'It is pure gold, where is it?' she screamed into my face. 'Has the maid
stolen it?' like the maid had nothing better to do then steal one tiny screw.
Wouldn't she steal the whole set? I thought.
'Auntie, can I use the bathroom for five minutes. I need to get ready for
office,' I said.
'Oh hello, Shyam. Woke up finally?' my mother's sister said. 'Office?
You are not coming for the wedding?'
'No, I have to work. Can I have the bath…'
'Look how big Shyam has become,' my maternal aunt said. 'We need to
find a girl for him soon.'
Everyone burst into giggles. It was their biggest joke of the day.
'Can I please…' I said.
'Shyam, leave the ladies alone,' one of my older cousins interrupted.
'What are you doing here with the women? We are already so late for the
wedding'
'But I have to go to work. I need to get dressed,' I protested, trying to
elbow my way to the bathroom tap.
'You work in a call center, right? My cousin said.
'Yes.'
'Your work is through the phone. Why do you need to dress up? Who is
going to see you?'
I didn't answer.
'Use the kitchen sink,' an aunt suggested and handed me my
toothbrush.
I gave them all a dirty look. Nobody noticed. I passed by the living room
on my way to the kitchen. The uncles were outside, on their second whiskey
and soda. One uncle said something about how it would be better if my father
were still alive and around this evening.
I reached the kitchen. The floor was so cold I felt I had stepped on an
ice tray. I realized I had forgotten soap. I went back but the bathroom door
was bolted. There was no hot water in the kitchen, and my face froze as I
washed it with cold water. Winter in Delhi is a bitch. I brushed my teeth and used the steel plates as a mirror to comb my hair. Shyam had turned into Sam
and Sam's day had just begun.
I was hungry, but there was nothing to eat in the house. Because they'd
be getting food at the wedding, my mother had felt there was no need to cook
at home.
The Qualis horn screamed at 8.55 p.m.
As I was about to leave, I realized I had forgotten my ID. I went to my
room, but could not find it. I tried to find my mother instead. She was in her
bedroom, lost in more aunties, saris and jewellery sets. She and my aunts
were doing some major weight comparisons of which aunt's set was heaviest.
Usually the heaviest aunt had the heaviest set.
'Mom, have you seen my ID?' I said. Everyone ignored me. I went back
to my room as the Qualis honked for the fourth time.
'Damn, there it is,' I said as I finally located the ID under my bed. I
pulled it out by its strap and strung it around my neck.
I waved a goodbye to everyone, but no on acknowledged me. It wasn't
surprising, I am only cared for so much. Every cousin of mine is becoming a
doctor or engineer. You can say I am the black sheep of my family. Though I
do not think that I expression is correct. After all, what's wrong with black
sheep—don't people wear black sweaters? But you get an idea of my status in
my clan. In fact, the only reason people somewhat talk to me is I have a job
and get a salary at the end of the month. You see, I used to work in the
website department of an ad agency before this call center job. However, the
ad agency paid horrible money. Also, all the people there were pseudos, more
interested in office politics than websites. I quit, and all hell broke loose at
home. That is when the black sheep term was tagged onto me. I saved myself
by joining Connexions, as with money in your wallet the world gives you some
respect and lets Priyanka worked there. Of course, that reason was no longer
relevant.
My aunt finally found the gold screw tapped in her fake hair bun.
The Qualis horn screamed again, this time in an agency tone.
'I'm coming,' I shouted as I ran out of the house.