Page 2 - Letter to Indian Parents.pdf

Dear Indian parents, that now you look at me with
disapproval when I say that I want to
I know that you miss your daughters and
race, and you laugh at me when I want to
you care about them deeply. Before I
win. You tell me that being in the sun
begin, I want to thank you for lavishing
makes girls dark, and that no man wants
love on me, and to tell you that we know
to marry a girl who runs around in shorts
that everything that you have done for me, publicly.
and all the protection that you have given

me is because you care about me deeply
and greatly. I know that me, your daughter
is probably your most prized possession
in the world (maybe even more than my
brothers, your sons).

Mummy and Papa, your biggest concern

for me, since the day I turned 18, has
been my marriage. Since the day that I
left home for college, your interest in my
marks, in my hobbies, and in my job

prospects began to wane, and
suddenly—too suddenly—the concern
turned to marriage. When I came home
for my holidays, instead of insisting that I I know that you want me to settle down. I

study for exams, or take extra classes, I know that you were happy but also sad
was whisked from one family friend's when I got my MBA from a top school. I
house to another, I was taken to buy know that after my MBA you badly wanted

jewelry and to buy saris, and I was taken me to get married, to say yes to one of the
for regular de-tan facials to make me many matches you had so painstakingly
fairer for my upcoming marriage. In the made for me. I know that you were so
beginning, all this was fun but after a desperate for me to get married that you
while, it got tiring… and annoying too. I were even open to love marriage.

wanted things to go back to the way that Mummy, I know you had my best interest
they were in the old days—I wanted you at heart when you asked me whether I
to bug me about my marks or shout at me had a boyfriend. Yes Mummy, I was never

for doing poorly on my exams. I wanted comfortable telling you, but there were
you to once again encourage me to win always boyfriends. Still, my career
the races I used to run. It pains me remained my priority above anything

P.G. Better Living