Sarayu navigates family expectations in India
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In India, Sarayu and her mother arrived for an extended visit and moved into a new apartment, joining relatives including her maternal aunt and grandmother.
Sarayu quickly bonded with Anita akka, a woman who helped her with schoolwork and introduced her to local cuisine from Bengaluru. While Sarayu enjoyed sharing her experiences with friends back in Malvern through social media, she encountered differing expectations regarding appropriate attire.
Sarayu’s maternal grandmother, Nani ma, disapproved of her playing in the sun and openly criticized her darker skin tone, using the word “kaali.” Sarayu anticipated these visits would be difficult, as her grandmother favored Sarayu’s uncle. The family prioritized making Sarayu feel welcome with food and attention, contrasting with her cousin Viveka’s disinterest in family traditions.
When Sarayu prepared to go swimming, Anita akka expressed concern about her two-piece swimsuit, explaining that girls in India typically wear more coverage at the pool. Sarayu, accustomed to different norms in the United States, felt embarrassed and changed into shorts and a t-shirt. Feeling isolated, she turned to a creative project, making a stop-motion animation of her former classmates, to cope with her emotions and homesickness.
