"'Kalka Himalayan Queen Express is coming on Platform Number 2.'" "'Kalka Himalayan Queen Express is just arriving on Platform Number 2.'" "Tea!" "Hot tea!" "Tea!" "Hot tea!" " Sir, tea?" "Sir, tea?" " No." " Tea?" " No, thank you." "No." "Ok, thank you." " Hello." " Hello." " I'll take it." " No, I can get it." "Ok." "Thanks." "Here we are." " Look at you." " Hello Sister." "I am sorry I couldn't come to the station myself." "That's all right." " How was the journey?" " Pretty terrible." "That's to be expected." "You came straight from Delhi?" " Did you wash in the plane?" " No." " The bags?" " Gurpreet will get it." "Don't worry about it." "Here he is." " Nice to see you again, Ashok." " Brother Bashi." "Suriya." "Remember uncle Ashok?" " Hi." " Hi." "Come, come." "Sit." "You are familiar with the house." "We live very simply here but we think it is ok." "We'll put you in Suriya's room." "She will sleep with us." "You're ok with that?" " Me?" " Yeah." "No one's ever asked me that." "Shut up!" "She is perfectly fine with it." "What about upstairs?" "You used to have that empty room." "That's just for boarders." "There's practically nothing there." "It's fine for me." "I suppose it's all right." "But no hiding." "You will have to come down and see us." "Suriya will show you the taps." "You have to mix hot and cold." "And remember to switch on the geyser." "The water heater you remember?" "Here." "Keep it." "Dad, those questions." "Why don't you ask uncle Ashok yourself?" "You ask." "Suriya has lots of questions for you about the American revolution." "Ok, that's good, I guess." "Not too many." "I will do my best." "So why did Hamilton kill that other man?" "I am not sure I know." "Hamilton?" "Hamilton." "Alexander." "I think he got shot by another guy in a duel, right?" "I guess I saw it in a commercial." "I think Hamilton got killed." " The man was called Burr." " Alan Burr." "Yeah." "Your history class is pretty detailed." "I think what she is asking is, how did it set off the revolution?" "I don't know." "I don't think it set off the revolution." "I could be wrong." "I remember when you were here for the first time." "It was Diwali." "You must have been four years old." "I remember you put up four fingers..." "like this." "You were so small." "I had to help you light out..." "What do they call it over there?" " Sparkler." " Sparkler." "You cried because you wanted to do it yourself." "I don't remember that." "You were four." "You cried." "And you wouldn't stop until we put you to sleep with your mother." "I guess babies do cry." "No, thanks." "You don't like the tea?" "No, I am sure it's very good." "It's a little late though." "Nonsense!" "It's a different tea with cardamom." "Sure." "Yeah." "Do you drink it like that there?" "I drink coffee mostly." "With milk and sugar." "Thank you." " Black." " Rough stuff." " How do you bear it?" " I am used to it." "Suriya, give him a biscuit." "No, thanks." "Go on." "Give him one." "He says he doesn't want a biscuit." "You have to try." "You have to try." "Almond and butter." "Specially designed for Indian taste." "I think I have malaria." "The mosquitoes have spent years chewing us up." "It's your turn now." " Uncle Ashok is up." " I can see that." " Wish him bye-bye." " Bye uncle Ashok." "Bye." "You don't have to call me that." "She has to call you by the appropriate title." " Have fun at school." " Bye." "She is going to school, right?" "Of course she is going to school." "We are not loafers here." "Come have your breakfast." "Then we will go to the market." "Kamla." "Thank you." "What do you think of this commotion?" "I kind of like it." "Do you miss the American supermarket?" "No, not really." "You must have some opinion." "It's all same to me." "India and America are the same to you?" "No, not at all." "I must say I am surprised at your visit." "We hardly get a chance to see you." "I am glad now." "So few Indian Americans have this kind of mindset." "So I should ask you, what do you want?" "In what respect?" "Personality, looks, attitude." "I must tell you it's not like it used to be." "There is plenty of choice now." "Of course, I have been doing my homework." "But little good it does without knowing what you want." "You must have some say." "Your mother gave me some preferences." "So I took the liberty of assembling a file." "They are all sorted by education, income, looks, etcetera." "No, thank you." "Wow!" "There are a lot of sub-sections." "This is impressive." "Of course." "I like to be organized." " Give me 2 bunches." "How much?" " 10 rupees." "Take." "Thank you." "Anything of interest?" "They all seem fine to me." "We can't meet all of them." "Why don't you pick a few and then I will ring them first." " I want brinjal." " What about her?" "She is on the B. B is for back-up." " Why is she a Back Up?" " Not pretty enough." "But she is cute." "You can't afford to have such a liberal viewpoint." "That was hardly liberal." " Well, actually she is a bit dark." " Come on, sister." " Your parents would kill me." " My parents don't care about that." "That's what they say." "And then they hear their friends' whispers... at the wedding and suddenly it all changes." "You need a fair skin girl." "Otherwise it will be the talk around the office water pool." "Maybe I just have to get used to your filing system." " Hey, what's U for?" " Useless." "I wouldn't be fair not to include everyone." "How many times will you touch them?" "It will get spoiled." "How will I know how they are if I don't touch them?" " I told you, they will get spoilt." " Ok, I am not buying from you." "Come." "Let's go from here." " What a woman." " Shut up." "Do your work." "What about her?" "She is number one as far as I am concerned." "She is polite, intelligent, sweet, homely." "I don't want her to be homely." "She is a very decent girl." "She comes from a family of bankers." " There will be quick transactions." " She is not smiling." "She is not supposed to be smiling." "I am sure she has a great smile." "We will check her dental records." "It looks like she is on trial." "I think she is unhappy." "Of course she is unhappy." "She is 29 and unmarried." "Are you happy?" "I don't think so." "I doubt it." "That was a rhetorical question." "Look there are lots of girls." "But you can't afford to be choosy." "You are not such a catch you know." "I know that." "Now we can say that you are humble." "Besides that not every girl wants to pack up her bags... and move halfway across the world." "India has a better economy than America now." "At least the dowry won't be lost in the exchange rate." "What's this number you circled in red and starred?" "Let me see." "Those are her board scores." "Hey mom." "It's good to hear you too." "I am fine." "Yeah, they treat me really good." "Hmm." "Yeah, I know." "Sorry." "No, I can hear you perfectly fine." "You don't have to shout." "The lines are much better now." "Stop shouting." "Mom!" "Stop!" "Ok." "Miss you too." "I will see you when you get here." "Bye." "Ashok!" "Ashok!" "Hurry up, fool!" "We don't have all day." "This is Ashok from America." " Hello Ashok." " Hi." "Indian Standard Time." "You will have to get used to it." " And this Preeti." "His aunt." " I am his cousin." "Actually we belong to one of those families who have the tiny generation gap." "Nice meeting you." "I hope you had no problems with the security at the gate." " The club is very particular." " No, they let us right in." "You know the people who don't belong here are some of the oldest members." "Would you care for a cup of tea or coffee?" " Sure." " Come." "Thank you." " So Ashok, how do you like the US?" " I like it." " What do you like about it?" " I don't know." "It's clean." "Yes, in India we have terrible problems with the garbage." "I like it here too." " Oh you do?" " Yeah." " But you want to settle in America?" " Well, that's the plan." "Where are your parents?" "They are tied up." "They should be coming here in a few days." "We would prefer talking with them." "They can only be here for a short time." "They have put Ashok in my charge till they get here." "You can speak to me." "And whatever you would say to them, you can say to me." "Thanks, honestly we would prefer talking with them." "I can assure you that your every word, every utterance... will be conveyed to the Khoslas exactly as you've told it to me." "So Ashok, it's an obvious question to ask." " What do you do?" " I am a writer." " A novelist?" " No." " He is employed." " I write ads." "Must be a good job." "It's good." "I am sort of a junior copywriter." "Junior?" "Actually I don't have a title." "I sort of started out as a temporary employee but I never left." "And I still don't get benefits." "So now I am kind of like a permanent temp." "A permanent temporary." "The pay isn't bad." "I don't think I will do it forever though." "Oh." "Well, I don't know." "I mean, I might end up doing something else." "Secretly I do think I want to write novels someday maybe." " We read lots of novels." " Like V. S. Naipaul." "Maybe like V. S. Naipaul." "I don't think so." "I've never read him." "There are number of world class Indian writers... writing in English these days." "I haven't read that much." "Not yet." "Anyway my stuff is like, I don't know it's not realistic." "It's like Kurt Vonnegut or something." " Is he Indian?" "Never heard of him." " No." "Anyway right now I write ads." "So your daughter... what does she..." " She is a doctor." " A doctor." "Wow." "Good for her." "I hope you won't mind marrying a doctor." "Can I ask if she is in the clubhouse or something?" "No, she is presenting a paper at a conference in Pune." "Amatology." "So I am not going to meet her today?" "Since you are from America... we thought we would like to meet you first." "That was good." " Good job." " That was terrible." "Next time you should talk less." "None of this writer business." "Say you are in advertising." "They will know you have a job." "They don't need to know that someday you aspire to be out of work." "They might be my future in-laws." "Not a chance of that now." "Do you think my in-laws know everything about me?" "What don't they know?" "I don't know if you realize how lucky you are... to have a sister who is so broad minded." "You need to learn some discretion." "History is nothing nowadays." "Nobody cares about where you are." "They only care where you are going." "They didn't drink tea?" "That was foolish." " I think it was a symbol." " Of what?" "Well, they didn't like the British." "They were rejecting the tax on it." "Indians didn't like the British either." "But they could never part with their tea." "The Americans put it in the harbor, right?" "Hmm." "I always wondered did the water look like tea." "Did they drink it like tea?" "Did they put sugar in it?" " You are a weird, kid." " Not so weird as you." "Why are you studying this anyway." "We are doing all the revolutions." "We are on to the US now." "Next week we do the French." "And last come to Russians." "What about India?" "It's world history." "We know that already." " Mummy, I can't do this essay." " Nonsense." "Your uncle Ashok knows everything... that there is to know about American history." "Hello everyone!" "So that is the greeting these days?" " You are simply too far away." " Oh, I see." " Hi, daddy." " Yes, that's more like it." "Hello, dear." "Some tough homework." "Can I ask you in what other country... can you get this kind of convenience and service?" "You can have a whole marriage of convenience." "Don't mock your uncle Ashok." "He doesn't take it well." "Pick anyone." "That's what I did." "Move and put your work away before you eat." "You are going to get butter in your brief case." "I never regretted it." "Yours is a love marriage anyway." "That's just what we told you, dear." "Do you want to trade?" "Seriously?" "You'd really let me select your match?" "Why not?" "I am not going to choose as to how pretty they are." "I am an excellent judge of character." "Are you going somewhere?" "Just going for a run." "Is that ok?" "Here we are very smart." "We only run when we are being chased after." "Make sure you take the stick." "Your grandfather always took a walking stick." "If the streets dog attack, they could be fend down." "Hi." "Two samosas." "Two samosas." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Hi." "Hi." "How are you?" " Good." "How are you?" " Good." " I think you said thank you twice." " Did I?" "I think so." "You said Thanks and Thank you." "I recognize you from the train." " Are you American?" " Yeah." "You?" "Yeah." "Well, I didn't know where you are from." " Can I..." " Of course." "Strange running into you." "It's my journal." "I keep one too." "So you don't speak Hindi?" "I speak very little." "Not very well as you can see." "I just tuned it out when I was a kid." "I know 'yes' and 'all right'." "And that's about it." "I wish I knew it too." "I mean people look at me and just assume I speak it." "People just stare at me." "I never thought, I am getting so much attention." "Must be strange." "I have sort of gotten used to it." "Are you on vacation?" "I guess its vacation." "Except it's pretty much the only thing I do." " You?" " Visiting relatives." "What made you decide to come to India?" "I think I just wanted to go some place as different as possible." "That makes sense." "Do I detect a hint of judgment in that?" "Well, there is a whole... "go to India, find yourself" thing, you know" "I hope I don't fall into that stereotype." "It's not like I am smoking hash or visiting Ashrams constantly." "Not constantly." "I know plenty of people who do that." "They go back to the states and think they have found God... when really they have just been tripping for months." "There's a lot of Gods in India." "It can get confusing when you are stoned." "I probably could have gone anywhere." "I just didn't want to stay where I was." "Where do you go next?" "I am going around the city, checking out the tourist traps." "You probably have seen it all if you have a family here." "My version of India is basically the inside of people's houses." "Chandigarh is actually a fascinating city." "It was built by this crazy French architect." "Le Corbusier." " You do know something." " Well, I know his name." "It's one of the only fully planned cities in the world." "You are welcome to come with me." "Really?" " Yeah, unless you are..." " No, that sounds good." "Ok." " Should I..." " I am staying right across the street." "You can see it from here." "No, I am lying." "Definitely can't." "Hurry up, lazy boy." "I thought you were Mr. Fitness." "Who said I was Mr. Fitness?" " We all heard about your run." " My run?" "Yes, you went running around here and there." "The neighbors were talking." "My God, sister." "Its scandalous." "Of course it's not scandalous." "Don't be silly." "I just pray to god that you don't get hurt." " Have you composed yourself?" " Yes, I am composed." "Relax your face." "That's better." "You should trim your eyebrows." " How did you select this girl?" " I didn't." "Suriya did." "Hello." "I am Ravi Chandra." "Please come in." " This is for you." " Thank you." "Welcome." " Hello." " I am Mrs. Chandra." "I am Ashok." "Come." "Please come." "Please sit." "Thank you." "Amita." "This is our daughter, Amita." "Hello." " Hi." " Hi." "Is it ok for me to sit here?" " Sure." "Sure." " Because I can move." "Are you comfortable?" "Yes." "Good, then you stay right there." "Amita hasn't been feeling well." "She is a bit... what is it?" "Under the weather." "She fell sick just before you came." "Some sort of stomach virus." "For the record Ashok has an excellent constitution." "You would never have to worry about him getting sick." "Amita is normally very healthy." "Her dentist is practically in love with her teeth." "Ashok brushes very thoroughly." "I have watched him myself through the bathroom door." "Did we mention that Amita has been to.." "Business school in the UK?" "Wonderful." "Ashok could more than keep up." "He is actually quite witty once you get to know him." "Well, I have no doubt that someday if she sets her mind to it..." "Amita will be prime minister." "This isn't a competition." "Of course it isn't a competition." "Can you allow us to speak?" "Dear, that's what you are here for." "To get to know each other." "Ashok, ask her a question." "So, how long were you in England?" "I was there for a year." " Where at?" " London." "I was just there." "Yeah?" "What were you doing?" "I... we flew in through on our way here." "The airport is very nice." "It is nice." "Yeah." "Did you go to the shops?" "No, actually I went to the bathroom." "Not that it matters." "Did you like business school?" "Yeah, I liked it well enough." "Amita has a slightly different take on business." "She will be very successful I think." " What are you into?" " Actually I am into fashion." "Not the business side but I like to sew." "She outfitted an entire wedding last year." " I wish I could do that." " Really?" "No." "Not that exactly." "I mean, I wish I could be creative." "Use my imagination." "I am sure you are creative." "I write a little." "Not very well." "Someday I wish I could be better employed than I currently I am." "That's a good goal I suppose." "At first Amita did not think much about her abilities." "She would sew but nothing would really satisfy her." "I am still not satisfied." "She has another wedding to do next month." "It's big business." "She is very well put together." " That shot was just amazing." " Brother, you didn't see it." "Definitely not." "Why definitely not?" "They are really strange." "They didn't serve us any tea." "No snacks of any kind." "They didn't bring out the sweets I brought." "They seemed really nice." "Nicer than those other people." "Of course you think so." "Just because the girl is a put out." "I don't think she puts out." "You know what I mean." "A knock out?" "Oh yes." "She is pretty." "No girl is good enough unless she looks like Kareena Kapoor." " I don't know who that is." " Yes, sure." " I really don't know who that is." " The movie star." "Is she good looking?" "You really don't know what it is to be Indian, do you?" "They don't live up to our standards." "You are mumbling." "You might as well say it." "Even if we consider them... we definitely have to bring them up to our standards." " 'What's up, dude'?" " What's up?" "I thought you would be longer." "No." " It's good to see you." " You too." "Come on in." " What's going on?" " What's going on?" "This is my cousin Ashok from the US." "This is Suresh." "Works with me in IT." "What's happening?" " This is Meena." " Hi." " Ruby." " Hi." "So what do you do?" " IT." " IT." "She is a manager." "What do you manage?" "People." "In the office." " So, who wants a shot?" " I will have." "Come on." "Come." "Come." "Come." "Come." "It's all about the money, baby." "Yeah, four shots of Absolute." " What can I buy you?" " You don't have to." "One more." "You are going to love it here." " This is such a great fucking party scene." " Is it?" "Vikram told me you are here to find a wife or something." "Yeah." "We all want out of this shit and you want in." "I guess so." "I've met some like you." "I work with a few." "Like me?" "Yeah, born outside of your country." "America is my country." "I know you guys got issues over there." "What kind of issues?" "I have got my cousins back in England." "They are all mixed up." "They put up a tree on Diwali and shoot firecrackers in Christmas." "I don't do that myself." "Do you think marrying an Indian girl... would make you more of an Indian or something?" "I have got no problems with that." "I just hope it works for you." "But India is not a place for getting married." "It's a much better place to get laid." "Yeah, have a shot." "Come on!" "Hi, I am looking for Laurie." " Am I late?" " No, I just got here." " Hey, what are 'Ints'?" " Ints?" " Yeah the sign 'Ints welcome'." " It's international." "I like to read more than watching movies?" "I used to." "I was reading all of this hyper intellectual stuff." "You know." " I am reading Moby Dick." " I never read it." "Is it any good?" "I have been reading it every time I go away for about 5 years." "Anyhow, I was reading this intellectual stuff." "Yeah right." "Does he kill the whale or not?" "Haven't gotten to it." "Then I went kind of anti-intellectual." "I worked a year or two." "Then I went to grad school." "And I was studying all these really obscure topics." "I think I was pretty happy doing it." "I decided my happiness was an illusion." "It was always the sense that I was missing out on something." " On what?" " I still don't know." "Anyway this is my attempt to figure that out." "Are you happier now?" "Now I realize that the illusion was actually kind of nice." "In fact, it might have been real." "I know that I am excited by constant change." "It can't last I know." "But I am hanging on to the hope that it does." "Or that when I get old and I can barely move... it will be these memories that will sustain me somehow." "I have only been gone a year so soon will see." "You haven't been back at all?" "Yeah, I went back a couple of months ago to see some friends." "What about your parents?" "They live in different cities now." "So I saw each of them for like a day." "They got divorced when I was in college." "I am just dreading the day that I have to go back." "You don't have to." "I guess." "No, but I should." "I know I will." "I couldn't deal with the instability." "I get anxious whenever I am just kind of out there." "I like to travel but I go some place for two days." "And I am tired of it." "You know what I mean?" "I guess I had to get over it." "I used to worry about my future a lot." "I still do." "But at least when I am here, I am more concerned with... what I am going to eat next." "Or where I am going to sleep and avoiding stomach illnesses." "The first week I was here I had one... was really bad." "I admire you just coming and living in another country." " You are not in another country?" " It's different." "Because you are Indian?" "If I went to England or Scotland or Russia... all the other places that I am supposedly from..." "I think I would still feel pretty out of place." "I guess that's true." "Thanks." " I put sugar in it." "Did you want sugar?" " Sure." "I should tell you, I am here for a reason." "What's that?" "I am here to get married." " Really?" " Yeah." "Congratulations." "Thanks, I guess." "Who is the lucky girl?" "I don't know." "I haven't met her yet." "You are joking!" "I thought you said you were here visiting relatives." "My new ones." "Yeah." "That's interesting." "What?" "No, I mean, I just wasn't expecting it." "You don't seem like the type." "What's the type?" "I don't know." "Someone more traditional." "But I don't know you." "You have something against arranged marriages?" "Yes, I am against the entire cultural practice." "Some people are." "No, I think they are probably just as good." "Maybe better." "I think love grows with time." "Doesn't really matter." "Good." " Yes, that's good to know." " Don't you think that?" "Yeah I do." "But..." "I think it can." "This one makes excellent chickpea curry." "What about her roast chicken?" "She is strictly vegetarian." "I don't know how you will find a girl who is non-vegetarian." "What are you going to do about those backyard barbecues?" "Check the index." "Look under dietary restrictions." "What are you writing?" "My thoughts." "It's a good habit." "You should get into it." "I am the best student in my class." "Don't encourage me in fruitless directions." "Right." "Sorry." "Please forgive me." "Yeah." "What was wrong with the girl from the other day?" "I had rated her to ten." "There is nothing wrong with her." "You came back looking happy." "What about your history chapter?" "The French." "They all got beheaded." "Well, at least they are teaching you something interesting." "It doesn't seem so interesting to me." "Who is she?" "Put it back." "If I were here, I wouldn't want to be used as a bookmark." "Are you sure that's what she meant?" "Yeah." "Maybe next Sunday." "Ok, hold on for a second." "I am getting a call." "Hello?" "Are you coming?" "I don't have much time." "I have to go somewhere." "But you can come around if you want." "Ok." "Glad I answered that ring." "We are not supposed to do that?" "Well technically we are only supposed to see each other... with our parents presence." "I am sorry." "I didn't know." "I know you didn't know." "You said you write." "What do you write about?" "Let's see." "Sandwich bags." "Curtains." "I don't find anything interesting about laundry detergent." "Neither do I?" "So what do you want to write about?" "The whole writing thing is just a base, you know." "I feel like I need to say something." "Because you are embarrassed by what you do now?" "I am not embarrassed about making money." "But you don't like your work?" "Well I hate it." "I mean it's like." "Yeah, I hate it." "Then why don't you quit?" "Because I don't know what I want to do." "Completely uninspired." "And I am not sure if I have any aspirations at all." "So it's a lot easy to compromise... when you don't know what you want." "Trying to impress me?" "I am just trying to be honest." "Don't you think we should be honest?" "Yeah, but I don't get it." "I mean if I don't really love what I am doing..." "I can barely doing anything at all." "I felt like that once." "I think it was 8th grade." "It's horrible." "Look." "I am not going to able to love you." "I loved someone once." "And once is enough." "Are you ok with that?" "I guess I am ok with that." "There is nothing personal." "I just don't see it happening." "And I don't want to deal with false expectations." "Ok." "I think we are going a little fast." "This is not the way to get married if you want to take things slowly." " I am just trying to get to know you." " I know." "I know you are trying and that's good." "We didn't think we would hear from you." "Your sister doesn't like us." "She just likes our family." "I mean I know we are not typical." "We have always lived our own way." "Doesn't matter what she thinks." "It matters what everybody thinks." "I like this one." "What do you like about it?" "It seems elegant." "Classy maybe." "Do you think maybe we are just too different?" "You don't like it?" "I have just been going through something... and I don't know." "I just feel really strange and vulnerable right now." "So you are vulnerable?" "You are making me nervous." "It's strange to have someone interested in you." "Would it make you feel any better..." "I didn't expect to be interested in you at all?" "Yeah, that makes me feel a lot better." "Honestly, I see both sides to marriage this way." "You know, on one hand I think it is understanding... and honoring a tradition." "It is not that I am opposed to progress." "But It just feels like so many of our traditions are being eroded." "But on the other hand I feel that maybe these arrangements are just... another small part of the things keeping Indian women... in the same place in society." "So what do you want?" "My parents deserve to be happy." "We hardly have any family." "Sometimes I think they barely have anything at all except me." "It may not be true." "But it's just something I have in my mind." "Sometimes it just feels like... that all my decisions are jumbled into this one big thing... and I don't even know where to start." "Does that make any sense?" "Yeah, it does." "Should we do this again?" "It still inappropriate to ask me out." " Can I have my helmet back?" " Sure." "I think I would like to see you again." "You think you would or you would?" "I would." "You will have to go through the proper channels." "Ok." "It can move pretty quickly." "You ready for that?" "I guess so." "Our parents will have to meet." "We'll see if think we are a match." "Husband, where are you?" "The train will be here any minute." "Why can't we just send the driver?" "Send the driver for my aunt?" "You would send the driver for your parents." "You sent him alone for Ashok." "Fine." "Do whatever." "That's not for you." "We won't all fit in." "Too many bags." "I am telling you they will bring half of America with them." "'What's up' aunt?" " Hi." " Hello, uncle." "Bless you." " I will get your bags." " Ok." "Who is that boy?" " Mom, that's Vikram." " Vikram." " Vikram." "Your cousin, Vikram." " Yeah." " What did he say to me?" " I think he said, "What's up."" "Look at him, he is practically a gangster now." " Is he really?" " I don't think so." "Vikram." "Unlock." "God, Suriya is gotten so pretty." "From the pictures I wouldn't have believed it." " Say thank you." " Thank you, I guess." " So, where are the girls?" " Girls?" "The dancing girls." "I thought we will see some young ladies here." "Please don't listen to him." "He ran into his friend, Johnny Walker at Heathrow." "It was duty free." "We are putting you in our bedroom." " It will be much more comfortable." " No." "Please." " Bashi brother..." " Please." "No arguments." "Come." "Do you recognize the smell?" "It never changes." " What's that?" " Video." "Don't tell me you let the boy in the blue uniform sell it to you?" "You will forget about it by tomorrow." " Oops sorry!" " What?" "Nothing." "7 megapixels. 3 CCD." "Super steady shots." "Wide angle lens." "Is there anything in there for us?" "You expect us to come empty handed?" "These are for uncle and aunt." "They remove thalassic." "They've been walking a lot lately on the advisement of their cardiologist." "Brother Sameer wanted Prozac." "I don't know why." "He is more manic than depressed." "I believe they have soap here." "Aunt Seema got used to this brand while she was living in England." "Now she is been importing it through relatives for the last 20 years." "What about you?" "2 bottles and almost the same." "Are you kidding?" "One is aged 12 and the other 14." "So this one for Bashi then?" "We can't give them single malt." "He thinks I am always being uppity." "He is right." " Maybe the 12." " Ok." "How are your feet?" "Swollen like 2 balloons." "They should make sneakers that expand to give more room on the flight." " Sneakers do expand." " Not nearly enough." "You know, they should be fully elastic." "Suriya dear, you should have knocked." "The door was open." "You could have knocked at the door frame." "What are you delivering?" "Come here." "Come here." "Almond biscuits." "Specially designed for Indian taste." " Daddy says you have to try it." " I will take one." " Aunty." " No, not right now." " You sure?" " Yes." "Your dad is right." "No Indian could resist this biscuit." "Tell him I said so." "Ok." "We Indians invented the number zero." "Without Indian innovation the world would not have a way to describe nothing." ""What's 1 minus 1", says a man on the street." ""I don't know", says the other man." "There is simply not a word for it." " No word for it." " Right." "The ancient Greeks, they were never sure." "But Indians knew when you have nothing... you still have something." "Yes, and there is so much of nothing to contend with." "There is." "Are you going somewhere?" "I was thinking about going for a run." "You go for so many runs but you are not getting any thinner." "I like running." "That guy." "Hi." " Wow!" "This..." " Sucks?" "At least you got big windows." "It gives lots of light in here during the day." "These are your posters I am guessing." "That's my favorite." "That's covering up a hole in the wall." "You going somewhere?" "I am thinking about going up to Shimla." "It's in the mountains." "It's supposed to be nice." " I bet it is." " I am looking forward to it." "My parents just got here." "You have a good relationship?" "Some would say too good." "I always admire the closeness of Indian families." "Asian ones too." "We had friends growing up." "And it was like they had a secret that none of the other American families had." "I have never known anything else." "They must be pretty controlling." "Why do you say that?" "I don't know, maybe because they are arranging your marriage." "Nobody is making me do anything." "Oh." "At some point in your life the people someday, just get less interesting." "Yeah." "And I think I did too." "My parents have been suggesting I do these for years." "Half-jokingly but always a little bit serious." "I always thought it was kind of absurd but... then I was meeting lots of people." "One day we were living in apartments together." "And next day... everyone is buying their first home." "I went to five weddings last summer." "My best friend had a kid." "I bought five wedding gifts." "Three of them were cutting boards." "A boy or a girl?" "Kid." "A boy." "All these couples, they seemed really together you know." "Really content." "Really happy." "You don't know that." "I hope that they are." "Nothing else and maybe I could have that." "It was your decision to marry someone you have never met." "I was going to meet them first." "And I never really made a decision." "It just sort of happened." "I don't know if that's the kind of thing... you should just let happen." "It was an option for me." "In some way I felt lucky to have it." "I wonder what other people do." "They take a chance." "Have you ever felt so alone that... you do anything just to be with someone?" "You mean anyone?" "Yeah, maybe." "Anyone." "The thing I hate about travelling is that... you see and experience all of these amazing things... but without someone to share them with." "Half the time you feel like they've never happened." "You see my point." "I try to convince myself that there is value... in every single moment." "Even it is something that won't lead to anything." "That can't possibly last." "Does it work?" "Sometimes." "Look." "I am trying to do that right now." "You want to walk me to the train in the morning?" "You are leaving tomorrow?" "I think you knew that." "Not really." "No." "Oh." "Fuck!" "What?" "This is a terrible way to begin a friendship." "We are already friends." "So you will come?" "Sure." "Excuse me." "Thank you." "Are you all right?" "You look flushed." "I am fine mom." " How's the gangster?" " Who?" "You were at Vikram's last night?" "Oh yes." "He is fine." "This whole country is one big sauna." "You were born in it." "It's gotten hotter over the last few years." "Al Gore and his global warming." "He didn't cause it mom." "He left for the airport in the middle of the dusting." "Pristine white snow all over the ground." "How much?" "Half an inch." "That's all." "Do I look presentable?" "You look almost typical Indian." "I went all the way to Edison to buy this." "You went all the way to New Jersey to get clothes to bring to India!" "I can't shop here." "They always cheat me." "You are not the only one who has to make an impression." " We are all sweating now." " You look very nice." "Thank you." "Let me." "Now I know you don't like cricket." "You know it can be a lot of fun." "You should sit and watch it with me sometime." "I will explain the game to you." "Every little detail." "Because I have seen you staring at the television... with a puzzled expression on your face." "I know our house is a modest one." "But space is such a premium here." "It's not something you have got used to in America." "Houses are big." "But I would trade them any day for good neighbors." "Sugar, one spoon?" "No, thank you." "I brought my own." "Thank you." " How old are you, Suriya?" " 13 and a quarter." "Are you bored?" "Actually to tell you the truth, I am." "You don't have to be so forthright, dear." "It's all right." "You don't have any other children?" "Any younger ones?" "Do you?" "Amita is our only child." "The sad fact is so am I. I always wanted a brother." "Why should this child want for anything?" "Where do you keep the glasses?" "Something for scotch?" "In the cupboard above the sink." "Ok." "This is excellent tea." "Thanks for offering it this time." "You are welcome." " That's a lovely sari Amita." " Thank you." " She designed it herself." " Really?" "That's a talent." "Thank you." "She designs many of her clothes." "She is not only creative but frugal." "Well, yes." "May I be excused for a few minutes?" "Of course, dear." "I witnessed your daring escape." "I needed a bit of a breeze." "I thought I might suffocate in there." "Did you pick this out that day?" "I am trying it out for the wedding." " What?" " The wedding I am doing." "It's for the bride's sister." "You don't think it's too old fashioned, do you?" "You would have no idea." "Would you?" "I would have no idea." "I have never seen my father drink whisky." "My dad is a terrible influence." "All he does in the weekend is, he sits in the basement with his buddy." "Smoke cigars, play pool and drink expensive scotch." "How do they get away with that?" "They claim that it is a Mahabharat Study group." " Really?" " Yeah." "That's what it's like there, I guess." "Your parents do seem nice." "Well, they are on their best behavior." "Are they singing?" "Do you know the song?" "How about us?" "What about us?" "Where do we stand?" "We will be engaged soon." "That's a position and not an evaluation." "I think we like each other." "We do?" "Of course." "That's good because I don't think..." "I can spend the rest of my life with someone... who didn't like me at least a little." "That will be horrible." "Your whole life will be in the dark." "You will never really know, will you?" "I guess not." "Neither will you." "I can tell." "This isn't forbidden in Indian society, is it?" "We are going to get married." "So I think it is ok to hold hands." "I like your hand." "Soft." "Thanks." "Ring!" "Ring!" "Mummy, I have an examination tomorrow." "There will be plenty of examinations." "Your whole life will be full of them." "Hello?" "Yes, Mrs. Chandra." "How nice of you to call." "I see." "That's good." "That's very good." "They have accepted." " Brother Ashok is getting married." " We should celebrate." "Maybe I should tell him first." "Go, run along." " But go slowly." " Uncle Ashok." "I must say we've handle themselves really well." "Look, how quickly they came to decision." "You have done the impossible." "Like Hanuman, you brought the mountain to Ashok." "I won't say that we didn't worry." "We did worry." "But after years of hardship... and enduring the long sufferings of a king without a queen." "And no empire to speak of." "Our son is finally getting married." "I honestly can't believe it." "Well, here we all are in your father's house." "The house that Geeta and I came to when we got married." "You know, every time I see that old Fiat... in the driveway I remember your father." "I feel he is still here with us." "I want to thank you both." " Thank you." " Yes." "It couldn't have happened without you." "It was so wonderful to have Ashok here." "I do hope he will always remember this time here... with his family in India, won't you?" "Of course." "He is such a smart and serious young man." "And we are happy he has found a girl here that will make him happy." "You will be happy, right?" "You have to promise us." "Of course." "Good." "A drink for everyone to celebrate." "This is your third celebration drink today." "It's already past midnight." "It counts as a new day." "It's 11.30." "Show me your watch." "You haven't changed the time." "Suriya dear." "The year you were born, this was put into our barrel." "I thought we would pray." "We should have a prayer." "Shouldn't we?" "Tonight we will drink." "Tomorrow we will pray." " Cheers!" " Cheers!" "Kohiba?" "Monte Cristo!" "This is the 6th step around the fire." "This is the 7th." "I think that's the same picture." "I can't recall this cousin." "When did she get married?" "No, they are not related to us." "It's just the most beautiful wedding I have attended." "Look at this gorgeous hand carved altar." "Wow!" "It's beautiful." "Maybe we can see some of our relatives' marriages now." "Here you are." "Ashok!" "Come on get up!" "You sleep this late in your apartment?" "We have to meet the Chandras at the temple at 9." "So that you can be blessed." " What time is it?" " Around 6." "I got you tea and biscuits." "I thought we would walk." "I see you brought the stick." "Your grandfather told me to always bring this when I went walking." "You know why?" "I do actually." "They told me the same thing." "Your mother's family and their stories." "I haven't yet being attacked by a street dog." "But if it comes I will smack it down with this powerful stick." "I remember this place so well." "Your mother and I stayed here right after we got married." "Right before we got on that ship to America." "You made this joke before." "It was a steamship around the turn of the century." "So you could see yourself with her in 60 years." "60 years?" "I am sure we will both be dead by then." "I don't like your kind of humor." "Mine is much better." "You will like married life." "It gives a person a certain kind of confidence... that I feel they just can't get being on their own." "Now without your mother, I would never have been able to live here." "That was a good thing?" "Practically speaking every place is the same as every place else." "But we had opportunities so we left." "You know at home you wake up at 1 on Sundays... to watch football." "And here you wake up at 6 to go for a walk." "You have been here long enough." "It's hard." "The traffic is terrible." "There are obstacles in the street." "The air sometimes smells of dung and little bit kerosene." "Tell me." "Why would I miss that?" "Your mother doesn't miss it." "She has the book club." "But to me, no lawn so green." "No central air conditioning can take its place." "But we are used to it now." "You know, we had a lot of happiness wherever we lived." "Why do you look like you are not listening?" "I am listening it's just that your connection to this place." "I envy it." "My father used to say, "You are part of God."" ""And God is a part of everything."" "So you are a part of everything here too." "But he was a religious man." "To you, those are simple thoughts." "I don't think I can believe that." "Your children wouldn't even believe that India exists." "They will take geography." "Dad." "I don't belong here." "What am I doing here?" "You are getting married." "That's what you are doing." "I still can't believe it." "Here, I want to remember this." "Us." "Here." "Right on the street." " It's on?" " Yes." "Ok, so do something." "What?" "If it's a video, you've got to do something." "Like what?" "Like say something." "I can't now." "I really can't." "I just want to be as honest as possible with you." "Good." "Good, I like it." "No, you should just stop." "I mean I really have to tell you something seriously." "Turn it off dad, ok?" "Serious is ok." "Serious is good." "I like serious." "You know like in the films of Satyajit Ray." "Like you are a lonely street urchin." "Come on, you are an actor." "Convince me." "I met someone." "Perfect!" "Now act like it's the first time you are telling me." "I haven't told you this." "I know you met someone." "I met them too." "I met someone else." "Another girl and I don't think I can go through with this." "Dad." "Dad." "Dad." "Arun, your arteries are razor thin." "You know that the slightest shock could send you into palpitations." "I lost my balance." "Not to mention your problem with the vertigo." "As if it's my fault." "Mom, what are you doing?" "I am simply putting away my new saris." "I don't know when I'll get an opportunity to wear them again." " Can you talk to me?" " What is it?" "You are ignoring me." "Son, I am not ignoring you." "The flight leaves in 2 hours." "You don't have to get on it." "There is no sense in me being here... when I can work." "Your father is not well." "You see how the American boys are." "They want nothing to do with their mothers." "Would you like that?" "No!" "Of course not." "I don't feel like speaking to you very much right now." " Please don't hold the grudge." " She will be fine." "How do you know I will be fine?" "Don't say anything." "Trust me." "Let it be." "We forgot to give these soaps to aunt Seema." "Now her skin will be dry and flaky." "You are not responsible for her dry skin." "Preeti can take it for her." " Mom." " What?" "Haven't I kept quiet about it?" "Is there something you want to say to me?" "As you always claim, we know nothing about anything." "So what could you possibly learn from listening to me." "I never pressured you." "We never pressured you." "We made a point never to pressure you." "Didn't want to be those parents." "When they ask me about your SAT scores, I never told them." "Who asked about my SAT scores?" "The crowd, all friends, the Chopras, Mrs. Mukherjees." "Wait." "Wait, when I was in high school?" "And who is Mrs. Mukherjee?" "The aunt with the lazy eye." "Her son was in finance." "I never believed in telling anybody about anything." "We didn't care what they would think." "We always let you do whatever you wanted to." "I can see our mistake now." "So let him do what he wants to do." " I did well on my SAT's." " We understood." "We always understood." "You made this choice." "And now you are going back on it." "I have a right to change my mind." "He has a point, Geeta." "And what about the girl?" "Have you thought about her?" "She has rights too." "Right now she is right on her way to the temple with her parents." "I feel terrible about that." "You want to act as if you are not the bad guy." "But you are bad guy." "Both of you." " Always trying to be heroes." " How did I get into this?" "It's you he told and you are agreeing with him." "Mom, she wouldn't have been happy with me." "And why not?" "What's wrong with you?" "You have a job." "You have a good family." "A good face." "You are smart." "You are good enough for somebody." "I have doubts." "Doubts used to be a part of life." "Now it is time to resolve them." "Now they have to be resolved." "You can't blame us." "I am not blaming you." "You are just being unreasonable." "Let me be unreasonable for a bit." "At least till we get back." "We can be unreasonable then." "Get straight onto the next flight you can get onto." "You can fly from here to Delhi and then home." "Fine." "I will call the airline." "We think about you constantly." "I do." "Do you know that?" "You can't stay like this forever." "You are an adult." "Don't let this be another excuse to do nothing." "How did he get so uncertain?" " Arun." " Yes." "When we get back remind me to go to the bank and... put mom's jewelry back in the lockbox." " Vikram, shall we?" " Yeah." " You have packed." " Almost." "Gurpreet will take you to the airport." "Are you positive you wouldn't like to stay a little longer?" "Thank you." "You have done enough." "Sister, did you..." "Don't worry." "You are off the hook." "I called her parents." "They weren't so sure anyways." "This is not so uncommon." "It's not so common either." "Engaged for one night." "I think we made a record of sorts." "Did she say anything?" "I think she was relieved." "I embarrassed you." "No, we are never embarrassed." "No, we don't get embarrassed." "You won't change your mind though." "Sister, I wasted your time." "There is absolutely no question about it." "I appreciate it." "Show me your wrist." "Right one." "It was Rakhi just before you came." "It's one of my favorite festivals." "You missed it." "Do you even know what it means?" "Sort off." "You used to send these things in the mail." "These things!" "The tradition is your sister sends you this thread wishing you happiness." "On the promise that you will always protect her." "Since you don't have a sister the duty falls on me." " Then what?" " You give her money." " Really?" " How much do you have on you?" "This isn't some kind of scam, is it?" "It's a very old scam." "I don't understand these traditions." "So long as you know they exist." " You forgot your book." " I skipped to the end." " Do you think you will read it?" " Maybe." "What about the bookmark?" "Leave it in there." "Hey, tell me what happened to the Russians." " I am dying to know." " Same story." "They overthrew the Czar." "I think everybody gets it in the end." "It's too bad." "Hey, will you tell Gurpreet something for me?" "Drop him at the railway station." "Bye." "Thank you." " What was that about, dear?" " Nothing." "One ticket to Shimla." "Here."