Patel to the Metal

Our neighbour had a vanity plate on his blue Safari that read “VINU”. As this is Ontario, the entire plate lured us with ‘VINU, Yours to Discover’. Perhaps because neither Richard nor I accepted the offer we all got along. His was a great old van perfect for carting dozens of offspring and cousins and aunties and uncles. It schlepped saris and Punjabi pantsuits and hundreds of Swiss Chalet dinners. On weekends it drove to Burlington where it nestled next to another mini van that beckoned, ‘PRADESH, Yours to Discover.’ It brought me to Emergency when I went into labour.