ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS

50. GURU NANAK'S MIRACLE

❤︎ Anjali ❤︎

So we move to the dining room. When I look at the dining table, I realize that she really prepared a feast for Leo. I am so grateful that my mother made such an effort.

We sit down and start to sample some delicious dishes. I can see that Leo is trying to be comfortable with the situation, even though the energy is tense. My father poses another question to Leo.

"You don't look like a native New Yorker. Where are you from, Leo?"

"Well, I am actually from a small town in Texas."

My father sarcastically responds.

"Aha! Bush country! That must be the reason why you left."

I can't believe his stupid remark and really hope that Leo isn't going to snap at it. He luckily takes it in lightly with a smile and tells my father.

"Not everyone agrees with him in Texas, even though I hate to say some are still very backward."

"Yes, I grew up near Dallas."

I am so relieved to see that Leo ducked my father's brutal assault. He also asks my father with curiosity.

"How about you? Where are you from?"

"We were born in India. Bombay, to be exact!"

When he hears my father's answer, Leo's face lights up, and he says something I have never expected.

"Ah! That's where the Bombay Motherfucker comes from! Right?"

I drop my jaw wide open, and my mother can't believe her ears. Leo continues.

"That is Anjali's favorite drink! She always orders a Bombay Motherfucker!"

I cover my eyes with my hand and realize that this is the shit hitting the fan. I don't know how to get out of this and instinctively ask Guru Nanak for a miracle. My mother's eyes are wide open, and she screams at me for an answer.

"Anjali! What did you tell Leo about Bombay? Are you out of your mind?"

Leo doesn't get what kind of damage he has caused. He is looking at me for help. I quickly excuse myself for the bathroom and think about what to do next while sitting on the toilet.

When I come back again to the dining table, a miracle happens. Leo kindly asks my mother for another helping of dal.

"Mrs. Kumar, this is excellent. I love your dal. Anjali took me to an Indian restaurant called Haveli the other day. It was really fantastic. But your dal is even better than theirs!"

My mother's face lights up right away, and her entire mood changes instantaneously. She thanks Leo with an exuberant smile.

"You are so kind! You know Haveli is the best Indian restaurant in the city. I am just a simple housewife who loves to cook. Thank you anyway, Leo!"

She taps Leo's hand with her fingers. Then another miracle strikes. Leo looks at the picture frame of Guru Nanak and utters with emotion.

"I really respect Guru Nanak for his visionary teachings!"

My mother opens her eyes wide and asks him.

"Do you know our Guru Nanak?"

Leo responds with respect.

"Of course, his teachings were so advanced for the time. He was the first one to preach equality for men and women. I have great respect for him because of that. Equality didn't reach here until 1920. He was five hundred years ahead of his time."

Now my mother is overwhelmingly taken aback by Leo, and the tables have completely turned. After dinner, Leo and my father start to talk about Mahatma Gandhi, another spiritual giant of India.

"Mr. Kumar, your country has produced many incredible people. My favorite is Mahatma Gandhi. His act of nonviolence to win the independence for your country was the highest act of human achievement."

"Thanks to Gandhi, my favorite American hero, Martin Luther King, Jr., was able to achieve a nonviolent civil movement."

My father also changed his opinion of Leo by the time we finished our night. When Leo is about to leave the apartment, both of my parents shake his hand tightly and tell him to come back soon. I tell them I will escort him to the gate and take Leo's arm while walking down the staircase.

I exclaim to Leo.

"I don't know how you did it. But you convinced my parents. It is incredible! They even told you to come back soon! It's a miracle!"

I ask him with amazement.

"How did you know about Guru Nanak? I have never told you about him."

He smiles and tells me.

"You know, you gotta prepare a little when you are going into a battle. I'm just kidding! I just wanted to know more about you and your family. Because it is important to me."

I walk down to the ground floor and open the gate for him. I really want to go back to Manhattan and make love to him. But it isn't possible tonight since my parents are waiting for me upstairs. So I hold Leo tight and kiss him good night. Before letting him go, I have an urge to say something precious. My heart utters the words.

"I love you!"

This is always how I have felt since I met Leo for the first time. But I couldn't say it out loud until now.

It just came out of my heart.