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Career
The five years of college whizzed by. Soon they had to think about their careers. They had spent a lot of time together and had become closer.
The Indian education system is 10+2+3, i.e. 10 years of school, 2 years of junior college and 3 years of senior college, whereas the US education system is 12+4, i.e. 12 years of school and 4 years of college.
“Has anyone decided what they want to do after college?” Kaahi asked, then she looked at Jai and said, “I am not asking you, sweetheart. I know where you will be.”
They had talked about their life together in Los Angeles, and wondered what it would be like.
Jai remembered their conversation.
“Let's go backpacking across Europe before we go to Los Angeles,” Kaahi had suggested. Jai loved the idea.
Europe was a destination they both were eager to visit. They had decided that they would explore Europe for a few months before going to Los Angeles. Kaahi's window to Europe was limited to a few magazines, the travel channel and what she saw in Hindi movies. Many of the movies - being filmed in European countries - showed a hero and a heroine dancing in the middle of a busy town square bustling with tourists. Sometimes, they would sprint down snow-capped mountains in skimpy outfits, or they would run and sing in a meadow. This often attracted curious and mildly amused onlookers.
“How can they gyrate and thrust their hips in such a vulgar fashion with hundreds of people watching?” Jai joked.
“They are professionals; they don’t make millions for nothing,” Kaahi replied.
“I couldn’t do it, even if someone paid me,” Jai declared indignantly, “and besides, India is so beautiful with so many places to film. Can’t they find a single nice location that they have to go out of India to shoot?”
“Don’t you worry about that, no one will pay you,” she laughed and then added, “but, I’ll pay you to watch you sing while you gyrate and thrust your hips in the middle of a town square in Switzerland. As far as your complaint about
shooting out of India is concerned, it’s for those who can’t afford to go there. It’s most economical for a common man to see a nice, foreign country for a few hundred rupees.”
A faint smile appeared on Jai’s face as he thought of what Kaahi had said back then.
“So, what has everyone decided?” she asked again, bringing him back to the present.
Everyone groaned. “Give us a break यार (yaar - pal),” complained Punk, “We just graduated.”
They were not ready to face the working world yet, and they didn’t want to think about it.
“We have the rest of our lives to worry about it,” he continued, “Today, I just want to forget about it, enjoy the match and see India win.”
“Or lose,” added Subra.
“We are going to win,” Punk scolded, “but don’t say it aloud and jinx it.”
They all had gathered at Bunty’s house to watch a cricket match between India and Pakistan.
Chapter 13
The News
During fall, after daylight savings time ended and the US set back the clocks an hour, the days became shorter. When it started to get cold, out came the mothballed warm clothes from the closet. The trees began to shed their leaves, and they became barren. It was nearing the end of November, and Thanksgiving was around the corner. Kaahi and Jai had been invited by Jai’s friend, Brian, for Thanksgiving dinner. It being their first Thanksgiving, they had no clue what the custom was.
“What happens at Thanksgiving dinner?” Jai asked Brian one day at the office.
“Well, Thanksgiving is always on the last Thursday of November. People want to spend it with their loved ones. They fly in from all over the US and even abroad to spend time with their families.”
“Families get together in the afternoon and have an elaborate meal. They have the works: turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, and more. Turkey is the center piece of the meal, and the head of the family usually carves the turkey. This meal - more like a feast - goes on till evening,” Brian continued.
“So it’s a holiday where people just get together and eat?” Jai asked.
“No,” Brian laughed. “The significance of Thanksgiving Day stems from the need to display gratitude through prayer and hymns. It originated as a religious community tradition, where the community offered thanks to God for its spiritual and material possessions. However, nowadays, it has become a day for national celebration, festivities, and general gaiety. The most important part of Thanksgiving is the family meal in every home. The whole family gathers at the meal and starts with the saying of grace.”
“Turkey?” Jai winced. “You know that we are vegetarian, right?”
“Of course,” Brian reassured him, “but don’t be alarmed. There will be plenty of vegetarian choices.”
Later that evening, Jai told Kaahi about it.
“We should go. It’ll be fun, and besides, his gesture of inviting us tells us that he considers us family,” he said.
“I agree,” she nodded.
They were sitting on their family room carpet. The backyard door was open. They could hear the waterfall. The wind-chime in the patio jingled. CNN blared on TV in the background. Both, Kaahi and Jai were silent now as they sipped their coffee, and thought about Thanksgiving. They were trying to think if there was any Indian festival like it.
“This just in,” the newscaster’s voice could be heard in the background. “There has been civil unrest in India.”
Upon hearing ‘India,’ Jai looked up. He raised the volume. The newscaster continued, “The situation is very tense, and the news from India is very sketchy. The Indian government has stopped all communications: no phones, no TV, no internet, nothing. It is like someone has turned off a switch to India. We are not getting any news from there. However, our correspondent was able to file a quick report through the internet, before the Indian government shut it down. We will inform you on further developments as soon as we hear something. At this moment, all we know is that there has been unrest in India, and all communications have been stopped.”
Jai and Kaahi were too stunned to react...
Being an Indian
Many Indians, all around the world, take pride in being an Indian.
So, what is being an Indian?
Is it religion? Surely it can’t be, as India is a melting pot of many religions: Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains, Buddhists, Jews, and many more. Would an Indian who was born in India and an Indian who was born in a different country have religion as a common bond? What if they both were Hindus and worshipped the same gods and goddesses, but were from different states? Is Gautam Buddha, who was born in India, and is now worshipped by many more non-Indians, an Indian God?
Is it language? Again, the answer is no, as there are 15 national languages, and over 1,600 dialects. Take a look at the Indian Rupee bill (the Indian currency). Its value is written in all 15 national languages.
Is it the culture and customs? Could be, but it isn’t the only thing, as different states have different customs.
Is it looks and features? Do you see a stranger abroad and assume that he is Indian just because of his looks? What if he is from one of the ‘Seven Sister States’ of India? Many of them have oriental features. Do you assume that he is from an oriental country? Or, he could look like an Indian, but be from one of the neighboring countries.
The Seven Sister States are a region in the northeastern corner of India, comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
What about the millions of Indians who are not in India? What about their kids? What is their identity? They look like Indians, but think like westerners. What about kids from mixed marriages, where one of the parents is an Indian while the other is not. Where do they fit in? Are they Indians or something else? Which custom are they supposed to follow?
Is it the nationality or citizenship? What about all those Indians who now are citizens of different countries? Sure, they are not Indian citizens, but are they not Indians? When there is a catastrophe in India (like the earthquake in Gujarat), Indians all around the world rush to help. What makes them do it?
What is the common thread between a Punjabi from North India and a Tamil from South India? If both of them are Hindus, is it enough? Is it cricket and Bollywood movies? Yes, both are loved by most Indians. However, they are not the only thing. They both are great conversation topics.
If you live in India, the answer is very simple, you are among Indians, but not if you live abroad. Having lived in the US for the past 20 years, the definition of being Indian has been nebulous. My wife and I, like most Indians living abroad, try to instill Indian values in our kids, by sending them to Sunday school to learn our religion and culture. We take them to the cultural shows, musical shows, Indian festivals, etc…trying to hold onto our Indian-ness. We try to teach them cricket, and we take them to see Bollywood movies. Does going to Indian stores for groceries, cooking Indian food, and going to Indian restaurants (and ordering food for our non-Indian friends) make us Indians?
We try hard to hold on to our values, but know that it’s the Law of Diminishing Returns. Whatever we know, we try to pass on to our kids, and they will do the same. Until a few generations from now, there will be nothing to pass on. My great-great-great grandkids will probably say, “Oh yeah! My great-great-great grandfather came from India.”