When Dimple Met Rishi

Ritu and Seema, whom Dimple addresses as Auntie and didi (older sister), respectively, arrive. Ritu and Seema aren’t related to Dimple, but tradition dictates that Dimple be respectful of her elders. Seema is a reserved person, and Mamma tries to make Seema feel at home, which has led to a rivalry between Ritu and Mamma.

While they have tea and discuss Stanford, Ritu comments that San Francisco is a wonderful city. Dimple takes the opportunity to mention Insomnia Con. Ritu says it would help Dimple’s career and encourages Mamma to talk to Papa about it. Papa arrives and eats a cookie, which Dimple and Mamma both scold him for, because he has diabetes. Dimple tells her father about Insomnia Con, and after exchanging a wordless glance with Mamma, her father agrees to let Dimple attend. Dimple is overjoyed, and Ritu tells Mamma to buy Dimple new clothes and makeup before she attends the conference.

This chapter introduces Rishi Patel, who recently graduated from high school and will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the fall. Rishi’s parents show him a photo of Dimple in which she’s scowling, and they reveal that they want to send Rishi to Insomnia Con to meet Dimple. They feel she is a good match for Rishi. Rishi’s parents had an arranged marriage, but also have a legendary story about how his mother beat his father with her umbrella after he took her seat on the bus. Rishi wants a stable marriage like his parents have, so he agrees to attend Insomnia Con to meet Dimple. He can already picture her in his life and imagines her transferring to a school near MIT, whereupon he sees them dating, getting married, and having children.

Rishi’s younger brother, Ashish, a talented basketball player, is surprised Rishi will go to San Francisco to meet Dimple. He asks Rishi to think about the comics that Rishi loves to draw, but Rishi says those are just a hobby. Ashish says he plans to play basketball in college even though it’s a hobby. Rishi realizes that he feels differently than his brother does about this. Rishi wonders if he’s “just some weird relic,” and he fears this is the beginning of their growing apart (19).

Dimple’s mother takes her shopping for new clothes, suggesting a “voluminous salwar kameez,” which leads to a disagreement. Dimple’s mother tells her she should be proud of her heritage and culture; Dimple counters that America is her home and culture, because she was born here. They finally agree on a simple kurta top.

Dimple texts Celia Ramirez, her future roommate at Insomnia Con, whom she met online. They agree to meet for lunch when Dimple arrives—her parents have agreed to let her drive herself—and Dimple feels excited. Meanwhile, Rishi leaves home and sees “dozens and dozens of flickering ghosts—his grandparents and their parents and their parents—watching him, smiling. Escorting him to his destiny” (23).

Dimple arrives at SFSU early and stops at Starbucks for an iced coffee. She feels drunk on freedom and wonders if her parents are finally beginning to realize that she is her own person, “with a divergent, more modern belief system that renounced the patriarchal dynamics of their time” (24). Rishi approaches Dimple and says, “Hello, future wife.” Dimple, shocked and frightened by a stranger approaching her, throws her iced coffee at him and runs away.

As Rishi watches Dimple run away, he feels horrible that he’s ruined his chances with a terrible joke about her being his future wife. He calls his parents and explains the situation; they point out that Rishi didn’t introduce himself, so Dimple’s reaction wasn’t so unusual. Rishi’s parents tell him to try again and show her “the special gift,” assuming that Dimple is very traditional, like her parents. Rishi describes Dimple as “spirited,” and though he finds her attractive, he’s not sure she has a “soft, tender underside” the way his mother does.

Dimple, meanwhile, contemplates buying pepper spray and finds her dorm room. She feels liberated and independent, excited that “people would judge her on her brain, not her lack of makeup” and that “there would be no cliques like high school” (30).

In the lobby, Dimple finds a campus map, and Rishi approaches her again. Dimple threatens to call the campus police. Rishi introduces himself and explains that they’re supposed to be getting married. Then he realizes Dimple knows nothing of their parents’ plan. Dimple suddenly understands why her parents were so open to the idea of Insomnia Con.

Rishi shows Dimple a photo of her scowling at last Diwali, and then he shows her his great-grandmother’s gold wedding ring. Dimple realizes that “this wasn’t just an arranged marriage to Rishi; this was the rich fabric of history, stretched through space and time” (35). Dimple calls her parents and leaves an angry voicemail, telling them Rishi might make some girl very happy someday, but not her. Then, to her own surprise, Dimple invites Rishi to join her and Celia for lunch. Rishi agrees, and Dimple notices that he has a brilliant smile.

Rishi and Dimple meet Celia at Little Gator Pizzeria. Celia orders them a pepperoni pizza, and Rishi says he doesn’t eat meat. He learns that Dimple does eat meat, which Rishi notes as another reason they’re not compatible. While Rishi goes to order a cheese pizza, Celia tells Dimple their arranged marriage situation is romantic, but Dimple disagrees.

Rishi explains to Celia that arranged marriages are about compatibility, but Dimple counters that arranged marriages are a way for their parents to control them and a way throughout history of establishing alliances between families. Rishi tells Celia that he speaks Hindi and English and that his parents are third-generation Mumbaikars who speak what is known as “Bombay Hindi.” Dimple seems annoyed that Rishi and Celia are getting along so well.

Rishi reveals that web development isn’t his passion. Dimple wonders why he’s at the conference and says, “You just better not be my partner” (43). Rishi decides to head back to the dorm and leaves a large tip that precludes any need for the girls to leave a tip.

Celia asks Dimple if she really needed to be so mean to Rishi, and Dimple regrets how she treated him. The girls wonder what the prize will be for this year’s Insomnia Con. Although many people think it will be a personalized feedback letter from Jenny Lindt, Celia thinks it might be a cash prize. Dimple reminds her that cash prizes are normally awarded at the talent show halfway through. Dimple thinks Jenny Lindt might offer feedback and a signed copy of her next memoir. Dimple knows what app she will code for her project, but because of the rules of the conference, she can’t tell Celia. Dimple hopes they’ll be made partners for their projects.

Dimple’s mother calls and at first feigns ignorance about the Rishi Patel setup, and then she says he’s from a good family. Dimple insists she doesn’t want a marriage partner, and Mamma puts Papa on the phone. Papa tells Dimple that no one wants her and Rishi to get married right now; they just wanted to know if the two would be compatible down the road. Dimple admits Rishi is perfectly nice but again says she doesn’t want to think about boys right now. Papa says he understands and still thinks the conference is a good career decision, and he encourages her to win the contest. Dimple assures him she plans to.