There's Something About Sweetie(100)

Amma waved her hand. “That kind of American mind-set has no place in this home.”

Sweetie felt her heart break even more. “So you’re saying someone like me has no place in this home,” she said quietly. “Whether you mean to or not, Amma, that’s exactly what you’re saying. I’m Indian, yes. I respect my culture, yes. I love my parents, yes. But I love myself, too. I respect myself, too.” How was it possible that she and her mother fell on opposite sides of this one, more-important-than-anything issue?

Achchan stepped forward. “We would never say that you have no place in our home or even think it. You’re our only child.” He turned to Amma and raised his eyebrows.

“There’s no need for all this drama,” Amma said. “Sweetie, I have told you. You are my daughter. But you have lied to us for a month. There is nothing more to say. I don’t know what ideas this boy filled your head with and what all he made you do—”

Ashish cleared his throat and Sweetie looked at him, wide eyed. Please don’t say anything, she tried to transmit psychically. You’ll only set this train wreck on fire. But if he got the message, he didn’t listen. “Auntie, if I may,” he said in a voice that was both firm and respectful. Sweetie would have to take notes on how he did that. When she tried to be firm and respectful, it just came out all squeaky. “Sweetie and I have done nothing that we are ashamed of. To be honest, my parents knew about us dating. They were on board, and although they weren’t enthused about the fact that you both didn’t know, they made sure nothing untoward happened. In fact, they made us sign a contract. We went on three dates that were fully parent sanctioned. Of course, we did meet up on one or two other occasions, but again, nothing happened that would make me hesitate to look you both in the eye.” He squeezed Sweetie’s hand briefly before letting it drop again. “Sweetie is a remarkable person. She’s taught me so much about myself. She’s taught me what it means to be kind and gentle while also pursuing what you know is right in your heart. I have never met anyone like her.”

By the time he stopped speaking, everyone was staring at him, openmouthed. Sweetie wondered if he knew the kind of effect he had on people. Not just on girls, but on people in general. Ashish was the kind of guy who made you pause and listen when he spoke. His words, confident and strong, were clad in iron.

Achchan grunted. “Well, I—”

There was a knock on the door.

Looking just as confused as the rest of them, Jason Chettan opened the door. Ashish’s parents traipsed in, dressed like royalty. Sunita auntie’s face immediately creased into a smile as she gathered Sweetie into a hug and then stroked Ashish’s hair, before turning to Achchan and Amma. She pressed her palms together.

“Hello again, Vidya,” she said earnestly. “Please allow me to apologize for stopping by uninvited. Sweetie did tell us this was a family event, but I really wanted to speak with you in person about everything that’s happened, and I knew Ashish was here. …” She paused. “Oh, my manners have deserted me today. This is my husband, Kartik.”

Kartik uncle shook hands with Achchan, who looked like he might faint. “You’re … Kartik Patel,” he said, as if he’d just made the connection. “Of Global Comm.”

Kartik uncle smiled. “Yes indeed. And Ashish tells me you yourself are in engineering? I had wanted one of my sons to go into the profession, but alas, neither of them shows any aptitude at all!”

Achchan beamed. Amma looked by turns discombobulated and furious, as if she had no idea whether to welcome the Patels like a good host or to kick them out.

Sunita auntie stepped closer to her and put a hand on her arm. “Vidya, I take it that Ashish and Sweetie have told you about them dating.” Looking straight into Amma’s eyes, she continued seriously. “I am so sorry that we encouraged the children to date behind your backs. Our intention was never to disrespect you or undermine your authority. You see, Kartik and I thought long and hard about it, and in the end we felt that when teenagers are determined, they’ll find a way to do what they want to do.” She studied Amma’s expression, which was still stony, and continued valiantly on. “I didn’t think, from talking to you, that you disapproved of Ashish or our family. Simply of … Sweetie’s physical appearance as compared to our son’s. That’s why we agreed to this at all. But through everything, we wanted to make sure they didn’t do anything we wouldn’t be able to tell you about. They went to the mandir on their first date.” She smiled. “And then to the Holi Festival, and then to visit Ashish’s Gita Kaki in Palo Alto.”

Amma looked from one face to the next. Sweetie’s heart thudded as she waited for her mother to speak, to say something, anything. Finally Amma spoke, her voice trembling. “But Sweetie and Ashish are not compatible. How can they be when Sweetie is …?” Turning to Ashish, she said more firmly, “Sweetie has a lot of self-respect. She won’t just do whatever you want because she’s … she is not …”

Ashish shook his head. “I think Sweetie is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, auntie. I promise you, when I look at her, I can’t believe that I got so lucky. I would never disrespect her. Never.”

Amma looked around at them all. Sweetie held her breath; this felt like a turning point. Amma had to see Sweetie’s side now. She had to.