Vimala Aunty walked in wearing a neon-green tracksuit with “ZEN” printed on the back. She carried a mason jar of kale juice instead of her usual brass tumbler of filter coffee. And her hair, usually in a tight, judgmental bun, was loose and streaked with what looked suspiciously like purple vegetable dye.
The Indian woman is now more likely to outsource the cleaning to focus on her career, or negotiate shared household duties with her partner. Yet, the instinct to nurture remains. She is the one ensuring the kids video-call their grandparents every week. She is the bridge between the older generation’s expectations and the younger generation’s aspirations. vimala aunty soothu new