Hita - Anita Claire Page 0,14
long before we’re shown to a table. Anil sits between Carter and me. As he asks me my name again, I realize that he has a great jaw line, nice white teeth, and a very proper British accent. The conversation devolves into something my alcohol befuddled mind has no idea about since two margaritas makes everything kind of funny. At one point Stephan condescendingly tries to make a point with Sam.
Anil leans his head over and whispers to me, “Fancies himself a bit, don't he?”
It’s such a perfect analysis of Stephan, and Anil definitely is not taken in by his British accent. I look Anil up and down again giving him a big point for sharing my view of Stephan.
Chapter 13 – Dating Anil
The next time Savi and I Skype she tells me, “My mom is busy arranging teas.”
“Yeah, I thought she was acting uncharacteristically cool. I’m glad I live two thousand miles away.”
“Living at home sounded so convenient, but now I’m thinking it might have been a mistake. I have no interest in my mom’s meddling.”
“I love my mom, but it is not a coincidence that I live two thousand miles away. If I lived at home the way you do, I don’t know how long I could fight her off.”
“I think what I fear more than getting married to some guy I don’t know, is their medaling mother and all the family obligations.”
I nod, thinking how nice it is having Savi’s friendship since none of the princesses understand the pressure I’m under from my family.
***
Surprisingly, I get a text from Anil, the guy that Carter brought to dinner last week. I didn’t think about him at all after dinner was over. As I stare at the text I wonder how traditional British Indians are. I figure the bigger the city, the more modern the Indian. London is a rather big city, but then again it has a really large Indian population. His comment did nail Stephan, and anyway, it doesn’t sound like his mom is coming on the date. I decide to respond back with, Sure, dinner sounds great. Now I’m wondering where he’s going to take me.
Kristi is bummed that I’m not joining her at Game Kastle on Saturday. We’ve gone the last couple of weeks. I paid seventy-five dollars for a Warhammer set, and Brian and Tim keep playing with us. After telling Kristi to give them my regards, I sit on my bed and fret about what to wear. I don’t know if I should be wearing one of the sun dresses I bought when my mom was in town or jeans. Finally, I decide to wear jeans. I’ll dress my outfit up by wearing sandals instead of my typical sneakers. Since I’m five ten, I always feel like I rise above everyone’s head giving me a great excuse never to wear heels. If he’s real dressed up, I can always change into a sundress.
Anil picks me up on time, thankfully he’s wearing jeans, sneakers, and a polo shirt with the Apple logo on it. I didn’t really pay attention to how tall he was last week. I always find it awkward dancing with guys shorter than me. Though, being tall has given me a great way to reject a bunch of guys my mom had me meet after I graduated. Luckily Anil must be at least six one.
Checking him out I say, “You look a lot more like an engineer tonight then you did last Friday.”
He flashes me a really nice white smile before answering. “I was meeting with the money guys. I wanted to look responsible.”
As I lock up and we head to his car, I sarcastically ask, “Are you responsible?”
He flashes me another bright white smile while nodding his head. “With this round of funding I’m feeling very responsible.”
As he opens the car door for me he says, “With the last name of Chamarthi, I assume you’re a vegetarian.”
I must flash him a surprised look as he tells me, “My mother’s family is from Tirupati. There are a lot of Chamarthi’s there.”
Surprised that from my last name he figured out where my family is from, I realize that since I left Chicago I’ve been with so few Indians I forget how much an Indian will know about you from your last name.
Finally I respond with, “Actually my dad’s family is originally from Kadapa. Both of my parents were born in Delhi.”
“Did they have a traditional marriage?”
Knowing that he means an arranged marriage,