My husband, Kevin, and I gladly accepted an invitation for dinner with his parents. Being newly married and just back from our honeymoon, catching up with family seemed overdue.

“Are you sure you want to do it?” Kevin asked as I applied my makeup.

“Yes!” I exclaimed. “They’re family now, and I have to spend more time with them, you know.”

Kevin, sitting on the bed, seemed concerned about his parents’ behavior towards me. It’s not that they didn’t like me; they just didn’t know me well. Before the wedding, Kevin’s mom, Sasha, spent only about four hours alone with me, and I don’t think I’ve ever been alone with John, Kevin’s father.

“At least they’re splurging for dinner,” Kevin chuckled.

We were both pleasantly surprised that they chose a fancy place. At the restaurant, Sasha and John greeted us excitedly.

“How was the honeymoon?” Sasha asked. “You must tell us everything!”

“Mom, it’s not something we’ll talk about, but we can show you some photographs,” Kevin teased.

The evening was pleasant, filled with laughter, until my mother-in-law dropped a bombshell seemingly playfully.

“I never thought my son would truly settle down with someone,” she said, glancing my way.

I almost choked on my wine. Before I could recover, my father-in-law chimed in.

“Even less with someone like you,” he said, chuckling.

Stunned, I demanded an explanation. John revealed they envisioned a different person for his son—someone more beautiful.

“That timeless striking type of beautiful. You know?” John laughed.

“Yeah, the type that speaks of old money,” Sasha added.

Feeling hurt, I sat there until the waiter took our orders, ending the conversation. When the waiter left, Kevin addressed his parents.

“What, son?” John asked. “We’re just saying what we thought all along.”

“But you’ve always been surprising, I’ll give you that,” Sasha said.

I sat there, unable to believe their offensive conversation. “You’re good-looking enough, Priya, don’t worry,” John said, grinning at me.

I didn’t know how to respond. Then, Karma intervened. A waiter spilled hot soup on my father-in-law’s lap.

My upset feelings turned into disbelief and suppressed laughter. Instinctively, I poured water to help, diverting attention from their earlier comments.

Kevin’s parents were too preoccupied to dwell on their words. Sasha apologized for everything the next day.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better woman for my son,” my father-in-law said later.

Perhaps the universe served a dish of instant Karma, reminding us that beauty is more than skin deep, and words carry weight. Kevin apologized, but I reassured him it wasn’t on him. They were just committed to their view of their son’s life.