If You See Me, Don't Say Hi
Author : Neel Patel
Publisher : Penguin, Rs 399
In this novel, each character is looking for his/her own place in the world — whether it is a house of their own, their identity, a place in the school peer group, or a permanent place in the arms of a lover, writes Sanya DanG
Short stories are sometimes more difficult to write than novels. They also sometimes showcase a writer’s talent more visibly. That is the case with this particular collection — the stories not only have a deep impact on the reader but also ring true with a profundity that is impressive. The cover design is very interesting — simple yet layered, the many shades of brown speak about the different and multifarious experiences of Indian immigrants in USA. The blocks of colour remind us of wall paint shade cards with their funny specific names — burnt sienna, brick rust, dark tan. Some of them are like Crayola shades — peach , yellow, brown, black. On these colorful boxes are the words that have a strange, universal appeal — If You See Me Don’t Say Hi.
This anthology contains stories on many different themes — on deception, class discrepancy, society’s negative effects on the psyche, arranged marriages, mixed marriages, unrequited love, childhood crushes, same sex relationships, adultery and the power of love. Neel Patel tries to go beyond the obvious , he doesn’t write of Indians in the typical way — his characters rise from being mere caricatures and stereotypes to having a unique identity and even more unique problems. His characters are Indians, but not the ‘super achievers’ or the “good kids”. They have different expectations from themselves even though their parents’ pressures weigh heavily on their psyches. They are modern cosmopolitan individuals with a liberated sexual identity, with a hitherto unseen problem of alcohol or drug abuse. This hidden side is a revelation — Indians can’t always be reduced to people who get good grades and win Spell Bees. The characters deal with the pain of not fitting in, the feeling of not belonging to any peer group or community, the sense of alienation that comes with growing up in a country where they do not have their roots.
There are 11 stories in all — 11 narrators with as many similarities as differences, intricate, realistic modern plots with abrupt and bow tie endings. It is an incredible debut collection, thoughtful and poignant with unique stories and perceptive people. The title of the stories refer to Indian gods, monuments and popular American slangs.
The power of perspective is very significant here as seen in the last two stories. They are the same stories with the same characters but from two different perspectives. This is a very new way of dealing with ‘perspective’ and ‘voice’. The stories are full of many motifs and symbols that define the Indian immigrant experience in America — sacrifice, success, expectation, identity, sense of belonging. Each story contains wonderful insights into human nature, culture and relationships, especially in the Indian context. Some stories are believable, some leave a bad taste in the mouth
This book takes you on a journey where you not only realise the power of perspective but also the power of community. The power of love is not given a very high status. Love not only tests endurance, tolerance but is also tested time and again by external factors — society, norms, personal circumstances. Lust is a very important part of the narratives, sometimes given as much importance as love.
The Epigraph is a quotation from The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri and the author acknowledges his debt to her in terms of characterisation. He says that her books showed him for the first time how Indian immigrants are like and how they are depicted. He dedicates this book to his parents. The over-arching theme in many of the stories is the power of society and how community gossip can break bonds, sour relationships and ruin lives in the process. This particular trope is known in the Indian context as — “log kya kaheinge?” We are all familiar with this hiding of face and showing off at community gatherings, suffering the taunts and being party to the cruel rumours that float.
The writing style is classic, fresh, beautiful, languid, fluid, visual, sensuous and poetic. The language is simple enough for anyone to understand yet the simplicity does not take away from the ornate beauty of the overall effect it creates. This is a novel where each of the characters is looking for his/her own place in the world — whether it is a house of their own, their identity, a place in the school peer group or a permanent place in the arms of the man/woman they love.
Each story has its own irresistible trait — some have a very interesting plot, some end in a way that make us ponder about the fate of those characters, some deal with homosexual relationships and some have characters we have never met before. Women characters here have been given a lot of agency where they are calling the shots, managing their lives well yet we see women characters trapped in loveless marriages, forced into arranged marriages and also dealing with husbands committing adultery.
Even though many characters are aware of their behaviour, what they should or should not do, what is ‘expected’ of them, yet there are many who are rebellious, troubled and indulge in things that any parent would disapprove of. Thus, Patel does not stick to a few good people, he shows us a range of characters who break hearts, try to come out of the closet, care a damn about their parents, are selfish to the core, embarrassed about ‘everything Indian’ and there are others who listen to their parents, try to fulfill their expectations, achieve success by getting into Ivy Leagues and marrying within their community.
Patel doesn’t put his characters on pedestal, he shows their weaknesses, failures, inner thoughts and emotions, however flawed and tragic they maybe. His characters face moments of truth and need to make split second decisions with significant consequences. Their dilemmas make the story deep and profound. In the words of Emily Smith Gilbert, “These characters struggle to break away from the confines of their parents’ home and stifling suburbs.”