Opposites Attract

Chapter-13

"Hello aunty, we came for a visit" Vito was greeting Khumtsa's  mother when I entered so I got behind her.

"Sure! Come, come!" his mother was now inviting us with the enthusiasm that most Naga mothers project towards her child's friends.

I say 'most' because to say every Naga mother welcomes her child's friends with an enthusiastic smile will not do justice.

"You guys stay there, I'll change and come" Khumtsa calls back from his room.

"Please sit, he'll be back soon." his mother tells us as she motions to the couch in their sitting room.

"You are friends from college?" she asks us since this is our first visit.

"Yes aunty" Vito replies with a tone that I know very well is reserved for friend's parents and older strangers.

"What are your names?" she inquires further.

"I'm Vitono."

"And I'm Grace"

"So you are an Angami?" she asks Vito without wavering her smile even for a moment.

"Yes aunty. I live nearby. Just above the colony's departmental store." Vito explained.

"Oh! Are you Kevi's daughter?" Khumtsa's mother asks with recognition this time.

Just when I thought her smile could not get any brighter, she lightens up even more when Vito nods her head in confirmation.

"I didn't know you go to the same college as Khumtsa! How about you Grace?" she turns to me

Trick question alert!

I mean, I don't know whether she is asking me about my community, my parents or my house. So I do what I think is the best thing to do...

I laugh. Nervously.

Maybe it was the way I looked at Vito still fake laughing or maybe Khumtsa's mother sensed that I was confused. Whatever it was, I'm glad that she clarifies her question.

"Which community, dear?" she asked again. Her kind smile never leaving her face.

"Oh, I'm an Ao aunty." I finally replied.

"Well,  now that explains why you are both very pretty! Angamis and Aos  have the most beautiful girls." she said as she went into the kitchen.

Vito and I look at each other and laugh nervously until she disappeared from our view.
We both know that any parent will say the same to a girl from any community what she just said to us.

We were in the middle of our nervous laughter when Khumtsa entered the room.

"You don't have to act innocent in front of my mother, you two" he teased, taking the couch across from us.

"We're not acting" I say, making sure his mother cannot hear.

"Okay" he says with the tease still ringing in his voice.

"So, what shall we do now?" We have about two hours until classes end." Vito asked, whispering her last statement.

"What about Tiren and Rachel?" I ask.

Khumtsa smirked at my question and stretched out in the couch. He opened his mouth to say something but his mother entered with snacks from the kitchen.

"You guys stay here and have the snacks, I'll go to the neighbour's house for a while." she said as she laid the bowls on the table.

"Oh aunty, you shouldn't have made this"

"You shouldn't have aunty"

"Okay"

Khumtsa, Vito and I  say at the same time.

"You are coming for the first time, make yourselves at home. There are extras in the cupboard if you feel hungry" she replied smiling at Vito and I.

Before she left through the front door, she turns to Khumtsa and says,  "Ixathi, don't be lazy and show some manners while you have friends over"

"Umm"

"So what now?" Vito asks again after making sure that aunty had left.

"I was thinking, maybe we should hear Grace's story" Khumtsa replied looking at me.

Should've drowned in the lake.

"What story?" I ask, trying to look genuinely confused.

"You know what story" he replies with a straight face.

"You should tell him or I will" Vito joins him.

"Remind me again, why did I choose to tell you?" I sighed.

"Besides, we can kill time waiting for them to return. I'm sure they are walking down the hill as we speak" Khumtsa says in a conclusive tone.

It's time to let go, Grace.

"Fine. But promise me there will be no more talk about this after today."

"I promise"

"Yeah, sure"

Time to go back one last time.