Praise & Pressure

Papa was a tall thin balding man with a strong black moustache. Mama was smaller, pretty, but shrew-like in her saree. Tara got her height from Papa.

“Brilliant case, beta. Sach-much brilliant. Tumne hamara naam roshan kar diya. Main bohot garv mehsoos kar raha hoon… really, brilliant,” Papa said.

“Thanks Papa… It’s all thanks to you and Mama…” Tara said.

Papa massaged Tara’s shoulders as she peeled potatoes with her mother at the dinner table. She was their jewel. An only child. Lawyer from Yale. They were so proud of her win with Serena Grant.

It felt good to hear praise from her parents. They were now pressing her for marriage prospects. But she said she was busy with work.

“Beta, bas ek baat bolu? Sharma aunty ka ladka yaad hai? Abhi-abhi law complete kiya hai. Bahut sanskaari aur hardworking… tum dono baat kar lo na kabhi. Dekhna, accha hi lagega,” Mama said.

Mama was trying to set her up with Sharma Aunties flamboyant son who just completed his law degree.

“I’m really busy at work… Besides I heard Sharma Auntie's son is gay…” Tara said.

Mama frowned at that, but took it a bit seriously. He did wear a purple sherwani to Priya’s wedding.

It was Tara’s safe ecosystem. Mama, Papa, and her. But sometimes it was unbreathable.