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‘Tell Mum that I’ve got nothing valuable to steal,’ Nikki said. ‘She’ll say you have your decency to protect.’ ‘Too late. Already taken. Andrew Forrest’s party after the year eleven prom.’
In traditional Indian morality tales, wayward children were the primary cause of heart conditions, cancerous lumps, hair loss and other ailments in their aggrieved parents.
Master of guilt tripping
It would be easier to be a criminal fairly prosecuted by the law than an Indian daughter who wronged her family. A crime would be punishable by a jail sentence of definite duration rather than this uncertain length of family guilt trips.
‘If you had any problems in this new country, your neighbours would rush to your side and bring you money, food, whatever you need. That’s the beauty of being surrounded by your community,’ Arvinder said. ‘But if you had a problem with your husband, who would help you to leave him? Nobody wanted to be involved in other families’ personal affairs. “You should be grateful,” they said if you complained. “This country is spoiling you.”’
‘These storytelling sessions are good fun but I think I’ve also learned to speak up for what I want. Exactly what I want.’
