02-12-2020, 09:09 AM
I also came to know that Gabi used to work as a part-time teacher in a college for kids from the slums - back in Brazil. She taught Portuguese grammar and composition. Her students were not like the regular college kids - they were mostly poor and tough and had seen extremely hard lives. Many of them were offspring of junkie parents, many were on drugs themselves, and many were not even kids. To teach them, Gabi herself became tough. I asked her to teach me Portuguese whenever she found time.
Gabi smiled at this proposal, "Sure, if you want."
I nodded, "Yeah, I do!"
And thus it began. Whenever we have free time, I would ask her, "How do you call that?" and she would patiently describe the pronunciation and enunciation. If I got that wrong, she would ask me to repeat it - even several times. I started to refer to her as my professor.
Whenever I said that, she would laugh and correct me, "Profesora, honey! I am a woman."
Anyway, in six months’ time, Gabi got nicely settled in her new surroundings and her academic program, which thankfully started to relax. So, we were now able to add more activities in our schedules. We would go jogging together, shop for vegetables & fruits from the local farmers’ market, visit temples (she really liked visiting temples), and on weekends, we went for long drives outside of the city.
As I said earlier, my parents were very open-minded and tolerant people. So, I told them that about Gabi and that she was staying with me. They did not say anything positive or negative about this; just told me to keep safe. In our phone conversations, they always asked about her. Gabi knew this and sometimes asked me to allow her to talk to my parents. I don’t know why I never did that! Perhaps at the back of my mind, I was not sure about her. Perhaps I was afraid that my parents would not like her or maybe they even reject her! Anyway, I thought it was best that they met in person first - telephonic conversation could happen later.
The first time my parents visited us was during Dussehra festival. That my parents were curious and happy meeting Gabi is an understatement. They simply loved her. Ma and Gabi developed an almost instant liking for each other. Dad too seemed to like her… he is anyway not too expressive of his feelings to new people, but you can read his feelings for someone on his face. There were no less than a thousand questions that my parents shot at me, and at Gabi. They really wanted to know whether, and when they were going to get a Brazilian daughter-in-law! I told them that it was highly likely. Gabi too said the same thing. Coming together and living with each other was the logical step in that direction. My parents were delighted hearing this! I was surprised at their reaction!! I thought they might discourage us from living together before marriage.
The second time they visited us was during Diwali festival, which happens after twenty days of Dussehra. We had not had a vacation in a long time, so we decided that Diwali would be when we will do that. My office had a couple of days of vacation declared and I applied for a few days of leave. Gabi too had easier few days around Diwali. Dad too applied for a rare leave from his office. My parents came because we were planning a vacation out of the city, and my city was more conveniently located for that trip. While we celebrate many festivals, even from other religions (who can say no to tasty food!), Diwali has always been a biggie for us, as no other festival seems to match its beauty and fervor. All those colors, lights, and sweets; what can beat such a festive celebration?
They arrived on the Diwali morning, and immediately started fussing about my laziness. I was to do the lighting decorations, and arrangements for evening pooja, and I did neither. Kajal was on leave today, so nothing was cooked. But Gabi took to herself to prepare breakfast for my parents - she made Aloo Parathas and Tea for all of us. Ma was overjoyed to say the least! Even in her dreams, she could not have imagined that Gabi could do all that! In Gabi, she already started to see her ideal daughter-in-law.
After breakfast, I was unceremoniously thrown out of the house to purchase all the needful things. So, I went to the nearby market to purchase Diwali lightings, candles, diyas, vegetables, flowers, milk, paneer, and sweets. When I returned after about two hours, I immersed myself in doing the decorations. My father conveniently excused himself from that menials’ task. By the time I was finished, I had put garlands (toran) on the various doors, lightings wherever humanly possible, candles and diyas tastefully put across the house. We were ready for Diwali. It was already lunchtime. Ma took care of lunch herself, with Gabi as an able assistant. It had to be light lunch for a bigger feast for dinner. Gabi was working as an eager assistant to her and my father was sleeping (apparently, he was too tired)!
Gabi smiled at this proposal, "Sure, if you want."
I nodded, "Yeah, I do!"
And thus it began. Whenever we have free time, I would ask her, "How do you call that?" and she would patiently describe the pronunciation and enunciation. If I got that wrong, she would ask me to repeat it - even several times. I started to refer to her as my professor.
Whenever I said that, she would laugh and correct me, "Profesora, honey! I am a woman."
Anyway, in six months’ time, Gabi got nicely settled in her new surroundings and her academic program, which thankfully started to relax. So, we were now able to add more activities in our schedules. We would go jogging together, shop for vegetables & fruits from the local farmers’ market, visit temples (she really liked visiting temples), and on weekends, we went for long drives outside of the city.
As I said earlier, my parents were very open-minded and tolerant people. So, I told them that about Gabi and that she was staying with me. They did not say anything positive or negative about this; just told me to keep safe. In our phone conversations, they always asked about her. Gabi knew this and sometimes asked me to allow her to talk to my parents. I don’t know why I never did that! Perhaps at the back of my mind, I was not sure about her. Perhaps I was afraid that my parents would not like her or maybe they even reject her! Anyway, I thought it was best that they met in person first - telephonic conversation could happen later.
The first time my parents visited us was during Dussehra festival. That my parents were curious and happy meeting Gabi is an understatement. They simply loved her. Ma and Gabi developed an almost instant liking for each other. Dad too seemed to like her… he is anyway not too expressive of his feelings to new people, but you can read his feelings for someone on his face. There were no less than a thousand questions that my parents shot at me, and at Gabi. They really wanted to know whether, and when they were going to get a Brazilian daughter-in-law! I told them that it was highly likely. Gabi too said the same thing. Coming together and living with each other was the logical step in that direction. My parents were delighted hearing this! I was surprised at their reaction!! I thought they might discourage us from living together before marriage.
The second time they visited us was during Diwali festival, which happens after twenty days of Dussehra. We had not had a vacation in a long time, so we decided that Diwali would be when we will do that. My office had a couple of days of vacation declared and I applied for a few days of leave. Gabi too had easier few days around Diwali. Dad too applied for a rare leave from his office. My parents came because we were planning a vacation out of the city, and my city was more conveniently located for that trip. While we celebrate many festivals, even from other religions (who can say no to tasty food!), Diwali has always been a biggie for us, as no other festival seems to match its beauty and fervor. All those colors, lights, and sweets; what can beat such a festive celebration?
They arrived on the Diwali morning, and immediately started fussing about my laziness. I was to do the lighting decorations, and arrangements for evening pooja, and I did neither. Kajal was on leave today, so nothing was cooked. But Gabi took to herself to prepare breakfast for my parents - she made Aloo Parathas and Tea for all of us. Ma was overjoyed to say the least! Even in her dreams, she could not have imagined that Gabi could do all that! In Gabi, she already started to see her ideal daughter-in-law.
After breakfast, I was unceremoniously thrown out of the house to purchase all the needful things. So, I went to the nearby market to purchase Diwali lightings, candles, diyas, vegetables, flowers, milk, paneer, and sweets. When I returned after about two hours, I immersed myself in doing the decorations. My father conveniently excused himself from that menials’ task. By the time I was finished, I had put garlands (toran) on the various doors, lightings wherever humanly possible, candles and diyas tastefully put across the house. We were ready for Diwali. It was already lunchtime. Ma took care of lunch herself, with Gabi as an able assistant. It had to be light lunch for a bigger feast for dinner. Gabi was working as an eager assistant to her and my father was sleeping (apparently, he was too tired)!
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