fiction

Vignette 1:

Anu picked at the hole in the frayed linen tablecloth, spotted with turmeric and chili powder stains. “Ma, I told you, he just goes on these trips with his friends. Why do you worry so much?”

Priya looked intently at her daughter. “I’m not worried. I asked you a simple question.” She walked over to the sink and started rinsing dishes. “Do you want some tea?”

“I mean, really, Ma, you always look too deep into things. So, we have different friends. It’s a new age. A new country. My life doesn’t have to be like yours. You and Daddy had to do everything together. It’s okay if Charlie and I lead different lives.” Anu continued to pull out stray threads from the old tablecloth.

“OK beta. I understand.”

“Don’t say it like that. I didn’t mean to come off so strongly. I am just saying that your perception of relationships and love and marriage may be different than mine. As long as I am still my own person, I am happy. I am very happy, Ma.”

The sound of running water stopped. Priya began to dry the steel vessel for some tea. She turned towards her daughter, who had succeeded in expanding the previously unseen rip in the cloth to the size of a dollar coin. “I’m happy you’re happy. You know that’s all I ever wanted for you. Do you want tea?”

Anu shook her head. “I mean, I know what you’re thinking. You wished I had married Shyam. Well, Ma, that was 8 years ago. And I wasn’t in love with him. You and Daddy might have developed this incredible love with time, but I wanted to feel something before I got married.” She began to tear the cloth at a faster rate, almost as if to keep up with her own accelerating tempo. “And maybe that’s the problem. Maybe the problem is choice. But I’m fine. I’d be better if you would just accept that I’m happy and not question my life all the time.” Anu stopped picking at the hole in the table cloth.  The water had begun to boil, and emanated a soft bubbling noise. Priya stood next to the stove, and turned to watch her daughter, who had suddenly become silent, still.

“Ma.” Tears streamed down Anu’s smooth, brown face.

Priya walked over to her daughter and touched her soft, thick hair. Anu was still sitting, and suddenly plunged her head into her mother’s stomach, covered in soft, worn cotton that soon became drenched in Anu's tears. She wrapped her arms tightly around her mother’s waist, and Priya leaned over and rested her hands on her daughter’s thick, slightly greasy hair, caressing her head softly. “Beta, it’s okay. Come, let’s drink some tea.”