“Because?” Nanamma prodded, twisting her wrist, palm facing up in a commonly used gesture to form her question, waving it impatiently when he couldn’t answer fast enough.
“Because!” he started, wishing for some brilliant reason to make itself available. “She’s a girl. And I’m a boy.”
He winced even as he said it, the voice in his head cackling at how lame he was being. He was tired. And the shock of finding Aditi under him hadn’t worn off. That’s why he couldn’t form a better argument, he decided. This was not his fault, it was hers.
“She’s a girl,” Nanamma repeated, watching him with an impassive look.
He nodded.
“You’re a boy,” she deadpanned.
He nodded again.
Nanamma clicked her tongue.
“That’s your reason?”
Rian felt his ears heat. He knew he sounded silly, but he couldn’t take it back.
Nanamma’s deep sigh was that of an old woman about to embark upon the uphill journey of trying to understand a fool.
“I didn’t need gender lessons,kanna. It's almost 2:00 a.m. I’m an old woman and I need to sleep. Can you please tell me properly what the problem is?”
He scratched his head for a second, letting out a breath before trying again. He held her hand and brought her with him, sitting her down in an armchair before kneeling in front of her.
“Nanamma, how can you be okay with a girl living in the same house as me? I’m an unmarried man.” He pointed to himself, widening his eyes in mock horror at their situation. “She’s an unmarried woman. What will society say?”
He held his grandmother’s gaze, trying not to cringe. If his friends saw him like this, they would lose all respect. Not that he was making himself proud right now, but at least his embarrassment was private.
He saw Nanamma’s face scrunch in thought. Slowly, she brought a hand up to gently cup his cheek. He tilted his lips downwards in a small frown, a picture of troubled innocence. Without a warning, she smacked him lightly, surprising him.
He shot up, dramatically holding onto his cheek, the shock of her reaction having hurt more than the gentle tap.
“Did you eat one of those Korean dramas you like for dinner? I will slap these stupid dialogues out of you, Rian. What will society say?” she mocked, picking the edge of her pallu and wrapping it over herself like a shawl before sitting back and assuming a stance befitting a mob boss.
Dammit, he’d thought his reason was genius. He should have known Chitra Shetty was not cowed by society’s wagging tongues. He pouted as he rubbed his cheek. The judgement on his K-dramas was a low blow.
Nanamma shook her head. “Kanna, I don’t understand you. I’m not telling you to live in the same bedroom. I don’t see a problem.”
Rian’s eyes narrowed at her nonchalance. “This is not an attempt to fix me up with a woman, right? It’s taking it a bit far, bringing a girl to live under the same roof as me.”
Nanamma tilted her head, pursing her lips thoughtfully. “It's not a bad idea. Youarethirty.”
“I'monlythirty.”
“Perfect age gap with Adi. I'm not averse to setting it up if you're interested. She’d make a great granddaughter-in-law. I really like her."
"I don’t,” he cut in shortly, walking backwards towards his bed.
"Are you sure? She’s a doctor.”
“I can afford to pay for medical services without having to marry a doctor,” he dryly stated, shucking his jacket off and throwing it carelessly atop his mattress.
“You seemed very friendly when I entered the room, or am I meant to forget that I found you on top of her?” Nanamma accused, holding back a snort at the way her grandson spun around to face her, jaw hanging.
“We were almost killing each other!” he insisted, pointing in a general outward direction. “I was surprised to find a girl in the house! And she thought I was a thief! I'm not interested in her. I’m not interested in marrying anyone!”
“I know, Rian,” she accepted with a disgruntled sigh. When she stood up and glanced at him, he saw signs of sadness that made his guilt stir up once more. “Though I am still going to hope and pray that I get to see my great-grandchildren before I leave this earth,” his grandmother continued, “I don’t expect you to marry Adi.”