Amidst Mumbai & Mantras

Chapter 2 - Family dinners and dreaded f words

 Chapter 2 - Family dinners and dreaded f words

Wow, these NRI's sure have a lot of questions. They began firing questions at me like I am a contestant at Kaun banega Crorepati, sadly I was not even receiving any money per every correct answer. It's a good thing I know my city so well. Mom also called in between to check in on us.

By the time we reached my building, Rhea and Rohan began fighting. I mean, I know siblings fight but these two took it to another level.We started talking about school and stuff when Rhea started teasing Rohan about his bad grades, that did not sit well with him. His male ego got hurt and he slapped her hard on the arm. She retaliated by hitting him on the back of his head. And it went on until I got tired and restrained Rhea from slapping him on the face, while Kevin held Rohan back. I bet Kevin's thinking, he's lucky to be a single child right now. The cab driver must be thinking we are maniacs. Samar and I fight a lot too. Thankfully ours limit to verbal ones and not physical. I'm positive I'll lose the physical ones as he is much more stronger than me. If my mother saw Samar and me fighting like this in front of guests or in public she would kill us and we would never hear the end of it. 

As we pull into the building veranda, I open the car door and get out quickly. I feel the cool breeze tickling my arms, I shiver involuntarily. It's gotten cold now since December just started. But the weather is great, I was so done with the heat which we faced in November (Global warming is killing me.) I see that, Samar and our building watchman are removing the luggage from the car trunk. Mom, Maya aunty and Camilla aunty are talking in animated voices. I pay the driver the fare, which I think is more then it should be. I tell him that his meter is too fast and he denies it. I let it go, I don't have it in me to fight with him right now. Rhea and Rohan are glaring at each other.

"Jhapad maris tane hu." Rohan screams at her in his broken accented Gujarati. This sends me into a fit of silent giggles, Samar who is standing a little far away is also trying not to laugh. They are pronouncing 'jhapatt' as 'jhapad'. To Gujarati's like us, it's funny into infinite.

"Hu pan tane jhapad maris." She snaps back in her thick American accent. This time I cannot control my laughter, Samar joins in. Kevin is looking at me intensely, I avoid his gaze. Why is he looking at me like that? 

Our laughter catches the attention of our mothers. Rohan manages to hit his sister in the face before Maya aunty reaches out and yells at him. She looks ashamed of her children's behaviors. My mother smirks at their behavior. I am sure this little scene is going to be spread around everywhere tonight. I just roll my eyes at her. Camilla aunty and Kevin are talking in hushed tones.

After all this comedic drama (What? it was funny!) we finally put the bags in their house. Last year, Uncle Om purchased a flat in my building. It got ready for use last month, they coordinated with the interior designer for all the interior via Skype (Perks of technology). They all are going to stay in this modern fully furnished flat with Kevin and his family. So basically, they live on the 12th floor now while we live on the 5th floor. After putting all the luggage in their respective rooms, they got fresh and changed their clothes. Mom was talking to dad on her cell phone while Rohan, Samar and I watched The Simpsons. We had to go to my aunty's house for dinner, the whole family had gathered there, it's supposed to be a huge dinner. I overheard my Hetal aunty telling mom about the items she is going to prepare. In fact, mom had gone there in the morning to help my Hetal aunty with all the cooking. My aunty's cooking is amazing. Suffice to say, I am excited to eat the massive feast she has prepared for us.

Because, duh, food!

***

Noise hits my ears as soon as I get out of the lift, the door is open when I walk in after untying my sandals. The uncles are all sitting on the sofas, discussing something with my grandparents. While the aunties and my female cousins are hustling bustling in and out of the kitchen. The house is overcrowded as always.