Prose

Somewhere at night in New York City, 2002. Sagara and Soma Majithia, a married Indian immigrant couple, are walking through the streets. Soma is obviously pregnant and occasionally stops to arch her back. The couple stop outside of their new restaurant, Khanna. The restaurant is dirty and almost falling apart. Sagara unlocks the door and carefully leads his wife inside. He helps sit her down at a table, kisses her head, and gets up to go cook something in the kitchen. Soma waits for him, rubbing her stomach. Her husband reappears with two steaming plates of curry, but unbeknownst to him, inside that curry is one of the spiciest peppers in the world, the Bhut Jolokia. He sits down and hands her a spoon, she thanks him and begins eating. However, after the first spoonful she gags and starts fanning her mouth. Sagara jumps out of his seat as Soma falls on the floor. He notices that a small pool of liquid appears under his wife and runs to get water for her, both for the spice in her mouth, and to prepare for her to go into labor. After countless hours, Sagara successfully delivers their baby in the middle of that restaurant. Burn marks are all over the baby's body and Soma cries in fear. She accepts the baby in her arms anyway and cuddles with him, not knowing if she'll ever get to do it again. Miraculously, the burns, which appeared to be second degree, gradually disappear. Now both parents are crying and holding each other. Soma tells her husband that she will name their son Andhi, the Hindu word for rainstorm, for he was the storm that quenched the flames on his body.
Andhi Majithia, now 12, is sitting at a table in his parents' restaurant helping his younger sister with homework. The restaurant looks much better than it did 12 years ago, including a section with tables and chairs and a place with low tables so diners can sit on the floor. Everything in the room looks more authentic and has a generally light and happy atmosphere. Andhi scratches his head, right at the spot where a scar is. While pointing at a math problem, a fiery henna-looking mark is seen on the back of his hand and fingertips. Varuna, already used to her brother's marks, groans loudly in frustration and declares that math is dumb and if mom and dad can come to America and run a restaurant they don't need math. Andhi replies that their parents do math everyday to figure out their taxes, prices of foods, tips, and totals of all the meals they serve. Varuna grumbles something about Andhi being a big dumb know-it-all. From the kitchen, Sagara calls for Andhi, saying that the burners aren't burning. He gets up from his seat, telling his sister to try and figure out the problem and if he comes back and she's not trying, he's gonna tell mom. In the kitchen, Andhi inspects the burner and agrees that they broken, but it won't be a problem. Sagara turns the gas on as Andhi focuses on his inner heat and creates a spark out of his fingertips. The burner lights and a fire is made. Sagara hugs his son and thanks the gods for their blessing, sending him back to his sister. To no one's surprise, Varuna wrote nothing down other than the word "no" next to all the math problems. Andhi erases all of them and almost demands that she gets it done. Soma appears behind them and tells Andhi not to be rude to his sister and for Varuna to actually try, she knows Varuna can do it. Soma walks over to the front door and turns the "CLOSED" sign to "OPEN." She shouts to Sagara to get ready for the dinner rush, if there will be one tonight. He replies that it's Friday, and on Fridays all nine members of the Deorey family always stop in, there will be some business, do not fret my flower. He then tells Andhi and Varuna to go upstairs and change into more proper attire for their restaurant, their school clothes are not respectful for guests. The upstairs of their restaurant is the living space of their family, complete with a bedroom for Andhi, a bedroom for Varuna, a bedroom for Sagara and Soma, a dining room and small kitchen, and a living room with a bulky TV and a radio. After changing, Andhi and Varuna are sitting on the couch, Varuna watching Andhi create firework-like sparks out of his fingers. Once the clock in the living room strikes five the siblings walk down the stairs and stand in separate areas of the restaurant, looking like professional waiters and not like a 12 year old and a 10 year old. Sagara sticks his head out of the kitchen door and asks Andhi to come inside. He says he's created a new meal he wants his son to try. Andhi takes a bite and begins gagging the way his mother did when she ate the peppers all those years ago. His eyes water as he tries to sputter out that he can't eat spicy foods. Sagara curses and apologizes, he has forgotten once again. He wonders aloud why his Indian son cannot even eat the food from his homeland. Meanwhile Andhi is drinking water as fast as possible, but Sagara just shakes his head. At the very least, Sagara says, Andhi remembered to drink water after the meal. He may not be able to eat the food of his people, but he does have the manners. Andhi nods and tells his father that while he cannot eat spices or spicy food, what he has made tastes good and he should serve it to Sri-Deorey. Sagara agrees and asks Andhi if he could just light the burner one more time before he goes. Andhi does and excuses himself as the Deoreys walk in. He seats the entire family and tells them he'll return with their drinks, he knows what they want. Andhi returns and places the drinks in front of each respective family member. He begins to walk away when all the lights shut off. The restaurant is dark, as is the whole neighborhood. Soma's voice comes out of the darkness as she asks Andhi to provide light. A spark appears at his fingertips and it becomes a ball of fire in his palm. One of the Deoreys is heard thanking the gods. Andhi creates another fireball in his other hand and walks around the room, asking his parents, sister, and guests to stay close. He knows that with no electricity or water or heat, it will get cold quickly in the restaurant. As the family and Deoreys wait for the lights to come on, Sagara and Sri-Deorey retell the story of how Lord Ganesha got his elephant head. Andhi transforms his fire to look like Parvati as she birthed Ganesha and the battle Shiva had with Ganesha, in which Ganesha lost his head and Shiva learned that this boy was his son. At the end where Ganesha receives his new elephant head, Andhi turns his fire blue for emphasis. Varuna and the younger Deoreys are very amused and Andhi can hear Srimati-Deorey tell his mother that her son is truly something else and he's such a good boy. When the lights finally turn back on everyone applause for Andhi's skill and helpfulness. Sri-Deorey offers to buy Andhi dinner as thanks, Andhi looks at his father and with his approval, Andhi accepts. But on one condition, the food has no spices. The Majithias and Deoreys laugh as Andhi claps his hands and makes a final big spark.