Chapter 30

He's married. I am bent down, taking my shoes off, when I hear him say, "I would like you to meet my wife." I look up and there beside him is... Mrs. Patel. "Hello," she says, extending her hand and smiling. "Piscine has been telling me lots about you." I cant say the same of her. I had no idea. She's on her way out, so we talk only a few minutes. She's also Indian but has a more typically Canadian accent. She must be second generation. She's a little younger than him, skin slightly darker, long black hair woven in a tress. Bright dark eyes and lovely white teeth. She has in her arms a dry-cleaned white lab coat in a protective plastic film. She's a pharmacist. When I say "Nice meeting you, Mrs. Patel," she replies, "Please, make it Meena." After a quick kiss between husband and wife, she's off on a working Saturday.

This house is more than a box full of icons. I start noticing small signs of conjugal existence. They were there all along, but I hadn't seen them because I wasn't looking for them.

He's a shy man. Life has taught him not to show off what is most precious to him.

Is she the nemesis of my digestive tract?

"I've made a special chutney for you," he says. He's smiling.

No, he is.

   第三十章

    他结过婚了。我弯着腰，正在脱鞋子，这时我听见他说：“来见见我太太。竹我抬起头来，他身边站着的是……帕特尔太太。“你好，”她说，一边微笑着伸出手来，“派西尼对我说过很多关于你的事。"我没法对她说同样的话。我对她一无所知。她正准备出去，因此我们只交谈了几分钟。她也是印度人，但是说话带有更典型的加拿大口音。她一定是第二代移民。她比他年轻整，皮肤的颜色更深一些，黑头发梳成一绺。明亮的黑眼睛，可爱的白牙齿。她抱着一件干洗过的在实验室里穿的白大褂，外面盖着一层起保护作用的塑料薄膜。她是个药剂师。当我对她说：“很高兴见到你，帕特尔太太”的时候，她回答道：“请叫我米娜。”他们匆匆互吻了一下，她便在星期六上班去了。

    这座房子不仅是一个充满了图标的盒子。我开始注意到夫妻生活的小标记。这些标记一直都在那儿，但我却没有看见，因为我没有去寻找。

    他是个害羞的人。生活教会了他不要炫耀对他来说最珍贵的东西。

    她会是我的消化道的处罚者？

    “我给你做了一道特别的印度酸辣酱。’’他说。他在微笑。

    不，他才是。