A balmy Bombay evening, two hot cups of tea, and Tiny and Huge are sitting in their pet places, at right angles to each other. He sits quietly, as Tiny chatters away, trying to coax him into saying something. Finally she asks wistfully, โIs there anything you regret?โ
Huge rubs his chin thoughtfully. Tiny is almost convinced she wonโt get a response. Then he casually says, looking at her, โI have yet to make a decision I regret.โ
Huge goes back to his tea with a twinkle in his eye as Tiny dissolves into a puddle of mush.
Tiny is talking about her courtship with Huge to her two daughters. Every time she starts a sentence with โdo you remember,โ Huge replies sheepishly with โI donโt remember that.โ This goes on for some time when Little One asks, โWhat do you remember dad?โ
โAll I remember is your mom wearing a blue saree. Not dark blueโฆit was a soft blue, like the sky, with silver lines. She was wearing a watch and silver bangles.โ
Little One and Big One turn to look at Tiny who nods with a smile.
โWell at least he remembers something!โ
Big One has just turned eighteen and there are suddenly talks of boyfriends and dating and romance, which makes Huge uncomfortable. She may be eighteen but for him, she is still his baby.
Once Tiny has given her discourse on love and romance to her daughter, Huge decides to contribute his two-bits on the subject.
He tells his daughter with all sincerity, โWait for the ghanti.โ
โGhanti?โ
โWhen you hear bells ringing thatโs how youโll know heโs the one.โ
She looks at Huge curiously and asks, โDid you hear the ghanti?โ
โOf course. Why do you think I only remember the saree and nothing else?โ

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