla called Tio Pepe and made a reservation for dinner and a party. Pepe was happy to oblige, as the long holiday weekend, with everyone eating turkey feasts at home, was always slow for his business.

Spanish Tapas

In the evening the whole family went to Tio Pepe's. Tio and Tia Pepe already knew the reason for the party. As expected, it was a slow day at the restaurant; and there were no other diners. Pepe had made several special dishes. And a cake with Shanti and Reddy's names on it. Reddy presented the ring to Shanti. Nikki wanted Reddy to kneel down in front of Shanti and put the ring on her finger with all the family standing behind the two. Tio Pepe took several photos. The kitchen staff came out and applauded. Shanti didn't realize that Sheila had bought the ring she had worn and liked; she was very surprised. And happy. She never expected that she'd end up being the center of such fuss and celebration. Everyone, including auntie Pepe hugged and congratulated Shanti and Reddy. The party ended early, so that both Aishwarya and Nikki could get to their early bedtime. At the end of the party, Nikki drove them home. While they were going home, Shanti was in a back seat with Reddy. She was amused at how she was now "engaged to Reddy", in so far as that american side of Reddy's relatives, whereas their parents in India had not yet received news of their "girl dekko". She asked Reddy,"..don't we need to tell our parents about us and all of this ?". Reddy responded,"..no need to hurry, is there?". Shanti thought about that and realized that once they told her parents, then she had to find a suitable gap in her college schedule to go home, also have Reddy find it convenient go home at the same time, so that they can marry.

At home, Kamla wanted the newly engaged girl light a diya, a small candle-in-a-crystal-cup, at her prayer nook in the kitchen. Shanti was surprised that Kamla was into such indian things. Shanti was further surprised that Kamla had little icons of Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Ganesh and a few old black-&-white photos in a kitchen shelf. Kamla explained that those were copies of old pictures of her parents and grand parents.. Shanti lit the candle and placed it in the cup. Kamla placed a small dot of kumkum on Shanti's forehead and smiled benignly.
And then Kamla added,"…you know…if you moved and lived here, you can bring a girl's touch to the house everyday."
Shanti didn't know what to say, but she said,"..thank you; but we haven't set the date for the wedding yet".
Kamla smiled, and said,"oh…that is ok…I know wedding planning takes time ....and besides you will go home to marry in India, wouldn't you ?".
Shanti smiled and said,"..yes..that is what we would have to do".
"you know...I am talking about now…we are only 10 minutes from campus….we have lots of rooms here…and you would have Reddy here…..do you know he is a good cook ?", said Kamla and laughed; then as Shanti remained quiet, and couldn't think of a thing to say, Kamla continued on,"….oh…talk to Reddy about it ….and decide on your own….but you have my request to come home, live here and light a lamp here …now and then...ok?". Shanti nodded "yes", but didn't quite know what to make of that.

That night, in bed, Shanti talked to Reddy about Kamla's suggestion that she move to that house and live there. And about the lighting of the diya. Reddy assured her that Kamla is an american woman, but had a few notions that she had brought along from her ugandan gujarathi background. Shanti and Reddy were amused at how Kamla acted old fashioned in asking Shanti to light a diya and then asked her to come and live with Reddy without the benefit of a marriage. That naturally led them to talk about their marriage.

Shanti and Reddy both knew that once they told their parents about their "girl dekko" meeting, and that they would like to marry, they had to slide down the various steps to their marriage without much delay. If they proposed delays, for whatever reason, that could send different signals. Shanti did not want to stress her parents and make them worry. They decided that they must both find the right time they could travel to Chennai, before they inform their parents of their "girl dekko" meeting. Shanti had the additional issue of money to buy the air-ticket. She had been in the US for just one year. She hadn't saved much, if anything, from her assistantship money.
Reddy asked,"why don't I buy you a ticket ?"
Shanti joked,"after the wedding, I will have control of your bank account anyhow...., then, I can pay you back ?....no?"
Reddy hugged her and said,"sounds like a plan, doesn't it ?", and he went on,"...but...if you took Kamla's request and moved...you can save money...and pay for the ticket...yourself"
Shanti asked,"..how?"
Reddy said,"...well...your part of the rent, utilities for the apartment should be about 5 or 600 $ a month, right ?.....so you come here and stay for 4 months....you'll have money for the ticket "
Shanti agreed, but didn't sound all that convinced:"....you are right...but....then...we will be here...together....would that be ok?"
Reddy pondered her hesitation for a moment and then came back:"...well..if you put it that way....then...there is one other way...."
"what? ...how?"
"instead of living together and keeping that a secret...., we can be married and keep that a secret...", he proposed.
"ok...we already know who is good at keeping secrets....", she slapped his chest gently in mock anger.
"...but seriously....", he went on,"....we get married next week....or in December...then you move here.... Patty finds a different room-mate in the new year...and you start saving money...for the next four or five months.....then we go home at the end of Spring semester...or in summer.... and get married in Chennai like our parents would want....what do you think ?"
"...but....you said...I get to pick the date.."
"...yes...of course..you pick the date....but we need to tell Patty about you moving out soon so that she has time to get another room mate...."
"...I am not telling Patty....about getting married..."
Reddy smiled and said,"...you mean,...you've decided then ?..."
"decided what ?"
"that we are getting married next month.?.."
"I dunno...it is very confusing now....let us talk about it later...", postponed Shanti, and turned the other way. As she thought more about it, Shanti decided that it would be a thrill to keep a secret with Reddy. After all, she had already decided to keep some of Reddy's secrets to herself. And, besides, if married, somehow she felt comforted that she'd be living with her husband in that house, rather than her boyfriend or fiancee.

After some quiet contemplation, she turned around and asked,"...you've done this before...how do we get married here ...I mean ...in Michigan ?"
"well", said Reddy,"...we need to apply for marriage license....get an appointment with a justice of peace, bring two witnesses ...and it takes about 5 minutes of listening to the judge and saying "I do", then everybody will sign the document ...and they issue the certificate of marriage....that is all".
"...then the witnesses know we are married....so it will no longer be a secret....", said Shanti.
"...huh ?": Reddy was somewhat confused, but then recovered:"....we can get a couple of strangers from the city hall to stand in as witnesses.....if you want".
"no..no..no...that would be awful...I don't want to marry without any people we know", said Shanti.
Reddy was amused:,"a secret marriage, but we want witnesses who are our friends. ?". And then he said,"hey....I know... I can ask Kenny and David..."
"who are they ?"
"they are from the community center...you know...you met them already.....they always ask about you whenever we play together..."
"they are nice boys...aren't they ?", Shanti recalled the meeting with the two tall boys in the long corridor and how they called Reddy "Gandhi", and curtseyed to her like courtiers.

Two weeks later Reddy took the day off to go and get married. Shanti and Reddy met up with Kenny and David at the Ann Arbor Municipal Center. The boys had brought their girlfriends along. All four of them had dressed up for the occasion. Kenny and David shyly admitted they had borrowed the tuxedo shirts and jackets from one of their uncle's drycleaner's. The girls had on the dresses they had worn for their high school prom. Reddy was in his regular office outfit, with a tie on and Shanti had worn her silk churidar with black leggings (over her thermal long johns) and her new shoes. This time around, Reddy had bought matching wedding bands. The group took off their winter coats and piled them on one of the chairs in the judge's office and lined up with girls on the left and boys on the right. The justice was amused, happy and thrilled to have that unusual group in his office. The ceremony itself took him only five minutes; but after that, he obliged the group by walking out with them to the lobby and took several photos, with them and of them. Some in the small crowd that collected in the lobby thought the group with an actor in judge's robe was doing some low budget TV show or movie. Shanti asked for and got the judge's email address so that she can send him a photo. Kenny and David were quite honoured to be asked to witness the wedding of their Gaendi and his lady. Their girlfriends practically shivered with excitement and giggled throughout that morning and during the lunch they all went to. For most of that morning Shanti felt that she was in a completely different dream world.

After lunch the newly weds had an appointment to keep at the local Planned Parenthood office. When they said goodbye to their marriage party, the girlfriends hugged Shanti and Reddy in turn and congratulated them. Kenny and David fist bumped with Reddy and congratulated him. Then Shanti was ready to kiss the two boys on their cheeks, as they hugged her; however, Kenny and David did something really odd. They each bowed, kissed two of their own fingers and touched her navel, in a manner of transferring that kiss. Then the four of them left Shanti and Reddy in the parking lot of the restaurant.
Shanti asked Reddy,"what was that about ?".
Reddy giggled and answered,"...they think you are pregnant.."
Shanti was shocked,"..WHAT ?...why would they think that ?"
Reddy replied,"...well....when I asked them to be witnesses .....for a wedding in 3 days....and at the city hall....made them jump to assumptions....you know....I tried...but no way to convince them otherwise....and besides...it is not unusual in their world...", and smiled.
Shanti could't hit herself on the forehead, because it was an auspicious day; but she made fists and vented,"...aarrgghhh...."
Reddy hugged her, laughed a little and said,"don't worry..... that'd be their secret...but then, you know....premarital fake pregnancy is part of our family tradition..."
To Shanti's surprised,"WHAT ?", Reddy responded,"that is a long, funny story( Episode 7).....let us first go to our appointment.....now that you are part of the family...I can tell you the story....later this evening. For now, I can tell you something else...".
"What ?", asked Shanti, expecting more surprises.
"your nose is turning red in this cold....and you look beautiful....and I love you", said Reddy.
Shanti laughed, and said,"...ok...let's go".

Then he drove her to the medical appointment.

Note: Reddy and Shanti went to Hawaii for their (secret) honeymoon; to find out how that happened, read Okonomi note below.

-----oo00oo-----

Okonomi: Originally the following was to have gone into Episode 30; it would have made the episode go over 20K limit, requiring various other editorial compromises.... 


After their Thanksgiving holidays, on the flight back from Detroit to Oakland, California, the Shah family was in the first class. Kamla and Aishwarya sat together, and so did Sheila and Nikki. Benny sat in a row behind Aishwarya on the aisle.

After the plane was airborne, Nikki went to sleep until woken up for the meal. While they were eating, and with no introduction to the topic, Nikki asked Sheila,"...couldn't we also ask your cousin and Shanti ?"
"Ask them what ?.....come to Hawaii for Christmas ?", said Sheila.
"no...well...yes; we could do that...but I was thinking of our wills", replied Nikki.
"oh...yes", said Sheila and continued,"yes....we can ask them....they are young....and soon will be married too....very likely have kids of their own...and besides Aish likes them both....with them we'd have two couples we like, your brother and my cousin..."

"...what about our Goober ?", asked Nikki, pointing to her stomach. ("goober" is often a term of endearment used in the "south", the word came from a corruption of an African word for "peanut" originally brought to American South by the slaves)
"don't call him that !!", Sheila snapped with a smile,"I am sure they will take him too...and by the way, Benny is not really African...or 'southern'....only Kamla is african...and probably southern too..."
"would it be a problem if Kamla finds out ....you know....if Goober came out looking exactly like his dad....or may be...if he'd grow up to look like him...," Nikki wondered.
"We'd worry about it when it happens...ok ?", said Sheila.

Nikki took the conversation elsewhere,"yes...yes...I am so very happy it worked out ....so we could mix our DNA's...in our baby"
"heehee...Nikki...."come, let us mix our DNA"...that is good enough for a valentine's card !!", said Sheila.
Nikki continued on seriously,"Sheel....think about it, the technology was advanced enough...and unexpectedly, even before the washing and chemicals, the number and the motility was high enough...even though he is old....."
Sheila continued on in her playful mood,"must'a been all those speedy antelopes he had eaten...when he was young....heehee....but seriously, I am too, very happy that it worked out....I couldn't have asked anyone else in the family to volunteer...."
Nikki was in thought as she said,"he'd be our son; but also your step-brother....that is why I was kind'a thinking about how Kamla would feel if she ever finds out....you know....does a wife sort'a own her husband's....you know.."
Sheila was quiet for a bit, then she leaned to Nikki and said,"well....for many years she had thought it was Benny's problem that she couldn't get pregnant ....if she knew about Goober someday, that'd make her feel bad that she made all those jokes and remarks about Benny for years...that is all...I think she'd be happy that Benny was able to make a grandson for her..."
"a grandson ? don't you think.....she'd not think of me as a co-wife or something ?", Nikki asked.
"...too complex...to think about it....but I am sure about one thing....Benny would never talk about this ever....to anyone....we can trust him on that; and besides, he thinks that a man having to make a deposit into a sample cup at the clinic can never talk about that to anyone...heehee.." laughed Sheila.

"...even Aishwarya looks a bit like Benny...doesn't she ?", asked Nikki, looking at Aishwarya across the aisle, who had now moved on to grandma's lap for a nap, and had her legs resting over the arm-rest.
"....yes...that is strange...I have heard that sometimes dogs and owners grow to look the same....", analyzed Sheila, and added,"you know...in a way...it makes sense....Benny and Kamla are with Aish everyday and playing with her a lot...and after we get home from work...Aish is mostly asleep".
"...it'd change after I go on my leave...oh, yeah....ok..back to the will thingie...let us invite Shanti and your cousin to our Hawaii time-share this christmas....then we can talk about it....", suggested Nikki.
"When we get home....I will call my cousin and find out when they can come....We must call it a christmas gift, and buy them tickets....'coz...they may be saving money for a wedding in India...", said Sheila.

After their secret, mid december civil wedding with Kenny and David as their witnesses, Shanti and Reddy ended up going to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

Munni's LIA - A Serial Fiction - Episode 29

Note: All characters and venues are totally fictional; any semblance to real persons or places is merely coincidental. 
Synopsis: Some secrets get revealed in this episode

Munni's LIA - Episode 29

Family Secrets

Reddy found Sheila on the living room sofa looking at her laptop screen.

When Reddy came close to her, She looked up and winked:" afternoon delights….cousin ?"

Reddy sat down next to her and replied,"…huh ?…no..no…just a nap….and…by the way, thanks for telling that bus-stand story to Shanti…"

Sheila asked very seriously,"no problems with that ….is there ?"

Reddy assured,"no…no….I could never find the right way to tell her some of the old stories….and I was so glad when Shanti told me she heard it from you."

Sheila said,"…pheew…that is nice…Shanti is a sweet girl…don't let her get away …"

Reddy replied,"…no..no…not this time…I have asked her to marry me…."

Sheila jumped up a little, almost dropping her laptop on the floor; then she smiled big and punched his arm with her left fist:"well done…cousin…when did you ask ?....but I didn't see any ring on her hand…"

Reddy said,"…well..she is going to think about it some more…"

Sheila promised him,"I think she's done all the thinking already….she said...you two have an "understanding"....we are going shopping tomorrow….you know…our Black Friday thing….may be we will take her with us to a jewelers and find out what she likes….and her ring size….then you can go and buy that later…."

Reddy smiled,"Sheila..that would be great…I could just kiss you…"

Sheila stuck out her chin,"…why don't you ?"

Reddy kissed her on her cheek and smiled ear to ear.

Sheila smiled with,"…I am gonna wake up my girls soon…you better go and wake up yours…..otherwise they wont be able to sleep at night."

Reddy said,"I will go and make some tea…for everyone…"

Sheila said,"dad was already in the kitchen…doing something…I think Kamla sent him to make tea….go and see what he is upto"

Reddy went to the kitchen, and saw the Russian Samovar connected to the wall socket and the tea concentrate ready. It seemed like Benny had taken tea to his wife already. Reddy mixed milk and tea in 3 mugs, and went to Sheila and gave her one. Then he went upstairs and woke up Shanti. Shanti was somewhat confused and disoriented. Reddy was amused to see her sleepy face; and thought that leading a firing squad and executing people would be tiresome business. Then she sat up on the bed, and took the tea mug and sipped and asked him what time it was.

"getting close to 7 now", he said.

Shanti got a bit anxious,".you have to take me back home, no ?".

Reddy said,"yes….if you want to…I can take you back…sure", then he added,"you know…it is sort of a tradition for Kamla and girls to go shopping tomorrow….Sheila asked me if you would also go with them…".

"Really ?", asked Shanti, very pleased. She liked the idea of hanging out with Sheila; but then she had not brought any change of clothes. And besides, there is the "sleeping-over arrangements issue", as she was not really ready to acknowledge that she "knew" Reddy to any others yet. And besides, in Shanti's eye, Kamla and Sheila are desis and future in-laws, although neither of these women had ever been in des, or know any of the desi feelings or hangups.

She asked,"…can you come and get me tomorrow morning, so that I can join them ?"

Reddy understood and said,"…sure".

After sometime, Shanti went to the bathroom to wash her face. Reddy took the mugs down. He saw Sheila and Nikki at the dining table. Aishwarya was sitting on the dining table in front of Sheila working on being awake. She had a plastic spout-lid cup in her hand. Nikki had the laptop open. Reddy joined them and sat next to Nikki and just to start a conversation, he asked Nikki, "so…working on holidays too…huh ?"

Nikki answered,"no…no….just goofing around…looking at wedding pictures…"

Reddy asked,"…your wedding ? ….may I see ?". Reddy was curious.

Reddy didn't notice Nikki looking at Sheila and Sheila raising her eyebrows and narrowing her eyes in mild anxiety.

Nikki said,"why not…take a look…", and moved the laptop in front of Reddy.

Reddy saw photos of Nikki in a white wedding gown.

Nikki annotated,"...that is greek style, my grandma wore that head veil".

In almost all of the photos, Sheila was there too standing next to Nikki in a dark crimson gujarati wedding sari. At first Reddy thought Sheila was a bride's maid dressed in her ethnic outfit. And after about 10 or so photos…and seeing no groom anywhere….he realized the nature of the wedding. He smiled and looked up at Sheila and said,"…mmmmh…congratulations Sheila…I am happy for you both…". Sheila was visibly relieved at that reaction. She replied,"…thanks cousin…we can only show those photos to good friends and family….thanks". Reddy said,"…no …no….thank you for sharing…".

Then, just to emphasize his appreciation, he decided to look at some of the photos in detail. And when he did that, he noticed another face in the photo he recognized. A woman in a tuxedo suit standing behind Nikki in many of the photos. He moved the laptop back to Nikki and asked her who that was in many photos standing behind her. Nikki said,"…oh…that is …my cousin…Samanta Russell….we call her Sam…..she is an attorney..". Reddy moved the laptop back and zoomed to look at Sam's face. 

It was the same attorney who had asked over and over and over again in a meeting room in a Detroit law-office,"….do you understand that provision, Mr. Reddy ? and Ms. Olander ?….if you do, could you each say "yes, I understand", and sign on this line, please".
For a few minutes Reddy could not understand anything around him: he looked at Aishwarya all over again, as if for the first time. Aishwarya was biting the spout of the cup in her mouth and and looked back at him. Those green eyes !! Then Aishwarya pulled the spout off her mouth and said," tea " and extended the cup to him.

Reddy's heart jumped to his mouth. Reddy realized that those eyes and that gesture with the cup were a miniaturized version of the same thing he had experienced when painting an apartment many years ago: He had sat on the floor and the green eyed girl, in babushka, poured him coffee from a flask and extended the cup to him with a smile. Reddy put his hand out and held one ear of the cup and Aishwarya let go the other ear, and clapped her hand and smiled. Sheila said,"she likes both you and Shanti….". Reddy came back to earth and said to Sheila,"…yes…I like her too…how old is she now ?", and gave Aishwarya her cup back. Sheila replied,"she is two", and added,"Aish, what do you say to the uncle ?". The child smiled at Reddy and said,"thank you". Reddy got up,"…excuse me…I am going to go for a walk….will be back shortly…". Aishwarya saw him get up and said,"bye..bye", and waved her hand. He got up, walked to the foyer, got his jacket, put on his shoes quickly and walked out. He walked fast at first, and then slowed down to a normal pace.

Reddy thought back and could understand how Benny had managed to find an adoptive parent client for Ana as quickly as he was able to. He wondered who besides Samanta Russell and Benny would know Ana was the mother of Aishwarya, and he, the father. Knowing Benny, Reddy was sure that no one else would know. Reddy was glad that Sheila, someone he admired and respected, someone in his own family, turned out to be the mother of that child. He was happy that somehow providence had found the best mother for that child. He knew he couldn't go and thank Benny for that help. He also knew that he had to keep his knowledge to himself. Aside from preserving the peace and happiness of many who are dear to him, he also had that signed legal document relinquishing his parental rights to Aishwarya. After wandering a few blocks and reasonably settled in his mind, Reddy headed back home.

---o0o---

Shanti came down and found the three girls at the dining table. She sat next to Sheila. Sheila asked her,"..would you like some more tea". When Shanti said "yes", Sheila made an eye signal to Nikki. As Nikki got up, Shanti went,"…no…no, I can go and get it …", and followed Nikki into the kitchen. Nikki said,"…I need the exercise…I haven't walked anywhere all day….may be I should'a gone walking with Reddy…"
"Reddy went for a walk ?", asked Shanti.
"yes…he left just a couple of minutes ago….sitting around and eating a big meal…he must have been antsy all day….", said Sheila.
"yes….he plays basketball on Thursdays….may be missed the exercise..", said Shanti.
"here…", Nikki handed Shanti the masala tea, and asked,"do you take sugar ?"
"No", said Shanti,"this is fine"
Then both Nikki and Shanti came back to the table and sat down.
For a long minute, there was no conversation. Shanti sipped her tea, and smiled at Sheila. Then Shanti decided to break that awkward silence, and asked Nikki,"…so.. what does your husband do ?", a perfectly acceptable question to ask a pregnant woman acquaintance in a social context.

For a moment, Nikki seemed perplexed. Then she smiled and pointed to her own stomach and asked,"….you mean….besides making this ?", and giggled.
Sheila, playfully snapped at Nikki,"….stop kidding around, will'ya?"
Shanti was a bit embarrassed for having asked her question, even though she didn't understand what the issue could be. She was about to say,"sorry", but then Nikki went on,"Sheel…can I tell her about Wally and the Beaver ?"
"Nan !! quit that !!", Sheila cried.
"Oh…Shanti…Nan is short for Nicola Alessandra Niebaum….when Sheila gets annoyed at me…she calls me Nan, you know, like a Nanny, the old woman who takes care of British Brats...", explained Nikki.
Shanti realized that she had spurred on some private joke or argument between the two friends. She wondered what it was.
"Shanti, it is a med-school joke….I can explain that to you later", said Sheila.
Nikki went on with a smirk,"do you, Nicola Alessandra Niebaum, take this Wallace Soft-tip Cathe…"
Sheila threw a balled up paper towel she had used to wipe Aishwarya's face at Nikki,"stop it…OK ?…explain it to her nicely….or I let me do it.."
Nikki started laughing, her eyes watering in mirth,"ok…ok…I'll stop. This laughing is painful". Holding her stomach, Nikki got off the chair, went around, and stood up holding the back of the chair, still midly shaking with laughter.
Shanti was completely confused.

Sheila took a deep breath and gave Shanti a very clear and succinct explanation of the Wallace Catheter and how it is used at a fertility clinic. At the end, Nikki said,"Sheel, you made the whole thing sound so boring…" and made a sad-face, followed by a mischevous smile. Shanti was amazed at how such a private thing could be talked about in America so openly, whereas how much income someone earned was held confidential and secret. Shanti didn't know what to say. However, she said,"thank you", to Sheila and blushed.

Aishwarya came to Shanti and and put her hands out to be picked up. Sheila said,"next week after we get back home…this could be trouble for us...she is going to want this nice singing auntie again". Everyone laughed.
Nikki, still standing behind the chair, asked Shanti,"…are you coming shopping with us tomorrow ?"
Shanti replied,"yes..I can. I asked Reddy to come and pick me up tomorrow and bring me here…."
Sheila didn't understand that; then she realized,"….you mean..you are going back to your place tonight ? why ?"
Shanti went,"…well…I would like to…", and pointedly ignored the why.
Sheila said, "my dad….Benny had made a soup and a salad; if anyone is hungry ….you must eat something before you go..Shanti"
Shanti was pleased at Sheila's deft change in the conversation instead of insisting that she stay the night. She said,"yes…that would be nice.."

Nikki went to the kitchen and placed several half sliced french bread in the toaster oven to toast. Then brought two bowls of soup and a plate of mixed green salad with balsamic vinegar, spices and oil dressing. She made another trip to get milk in the spout-top cup for Aishwarya and a 50:50 cocktail of wine and Fresca for Shanti. When the toasts were ready, Nikki made another trip to kitchen and brought back, toasts, butter and corn chips to the table. Shanti had soup and salad with toast and Aishwarya had soup with corn chips.

"Seeee, auntie is eating her soup nicely…", was the refrain that Sheila used to feed Aishwarya spoonfuls of soup, in between the counts of "one for mommy, one for Nikki, one for Kamla, etc..", and pretending to lose count with the refrain about the auntie. Shanti thought it was entertaining to be an "example" in a baby-feeding routine. Shanti liked that pleasant family moment. Being fed with the baby of the home, made her feel nostalgic; since she left Chennai, she had lost the benefits of nice family moments as well as being the youngest in the house.

Shanti had put all the stray pieces of information together and concluded that these two Independent women, both doctors, have a life together, in whatever style, the older Sheila adopting a child and the younger Nikki experiencing her own motherhood. Shanti was happy that she will have more opportunities to develop her friendships with these two.

Nikki noticed Reddy coming in and announced,"Ma'am...your driver is here". Shanti laughed and and said,"he is the best there is...and besides, I got good references from Sheila". Sheila joined in the laugh. Reddy joined them and asked,"what is happening?".

"We are giving thanks....for the nice family, good food and for the shopping fun tomorrow", said Sheila. 

Shanti asked,"Reddy, would you like to have something to eat before we go ?"

Reddy replied,"I am not hungry yet; I can eat after I get back."

"ok", said Shanti,"I will go down, say goodbye to Kamla and be back, then"

Sheila asked Nikki to mind Aishwarya and went into the kitchen. She made a large French-bread sandwich with salad, cheese and turkey slices and wrapped it in aluminium foil, filled a ziploc bag with corn-chips and placed them in a bag. She took the bag and walked down the stairs to the basement and met up with Shanti as she was about to climb up. Sheila had a private word with Shanti:"Shanti, here is a turkey sandwich for my cousin; after you get home and you two go on talking and what-not <wink>, and it gets late, dont let him drive home, unless he really really wants to. There are just too many drunks on the road on a day like this. Give him the sandwich and keep him with you; you can both come back tomorrow morning". Then she hugged and kissed Shanti. Shanti was surprised by Sheila's concern for her Reddy: "Sheila, that is so thoughtful....both Reddy and I are lucky to have a sister like you...thank you so much", said Shanti holding both of Sheila's hand. Sheila smiled back and said,"let's go up now". 

Sheila and Nikki (carrying Aishwarya) came out to their front door to see Shanti and Reddy off. Shanti kissed each one of them and took her leave. Aishwarya said,"bye bye" and waved until the two got into their car and drove off. 

When they were on the way, Shanti said,"Reddy, I know why I should marry you now, even though...."

Reddy asked,"why? because you love me ?"

Shanti joked,"well...may be some of that....", and added,"I love your family....especially cousin Sheila".

Reddy smiled and said,"Happy Thanksgiving, Shanti".

Shanti agreed,"yes, for sure, it is."

At home, Shanti told him about her conversation with Sheila and Nikki. She went on about what a wonderful day she had had. Reddy was quite pleased just to listen to her. 

As Sheila had predicted, the two of them talked late into the night and early the next morning. They decided when to tell their respective parents that they had met each other, and found each other perfectly tolerable. And as Sheila had asked, Shanti kept Reddy at home until after breakfast and she got ready to go shopping on Black Friday. 

-----oooo-----

Munni's LIA - A Serial Fiction - Episode 28

Note: All characters and venues are totally fictional; any semblance to real persons or places is merely coincidental. 
Synopsis: Aamir Khan, Boris, Reddy and Alice Patten come in with a dozen extras from Mangal Panday.

Munni's LIA - Episode 28

A Bollywood Fantasy

In the middle of a cobbled plaza, three condemned men were standing with their backs against a wall. All of them had their hands tied behind their backs. Two of them wore sports uniforms, both had the unlucky number 13, one was the orange basketball uniform of "Mambalam Ace" and the other one had the blue and white football uniform of "Novosibirsk Hawks". The one in the middle wore a T-shirt and jeans. The T-shirt said "Imperial College of Engineering".

Boris turned and said to Aamir Khan,"Hi, I am Boris...I don't know why I am here...are you guys Afghans ?......"
Aamir answered,"Never mind…..don't you know who I am ?....and how come...you two already have uniforms…..where is mine ?"
Reddy added,"…we are idiots, all three of us, we all in for big trouble…look…. there comes a firing squad.."
Boris asked,"…who the devil is that woman with a big sabre ?...is that a Chechen ? <Note: Chechens behead the condemned>....oh my god..."
Reddy squinted his eyes and said,"….Shanti…that is my love…Shanti", and he yelled out,"…don't stand in the sun…Shanti…not good for your skin…"
Shanti came closer, a firing squad came marching behind her.
Boris asked,"…why is that firing squad in that strange getup…?"
Reddy also observed,"Turbans, jibba and dothi ?….where are they from ?"
Aamir solved,"…they look like extras from Mangal Panday….look at those long muzzle loaders they are carrying.."

There was a big crowd collecting behind the firing squad and following them.
Shanti stopped and stood at about 20 paces from the wall, opened the scroll she was carrying and yelled into a bull-horn:
"…These three idiots are accused of seducing innocent girls, making promises, then disappearing without leaving their true names or any forwarding address, and torturing their loves for many many years."
Boris yelled in protest,"….Oksana knew my name….she even carved it everywhere…."
Shanti shushed him down,"…overruled….you grew up with her…and had no option…"
Shanti continued into the bull-horn,"….Now they will be shot."

The Mangal Panday Extras marched, turned to face the condemned men, spread out to open ranks, and got ready.
Shanti raised her sabre and yelled out," LOowwwd…<long pause>", as the extras got busy with their muzzle loaders.
The firing squad took something out of their pockets and each man bit into it.
Boris turned and asked Aamir,"…what was that ? chewing gum ?"
Aamir, who was standing in the middle,"…oh..that …that is gun powder sachet….they will load and compress now…I trained them, you know...". Aamir was proud of that training.
Boris anguished,"….oh..my…god….don't they import Kalashnikov from mother Russia……now…with those antiques they may not kill us cleanly.."
Shanti continued"…..Aaayiiim…", and shortly after that, dropping her sabre, she yelled"…FAayAaa"
Puffs of smoke came out of every muzzle.
All three condemned men fell.

Reddy realized he could still see, although he felt something wet and warm in the middle of his chest. He couldn't lift his head and see his wound. His body felt like it was weighed down. It was obvious…he was wounded…and going to bleed to death.
Boris had been right about those ancient muzzle loaders. They don't kill cleanly.

And then…there was a woman coming out of the gathered crowd. A white woman…a blonde…
She came running and yelling,"…oh…dear…NO…NO…NO.."
Boris was not dead either…He too had seen the approaching female. He said,"Oh…my Oksana…she is coming for me…"
Reddy said,"Ana?….Ana is not a blonde …she is not Ana….".
Aamir Khan piped in,"….she is probably for me….could be a fan….I am well known in Europe …you know". Aamir too was bleeding...and boasting.
And finally when the woman came to them, she knelt beside Aamir and pulled his head up to her lap and started yelling something wild.
Reddy wondered,"Why is it so hard to understand the English...why can't they speak like Americans?"
Boris interrupted,"….hey…she is that Brit……you know…from Rang de Basanti…."
Okonomi: Why is she in halter tops when he has a leather jacket on ?


Reddy added,"…hey…that's right….hey….we are "3 Idiots"….what are you doing in this ? "
She turned to Reddy and sneered,"Why do you care ?"
Reddy thought about that and it made sense. He had his own problem. The warm fluid from his chest was now moving towards his armpit. Strangely, he couldn't feel any pain from the chest wound; but he thought if that blood were to get to his arm pit, he might get tickled and begin to giggle. He was wounded alright; he couldn't move his head to look down at his wound or move his body. And he thought it would be strange to read a newspaper story about their execution for seducing and ditching women: "Munagala Gengu Reddy, 28, from RKM Colony, Chennai, was among the three executed by a firing squad. He wore his basketball uniform for the occasion and giggled before he died". Finally it happened; the fluid from his chest wound advanced into the most ticklish part of his armpit and he giggled.

When Reddy awoke, he found Shanti's head jutting up against his chin. She was still lying on top of him; her warm cheek against his chest. She had drooled. The drool had indeed advanced to his armpit. Despite his body shaking, stiffening and falling when he got shot by the firing squad, she was still asleep. Reddy held her, and gingerly turned to his side and gently put her on the bed. Then he got out of the bed, got dressed and went down to thank Sheila.

-----oooo-----

Munni's LIA - A Serial Fiction - Episode 27

Note: All characters and venues are totally fictional; any semblance to real persons or places is merely coincidental. 
Synopsis: Shanti meets Benny, Kamla, Sheila, Nikki and Aishwarya. She discovers the truth about her Boris.

Munni's LIA - Episode 27

Shanti Sings the Lullaby

On Thanksgiving day, Reddy went to Shanti's apartment in the morning, spent some time with her and then drove her to his house. As he approached his house, Shanti noticed a woman in Salwar outfit on the drive, standing next to a toddler child.
"is that Sheila ?", asked Shanti.
Reddy looked and said,"…no…looks like a white woman in a salwar outfit….may be Kamla had invited some local friend ….". He parked the car on street. The woman in Salwar outfit waited for them to walk up closer, and then addressed Reddy,"you are Reddy, aren't you ?"
Reddy didn't know who she was; he thought it may have been someone he had met previously in the house, when Kamla had friends over now and then. He answered,"….hi…yes, I am…..and how are you ?"
"….I am sure you don't remember who I am….and besides…", she said, pulling her salwar-top back around her waist to show she was pregnant,"…I gained some weight recently....Nicola Niebaum…..we met many many years ago in California ". The woman shook hands with Reddy.
"….Ooooh…yes, now I remember", Reddy lied and smiled. Then he introduced Shanti,"….this is Shanti, my girlfriend, she is a grad student at Ann Arbor….Shanti, this is Nicola, Sheila's friend".
Nicola shook hands with Shanti and said,"…call me Nikki". The child standing next to Nikki, hugged her leg. Nikki picked up the child and introduced her,"…this is Aishwarya Shah…..Aish..say hello to uncle and auntie..". The child said,"…hello". Shanti put her hands out to Aishwarya, and the child jumped across and let Shanti hold her. Aishwarya had her hands around Shanti's neck as Nikki said,"hey…she found another woman to spoil her now….". Then they all walked through the open garage door into the house.

Sheila and Kamla were seated at the dining table when Reddy walked in with Shanti carrying Aishwarya. Reddy introduced Shanti. Sheila came to Shanti, put her hand on Shanti's shoulder and said," Hi, I see my daughter has already found a nice auntie to carry her around..nice to meet you Shanti ". Kamla said to Shanti,"welcome…that is a nice kurthi… Aish….get off that auntie…you can walk now …". Shanti said," hello", and sat in the chair next to Sheila. Aishwarya got off Shanti's hold, crawled up the table, and sat on it looking at the new face, Shanti.
Sheila asked,"….Shanti, what are you studying ?"
"Economics..", said Shanti,and thought < my……Kamla and Sheila are pretty women….Kamla doesn't look much older than Sheila…>.
Reddy leaned to Shanti's ear and said,"…I will see you later…"
Sheila said,"….go on..cousin…we'll take good care of your girl…" and laughed.
Shanti said,"…yes…go ahead.."
Then Shanti asked Sheila,"…who is cooking the feast …"
Kamla said,"…we all are…Sheila made the pumpkin pie and the stuffing, and the turkey is browning in the oven now….Nikki made a beans and cauliflower dish. Aishwarya helped in making the cranberry sauce…..Benny stayed out of the way….and you helped by keeping Reddy with you all morning…didn't you ?" and winked.
Shanti blushed at that insinuation.
Sheila said,"…we used one of those baking bags…to avoid basting the turkey………we just took the bag off 10 minutes ago and let the surface brown a little…."
Kamla asked,"…Shanti…do you want a snack ?…we have samosas....we are planning to eat around 3 PM....you know....lunch time for California people."
Shanti answered,"no…no… I am not that hungry…..I can wait …"
Kamla went into the kitchen and brought a drink for Shanti:"…here …have this…and there are some indian munchies on the counter in the kitchen …feel free".
Shanti said,"…thanks" and took a sip. She liked the drink. ".auntie..what is this ?", she asked.
Sheila laughed out loud, with," you called her auntie…heehee".
Kamla said,"Shanti…you can call me Kamla…even….Sheila calls me Kamla..".
Shanti said,"oh…ok", a little embarassed.
Kamla got back to Shanti's question,"that is Fresca…a diet ginger soda…it goes well with wines…if you want to make a wine-cooler you can just mix ice cold Fresca and wine fifty-fifty".
Sheila asked,"how did you meet Reddy ?"
Shanti wished she had chatted with Reddy about this. So she gave a fuzzy answer:" we met on campus…."
Kamla said,"that is why parents send kids to good colleges….don't we ?"
Sheila went,"mummmie…we aren't going there….are we ?"

Then Aishwarya climbed off the table onto Sheila's lap.
"….she has green eyes," noticed Shanti.
"….yes…that is why grandma wanted to name her Aishwarya….," said Sheila.
"….kamla", said Aishwarya, pointing to Kamla.
"…see…no one calls me grandma….except you,"Kamla said to Sheila with mock annoyance. 

Then Kamla got up to go to the kitchen and look at the Turkey. It had already browned well on top. There were several bowls of food in ceramic serving vessels on the counter top.
Kamla picked up a ladle, opened the oven door, and ladled some of the drippings back over the browned top of the turkey and closed the door back. Then she came back and said,"looks like we can eat in a leeetul bit….". Shanti asked,"Kamla,…can I help ?". Kamla smiled at Shanti and said,"yes…we can set the table".

Benny came in to the kitchen and said hello to Shanti, then he went over to Kamla and said,"…kitchen smells good….are we just about ready?"
Kamla said,"…Benny, did you say hello to Shanti ?"
Benny responded,"…yes..yes..I just did"
Shanti thought Benny behaved just like her father, very attentive and obedient to his wife. She thought Benny looked a lot older than she'd expect Kamla's husband to be.

It became a little past 2:30 PM after they got everything ready, woke Nikki back up from her nap, got Aishwarya into her bib and booster seat and everybody sat down to eat. Shanti had her first traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Benny carved the turkey and placed the slices in a large oval plate to start. Sheila carried the plate and walked around the table and served everyone before sitting down. Shanti and Aishwarya, (the youngest two) were each given the drumsticks. Aishwarya was the center of attraction. Kamla at the head of the table had Aishwarya sitting to her right, followed by Nikki, Reddy and Benny. On Kamla's other side were Sheila and Shanti. Benny drank some cocktail he had mixed himself. Nikki and Aishwarya drank milk; the others had wine to drink. They had pumpkin pie and ice-cream at the end of the meal. Aishwarya talked a lot during the meal and Nikki and Kamla translated her opinions. Under the table Reddy had his feet under Shanti's. Shanti found the vegetable dishes that Nikki had made taste much like south indian stirfrys. She complimented Nikki. Nikki was very pleased and said the greeks also use cumin and olive oil like indians. At the end of the meal, Shanti offered to help Kamla clean-up.

And Kamla responded," clean up ?.no..no..we don't do that…let the boys do that....you go with the girls to their room…". So, Shanti ended up with Sheila, Nikki and Aishwarya in the master bedroom on the same ground level of the house.

The room had a very large king size bed, a sofa set of three sofas, a TV-DVD set, walk-in closet and an attached bathroom. After Nikki had burped Aishwarya, she handed the child over to Shanti and went to the bathroom. Shanti sat in the larger sofa with one leg folded at the knee, and let Aishwarya lie down on her lap and placed her hand on the child's chest. Aishwarya held Shanti's fingers in her hands and looked up at Shanti's face. Shanti moved her lap up and down in a rhythm and tapped Aishwarya on the chest gently. Sheila sat in another sofa, and asked Shanti,"…can you sing any indian lullabies ?". Shanti had to think for a while. Then she said,"…I only know a few lines…and then..I need to hum the rest" and smiled. Sheila said,"..please go ahead…". Shanti continued to raise and drop her lap with Aishwarya's head on it, continued to tap the child's chest with her hand, closed her eyes and started,"…mmmmhhh…". Nikki returned from the bathroom and came towards them; Sheila placed a finger to her lips and said,"…shushhhh… she will sing..". Nikki sat on another sofa. Shanti started with the Tamil "….araaro…aariraro…" song and after a few lines…she moved on to the telugu song…kasturi rangaa…..and not remembering too many lines of that either, smiling to herself…she came back to the Tamil song a little later. The two american women watched Shanti in amazement as Aishwarya fell asleep still holding several of Shanti's fingers in her two hands. After a few more minutes, Shanti stopped and said softly,"…I think she is sleeping now…". "Let us put her on the bed", said Sheila. Shanti got up with the child and put her in the middle of the king sized bed in that room. Sheila took several pillows and propped them around the child. 

Nikki, who had her head on the arm rest of the sofa was also dozing off. Sheila roused her up and asked her to sleep on the bed. Nikki joined Aishwarya on the big bed. "heheeh…you had put both of them to sleep ", Sheila said to Shanti in a whisper, and added,"let us go and sit in the living room..". As they came out, they saw Benny heading for the basement. Sheila asked him,"…isn't cousin Reddy helping you ?". Benny replied,"…he did already…I think he is taking a nap in his room upstairs.." "And where are you going ?"Sheila asked. "To take a nap with Kamla…where else ?"joked Benny, as he climbed downstairs to the family room in the basement.
Sheila smiled and asked Shanti,"…would you like to go upstairs and take a nap with my cousin ?". Shanti didn't expect that at all; she blushed and answered,"…no..no…I am ok ….not sleepy now..".
"Thank you for keeping me company….let us go and sit there…". After they got to the sofas, Sheila and Shanti sat side by side.

After they got settled, Sheila said to Shanti,"…I met my cousin when he first came to America many years ago….and then after that…we never met…life got busy….you know…..now I am so happy he has a sweet girlfriend like you…"
Shanti blushed even more and murmured,"…thank you"
Sheila went on,".when I first met my cousin….I knew right away he was a nice guy….but recently when my parents moved to California I found out a lot more about him..."
Shanti got very interested in that chat.
Sheila continued,"…my dad…Benny went on and on about what a nice boy my cousin is…how much he helped him and how responsible, how quiet, how hardworking…and so on….oh…I am sorry…I sound like I am selling him to you…don't I ? ...and here you are...may be you already bought his own sales talk...heeheee"
Shanti said,"…no…no…no….that is alright…I also know that Reddy is kind and nice…"
Sheila raised her eyebrows, put her hand on Shanti's shoulder and winked,"..hey..hey…hey…is someone here smitten or what ?"
Shanti had already liked Sheila when she had only heard about her from Reddy. The real Sheila sitting next to her seemed even more wonderful. Shanti decided to confide. She put her head down, blushed as she said,"..mmmmh….Reddy and I…we have an understanding…".
Sheila leaned to Shanti, kissed her on the cheek and said,"…my cousin is a lucky guy..".
Shanti said,"..thanks". She liked Sheila even more now. Sheila went on,"…he was so shy…..my cousin was…when I first met him….".
Shanti asked Sheila,"..tell me about that meeting..".
Sheila said,"…been a long time…but I can tell you about his old crush…he was so shy…he said he never talked to her….heeheehee...".
Shanti was very piqued; she said with a smile,"…please…tell me what you remember…".
Sheila told her the story.
Sheila started,"…you know…my cousin told me he played basketball for his college…you probably know that already…right?"
Shanti replied,"…I know he plays basketball…but please go on…"
Sheila said,"…I also played guard in the women's team for my college….Ol' Miss...in any case, when my cousin was in India…he said he took the bus to go to work…I don't remember the city …but they had city bus there that was always crowded…"
Shanti said,"…yes …Chennai city…I am from there also…"
Sheila continued,"…oh…then you know the scene….boys and girls go in the crowded bus and there is a lot of grabbing and molesting girls in the crowd…"
Shanti was confused; she couldn't understand where Sheila was headed. She continued to look at Sheila's face.
Sheila went on,"…you know…my shy cousin…sees this girl in a bus-stand and he decides to help…"
Shanti began to feel something in the pit of her stomach.
Sheila continued,"…so…when the bus comes….and there is no orderly line or anything....it is time for the crowd to rush to the bus, my cousin goes and posts himself on the step of the bus like he'd do on a basketball court, and stops everybody behind him, and lets his girl get in the bus with nobody touching her…hahaheehee…"
Shanti thought her hands and legs were shivering on their own without any control from her.
Sheila went on with the story:"…my cousin goes on doing this day after day after day…never talking to her or asking her out on a date or anything…..my cousin told me that the girl was plain but also beautiful….I never figured that out…but then…my cousin was so in love…he may be confused about things….what d'you think ?"
Shanti felt faint, but managed to ask,"….what else did your cousin say ? did he say he was in love with that girl…"
Sheila noticed Shanti's agitation…and went,"…he may have said he loved that girl….but hey…that was a long time ago…he probably had a strong crush....he had probably forgot all about her by now...don't you go and fret about that thing now…."
Then Shanti suddenly remembered a favorite book-mark she had used when in India. A picture post-card from California with a picture of the golden gate bridge. That card was signed "Sheila".
Shanti looked at Sheila and said in as best a steady voice as she could manage,"…yes…you are right…I'd be silly to think about that long ago girl…", and added,"..excuse me…I will go and take a nap now."
Sheila replied,"…yeah…Thanksgiving dinner puts everybody to sleep ….don't it ?" and smiled.

Shanti left, walked to the stairs, and after she took the first few steps to the landing and out of sight from Sheila, she climbed two stairs at a time and rushed to Reddy's room. She opened the door quietly, got in, closed it behind her, turned around and looked at the bed. Reddy was bare from the waist up and sleeping on his stomach. Shanti tip toed up to the side of the bed. She wanted to wake him up, shake him and ask him why he didn't tell her he was the same bus-stand Boris. Shanti had forgot the face of that skinny boy, but now she can add a mustache to Reddy and imagine a little less meat on his bones and cheeks, a few inches less for her own height and realize they were the same pair from that crowded Chennai bus. She was extremely livid as well as unbearably happy. She decided she needed to hit him first for torturing her. She decided she'd cup her hand and give him a painless, but resounding slap on his back. Then she would hug him and ask him why he tortured her so. 

When she brought down her cupped palm with all the force she could muster, her fingers flared out and Reddy received a stinging slap in the middle of his back. Shanti was shocked, as Reddy made a strange animal sound and flipped over. He squinted at Shanti and blurted,"…Aaaee…what ? ..why ?". Shanti kneeled up the bed, fell on his chest, put both her arms around his neck:"…oh..my dear….sorry…sorry …". In the next fifteen minutes, in semi coherent Telugu and English Reddy heard Shanti's lament as to how cruel he had been for years and years, and also in the last few weeks when he had hid his real identity. Shanti got less incoherent and weepy as she went on. Eventually Reddy was able to put together something and understood that Sheila had told Shanti the bus-stand story from several years ago. Although the slap was painful, Reddy was relieved that the story was told and he didn't have to struggle as to how he would tell Shanti. Besides that complaint, he heard a lot more from Shanti as she lay on his chest and went on and on about the general nature of men in deceiving women, with the prime examples of Reddy, Rancho (Aamir Khan from "3 Idiots") and of course, Boris. Shanti eventually whimpered off to sleep. Reddy understood that, in summary, pretty much all males were indicted for torturing women with deceit, seduction and abandonment !!

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