Chapter Text
Connie laid on her bed eagerly flipping the next page of her book, what a cool heroine I want to be just like her! she thought to herself. Before she could continue reading her mother called out,
“Connie! Your cousin Anjana is here!”
Connie poked her head out of her book and ran downstairs excitedly to the living room, Anjana and her parents were sleeping over. Their living room was well furnished with two accent tears, a loveseat, a nice black sleek coffee table, lamps for good lighting, a plasma tv, couple of family photos along the wall like Connie’s graduation picture, and a display that held fine china Connie’s mom loved.
“Hello everyone!” Connie grinned as she went over to hug Anjana and her parents!
Her father joined the guests and entertained them with small talk of the current economy, weather, and how work was. Connie in the meantime joined her mother to help her carry trays to the guests full of tea (tea), biscuits, and Indian mittai (sweets). Connie’s mom joined in on the conversation sitting with a warm smile towards her sister as Connie sat next to her, “how has everything been sister?”
Her sister perked up, “Everything has been well, Anjana has gotten into college!”
Both of Connie’s parents cheered in excitement,
“What will you major in”?
“How is the financial aid?”
“Be sure to keep in touch,okay?”
Anjana beamed, “haha oh auntie and uncle. I’m thinking of computer science and yes the financial aid is great! I will come to visit during breaks don’t worry!”
Wow college, huh? Connie thought in amazement. It hit her, Anjana was a lot older than her and memories of five year old her and younger Anjana played back in her.
Connie took a sip of her tea looking up when her auntie addressed her chuckling, “Connie! From the looks of it the sun has made you more darker? You should use Fair and Lovely, Anjana’s skin has gotten so much lighter and beautiful with it”
Connie almost choked on her sip as she gulped it down nervously looking at her arms. Yes maybe they had gotten darker but what was the problem? Knowing she couldn’t leave her unanswered Connie nervously laughed back, “The sun usually makes you tanner in the summer auntie” She glanced at Anjana’s fair skin.
Completely disregarding her response her uncle chimed in, “how has your summer Connie?”
Connie smiled, her summer had been great so far, she got to hang out with Steven and the Crystal Gems, got to ride lion, learn how to sword fight, go on her first missi- wait she couldn’t say that. It’s not the proper response a desi girl would give.
She gathered her words, “It’s been okay! I went to the library the other day I want to get a head start before school starts you know!
“Good job Connie, studies are important!”
“Yeah I went with my friend Steven and he’s never-”
“Steven?” Her auntie cocked her head.
Connie could feel her mother’s burning eyes on her. I didn’t mean to say that I’m sorry. Although she had no interest in a boyfriend, she knew explaining about Steven and their friendship would do more harm than good.
Her father cleared her throat, “Well let me show the backyard, the weather is nice today we may as well continue our conversation outside”, everyone except Connie got up and followed.
Connie dipped a biscuit in her cup of tea and took a bite only to get the opposite of what she wished for, a cold stale piece sat in her mouth. She swallowed sighing as she stared at her cup of tea.