neem: a tropical tree with medicinal uses

odhani: half sari

O mara bap: literally, “Oh my father!” Usually said in frustration

Ooi Ma: literally “Oh mother!” Usually said to express pleasant surprise or sudden pain

pagel: crazy, crasy one

pani-puri: tiny, puffed round bread filled with spices and potatoes

pundit: learned man, astrologer, Hindu priest

puri: puffed, round whole-wheat bread that is deep fried

raatrani: night-blooming jasmine

raita: salad of various vegetables or fruits mixed with yogurt and spices

rassgulla: creamy white balls of cheese in light syrup

rotli: a whole-wheat bread cooked on a stove

sagdi: a coal-burning portable stove

Salli, tara tukede-tukda kari fanki daish “I will cut you up in pieces and throw them away.”

salwar khameez: a long shirt and baggy pants worn with a matching scarf called a dupatta

sambhar: South Indian lentil and vegetable soup that comes in countless varieties

saras: good

shanti: peace

shehanai: a brass musical instrument

sherwani: long coat worn by men

shiva-stotra: prayer to Lord Shiva

shrikhand: thickened yogurt dessert

swaha: (Sanskrit) to put offerings of rice etc. into the holy fire

tabla: type of drums

tambura: a one-string instrument

thaga-thiya: dillydally

thali: a stainless steel plate

tiffin: container with three or four tiers that stack on top of each other that is used to deliver home-cooked meals.

tiffinwallah: people who collect the tiffins from students’ homes and deliver them at lunchtime

Vatnu vateser shu kam kere che?: “Why are you turning tiny talk into a twisty tale?”

vidai: the good-bye ceremony for a bride

Vrushchik: the zodiac sign of Scorpion. In Indian astrology, a name is given according to a child’s moon sign.

Wah!: exclamation

wallah: One employed in a particular occupation or activity: a kitchen wallah; rickshaw wallahs.

author’s note

Opera House Theater has not been in operation for the past few years. Also, the Vihar Lake is off limits for security reasons. Vihar Lake is one of the sources of water for Mumbai. I have fond memories of both these places and wanted to include them in the story.