Bella > Bella's Quotes

“If a woman crafted by the gods themselves could be consigned to this fate, what hope was there for a woman born of a woman?”
― Vaishnavi Patel, Kaikeyi

“Race you back?” he asked. “That’s not fair, I have to let you win. Nobody can catch me riding at such an unladylike speed.”
― Vaishnavi Patel, Kaikeyi

“I had wondered, in the weeks leading up to the birth, whether I would be a good mother. What if I was too strange, too warlike and rebellious for it?”
― Vaishnavi Patel, Kaikeyi

“I do not understand. If your temple is still fully attended, receiving faithful worshippers and donations, how does it harm you if women in this city have some small say in their lives?”
― Vaishnavi Patel, Kaikeyi

“In some ways, he is very wise. I do not want you to think I hate him or find only fault with him.”
― Vaishnavi Patel, Kaikeyi

“In some ways, he is very wise. I do not want you to think I hate him or find only fault with him. But even the people we love can be flawed, no?”
― Vaishnavi Patel, Kaikeyi

“He sought my counsel, then discarded it when I did not say what he wished to hear. No words of mine would have made a difference.”
― Vaishnavi Patel, Kaikeyi

“Is it true? Am I doomed to stay with them forever, just because I’m the only one not heartless enough to leave?”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A For Aunties

“From ever since I can remember, I’ve been taught to put my elders—that is, Ma and the aunties—above everything.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Aiya,”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Ma and my aunts are practically hoarders. They say it has to do with growing up poor.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“There’s a dead man in my car. A man. Dead. In the driver’s seat of my Subaru. This is not at all on-brand for Subaru. Subarus aren’t killers’ cars. Jeep Wranglers are.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“She’s already sacrificed so much for my sake, and I can’t even communicate with her in her mother tongue.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Why you cover the face?” she says. “Something horrible happen to it, is it?” She shudders. “Is there something sticking out of the eye? Aiya, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.” She flaps, grimacing. “Is it broken glass in his eye?” “No, Ma. There’s nothing sticking out of his eye. I just thought it would be, I don’t know, more respectful.” “Oh.” She nods. “Yes, you right, more respectful.” She pats me on the cheek. “I raise you so well.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Your aunties coming over, so late at night, coming to help us get rid of body, and we don’t even offer them any food? How can? Oh, we have dragon fruit, good, good. Big Aunt’s favorite. Wah, got pear too. Very good. Help me peel, don’t be so rude to your aunties, you will bring shame.” “Oh, right, it’s the lack of fruit that’ll bring shame, not the dead body in the car.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Meddy,” Second Aunt breathes. “You have Taser?” I can’t help cringing as I nod. Here it comes. They’re going to— “Can we see?” Second Aunt says. Huh? “Wah, wonder what model you got,” Big Aunt says.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Have they always been this blasé about chopping bodies up? “Such silly idea,” Ma scoffs. “So messy, and the garbage bags always leak. You will make big mess in my garage.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Maybe we can chop him up, cook some curry, then throw away bit by bit?” “That’s a lot of curry,” Fourth Aunt says.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“I hear about this kind of Internet scam before. Is called goldfish.” “Catfish,” I say. “No, I’m sure is call goldfish. Because pretend got gold, but actually just a fish.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Who do nails like that? How do you wash your bum when you have feather on your nails?” Ma says.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“In Chinese weddings, the bride’s jewelry is the last to go on, and is usually a gift from her parents.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Ha, ha. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve raised my voice.” It’s probably the result of being raised by such loud women. I have a natural aversion to raised voices now.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“I can’t believe my aunts’ rivalry with each other is jeopardizing us getting away with murder.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Their respect and admiration show clearly on their faces, and for one guilty moment, I’m glad that Second Aunt isn’t here to sour Big Aunt’s moment. It’s nice, seeing the sisters get along.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“Whoever said “It’s as hard as herding cats” has obviously never tried to herd a group of Asian aunties.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A For Aunties

“Up next is the tea ceremony, a favorite for many couples. The bride and groom serve tea to their elders, and their elders bestow gifts upon them. Traditionally, the gifts come in the form of gold or red packets filled with money.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“My eyes fill with tears. All these years, I have never seen it that way, but Ma’s right. I did grow up with four mothers, and it really has been amazing. There’s been so much love in my life that I took for granted.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A For Aunties

“Don’t miss out on love because you think we got curse, so silly, you. I thought you are more educated than that.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“but I can’t do my own thing, I can’t just abandon the family business, because you always talk about sacrifice and how much you’ve all sacrificed for me, and so this is it, the cycle of sacrifice that’ll go on and on and on.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties

“This is what always happens when one of my generation dares to talk back to our parents. They band together and reduce us to kids having a tantrum, dismissing our words so we can’t pierce their armor. Part of me wants to kick crazily at the ground and scream until they listen, but of course that’ll only confirm their belief that I’m nothing more than a silly child.”
― Jesse Q. Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties