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We have been back from India for the last four days. We still haven’t unpacked our suitcases. There is no rush, for me at least. I have completed high school and am now waiting for the start of my new life as a college student.

I am looking forward to joining Krishna at the University of Virginia.

“This was the first big event in our family,” Dad says as he sips his masala tea. Dad and I are sitting at the breakfast table. “One down and two to go,” he adds.

“Yes, you can say that again,” Mom replies from the kitchen counter. She’s busy cooking something as usual. “And we are so glad that Mayur was there to help us. Everything was smooth. The shopping in Mumbai, the wedding in Udaipur.”

“Except for the debacle with the caterer.” Dad sounds irritated.

“Well, you can’t blame him for that. Things happen, and we recovered. There are a million things to do in planning a wedding, and one can’t expect everything to go as you wish.” Mom says in her quiet voice.

“I’m so glad their Pandit ji accommodated our family rituals, and Lakshmi looked gorgeous in the green sari and Akaash in the gold Sherwani and the matching turban with the tassel. And that Ritu Kumar lehenga! She was the most beautiful girl there. “

“As it should be. They look like a handsome pair. Made for each other.”

I agreed with the conversation between Mom and Dad. I didn’t have anything to add.

“I think they are destined for a great life after Akaash becomes a full-fledged doctor and starts his practice,” Dad speaks after a pause. As he finishes his tea, he gets up and places the empty cup in the sink. With the wedding events still fresh in his mind, Dad folds his arms and walks back and forth along the long corridor that stretches from the kitchen to the family room.

“You’re thinking too far ahead.” Mom is practical as always.

“But think of it, if Krishna and Akaash form a joint practice.” Dad is facing Mom across from the cooking island.

I’m listening to all this talk and feeling queasy. How can he be so certain about the future? When this talk is going on, I notice that Krishna is nowhere near us. He is probably upstairs. A while later, Krishna walks downstairs and joins us. He has packed his belongings and is ready to head back to college. I will follow him later for the freshman ceremonies.

“What’s going on?” he asks quietly.

Everyone turns to look at him.

“Not much. Just reminiscing about Laksmi’s wedding,” Dad says. He is so happy and content.

“Yes. That was a great wedding. I’m sure they are going to be happy together.” Krishna says the appropriate thing. He pulls a chair and sits with us at the breakfast table. Mom brings a cup of tea and places it in front of him.

“Hey, Krishna beta,” Dad turns to Krishna with a cheerful face. “We were talking about how nice it would be if you and Akaash open a joint practice when you both are full-fledged doctors. It’ll be all in the family.”

Dad is expecting an agreeable response. Instead, I sense a tsunami coming, just watching Krishna.

“There’s something I want to tell you, Dad,” Krishna says in a matter-of-fact tone. He sits across from Dad. Dad has returned to the breakfast table.

“What is it, beta? Do you need more allowance? Does your car need repair?”

“No, no. All that’s fine.”

“What then? Something is bothering you.”

Mom approaches both of them, sensing something important is going to happen, and looks curiously at Krishna. I am waiting to see what happens next.

“Yes. It’s about my major.”

“I’m listening.” Dad folds his arms and places them on the table.  

“I have decided to drop out of the medical track.” I am surprised at the ease with which these words come out of Krishna’s mouth, as if it were not a big deal for him.

Dad’s face turns pink and then red. He holds his head in both of his hands and closes his eyes as if to meditate.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. What did you say?” Dad says in a choked voice. He is trying to recover from the shock of what he just heard.

“I said,” Krishna’s voice is strong and confident. “I’m not going to be a doctor.”

“Did you hear that?” Dad turns to Mom, then he turns back to face Krishna and continues. “Did I hear you say that you are not going to be a doctor?”

“Yes, that’s what I said,” Krishna says in an unwavering voice.

“I can’t believe this. And all these years, I wanted my sons to be successful, famous, and pillars of society. I am doomed.”

Dad holds his head in both of his hands, looks up, wipes his eyes, and takes a deep breath.

“Huh,” Dad utters and coughs as if he is going to choke.

Mom doesn’t know what to do. I can tell that she wants to hug Dad and console him, but she hesitates to do so in front of us.

“It’s not going to be that bad, Dad. I’m sorry if I disappointed you,” Krishna says, looking straight at him.

“If not a doctor, then what is it going to be?” Dad says with a cracked voice. I don’t want to see him cry.

“I have decided to major in Visual Arts with an emphasis in Drama.”

“Drama? Drama? Like acting on stage?” Dad has his hands on the seat of his chair, and he is leaning towards Krishna.

“Yes.” Krishna is unruffled.

“Do you have any idea how difficult that is going to be for you? What makes you think you will be successful, and how long will it take before you start making money?”

“Money, money, money. Is that all you think about, Dad? There is no guarantee that I will be successful or not. Nobody knows the future, but I would like to know what I’ll be doing and I’ll be happy.” Krishna reaches for the cup of tea that Mom had placed in front of him. He takes a sip as he looks out the French door towards the backyard. It’s a bright but calm day, and not a bird is visible. I feel the tense situation inside. Everyone is quiet.

“Why did you keep quiet so long and all these months we were telling everyone that you are going to be a doctor?” Dad finally breaks the silence. He has calmed down and settled into his chair.

“I wanted to tell you, but didn’t want to spoil the fun you all were having preparing for Lakshmi’s wedding.”

“I’m very disappointed. Very, very disappointed!” Dad has recovered his voice.

Mom has walked towards Krishna and is standing behind him, rubbing his back and looking at his face. I sense she wants to say something, but is unable to add anything.

“I’m sorry, Dad. Every time I called from the university, I didn’t dare to tell you that I was not doing well in biology and I hated it. Then one day in the cafeteria, I met Timothy, and he encouraged me to take a look at the drama curriculum. I liked it, and I think I can do better there.”

Dad gets up and silently walks away to his study.

“Do you want a fresh cup of tea?” Mom asks Krishna. “That tea is probably cold by now. I’ll make a good Masala Tea with cinnamon. And….and, I have those shortbread cookies you like so much.”

Krishna looks at her and says, “Okay. If you want.”

Mom gets up to make a fresh cup of tea. A few minutes later, she brings the tea and a plateful of pecan shortbread cookies and places them in front of Krishna. She doesn’t show that she is upset with what transpired a few moments ago. She asks me if I want some cookies. I help myself with a couple.

“Look,” she says. “Don’t worry about your Dad. He is upset. But he’ll come around. He loves you so much.”

“I’ve to do what will make me happy, Mom,” Krishna says seriously. “What’s the guarantee that I’ll be a successful doctor? That’s assuming I pass the medical courses.”

“I know. I know.”

Everyone is quiet for a while. I have been a silent observer. I don’t know what I should do. Hug Krishna? Wish him good luck? I don’t do anything.

“Hang in there, brother,” I manage to say as I pat his shoulder.

“Vicky’s brother-in-law is a scriptwriter in California. Maybe you can have a word with him.” Mom recommends.

“Mom. Everything will be all right. You need to give me a chance to do what I want.”

“Okay, beta. Drink your tea. I’ll go upstairs and tidy up things.”

Mom leaves him alone and goes upstairs. I want to go to my room too to strum my guitar. As I am climbing the stairs, I glance at Krishna. He is munching on the cookies and taking a sip from the tea. Once in a while, he turns his gaze to look outside the kitchen French door. Maybe the beautiful vista of our backyard will soothe him.

Have faith in yourself, brother, I want to say again. But I decide it is best to leave him alone and start climbing the stairs.

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To read chapter 26 click here. https://wp.me/p2b25R-kB