“Hey now, don’t make me look bad,” Uncle said in Punjabi.
“I could never,” Prem replied and turned to give Gori’s father a hug as well. The old man slapped him hard on the shoulder, a reminder of all the hugs they’d shared after he and Gori agreed to getting married.
“We were both playing tourist in New York City,” Gori’s father said. “We haven’t been in years, and we had some extra vacation time, so decided to come out and see for ourselves. And of course, while we’re here, we had to see you.”
Prem stepped back and motioned to both of them. “I’m so glad. You look like locals.”
Aunty’s face lit up with joy, and she nudged her husband in the arm. “See? We look like locals! Beta, why don’t we take you out to dinner? We can go into the city.”
Prem shook his head. “I’d love to, but I’m on call. I can’t leave Jersey City until tomorrow.”
Uncle clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Of course, beta. We know you’re busy. We sort of sprung this on you.”
“I’m glad that you did,” Prem said, trying his best to sound . . . happy. But he didn’t want to leave them standing in the studio when they’d come all the way out just to see him. It didn’t feel right after so much shared history. So many memories. “There is a coffee shop around the corner if you’d like to take a break and sit with me for a bit?”
They both nodded, a look of excitement crossing both of their faces.
“We’d love that, beta,” Aunty said softly.
“Then let’s get going. I would love to hear all about your New York City adventure.”
He hooked an arm around her shoulders and led the way outside and down the street to a cute little shop that had large murals on brick walls and a soft instrumental track playing in the background. Prem found a table for all of them toward the back of the restaurant. Then they got in line to order. Uncle continued to chatter about stocks, and traveling, and the weather, while Aunty took pictures to send to Prem’s mother.
Once they all ordered cups of iced coffee and had their customary argument over who was paying, they sat down at the table.
“So?” Prem started. “How are things back home?”
“Oh, you know,” Aunty said, stirring two packets of Splenda into her cup. “Always busy. I saw your mother the other day. She’s worried about you, but I told her that you were always so capable of handling everything on your own. Prakash, why don’t you tell your son-in-law what you’ve been up to?”
No. Never son-in-law.
Every moment with them was suffocating.
Prakash Uncle looked at his wife, then at Prem. “We decided to move, actually. We’re leaving California.”
“What? Really?” When Gori was alive, she was so sure that her parents would never abandon their home. They built such a robust life there. “Where are you going?”
“My sisters have all bought houses on the water in Naples. Very affordable retirement community. We’re going to live there for half the year and travel back and forth to India. Six months here, six months there.”
“That’s really nice. I heard they have a temple down there.”
“They do!” Uncle beamed as if Prem had given the million-dollar answer. “We’ll have to do another Diwali party when we get settled. You must come and visit. Remember the one we had a few years ago? Gori was so happy.”
Prem smiled, cupping his hands around the mug. “Yeah, that was a good day.”
Aunty’s eyes looked a little wet. An instant faucet. Gori had been the same.
This was going to hurt, he thought, but it was like a Band-Aid. He just had to rip it off and tell them.
“You know, ah, Gori was the perfect match.”
“When we matched your star charts, it was like magic!” Aunty said. Her whole expression brightened. “We were so happy that you two connected so well.”
“Ah. Yeah.” Prem rubbed the back of his neck. “I never thought I’d find someone who would complement me, and who I would complement, as well as Gori.”
It took a few moments of awkward silence before Uncle’s eyes widened. Understanding dampened his happiness. “Oh. You found someone.”
“As you should,” Aunty burst out after an awkward pause. She patted her husband on the shoulder, then motioned at Prem as if it were the most natural thing in the world for Prem to share the news that he was dating other women.
“You’re a single man. A single man needs a woman in his life. Pr-Prakash, I was just telling you the other day, no? That Prem is such a handsome boy. It’s been years since our Gori has left us. It’s time for him to find a suitable wife.”
“You did!” Uncle burst out. Prem could see the corners of his mouth tightening with disapproval. “I agree. Beta, it’s time for you to move on. Our Gori would’ve wanted it.”
“Gori is such an important part of my past—”
“For all of us,” Aunty interjected. “Don’t you worry, Prem. It’s very kind of you to tell us, but it’s okay. I wish your mother would’ve told me. I would’ve loved to celebrate with her.”
“Oh, my parents don’t . . . it’s complicated. I’m glad I had a chance to talk to you first. I cared for Gori even though we only had a little bit of time together, and—”
Uncle held up his hand. “No, no need to discuss. We understand. No words needed.”
“But—”
“We understand, beta.” The couple at the table next to them turned to stare for a moment because of the cutting tone in the old man’s voice. “Losing Gori wasn’t easy for any of us. We’re happy that you’re moving on. As you should. Your parents must be so happy. That you’re finally dating again. Hopefully you’ll be married soon, and they’ll have grandchildren. That’s what Gori would’ve wanted, too.”
Aunty’s hands shook as she brushed hair out of her face. “Prem, we’ll always be happy for your joy. You’ll be family for the rest of our lives.”
She didn’t believe that, though, Prem realized. Before his very eyes, Gori’s parents seemed to age. Part of the happy veneer cracked, and bursts of pain seeped out like darkness and shadows sneaking between their lips. They were two older Indian parents, still mourning the loss of their child, the one they’d uprooted their lives for in India, and now, they were mourning the loss of their son-in-law, too, in a way.
Prem thought of losing Gori all over again, and then spiraled into something worse. What would happen if he lost Rina? No, he couldn’t even begin to think like that. Because Rina and he were always going to be on different wavelengths. But sitting here with Gori’s parents, he realized something that he hadn’t been prepared to face.
If Kareena wasn’t going to accept him for who and what he is, without the fanciful daydreams she wanted, then that meant he only had a short amount of time with her. The joy they’d felt together was finite even though he wanted so much more.
But did she realize that he was playing for keeps now?
She was putting space between them when they’d come so far . . . it meant he’d have to go to her, hell, drag her out of her home if she was being completely stubborn.
Because one thing was for certain. He didn’t know how much time he had with Kareena, and he’d never recover if he lost her before they could have their life together.
While Gori’s parents talked about their trip, desperate to forget the past, Prem plotted his future with a woman who had called the shots for way too long.
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Indians Abroad News Dear Readers, Now, more and more matches are being made across states and countries. This requires virtual dating. Virtual dating is when the candidates meet on their own through one of the online platforms. Remember, there is no harm in listening in. Providing valid critiques to matches is a part of the process. That is how they become better candidates.
Mrs. W. S. Gupta Columnist Avon, NJ
Chapter Twenty-One
Kareena
Aunty WhatsApp Group
Sonali Aunty: Hello, darling! Your grandmother said you’ve been down the last few days.