The leather suitcase on top of the steel cupboard had a thick layer of dust on it. She wiped it in a straight line to reveal its shine underneath. Arre, usey neeche utaaro Kavita bai. Zaraa dekhte toh hai Amrika le jaane ke laayak hai bhi ya nahi, the woman instructing her said.

Bhabhi, I will be able to go alone na? said Kavita.

#hindi #english

(Arre - a call to attention / an expression of mild frustration / hey!)

(usey neeche utaaro - lift it and bring it down)

(bai - an older style of addressing the house help)

(Zaraa dekhte toh hai Amrika le jaane ke laayak hai bhi ya nahi - let’s see if it is strong enough to make the journey to America)

(Bhabhi - a way of addressing someone older than you ~ literally, a term for ‘your brother’s wife’)

(na? - no?)