Once Upon A Mr. Goody Two Shoes

Chapter 43 - part 2

"Not marwari...non-vegetarian...against our community... what were you thinking, Aashi?" My uncle, father's younger brother bellowed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Is this what we have taught you? Is this what your parents have taught you?"

I bit my lip at the direct dig at my parents, willing myself to not talk back. No, that would simply lead to another disaster. I had already taken the family by storm. Apparently, the news had shocked my extended family to such an extend that my bua, who lived in Bangalore with her family flew all the way to Mumbai with her husband and kids only to bare witness to my folly. My mother was currently in the kitchen, probably muttering all kinds of curses that she knew for her sister-in-law's husband who had deemed it appropriate to impose their stay over the eldest son of his wife's family for a week. I couldn't blame her. My fufa was no awesome company. And a rather demanding guest.

"She was taught better," my father said and stared levelly at me. I squirmed under his gaze. There was something about the way your parents stared down at you that made you feel like a toddler all over again. I knew what this was all about. It was simply to break me.

"There is nothing worse than disobedient kids who forget their parents' teachings," my bua's husband spoke up, rubbing salt to the wounds. I clenched my fists behind my back and continued to look down at my feet, fearing the things I would do if I looked up at them. I noticed Abeer shuffle his feet uncomfortably beside me, clearly at ill-ease under the scrutiny of my entire family.

He wasn't offered a seat to sit down. I had growled in anger at the blatant disrespect my family had shown him. But Abeer hadn't minded and graciously took his place beside me. He was the calming balm to my boiling rage.

"No manners at all! Look at her! Had an affair in Delhi and still no shame! Bhabhi must be so disappointed in you, do you know that? Only daughter...no son, you were her everything. And now, why did you do it?" My chachi took a subtle dig at my mother, making me look up from my feet and glare at her.

"I'm still her everything. And I'm enough. She knows that. Papa knows that. This changes nothing," I bit out, struggling to keep my anger in check. My aunt looked affronted at the way I had spoken to her, but she held her tongue, probably intimidated at the growing anger in my eyes.

"She's always had a temper, this girl. Since childhood. Never let Adi and Riya choose the game back then," my fufa muttered when he saw my rage-filled eyes. God was it difficult to not lash out at them.

I took a deep breath when my mother finally emerged from the kitchen with a tray full of snacks in her hands, my cousins helping her to set the tea table.

"Okay, I get it that everyone is angry at me about my choice. I...I understand. But the bottom line is that, I love him. And I want to marry him. He's not a bad guy, he's hardworking, he doesn't have any vices, he respects me, his family is a reputable one, and above all, he loves me as I am. This is the only thing I want to say to you all. I don't want to play tricks or talk in circles. This is the truth, fair and square," I said and waited as the room descended into silence.

"Love?" my chacha scoffed, mocking me. "What is that? We never knew that thing at our age. This generation only has these heightened bars of expectations about everything. And this boy you're so mad about that you're ready to go against your own family? He will leave you as soon as he's through you. These Bengalis are all the same. You're innocent, beta, you don't know how this world works," he said, his tone gentler than before.

I nearly rolled my eyes. Really, didn't no one know me? But I tensed at my uncle's words and glanced at Abeer beside me to see that he had gone very still, breathing deeply. But he didn't say a word.