Brinda the Goddess

Two evenings later Anthony again received a message from Brinda Ambani in which she urged Anthony not to disclose they were connected through his Messenger page. She explained there were those in the extended Ambani family who were very conservative and while there was nothing wrong with them being connected through Messenger these conservative family members could make her parents life miserable but the girls wanted to continue the connection as it would give Brinda some insights into the culture of Australia through Anthony’s eyes and Jay had given a good report about him and his family. Brinda felt it better not to tell Jay as this would put him in the bad graces of these conservative family members if they knew he had approved these contacts, and elder brother was one with conservative ideas. Anthony didn’t understand why but he said he’d honour Brinda’s wishes.

Having been assured the girls secret was safe with him Brinda began a regular contact with Anthony. She asked many questions about Australia. What women her age were wearing, where they went and if they had to be supervised when they did. What kind of foods were available. Was there any prejudice against Indians she would have to face when she arrived the following year because she was not white. Anthony assured her Australia was now a mix of cultures, and almost half of the population of the country had been born overseas so she should feel quite at ease here and could move about freely. Jay would be here to look after her and the Martin family would also be available to help her in the event, she ever needed assistance.

Brinda was impressed Anthony hadn’t been insulted by them calling him a white monkey in fun or suggesting he needed a good suntan to be friendly with the Ambani’s. Instead of white monkey she was now officially naming him Hanuman as this was the monkey god valued by all Hindus. Anthony assured her humour was well appreciated in this country and was quite happy to be elevated to that god status as Hanuman. He’d no longer be required to offer her puja as Brinda goddess because this placed him on an equal level now. He also received infrequent messages from Hetvi who now viewed him as an extended member of the family as she learned Jay and he were such good friends.

Anthony had long ago talked with his parents about Jay’s suggestion he join him occupying the second bedroom reserved for Brinda’s eventual study program in the following year and he’d moved in with their blessings. It was much more convenient to walk to the university than to commute from Wahroonga. On weekends or holidays Jay was a guest in the Martin residence and Thomas and June made him feel welcome when he came. Anthony always protected both Brinda and Hetvi’s request by only responding to them in the privacy of his own room so Jay would not be compromised.

After getting special permission from the University and agreeing to their conditions for the celebration of religious commitments or essential beliefs Jay made a hasty trip to Ahmedabad to celebrate Raksha Bandan leaving Anthony to look after the apartment by himself. Jay tried to explain the significance of the celebration but eventually referred Anthony to the web where a complete explanation would make it plainer for him to understand. He was not there long and arrived back in Sydney looking tired after celebrating with family and wearing the Rakhi or the knot of protection on his wrist provided by his sisters and the mark placed on his forehead. He was committed to the protection of his sisters through accepting this gift and had given his gifts in return. He went straight to bed when Anthony delivered him home from the airport. Jay was not his usual self and not very communicative.

Next morning he emerged from his room ready for the day’s activities at the university. He was still subdued as he ate breakfast prepared for him by Anthony. Eventually he looked up and sighed.

“Anthony, you’ve betrayed me, and I don’t know whether I can trust you again.”

Anthony stood in surprise.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about Jay. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve done nothing to betray you, so you owe me an explanation. I suppose if you feel that way I’ll regretfully move my things back home after classes finish this afternoon. I’ll continue to view you as a friend but obviously you feel differently for some reason.”

Jay averted his eyes and thought for a moment.

“Don’t move out Anthony. My sisters confessed to me they’ve been in touch with you since we met months ago and you didn’t tell me that. It was very unwise of them to do that and now I know I’m supposed to share this with my parents. My parents would be very angry with me if they learned about my sisters in correspondence with a man and particularly one known to me, my parents didn’t know. It’s not the way our community functions in India. It’s not a problem for me that you and my sisters are in communication, but it would be for my parents. My elder brother Gaurav is already objecting to Brinda coming to Australia and has fought with father about it. He feels Brinda can do her postgraduate work in India and then be married off and he can be quite aggressive.

It had been arranged for Gaurav to marry the daughter of an industrialist Indian living in New York but at the last minute the family married their daughter to someone else. Gaurav was still very angry about that and creating problems within the family. If he found out about this correspondence between the sisters and Anthony, he’ll spoil her chances, and Jay was looking forward to her being with him next year as we were very close. He spoke.

“Please be up front with me in future Anthony.”

“So, what do you want me to do Jay? I don’t understand how these things work in your culture, but I value your friendship.”

“We’ll just let things stand as they are but please be extra careful if they write to you as I don’t want to see Brinda denied the chance to come here next year and don’t do this in secret anymore. Brinda would be very upset with me if I informed my parents about you and she and Hetvi corresponding. In a way I’m glad they like you too, but this could be a ticking time bomb if Gaurav finds out. Now let’s get to the university or we’ll be late, and I’ve got some catching up to do. I need access to the notes you took too while I was away.”

So, the sisters continued to correspond with Anthony through the rest of the year and locked their profiles so only their closest friends were able to access them. While they didn’t share family politics with Anthony and their correspondence was confined to learning about Australian culture, they did keep Jay informed about the war in the family with Gaurav fighting not only with his father but his uncles and male cousins who were partners in managing the Ambani empire. Eventually it came to a head toward the end of the year, and Gaurav was once again connected with an Indian family in the US arranging a marriage for him. This time the marriage to Radha Mehta proceeded and was a big event within the Indian diaspora in the US as the Mehta family operated multiple companies through their family holding company. The Ambani family were relieved to see him leave India.

Gaurav was given a job by his in-laws and moved to the US to the relief of the Ambani extended family. Chandrakant Ambani encouraged Jay to move as quickly as possible to finish his MBA as the departure of Gaurav had left a gap in administration which they had to temporarily fill with someone from outside the Ambani family waiting for Jay’s return.

But Gaurav continued to be angry with his relatives. They were shocked to learn a year later Gaurav was now printing his calling card under the name Gaurav Mehta and wondered if he’d changed his surname officially. This was highly insulting to the Ambani clan. Gaurav had been tried out on several projects by his in laws and they were delighted to find him eminently qualified and ruthless in his dealings. He was proficient in finding competitor companies to those the Mehta’s owned and working his magic in bringing them down in a takeover then dismantling them and selling off the assets, so they’d no longer be a competitor. The fact that hundreds lost their jobs in the process was of no concern to Gaurav. Naturally this was beneficial to the Mehta family in that they could now raise product prices with that competition eliminated. While the Mehta family were enamoured with this recruit, they determined to watch him very closely and put limits on his authority. Perhaps he’d be a danger to the control of their own interests if not carefully managed as they observed his wife Radha was equally as ruthless and loyal to him.

Anthony and Jay had now completed the two semesters of their first year at the University of Sydney and each were scoring high in their studies. There was a little bit of competition between the two friends. Anthony had outscored Jay in the first semester, so Jay put his heart and soul into the second semester and emerged the winner for that semester. It was all good-natured competition and the two had bonded well as friends during the year.

Brinda had now firmed up her arrival plans and had acceptance at the university in hand and her visa application approved. Anthony would move back to Wahroonga prior to her arrival in February next year and pick her up with Jay from the Sydney airport on her arrival and see her settled. Jay had no interest in purchasing a car as he felt this would tempt him to travel around and this could affect his studies he was totally committed to. He’d rely on his friendship with Anthony to get him places not within walking or commuting distance if necessary.

February came at last and both young adults had purchased their books for the coming semester scanned through them and enjoyed the Christmas holidays with the Martin family. They’d all flown north for a holiday together in Cairns Northern Queensland so they could spend time inspecting the Great Barrier Reef and Jay had enjoyed himself immensely. He was now treated like a fourth son by the Martin’s.

Now it was time to receive Brinda Ambani and move her into the apartment occupied by her brother near the university. Anthony was not looking forward to the extra commute to get the university this year but curious to meet the woman who he’d been in regular correspondence within the past year.

They were there at the waiting area for a long time and Jay was beginning to worry about his sister as many from that flight had already appeared and been met. Eventually she appeared looking flustered and anxious. Jay rushed to receive her luggage and embrace her, and Anthony was not far behind to lend a hand. Apparently, the delay had been caused when Brinda had forgotten about some food in her carry on which had not been declared and that had caused a complete search of her luggage in customs. She was fortunate to be released with a warning and confiscation of the food items. This had been unsettling for her.

Jay held her at a distance and examined her closely then embraced her tightly. It was obvious this was a close family. Anthony grabbed the suitcase and hand luggage and turned to head for the parking complex but Jay catching that movement through his peripheral vision shouted out to his friend.

“Come and meet Brinoo Anthony!”

Anthony smiled at the endearing term Jay used for his sister and paused waiting for them to catch up. Brinda unwound herself from her brother and strode toward Anthony. She hugged him to the surprise of her brother. This would never be appropriate in India.

“So, Hanuman am I that ugly that you wanted to flee with the luggage when you saw me arrive? I guess that means I’m safe from your cooking pot. Hetvi says I should buy some varnish and make you an appropriate colour to mix with the Ambani clan.”

Anthony was surprised at the hug. From what he’d heard about the strict cultural taboos to be respected between men and women in India it was the last thing he expected but he was happy she did as he felt close to the Ambani family after a year of friendship with Jay. He knew his parents would quickly warm to this woman too when they met her.

“Well Brinda after having to tolerate your less than handsome brother for a year I had low expectations but in fact you’re very beautiful, and I think that will keep you out of the cooking pot. Thanks for accepting me as family. I didn’t expect that. As I recall my limited Hindi, I should say aap bahut sundar hain.”

Brinda laughed.

“Your accent in Hindi needs some work but not bad and thanks for the complement but it would have sounded better in Gujarati. Try and say tame khub sundar cho.”

Anthony shrugged and picked up the luggage again heading for the car parking lot followed by brother and sister once again wrapped around each other.

As they drove home with luggage piled in the passenger’s seat and secured with a seat belt Jay and Brinda sat in the back seat chatting animatedly in Gujarati while Anthony concentrated on the road. Eventually they arrived at the apartment and Anthony parked and began to unsecure the luggage ready for taking up to the room. Jay rushed around to take the heavy suitcase and Anthony took the hand luggage. They entered the apartment and left the luggage in Brinda’s room. She inspected it excitedly.                             

“Pitaji really excelled himself when he bought this apartment for you Jay. I like it! Of course, I’ll have to perform puja to cleanse the room after it was occupied by a videshi for a while, but I suppose it will be OK since he’s been renamed Hanuman and that should be adequate cleansing by itself.”

Anthony laughed. He liked Brinda’s cheek and humour and felt attracted to her now she was with them. He spoke.

“I’ve left some of the Anthony from my previous life in hidden places in that room, so you better perform your puja.”

He then excused himself and headed for Wahroonga and home after promising to return next day and take both on a tour around the sights of Sydney and share a meal with them before returning home at the end of the day. He decided to bring his brother James to entertain them while they toured if he could persuade him to take the time off.

That evening as he sat in his room reviewing books that would be important during the coming semester his iPhone chimed to inform him there was a message. He opened the phone to view this message, and it was from Brinda thanking him for bringing Jay to the airport to meet her and helping get her settled. She said she’d been looking forward to meeting him as she felt they’d bonded during the previous year of correspondence. She had something to give him but while it would normally be worn in India it would not have the same cultural significance in Australia, she wanted him to keep it a secret as her brother would misunderstand, and her parents would be furious. It was a Rakhi and while he couldn’t wear it because of cultural reasons he wouldn’t understand she wanted him to keep it in a place where he could see it occasionally and realize its significance between them. A wave of pleasure and anticipation flowed through him, and he recalled that a gift in return would be appropriate.

Tomorrow, he’d buy her something Australian to take back with her to India to remember her time here when she’d finished her studies. Perhaps a stuffed koala bear that played an Australian song? He put the books aside and lay on his bed thinking of what was appropriate to buy. Next day he and James visited a tourist shop on their way to pick up Jay and Brinda and found a koala that played an appropriate song then they headed to the apartment for a day out with their Indian friends. On arriving Anthony presented this gift to Brinda as a welcome to Australia to the approving nod of his friend Jay. But Brinda knew this was not a welcome to Australia gift it was a reciprocal gift for the Rakhi she’d present to him when they were alone sometime, and she could deliver it to him in secret. She was sorry culture would prevent him from openly wearing it. Several days later she had that opportunity and put it into his knapsack reminding him in a whisper it was their secret.

To be continued.

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