From: Kamal E Y [email protected]>

To: Sabrina [email protected] >

Sent: 11 April, 2000 07:03 PM

Subject: living together

My honey,

I have always been thinking of a way to tell my parents about our relationship. It is not only the age, you know. Different countries, different languages. I think language is a very important factor for them. If you were from my state and 7 years elder, I could have easily convinced my parents. And I know it is extremely difficult for you to learn our language. Oh, I don't know, why we have so many things between us. I wish I was born in some other western country, so there would not be any fuss about marriage.

After marriage, you may have to live with my parents. You know it is the custom there. No one will ever forgive me if we don't do that. If I could get them away from India and live in some other country, we have a chance. That was what I was thinking of yesterday. I think first I have to do that. If we all live away from India...but for that also, I have to find a high paying job somewhere. Only then can I move my parents there.

You may think it is nonsense to make such a fuss over parents. But it is the way we were brought up by our society and our culture. I have secretly envied your "I don't care" attitude. How I wish I could be like that.

The joke you sent me was good. But if I had told you this joke in our room, you will also ask "why?" Then I might have to explain it. Jokes are better to read, right?

And about cooking, when I mix the rice with chicken, the rice should be cooked or raw? If it is raw, then how will it be after frying? How long it usually takes to fry the rice? Anyway, I will go to it today.

Nights are becoming very lonely without you. Days, at least I can work, but evenings, sitting near the balcony and talking and watching TV and the planes going in the sky...I have put the curtains back so that I cannot see the sky. If I see the sky from there, I will feel lonely...love you very much.

Love

Kamal