“I’d like to meet him,” he said.

I nodded.

At last, I felt free, like a cloud made light after a rainstorm.

Two weeks after college started, I was sitting on the divan reading my book when Mummy sat down on the chair across from me. I didn’t look up. “Believe it or not, someone has approached me with your manga, a marriage offer,” she said.

“I’m not interested.”

“At least listen to me.”

“Please, Mummy, I have too much studying to do.”

“I told them you’re too young.”

“You said that?” I felt surprise all the way through my heartbeat.

“For now,” she said. “You’re not going to run away and get married?”

I looked in her eyes. “No, I’m not going to do that.”

“Are you serious with that boy?” she said, fingering the page I was reading.

“Right now the only thing I’m serious about is this,” I said, pointing at my book.

“You’re young now, but remember, youth makes a bad friend. One day she is your best friend and the next day she leaves you forever. If you spend the next ten years studying, you might find yourself too old, and single. Then don’t blame me.”

“I won’t.” I was surprised how calm my voice was.

“They’re still going to blame me. What am I to do?” She threw her hands in the air.

“Who’s going to blame you?”

“Society, caste, neighbors.”

“You can’t put reins on their tongues,” I said, and closed my book.

She said a few more things. I listened without saying a word. Frustrated with my silence, she left me alone and went to the bedroom.

I walked to the window. Four pigeons sat on the other side of the iron grille. They were so used to people that they didn’t fly away. The sound that came out of their puffed-up throats was muffled, ghoo, ghoo. I wondered how many pigeons lived on that concrete ledge, hugging the window.

Then I closed my eyes and imagined the dark koyal flying from one mango tree to another, singing.

glossary

Aaa su bole che?: What are you saying?

amla: Indian gooseberry, Emblic myrobalans. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine.

apsara: a celestial dancer

bahu: daughter-in-law

Bapre: an exclamation of surprise

batata vada: potato balls

Bess chani-mani: Sit quietly.

beta: my child

Bhagvad Gita: a religious classic of Hinduism. It is a part of the Mahabharat.

bhajans: devotional songs

Bharat Chhodo: Quit India movement of 1942 (Bharat chhodo) was a call for immediate independence of India from British rule issued by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942.

Bheem: one of the five brothers of the Pandava family from the Mahabharat, known for his appetite and strength

bhel-puri: popular snack made of puffed rice, potatoes, savory noodles, puris, and various chutneys

bhine-vaan: wet complexion, dark

bhine-saan: soggy sensibility

bindi: a red or colored dot applied on the forehead