I ran out and caught up with Ananya. "Wait, where are you going?'

*We're done,' she said, her words firm despite the wobbly voice.

*What do you mean?'

*It's over,' Ananya clarified, *between you and me.'

*Are you breaking up with me? What? Ananya, are you crazy? I was manipulating her so she'd calm down.'

*I hate manipulations, Krish, and I hate manipulators even more,' Ananya said and broke into tears.

Ananya's father came towards us and held Ananya's hand. *It's not about communities. It's about the kind of people we want to be with,' he said.

I stood alone in the corridor as Ananya's family walked away and the ground tilted around my feet.

Needless to say, Operation Beach Passion was not executed that night.

The Final Act: Delhi & Chennai & Delhi & Chennai *

54.

I turned workaholic after Goa, spending fourteen maniacal hours a day in the office. I even bought the company laptop home to slog more. I achieved twice my work targets, I didn't socialise, I didn't see movies and I stopped going to restaurants.

*You have a great future,' Rannvijay, my new boss, told me.

When Citibank sees a great future in you, it means you have no life at present.

*Thanks, Rannvijay,' I said.

*Though you could do with a shave. What's with the new look? Growing a beard? And you look weak.... Take care of your health.'

I had tried to call Ananya several times after my return. Her parents would not pass her the phone if I called home. In her office, the receptionist would tell me she was in a meeting. When I did reach her, she'd make an excuse and not converse. Ananya had a cell-phone now, but she stopped taking any calls from Delhi. One day I had a visitor in office from Citibank Mumbai. I requested him for his phone to make a call.

*Hello,' Ananya picked up the phone.

'Hi, don't hang up. It's me, * I said.

'Krish, please...whose phone is this?'

'A colleague from the Mumbai office. Listen, I am sorry, for the tenth time. Your receptionist will have a count of my earlier attempts.'

*Krish, this isn't about an apology.'

*Then stop sulking.'

*I am not sulking; I am doing what maximises everyone's happiness in the long term.'

I scratched my head to respond to her corporate-vision type answer. *What about you and me?'

*For my own sake, I can't let make my parents feel small.'

*Don't you miss me?' I said.

She kept silent. I checked the phone; I had spent four minutes on the call. My colleague gave me puzzled looks as to why I had to use his phone.

*Ananya? I said, do you miss me?'

*What's the point? Say, I forgive you, what will change? Will your mother change? Will her bias towards me, towards South Indians, towards the girl's change?'

*She is good at heart, Ananya. Believe me she is, * I said.

*Oh really, why don't you have her apologise to my parents then?' she said.

It was my turn to stay silent.

*See,' she said.

*She is sensitive about everything right now.'

*No, she has a chip on her shoulder about being from the groom's side.'

I let out a sigh. *Ananya, what happened to our plans to elope? Run away with me,' I said.

*And go where? To my caring, nurturing mother-in-law?' Ananya said, *No, I want to marry where my parents are treated as equals.'

*You should have been born as a boy,' I said.

*That's so sexist, I would have hung up if I didn't care for you.'

*Do you care or not ? Don't you love me? Isn't our love above everything?'

*Don't ask impractical questions,' she said, her voice heavy.

*Can I do anything? Anything?' I said desperately.

*Don't call me again. Help me get over this,' She said.

*I love you,' I said.

*Bye, Krish.'

I came home and sat down in front of the TV. For dysfunctional families, television is the biggest boon. Without this electronic glue, millions of Indian families will fall apart.

The music channels showed songs of everlasting love. The couples seemed insanely happy. Perhaps, they were all from the same state, religion, caste and culture and their parents were completely in sync with each other. Otherwise, how can you fall in Love in India? Some grown-ups in your house are bound to get pissed off.

My mother didn't talk about Goa or show any signs of remorse. She did feel a little guilty about my low mood; her penance consisted of cooking paneer dishes everyday.

*I've made paneer bhurji. You'll have paranthas with it?' she said.

I didn't respond. She took my lack of protest for a yes. She returned with dinner with twenty minutes. *You want white butter?' my mother asked.

I shook my head.

*Too much work in office? There is a Canara Bank near our house. Should I talk to the manager for a job?'

*No, office is OK,' I said.

I tried to eat, but couldn't. I had not eaten anything for three days. I hid the paranthas in my laptop bag when she wasn't looking.

*Shipra masi had recommended another girl. They have bungalow in Shalimar Bagh. Would you like to see her?' she said.

I stared at my mother.

*What?' she said.

*I'll marry her. No need to see her. Fine?' I said.

*Krish, don't say like that. When have I forced you?'

*What is the point of me seeing these girls? What am I supposed to check out in one hour? Her complexion? Figure a fat or slim? Is the marble in her home real? None of this matters when you have to spend your life with the person, so might as well save time. The parents should do the meeting. Whoever massages your ego more, say yes.'

*What happened to you? These multinationals are sucking your blood,' my mother said.

*Can you apologize to Ananya's parents?' I said.

My mother didn't respond. She stood up from the sofa and went into the kitchen.

I followed her *Why can't you do it?' I said.

She didn't answer me. She dabbed at dishwashing detergent with a sponge and scrubbed the utensils. She addressed an imaginary audience: *First a useless husband, now a useless son. I had thought, after my son's marriage. I will get respect. I said yes to his choice of girl, but at least behave like the girl's side. Now he wants me to fall at their feet. What is so great about this girl? Shipra is right, everyone is selfish.'

*Stop it, mom, I am not telling you to grovel. You can apologize over the phone.'

*Apologize for what? Is it wrong to expect what is due to me? Didn't I look after your grandmother until she died?'

*Didn't Ananya help set Duke's family right? Didn't you say yes then?'

*I was wrong. I hadn't met her parents then. I've never met such a dry breed of people. Look at how they eat dinner, like it is a punishment. Ananya's mother a does she ever laugh? Dark from outside, dark from inside.'

The doorbell rang. My father had come back from another of his lacklusture business ventures. I switched off the TV and opened the door. I had told him the partial truth about Goa. I had said there was an office conference there and that I *

was taking mom along. I had become quiet after my return and didn't even bother to fight with him anymore. He came inside and noticed the silence between my mother and me. There were several evenings these days at home when no one spoke to anyone.

*Have you decided to stop talking to your mother, too?' my father asked as he sat on the sofa and removed his shoes.

It's none of your business, would have been my usual response. But I had fought enough with the world. Another argument wouldn't have yielded anything.

*We'll be fine,' I said. I wished my mother would bring his dinner soon.

*Are you not enjoying your job?' my father said.

*The job is good. They said I've a great future,' I said. I don't know why I said the last line. Somehow, I felt the need to tell my father I was doing well.

*Why are you upset with your mother?' he said.

Ok, it was enough. *It's none of your business,' I said.

*Are you telling me my own family is not my business?' he said.

*Dad, enough. I am too tired to argue.'

My mother brought him dinner and I went back to my room. I took out Ananya's pictures. I tossed and turned in bed wondering what to do next. When you can't sleep, your mind comes up with weird schemes. I couldn't do it over the phone. I had to go in person to do it.

I woke up at four and took a shower.

*You are going to office now?' my mother said as she heard me get ready.

*I have a presentation, I'll be back late,' I said.

I took an auto to the airport. I plonked a month's salary to take my cross- country joyride.

*Same day return trip to Chennai please.' I said at the Indian Airlines counter.

55.