“I mean, I
don’t know but our girls are really crossing all limits these days,” Namita’s
pride in her two sons had dimmed a bit lately, what with the girls topping national
exams and storming every male bastion in sight. “Have you seen how they walk
and talk these days? So much aggression and impatience!”
The group
sat nursing their drinks under a mirror work garden umbrella. The delicious
winter sun and some well-groomed horses cantering a mere length off on the polo
ground, the restful air sidestepped Namita’s discordant observation. “I am a
guilty party, I will have to admit,” Bhavna broke the wary reverie with an
admission, “We have raised our girls to be self-respecting persons. They will
probably assert their ideas and not be afraid to have their needs met.”
“But why get
them motorbikes Bhavna? It is a bit inappropriate. Our Kush kept begging for
one but we refused to give in, he rides a Vespa now. Two wheelers are so
dangerous in this horrible traffic,” the rest felt safe nodding their assent on
this one. There were other mothers of girls sitting quietly there, assessing
the flow of the conversation so as to judge when to dive in.
The ladies
stirred their mocktails, looking out for the mini luxury coach that would take
them on a select shopping trip. They made for a fetching picture, their Fendi
and Persol and Rayban sunglasses contrasting with the colourful beverage
parasols. Outwardly successful and in their prime of life, they were struggling
in fact, to come to terms with the global culture that was inhaling their
children like a giant anaconda. “Children are hooking up these days, they are
starting to drink alcohol and use marijuana much younger and don’t even ask
what the girls are up to,” Namita carried the generic unease forward.
“Nonsense,
this is only a metropolitan trend and only in ‘those’ sort of families,” Kavita
slapped the idea away hastily, too scared to permit it any closer. “And what is
this Hookah Bar all about?” she directed the question at Bhavna, as though to
suggest that of course, her daughters would know.
Without
waiting for an answer though, she jumped ahead of everyone into the coach
pulling up. It took all of fifteen minutes for the group to settle in
comfortably with the complimentary shopping bags, the refreshments and the
product brochures. As the young company hostess bent down to begin handing out
the water bottles, Namita’s eyes snapped with alarm, “Look at that bum
cleavage. Do her parents not object? I would never let my Luv and Kush wear
anything like that.”
The vehicle
came to life, its well-oiled engine softening the animated squawking of women seeing their heaviest investments
threatened, “You people come from those typical middle class backgrounds, just
get a copy of Ira Trivedi’s ‘India in love’ and read,” Manika spoke with the
finality of a Supreme Court Judge.
“I caught my
son surfing porn the other day. I have told him he cannot lock the door anymore,”
others strained to catch the sheepish admission made in a lowered voice. “I
believe Vanya’s daughter is not getting married because she is seeing a girl,”
some shook their heads helplessly. “These kids are putting themselves out
there, they are moving too fast, I don’t know if our society is ready for them.
It would be a tragedy to have them fall through the cracks,” Bhavna voiced her concern.
“The mothers
are to blame. They should bring up their girls to believe that the genders are
essentially unequal!” there was no abating Namita’s skirt censure.”
More voices
joined the chorus. “Have you seen the i-pill panels in the DLF Promenade
washrooms? It is accessory to mischief!”
“The sex was
consensual in that Dimapur lynching. My son has to fight this girl off, would
you believe this? He finally had to block her on his FB and email.”
“It is a
shame baba. My Luv and Kush, 1992 born but I still buy them their boxers,” on a
note of pride from Namita.
The free
flow of revelations was arrested at the Hidesign Boutique in Connaught Place,
“Ma’am, we are going to the parking, I will be back soon. You all could
meanwhile begin walking under the marquee,” the hostess drove off in the bus.
The group
were almost past a youth clothing store when Namita did an abrupt about turn. She
stood paralyzed at the entrance, eyes unblinking. Narrowing them a little, she
tried to focus. It was! It was indeed her Luv, trying on frilly tops and lacy
stoles. The culturally imperious lady shopkeeper was sitting as though turned
to stone, watching him with distaste.
The women! Thanks
heaven they had ambled ahead. Namita scampered in their wake, “You know, our
kids are just being reactionary. You know how they want to be radically
different at their age, create their own identity, claim their uniqueness. It
is natural, this individuation. I appreciate Bhavna’s views on giving them space,”
the covey halted in surprise at more than the breathlessness in the tone.
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