“Why do you utter terrible words? He’s a Modh Bania, from the same caste as us, and that’s all we need,” Mummy said.

“But Fua isn’t from our caste and Foi married—”

“Choop ker! Have you pawned your manners? Small mouths mustn’t talk big talks. This isn’t about your marriage, so sit on the side and shut your mouth tight,” Mummy said.

I looked at Pappa, but he didn’t say a word. I knew we never discussed why Fua wasn’t from our caste, and it was a mistake for me to talk about it, especially in front of Foi.

“If Mohini is ready, let’s announce the engagement. Do you agree, Mohini?” Mummy asked.

Mohini nodded, and her engagement to Anoop was fixed. That day Pappa was quiet and serious, as if he were calculating a complicated math problem in his head. I wished he would take me for a walk after dinner, but he asked Mohini to go with him instead. Mummy wanted Chiraj to join them, but Pappa said, “Before I send Mohini far away, let me spend a few moments with her alone.”

The next day congratulations flooded in from relatives, neighbors, and friends. If Mohini was overwhelmed by all this, no one suspected it. At the engagement gathering she looked like an apsara, a celestial dancer, in her purple sari with a pink brocade border.

“You’re so lucky! A chance to live in America is as good as marrying a millionaire,” Kirti Auntie said.

“Yes, you never know what our kismet brings us,” Mummy replied. She hadn’t forgiven Kirti Auntie for digging up the information on the nephew of Mr. Maganlal Chaganlal and quickly arranging Jayshree’s engagement with him.

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right. Mohini’s karma must take her far away from home. I, for one, wouldn’t want Jayshree living in a strange country, but you have three, so you can easily send one away,” she said.

Jayshree and her husband, Mr. Maganlal Chaganlal’s nephew, were both there. I was annoyed when she laughed out loud, throwing her head back, and clinging to her husband’s hand as if she were his extra appendage.

Mummy couldn’t say a word. I knew she wanted to, but Kirti Auntie was a few months older than Mummy, so Mummy had to swallow insults like that and keep on smiling. Mohini had tears in her eyes, so I dragged her away from the group. When Foi heard about what Kirti Auntie had said, she shook her head and said, “I wonder where Kirti was when God sprinkled sense on us all.”

“Do you like Anoopji?” I whispered to Mohini that night.

“He thinks adding ji behind a name is old-fashioned. He wants you to call him Anoop.”

“Fine. Was Anoop nice?”