Feasting with the family

People Like Us

"Oh dear," I said, fearing she would stay, as was her habit, for longer than relatives are usually welcome, "I guess I should ask the maid to prepare the guest beds." "I don't think she's staying," said my wife, "she's here to attend the opening of an art exhibition with her husband, and they intend to drive back immediately afterwards."

"Pinch me hard," I said to my wife, "I could have sworn you said your sister has come to Delhi to look at art." "All right, she's a philistine and thinks highly of framed calendar prints," said my wife, "but she has been invited by a relative-to-be of her daughter's, and couldn't refuse.

And neither should we," she added. "You mean we'll have to go too?" I asked. "You'd intended to," my wife reminded me, "only now you'll also have my sister and brother-in-law for company."

What with one thing or another, by the time we managed to make it to the exhibition, it was quite late, and the only people left were the exhibitor's family, and my wife's.

Even so, I thought it prudent to spend some time admiring each canvas, for fear of being ticked off for our lax schedule, so that even the organisers were yawning by the time I had finished going around the gallery.

But we could hardly leave before making polite conversation, and as the moments ticked by my sister-in-law, who thinks poorly of me at the best of times, began to look more and more thunderous.

Taking a hint, I asked my brother-in-law if he would like to join us for dinner. "Oh no," he protested, "we must leave immediately for Jaipur," and after protracted good-byes, proceeded to do so.

It was left to us to continue murmuring sweet nothings for a while, after which it was decided that my wife and I would proceed to a restaurant for dinner.

The menus had barely been placed before us when my wife suggested I speak with her sister. Dutifully, I called on her mobile. "Finally," hissed my sister-in-law, "what took you so long? Now, quick, tell me where you are, I'm starving."

"I thought you didn't want to join us for dinner," I said surprised. "I didn't want my daughter's in-laws-to-be to think us greedy," she said, "Now quick, order the dinner so it's on the table by the time we reach."

Because I avoid trouble with my sister-in-law, I decided to order Indian platters for her and her husband. My wife and I chose from the oriental menu, and for good measure, I decided to have some momos packed to take home for the children.

The food had barely been served when our Jaipur relatives fetched up. "Oh yummy," said my sister-in-law, helping herself to the Thai curry, while her husband dug into the chilli chicken and noodles.

"I thought you preferred Indian food," my wife said, "but I guess it doesn't matter, we'll have the Indian instead." "Don't you have dinner ready at home?" asked my sister-in-law. "Of course," said my wife.

"Then you can eat with the children," she continued, "because this is for starters, and the Indian should be sufficient for a main course, but if you can order dessert right away, we won't waste any time."

True to her word, they both ate fast, and it wasn't long before we were back in the parking, saying goodbye. "That," said my sister-in-law, "was an evening well spent.

And thank you for being considerate," she said snatching at the bag of momos, "and packing us a snack for the journey back."