Indian Matchmaking
There's this bit in Indian Matchmaking, where Akshay's mom is sitting with her kitty party friends, and they're all nodding in agreement at her distress at not finding the appropriate daughter in law. They ask her what her options are. First, she says she wants only "business family" girls because those are good girls. Then she lists her options: One prospective daughter-in-law is from Udaipur, one is from Delhi, and a third is from Calcutta. One of the other ladies expresses approval. "Calcutta girls are good." They all agree. Calcutta girls are good. In many ways, the story of the Calcutta business family girls is also the story of where I come from. We're raised to be paraya dhan , good looking and obliging. We're constantly watched, judged and chaperoned, and told that if we make mistakes, or are seen to exercise agency it could damage our chances for the future. We are raised to make diwali gift bags and plan baby showers, and the