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The Disappearing Uncle. D. K. Rajagopalan
Читать онлайн.Название The Disappearing Uncle
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9781649692290
Автор произведения D. K. Rajagopalan
Жанр Ужасы и Мистика
Издательство Ingram
‘Kummi Paati, I don’t think it is a good idea to open up this topic again.’
‘Oh? Oh, I see. Well then, let us discuss another topic. Let us discuss your work.’
Kumar laughed, a big, hearty laugh.
‘My work? I don’t think you will understand much about it, Kummi Paati. We should discuss something else.’
‘You are only partly right. I understand some things about work. For example, I understand that in some workplaces, there is an expected time after which people get a promotion to the next level.’
Kumar flushed.
‘Yes, yes, that is true. What of it?’
‘I also understand that your time for promotion has come and gone. With no promotion.’
‘Who are you, to come and insult my husband in his own ho–’
‘Karuna, I can handle this. Kummi Paati, I don’t understand what you are trying to get at here.’
‘What I am getting at? I am getting at your new car, Kumar. Your new air conditioning. Your new fridge and living room set and media unit. In fact, over the last few years, you have got a lot of new things, haven’t you? But your work situation hasn’t changed, has it?’
Kumar sat flushed and silent.
‘You took on more debt than you should have. Don’t try to deny it, please. One of the children heard you talking, but didn’t understand what you were saying. She doesn’t know what an EMI is, you see.
‘EMI. Easy monthly instalment. Except that it is only “easy” when you have your income as well as your daughter’s income to pay off all of your recent purchases. So if she goes off to study, what will happen to all the fancy new items you have purchased and boasted about to your neighbours?’
‘Kummi Paati ... it’s not like that at all, Kummi Paati ... I don’t know where you have got these ideas from at all, but that’s not at all influencing my decision. If it was, why would I want to get her married?’
‘There is a big difference between saying you want to arrange a wedding and actually arranging it.'
Kumar appeared to catch his breath. His eyes widened in fear. Kummi Paati, disappointed as she was in him, angered as she was on his daughters behalf, forced herself to take a breath before she went on. Her voice, when she next spoke, had lost some of its steel, but was still just as firm.
‘Yes, Kumar, I have understood your plans by now. You were going to keep her at home, insisting that she get married as soon as you found a suitable boy. And then, for whatever reason, you would have found it impossible to find a good boy. At least, until the bulk of your purchases were paid off.’
‘Kummi Paati, that’s not ... I mean … I wasn’t ... ’
Kummi Paati held her hand up.
‘Please don't tell me all these stories, Kumar. I know.’
Karuna started crying softly. Kumar’s shoulders slumped and he looked at the floor.
‘Yes, I have understood the situation perfectly. And if I have understood it, do you think no one else in the colony would? Do you really want your neighbours to be talking about how greedy and selfish you are, instead of talking of your new air conditioning? Your new media unit? Or … your extremely intelligent, well-raised daughter?'
Kumar looked up at that. There was a glint in his eye. He appeared to be thinking.
After a moment, he took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.
‘Perhaps I was hasty.’
He cleared his throat and puffed his chest out ever so slightly.
‘After all,’ he continued, ‘how many people can say their daughter is studying at S P Jain?’
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