April 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge- Chapter 3- Chalk and Cheese

I'll Be There Beside You

Chapter 3

Today’s Idiom – Chalk and cheese

Meaning- This idiom is used to compare things or people with nothing in common.

I noticed that Lalitha avoided looking at me as she answered questions from my mother and my sister.

“Why don’t we allow Lalitha and Sudhir to talk to each other in private? I’m sure that they’d having a lot of questions”, my mother piped up.

Bala uncle looked annoyed as he said “Padmini akka, don’t you think it’s wrong for a girl and a boy to meet in private before marriage?”

I looked stupefied. I couldn’t believe that Bala uncle had such archaic thoughts even in this modern age. How would his daughter choose the right life partner for herself if she didn’t get a chance to speak to the boy before marriage?

“I understand your sentiments but I believe that the decision to marry or not should be left to Sudhir and Lalitha. Let them get to know each other and decide if they are compatible and if they think that they are correct life partners for each other then we should take things further. After all it’s their life. I don’t want to be held responsible for forcing my decision upon Sudhir”, my mother replied with a smile on her face.

Bala uncle was about to retort back when his wife placed a hand on his shoulders and stopped him.

“Yes, I think they should discuss and then come to a decision. Rashmi can accompany Lalitha and Shilpa can go along with Sudhir.” Asha aunty tried to control the situation and ushered us to the terrace before her husband could change his mind. While following Shilpa up the stairs. I pondered at the difference between my mother’s and Bala uncle’s thoughts. Their attitudes were as different as chalk and cheese. Being a single, independent woman had made my mother more strong and liberated. I felt a sudden surge of pride and love towards her. I wondered about her opinions of Lalitha.

Rashmi, who was Lalitha’s first cousin, stopped near the two deck chairs placed under a canopy and looked at us. “Why don’t you two sit here and talk? We’ll be right over there.” The two ladies sauntered over to the other side leaving Lalitha and me alone.

I didn’t know how to initiate a conversation and Lalitha sat morosely looking down at her feet.

“What are your hobbies?” I asked although it seemed like the most mundane question to start a conversation. But Lalitha did not mind, for her eyes lit up as she looked around the small but bright and colorful garden around us.

You can read the previous chapters here-
Chapter 1

Chapter 2