NRI

Visalakshi was one of those near-perfect pieces produced by Bramha. Seven love letters from seven different guys during her SSLC holidays was enough to prove it.

But that never stopped Visalakshi from spending a lot of time and her father's money on cosmetics and clothes.
"Half a man, half what he wears", she would quote her grandmother.
"Do you think money grows on trees?", her father would ask.
"Yes, am going to marry an NRI, and money will grow on trees", and wink naughtily, further enraging Narayanan. NRI is short for Non-Resident-Indian, probably residing in the US.

Belonging to a middle-class brahmin family, her life revolved around the crowded streets of Srirangam. Between her chores at home, and a not-so-mentionable college degree, her favorite pastime was to watch the english movies that played on HBO, fantasizing of her future in the US. Her dream was to marry an NRI and settle down in the United States of America. The common dream of the lad and lasses of India. The lads did it with a good job in a software company, the lasses did it by marrying the lads.

X-----------------------X------------------X

"This guy is good, works in Bangalore, in tinfosys", Narayanan reasoned, "He might get a chance to go abroad too..."
"No, appa." Visalakshi was adamant, "I want to marry an NRI, who would take me with him right away".

Narayanan was saddened by the ways of his daughter. He wished she wed somebody she liked too, but he was finding it difficult to find a NRI groom for his daughter. In spite of her looks, she was just a small-town girl. He dared not to shatter her Cindrella dream, but he was worried how long it was taking them to find her a suitor.

X-----------------------X------------------X

Visalakshi almost jumped in joy when Rangu-mama brought the horoscope of Ananthakrishnan.

"Ananthu works for one of the biggest retail chains of America...", Rangu-mama couldn't hold his awe for the groom-to-be.
Exactly what Visalakshi wanted her groom to be.

"The boy is 37 years old, theres almost a 13 years age difference between you and him", Narayanan didn't like the idea one wee bit.
"I'd rather you married Kicha next door, than this guy".
But Visalakshi wouldn't buy any of it. She had her mind set and for good.

X-----------------------X------------------X

The date was set, and Ananthu flew down for the marriage. With a few weeks left before marriage, he charmed his wife-to-be with jewelery and foreign chocolates. When Visalakshi expressed her desire to visit a disco, Anant flew her to Chennai, her first trip on a plane, to go disco.

Ananthu took her to the best restaurants in town, and urged her to shop till she dropped dead. The Spencer's and Globuses of Chennai booked their profits, straight from the credit card of the NRI.

"Gone are the days of restrictions...", Visalakshi thought to herself, "Enough of appa's 'Don't do this', 'Cant afford it'... Ananth adores me, and almost spoils me", she thought to herself.

X-----------------------X------------------X

She 'Cho chweet'ed him when he told her to be more respectful to the waiter at Saravana Bhavan.
"I ought to know, I do that, day in and day out", Ananth continued.
"Still, to even bother about a server, you are soo... wait, what did you say?",
"I said, I do that day in and day out", repeated Ananth casually.

Visalakshi's eyebrows went up and she semi-turned her head to the waiter who was walking away from the table.
"That?", she asked pointing to the waiter.
"Yes", Anant didn't seem as disturbed as Visalakshi was.
"..."
"I serve at McRonalds", continued Ananth.

Visalakshi's felt dizzy as she heard these words resonate in her ears - louder than usual.

Visalakshi spent the next two days locked-up in her room, contemplating about her marriage. It was too late to stop the marriage. She consoled herself that at least Ananth was not stingy with money. He definitely was more liberal-minded than her father. Those were definite improvements in her life.

X-----------------------X------------------X

Two months into the marriage, Visalakshi did not even miss Srirangam. Apart from some oddly-timed calls from her father, she was settling down well in Chicago. The weekend trips to the wholesale shop to stock groceries, and the house-keeping kept her busy. She enjoyed her days in the US. Until one day during dinner:

"Hey Ananth, lets go dancing... are there any good discos around?", she asked Ananth casually over dinner.
"No, Visal. Dont even think about visiting discos. They are not safe, plus, costs a lot..."

"ouch", Visalakshi thought, "Thats the same words appa used to use...". Narayanan used to be much more gentler though.

After a few minutes of thoughtful silence, Visalakshi started again...
"Okay, let me get a few clothes at least..."

Anant shrugged his food-laden hands in the plate. He looked visibly upset.

"What were doing when I asked you to shop in Chennai? Why do you think I asked you to shop there? Its pretty damn expensive here... ", Visalakshi was taken aback. She had never seen Ananth this loud or angry.

"...no... its just that I need some warm clothes...", staggered Vislakshi.

"There, you needed some modern clothes, now you need warm clothes, come summer you'll need easy fitting clothes. And your rants about buying a car.", Ananth's voice grew louder, "Damn, understand something. I work at McRonalds. I earn little, and we have to save for the times when we go back to India. If you can live a life of a waiter's wife, do it, otherwise..."

For a second, Visalakshi stared fearfully at Ananth's eyes.

"Damn!", he said, gulping whatever he was about to say.

Tears streamed down Visalakshi's cheeks.

"Do you think money grows on trees?...", Ananth said, as he picked up his coat and left the house.