Conversation

Part of a conversation with an american lady...age 60...working for some security company,.....used to be a truck driver...

Location: Mcdonald's

You are from India?
Yes
Ok. You must have had an arranged marriage
mmm...No
Ah, thats surprising. You are the first Indian woman i am meeting who has not had an Arranged marriage.
Is that so? Surprising.
You know, I saw a documentary about India. Small kids are married off....8,9,10. Is that true?
Sadly, it is still a reality in remote parts of the country. But not in cities.
Ya, i heard the cities are getting Americanised?
Americanised? Modernised you mean to say? Yes they are..
And if the in-laws don't like a girl, they just beat her up?
It does happen. But the woman stands up and fights. Education is making a difference. Women's lib is catching up...or the female empowerment as they say here in US.

My daughter finished her fries by this time and started chatting up...in marathi

What language is that?
Thats Marathi
Ah, does she speak American?
American?? err. she understands, but does not speak.(me in my mind - I thought the Americans spoke English?
U plan to send her to a pre-school?
Yes, Of course
Good, they will teach her American there....Then she will teach you as well.
@#@#@#mmmm...Thanks....(Again in my mind : I was talking to u in AMERICAN all this while? Wasn't I?)

As we take her leave, the matter for this post is ready in my mind...:-)