Appa's WhatsApp forward

My father loves WhatsApp forwards — good-morning roses, health tips of doubtful science, and, occasionally, long messages about how "Western culture" is ruining Indian families. One of those landed in our family group on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Usually I ignored them. That day I typed a reply, deleted it, typed it again and hit send before I could stop myself: "Appa, I am your daughter and I love women too. This message is about me."

The group went silent. My aunt left the group. My cousin sent a single heart, then deleted it.

Appa did not reply for three days. On the fourth day, he called. He did not mention the message. He asked about my job, my rent, whether I was eating properly. At the end he said, "I have deleted that forward. I did not think about who would read it."

It was not an apology, exactly. But since then he checks forwards before he sends them. Last month he sent me an article about a queer couple who adopted a child, with no comment — just the article, and then, a minute later, a single sunflower emoji. I am choosing to believe that means something.