Time-Bound

Chapter 22

August 15, 2019

Sanjay's house,

Mumbai,

Maharashtra, India.

Sanjay invited the Johnsons to his house to celebrate the independence day.

As they were about to walk into the house, they were stopped by Sanjay's mom.

“They don't know we are coming?” Anthony asked.

“She knows. She wants to...” Sanjay was cut off.

“Namaste.” She folds her hands and bows her head.

“Namaste.” Mercy smiled.

“Ek minute.” One minute.

She walks away and returns with a plate having the holy flame and other things on it.

“What's this?” Victoria asked.

“Pooja.”Veneration platter. Sanjay replied.

“I see.” Victoria said.

Sanjay's mom begins to swirl the plate around in circles over their head and back down while chanting. “Om.”

“Thank you.” Mercy smiled at her and she smiled back.

The Johnsons then walked into the house.

“Prakash, Ankit, Ankita, Geet, Arya... Aiye.” Come.  Sanjay's mom yelled.

“Kia bat he?” What's the matter? Someone asked.

“Sanjay Ki dost.”

Everyone started rushing out of every corner of the house.

“Did he invite the whole village to meet you?” Victoria asked.

“Th-Th-They're his family.” Brenda said.

“Wow! You told me they all live together but I didn't expect it to be like this.” Victoria said.

“Now you know.” Mercy replied.

“Namaste.” The Johnsons greeted first. By now, they knew how to greet in Hindi.

“Namaste. Betu.”  Sit down. Sanjay's grandmother said. They'd beven standing and watching the movements in the house.

“Khaana ya chaayi?” Food or tea? Sanjay's wife asked.

Anthony looked at Sanjay. “What did she say?”

“Ah! You no understand the Hindi language?” Sanjay's wife smiled. “You want food or tea?”

“No. No thank you. We've eaten before coming.” Anthony said.

“Good. You speak English. I'm tired of hearing...” Victoria said.

“Say that in Hindi again please.” Mercy said.

“Khaana ya Chaayi.” Sanjay's wife said. 

“So Khaana is food and Chaayi is tea. Great.” Mercy said.

“I like that you are interested in Hindi.” Arya- Sanjay's daughter said.

“You speak English too. That's great.” Mercy smiled.

“We all speak English but most of Hindi so we don't forget our language.” Arya said.

“Wow! That's very nice. My country should imbibe that.” Mercy said.

“Which country are you from?” Arya asked.

“Nigeria.” Mercy sighed. “How do you say that in Hindi?”

“Main Nigeria se hu.”  I'm from Nigeria.  Arya said.

“Oh wow!” Mercy repeated what she said.

“Not bad. You speak it as though you're one of us.” Arya said.

“I am. We all are humans.” Mercy said and Arya laughed.

“I'm Arya.”

“I'm Mercy.”

“Nice to meet you.” They both said and laughed.

“I bet we would get along really well.” Mercy said.

“Sure.” Arya smiled. “Let me show you my room.”

Anthony and Sanjay were talking to his grandparents while Sanjay's wife, aunt and mum were talking to Victoria while Brenda listened. Surprisingly, Victoria was getting along really well and was enjoying the conversations with them.

“You see family is the most important thimg,” Sanjay's wife said. “I forsaked my work for family. Now, I'm just a housewife.”

“You don't miss work?” Victoria asked.

“How can she? It's been years since she gave birth to her first child- Prakash and since then she's been an housewife.” Sanjay's mum said. “She doesn't even know how it feels to do regular work.”

“Maa?!” Sanjay's wife yelled.

“What? I have to tell her anyway. Do you know how it feels?” Sanjay's mum said.

“Were you forced to do that?” Victoria asked.

“No. I chose to do it on my own. I couldn't handle both.” Sanjay's wife said.

“Then you should have chosen your work. It is important.” Victoria said.

“No! Family is very important.” Sanjay's aunt chipped in.

“Well, she could have left the child with the husband or put a hold to work if family is that important.” Victoria said.

Brenda kept pulling Victoria's clothe in order to keep her from talking. She didn't want to speak and embarrass herself especially now that her stammering has become worse.

“She can't talk?” Sanjay's aunt asked.

“Yes, she can.” Victoria said.

“Then she should speak.” Sanjay's mother said.

“Actually, the thing is she stammers.” Victoria said.

“So what? We don't differentiate here in India.” Sanjay's wife said.

“Thank you.” Victoria turned to Brenda. “See, no one will criticize you.”

Brenda nodded.

Sanjay's sister walked in and hugged her mother, aunt and sister-in-law.

“Namaste.” She smiled at them.

She joined in their conversation and they started talking about different things.

Sanjay stood in the middle of his living room and clapped. “Red forte abhee!”  Red forte now!

“What's Red forte?” Mercy asked as she came downstairs with Arya.

“It's a place. We're going there to celebrate Independence day.” Arya said.

They all got out of the house and made their way to the Red forte in different cars.

Sanjay's family has a business but his elder brother runs it. Sanjay didn't show interest in it so he decided to work at a bank instead.

They arrived at the red forte just before the prime minister-  Narendra Modi walked in.

Brenda and Mercy began to admire the way the place looked and how it was decorated.

A parade took place and then a flag raising ceremony.

“3...2...1. Raise!” Someone ordered as the flag was being raised slowly.

“Jai Hind!” Victory to India!  The crowd cheered.

Then, it was time for the Prime Minister's speech.

“Okay, this part is going to be boring. Let's take a selfie.” Arya said.

“Speeches are always boring.” Mercy said.

The two of them took pictures and kept chatting on till the speech was over.