Clearly, Sajan’s parents and her parents thought they would make a great couple. They also knew neither of them would agree to an official “meeting,” so they had cooked up this ruse. She glanced at him again out of the corner of her eye. He definitely had a slight deer-in-headlights look about him.
Annika’s mother filled everyone’s plates, heaping extra food on Sajan’s plate, despite his protests. After the customary prayer, there was no sound, not even the clinking of silverware, as most of the food was eaten by hand. Annika was fuming that her parents would stoop to tricking her into meeting men. Even handsome men. So, she did not feel obliged to make conversation. If her parents were so keen on Sajan, they could talk to him.
“So, Sajan, your father tells me you are a physician at Hopkins.” Her father attempted conversation in the void.
Annika’s insides tightened. Seriously, he was a doctor? Could theybemore cliché?
“Yes, Uncle. I’m on staff there.”
“And your specialty?” He appeared to be waiting to hear this with bated breath. As if he didn’t already know.
“Pulmonology, sir.”
“Well, that sounds exciting. Doesn’t it, Annika?”
Was he kidding? She looked up at poor Sajan and tried a genuine smile for his sake, but she knew it fell short. “Sure, Dad. Exciting.”
“I think it’s cool,” Nilay said in between bites. Of course he did. Nilay had known since he was born that he wanted to be a doctor. He relished everything about medicine.
Sajan smiled at him. “Thanks. I really enjoy it.”
“Tell me about some cool cases.” How Nilay could speak and continuously eat was nothing short of miraculous.
Sajan obliged and began describing a case. Nilay listened, rapt, and asked questions. Annika was relieved and immensely grateful to her little brother for moving the conversation along. Her parents could make her eat dinner with Sajan, but that was it. She was not going to be forced into conversation. She glanced at Sajan again and caught him looking at her, hazel eyes slightly amused. How much did he even know about her and her past?
“So, Annika. What do you do?” Sajan asked, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Wait. It kind of was.
Okay, fine. She could go along for one dinner. After all, he was quite easy on the eyes, and her parents’ faces held genuine smiles for the first time in a while.
“I’m a kindergarten teacher.”
She waited for the surprised eyebrow raise, but it never came.
“That is something I could never do. A room full of kindergarten kids would eat me alive.” He smiled, clearly impressed.
“You just have to know how to deal with them.”
“Well, that is an enviable skill.”
“It’s because she’s childlike herself,” Nilay quipped.
Annika rolled her eyes at her brother, but he wasn’t wrong. Children made sense to her. They were honest and open, and eager to learn. She couldn’t help the real smile that appeared on her face. It was nice to be complimented on her choice of career for a change. “Well, thank you.”
Her father grunted, but said nothing. Her mother glanced around the table, assessing each person.
“You don’t approve, Uncle?”
Annika snapped her gaze to Sajan and her father. What business was it of his?
“Well, Annika was a strong candidate for medical school. She could have gained admission to Johns Hopkins. But she tossed it all away to teach small children.”
“Uncle, bright energetic teachers for young children are badly needed. What Annika is doing is very much in demand.”
That was nice of him to say, but it wasn’t anything she hadn’t already said to her father. She certainly didn’t need anyone to defend her. She tensed at Sajan’s presumption. She opened her mouth to say just that when her father answered him.
“Well, I’m glad that you see it that way, Sajan.” Annika just about fell over at the conciliatory tone her father took. He turned to her, his eyebrows raised, as if to say,See, Sajan thinks it’s great you’re a teacher.He must really want her to like this guy.
