My So-Called Bollywood Life(49)

“What do you think?” she asked, returning to Bridget.

“I think you’re going to make everyone look horrible compared to your fabulousness.”

“Thanks, bestie,” she said with a grin. She waved at the computer. “See you in a bit?”

Bridget nodded. “Sooner than you think. Have fun with Dev!”

After taking one more look at herself in the full-length mirror, Winnie grabbed her clutch and headed downstairs. Dev was supposed to be there in half an hour, but first she had to endure the endless pictures her parents would take of her.

“Mom, Dad, I’m ready,” Winnie called out as she held up her lengha and carefully walked downstairs.

    Her mother and grandmother entered from the kitchen together.

“Come, let me see,” her mother said.

Winnie stopped and posed on the last step. “Well?” she said. “How do I look?”

She didn’t have to ask, because she saw her mother’s and grandmother’s smiles spread, creasing the happy lines in their cheeks.

“Kitni soni lagti hai,” Nani said.

“Of course she looks beautiful,” her mother replied. “She’s my beti, no? Come. Let’s take some pictures. Let me get your father. The man can’t leave his newspaper for two minutes.”

“I’m here,” he said, walking into the foyer. “I heard you cursing me rooms away.”

He stopped when he saw Winnie standing at the bottom of the stairs. “You remind me of how your mother looked on our wedding day.”

“Aw, thanks, Daddy.”

“One word of advice. Make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to you that happened to your mother.”

“What was that?”

“After she looked so angelic at our wedding, she morphed into a shrew.”

Nani roared in laughter and almost dropped her drink, while Winnie’s mother glared at both her mother and her husband.

    “Muma, he’s talking about your daughter!”

“I know,” Nani said, laughing. “That is why I think it is so funny. It is so true!”

She held out her hand and Winnie’s father slapped it. The whole scene was so absurd that Winnie couldn’t help but grin.

“Let us take our pictures and let the girl have fun,” Winnie’s father said.

They stood in front of the staircase like they did for every important family picture, and waited while Nani adjusted her glasses and set up her iPhone. Mom took a little bit longer to prep since she usually wanted to share pictures on Facebook, on Instagram, and with the family chat groups.

“I’m proud of you, beta,” her father said after the first picture. “You’ve set yourself a goal and tried to pursue it with honesty. No matter what happens, remember if you’ve done everything right, then you’ll get what you deserve in the end.”

“Thanks, Daddy. That means a lot.”

By the time they were done with at least three sets of pictures of everyone, the doorbell rang.

“It’s Dev. Go away,” she said, waving at her parents and grandmother. No one budged from their spot. With a sigh, she walked to the front door, rubbing her damp palms together. She was going to her film club’s fund-raiser dance with a guy she was crazy about. This was not a BFD…right?

She opened the door on the second ring. Dev stood on the stoop, bathed in the yellow glow of the outdoor lights. He wore black dress pants, dress shoes, and a long kurta sewn in black with gold threadwork at the throat and wrists.

    “Hey,” he said as his eyes bulged. “You look…wow. Seriously. Wow.”

Winnie crossed an arm over her stomach and gripped her elbow. “Um, thanks. You look great, too. I really didn’t think you’d wear the Indian clothes.”

“Well, my mom saw your lengha thing and suggested that I wear this. I have to admit, I’m really happy she was there with you that day. Now everyone will know you’re with me.”

“And everyone will know you’re with me. Let me grab my bag.” She turned and almost ran into her parents. Her grandmother stood behind them.

“Winnie? Aren’t you going to let Dev in the house?” her mother said. “We need a picture of the two of you together.”

“No.”

“Vaneeta,” she said, her eyes narrowed. “Move.”

She opened the door a bit wider. “Fine. Dev, my parents and grandmother want to say something embarrassing.”

She heard him cough, but thankfully he stepped into the foyer without protest. “Hi, Aunties, Uncle. How are you?”

They nodded and said hello. Dev shook hands with Winnie’s father.

“How is your mother, beta?”

“Fine,” Dev replied. “Thanks for asking, Auntie. She had fun at your pooja and when you shopped together.”

Winnie’s mom clasped her hands together with a laugh. “It was fun, no? I’m so glad we ran into her. You must bring her for dinner sometime.”

    The conversation continued as Winnie and Dev were smoothly ushered into position in front of the staircase for another round of pictures. After two sets, Winnie had had enough.

“Okay, this chitchat is great, but we have to go. Bye.”