1
“I heard she moved to join a sangathan. Does that mean she’s a Communist now? Her poor parents…”
— Overheard a family friend at the snack table.
2
“Look, I mean, it’s admirable and all. I work in CSR and do good work too. But the other day, she asked me if I’ve ever visited the actual grassroots. I mean, we literally have WhatsApp groups for that.”
— Overheard a cousin near the dessert counter.
3
“When I asked her why she didn’t just get a job in a nonprofit in the city, she said, ‘I’m doing a lot of unlearning by living there.’ I told her she could’ve done that without the master’s degree.”
— Overheard an uncle at the chaat table.
4
“Wait, so she’s not working at the UN? She’s actually, like, there in the village? I didn’t know working with communities meant actually living with them.”
— Overheard an aunt at the drinks station.
5
“My son has a job in finance in London. You know, something practical. But I guess… working with farmers is practical in its own way?”
— Overheard a twice removed cousin in the drawing room.
6
“Every time she comes home, she talks about how fulfilling her work is. My daughter met her spouse while working. Are there even marriage prospects in rural India?”
— Overheard near the circle of aunties.
7
“I heard she’s ‘empowering communities’ now. Isn’t that something people usually donate to? I didn’t realise you actually move there to do it yourself.”
— Overheard by the family patriarch.
