Aman lives with his parents in a three bedroom flat on the fifth floor of an apartment in Besant nager. It is the penthouse. It is three times the size of the flats on the floor below. It has beautiful panoramic views of the Bay of Bengal. The ocean breeze and sound of the surf make the two large patios a perfect place to relax.
I had a jovial conversation with Aman's mother about the selection of a bride for Aman. She's researching and taking resumes for four to ten girls per week. So far, she hasn't found one that suits Aman. He's looking for the complete package. Good education, good looks, 5'4" or taller, right background, etc. His mother thinks his expectations are to high. They both expect to find the girl within the year. Aman and his bride will live in the apartment with his parents. That is pretty common here.
For a cultural experience, Aman took me to two local temples. Taking pictures of the idols was not permitted, but I was allowed to take pictures of the structures and the priests. People came mostly to pray, but a few offered food sacrifices. The priest would take the food to the idols, wave it around in the candle smoke, say a prayer, and most of the time, return the offering to the giver. When the offering is returned, it is considered a gift from god.
The second temple was the temple for the goddesses of wealth. There was a long queue to get to this temple, but if you pay a small fee, you can go to the front of the line.
Afterwards, Aman and I hung out at the beach, went to a nice restaurant, and talked about different religions.
