Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Author:Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction.Contemporary, Modern, fiction
ISBN: 9780061922312
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: 2010-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

34

BROTHER AND SISTER

Mumbai, India—2004

ASHA

ON HER FIRST MORNING IN MUMBAI, ASHA WAKES EARLIER than she would prefer to the sounds of the household coming to life. She pulls on her yoga pants from the plane and shuffles out to the main room she passed through briefly the night before. An old woman dressed in a crisp green sari sits at the dining table, drinking from a teacup.

“Good morning,” Asha says.

“Ah, Asha beti! Good morning.” The old woman stands up to greet her. “Look at you,” she says, taking both of Asha’s hands in hers. “I hardly recognize you, you’ve grown so much. Do you know me, beti? Your father’s mother. Your grandmother. Dadima.”

Dadima is taller than she expected, with impeccable posture. Her face is soft and lined, and her gray hair is pulled into a large bun at the nape of her neck. She wears several thin gold bangles on each wrist, which jangle whenever she moves. Asha is a little unsure how to greet her, but before she can think about it, Dadima pulls her into her arms. Her embrace is warm and comforting and lasts for several moments.

“Come, sit, have some tea. What will you take for breakfast?” Dadima leads Asha by the arm over to the table.

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