‘I was told about this family, the Gawdas; they’re very respectable people. I approached them.’ He is sitting up in his seat and speaks softly.
What? Father approached this family from halfway across the country, the Gowdas? He, Gaurav Rathore Singh, made the first move?
‘It’s okay,’ I say after a while. It is time to play Father. ‘Just because you approached them doesn’t mean we have to go through with it. We can tell them we’re not ready. That’s the truth, right?’
He smiles and shakes his head. ‘Why don’t you meet her,’ he says. It isn’t a question. ‘Get to know her.’
‘Who is she?’
Father takes a sip of his tea and puts down the cup before wrapping his arms around his chest.
“She’s the daughter of a senior politician.’
A politician! ‘Name?’
‘He is Prathap Gawdaji from Karnataka.’
I know who he’s talking about; I have read about him. I’m not particularly enthused by politics, but I’m aware. Not everything I have read about Gowda printed in mainstream media is complimentary. I have also heard of Prathap Gowda for his coffee brand – COFFEE Before Books & Bras. His daughter is apparently the front for the business.
‘Aaditha Prathap,’ he says.
The name has been doing the rounds in business circles, but I can’t put a face to it.
‘She has a coffee business. You drink coffee, right?’
I’m laughing now, and the sound is roiling my father. I’m a tea drinker; it is what we are enjoying at this moment. I have the occasional coffee, but I’ve never had Gowda’s coffee.
‘At least you will have good coffee to drink every day.’ I hear himexhale and watch as his brows shift in exaggerated appreciation. ‘Great coffee!’
Why disabuse him of his idea of the match, because that is all it is going to be – an idea. I’m equally determined.
‘It’s Gowda, not Gawda, please.’
‘Is that how I pronounced his name?’ Father’s laugh carries in the morning air. ‘Gowda,’ he says, ‘that’s right?’
I nod.
‘I like that you’re keen I get the pronunciation right,’ Father says, smiling. ‘It’s a good match,’ he continues, nodding some more. ‘You should meet the girl.’
‘Good for whom? I’m not even thinking of marriage.’ I’m surprised at how calm I sound.
‘In every sense, it’s a good match.’
I search his face for a reason to believe he is pranking me, but all I get is an expression that tells me he’s on edge. He’s fully aware that I’m looking at our lands, making plans to expand our agrarian projects.
‘It’s good. This is a very good proposal,’ he says.
‘Okay!’ I exhale. I need to take charge and change course.
‘You are okay with the proposal!’ He’s smiling ear to ear now.
‘No! I’m not okay with getting married now; you should know better,’ I say. ‘Tell me you’re joking, Father!’
Nothing against Prathap Gowda or his daughter. Marriage is where I don’t want to go now, not for a while anyway.
‘What do you mean?’
Could he be losing his mind? His shoulders drop, and his spine slackens. He’s looking at his feet now.
