An Invaluable Lesson

"How am I looking Maa", asked Nandini holding her wedding dress in front of her.

Her mother hastily looked at her and smiled reassuring her that she looked just like a fairy. Nandini jumped with joy. The entire house was brimming with relatives and people from the neighborhood. The aunties singing wedding songs, the uncles shouting and yelling at workers to decorate the home fast, her father instructing the caterer giving special instructions, her mother attending the guests and taking care of every other details. Nandini sat between the ladies who were singing the wedding sagas. She started dancing.

Someone teased her.

"Nandini your mother-in-law wouldn't be this liberal. Now tame your childishness."

"Aunty why would she do that? I will be just like her daughter na", asked Nandini who was perplexed.

"Arre that is just for sake of saying. Mother-in-laws are your biggest rivals. They will control you and try to dominate you", added another.

"Nandini take your husband in your control or else be ready to slave them", added another lady.

"Haven't you seen that TV serial "Kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi", questioned the fat aunty who was munching continuously on snacks.

They all laughed and kept teasing her leaving Nandini more uncomfortable and restless about her marriage. She started contemplating the behaviour of her future mother-in-law.

"Yes she is a little strict but I guess she was liberal with her son why would she differentiate? But what if she does? Who will support me then?"

She kept thinking. She looked at her mother who was a mute spectator t in the entire conversation. She felt a little strange because usually her mother participated in every discussion. Today her silence signified that perhaps there was something more to it.

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"Nandini are you asleep", asked her mother peeping into her room.

"No mom. Just a little anxious."

"Mind going out for a walk?"

"Mom don't you think it is too late?

"No I need to talk to you. It is your last night in this home. I guess we do need some time together. There is so much hustle bustle in the home and I want some uninterrupted time. Get up, take a shawl and come."

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The breeze outside was cool. The star lit sky lightened their path. The moon was playing hide and seek with the clouds. The occasional chirps of a cricket was breaking the silence. The leaves under their feet cracked. It was autumn. The trees appeared orangish and their leaves adorned the ground more than their stems. They kept walking for a while. She waited for her mother to speak.

"I was married at a tender age of 19. Both my parents died when I was 12. My mamaji got me married to your father. When I was going to enter your father's house I was very scared. I had heard from people that my mother- in-law was a very strict lady. All the stories I heard while growing up wherein the mothers-in-law mistreated the daughters-in-law came to my mind. My mother-in-law whom you called as your Grandmother was a very authoritative figure in the home."

"Hmmmmm", Nandini listened with rapt attention.

"My mamaji was not that rich still he managed to arrange decently for the marriage. But when I came here I had no ornaments. I was sitting in the drawing room when all the other ladies started pointing that out. They taunted me and my family. I felt so humiliated under my veil that tears began welling up in my eyes. Just then your Grandmother came with a box full of jewellery telling everyone how she forgot to give me my jewellery that my Mamaji gave her. I looked at her with questioning eyes. She pressed my hand signaling me to keep quiet. That was my first meeting with her. Those were her jewellary which she brought out to save my grace."

Her mother's voice was shaking. Still she continued.

"Later that day when I was asked to cook food by all the other relatives. I had no prior knowledge of cooking and perhaps your Grandmother sensed that. As I stood helpless in the kitchen she secretly entered the kitchen and cooked the "Kheer". I was praise by everyone and of all she came first and handed me another necklace telling everyone how lucky she was to have me. Nandini my Mamiji loved me yet for the first time I felt a mother's love. Two times in a row she helped me. I respected her but then I started to love her like she was my own mother. She was different from what people said about mothers in law. She never restricted me. She was more like a mother always telling me where I was right or wrong."

"That is really unbelievable Maa. Wish I could have been with Grandma."

"Still I knew that if she had to choose between her son and me , she would choose her son but soon even this misconception got washed away. One day your father and I had a heated argument. We were in our room and he slapped me. That slap was not just on my face but on my respect. I felt my dignity was outraged. He opened the door and walked out. Amma called him. I still remember every detail.

Flashback

"Did you hit her?"

*Silence*

"I asked you did you hit her?"

"Maa it is our argument you do not fall into it."

*Slap*

"How dare did you hit my daughter. Is this what we have taught you all our life. I feel ashamed being your mother. You have just proved that there is some fault in our upbringing. That girl left her entire family and came to yours and accepted your family. She is adjusting day and night and this is what you give her in return? If a verbal fight was going on why did you raise your hand? What did you think there is no one to defend her? Did you feel insulted when I slapped you? Similarly she felt insulted when you did the same. Put yourself in her shoes and think. She is my daughter and dare you even try to raise your hand again. Just because you are my son doesn't mean I will take your side. Go and apologize right now and by right now I mean now."

Flashback end

"What???? You mean to say Grandma slapped Dad because he slapped you", Nandini stood gaping at her mother.

"Yes Nandu. Later she did come to me and told me that as a mother it is her responsibility to stop her son from indulging into domestic violence and being the daughter of that house I should be respected. Ever since that day your father did not even raise his voice."

"Oh my God that is unbelievable. Grandma was a fearless lady indeed", chirped Nandini.

"Hmmm yes she was. When you were in my womb everyone secretly prayed for it to be a boy. All near and dear relatives blessed me to have a sweet boy and then you were born. The entire house mourned except your Grandma. She gave a big party and named you. She was very happy and told everyone that Goddess Laxmi has come. Even I felt a little dejected. But she came and consoled me telling me that it was God's desire. I loved you my daughter yet because of the social norms I felt sad and hopeless."

"Maa you were not happy with me being born", she stuck her lower lip out.

"Beta it is not like that errr....."

"Maa it is okay I understand . Please continue."

"What continue? Well even on her death bed when she got terminally ill she kept arguing with your father to allow me to do a job. She won the fight but lost to that disease. The only regret I have is not being able to give her my first salary. Every day and night I keep her in my prayers . I feel at peace when I talk to her portrait. She is my motivator even now. Somehow I feel her presence even now."

Her mother wiped her eye lashes. She broke down. Composing herself she continued.

"The reason I told you this is not because I wanted to glorify your Grandmother but because I want you to believe that mothers-in-law are also mothers. They are not villains as they show on the television. Do not fear your new home and do not have prejudices about people you know. Initially everyone has difficulties adjusting to a new place. Just remember you future mother in law is as much as a mother to you as I am. You do not need to control her or her son to earn your respect. Love that family unconditionally and they will love you back."

She hugged her daughter. Nandini felt a lump in her throat. She felt like crying yet she felt relieved because now she was happy going to her new home.

"Thank you Maa. This is one of the most invaluable lessons that you have taught me."

"Lets go back now. Everyone would be searching the bride", her mother smiled mischievously.

She Refused to QUIT!!

The phone beeped.
*Congratulations on clearing the written exam of Infosys. Kindly download your interview call letter from your registered email id for the placement drive at New Delhi on 25th September, 2014.*
She smiled.
"Finally I did it. Maa I am going to the cyber cafe. I'll be back in a few minutes."
She took out her cycle and rushed to the nearest cyber cafe which was around a kilometer away from her place. The heat was unbearable. She was sweating profusely yet it made no difference to the enthusiasm she carried in her heart. She parked and chained her cycle and entered the cafe.
She felt proud holding her call letter. She was among the very few who cleared the written round. Again she climbed on her cycle and paddled at lightening speed to her way back home.
"Appa would be very happy. Now I can support my family. Under any circumstance I will grab this job", she thought.
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"Hmmmm How will you go to Delhi? Will you get a job in Delhi?", Appa inquired sternly.
"Appa I don't know where I will be joining. It is the interview round", she spoke meekly.
"Let me discuss it with some knowledgable people in our colony. Mr. Shrivastava would know better. His son is also working in New Delhi."

She lived in a small town 170 kilometers away from Lucknow. She was glad that she got a chance to graduate. Most of the girls were married off early or not even given a chance to continue their education after class 12th. Her society had still not come to terms with the advancements going in the country. Somehow the motivational speeches and assurances of ministers never reached her town. Her town continued it's life in their blissful ignorance. It was tough decision for her father to allow her to study. He faced the wrath of the society but he never said anything. He always asked her to continue doing her work irrespective of what people had to comment. He taught her that it is important for her to fight back but not with her words but her actions. She had to prove everyone that being a girl she was equally competent. Her father trusted her immensly and she vowed never to break it.
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"Oh ho Tripathi saab you are sending your daughter to Delhi now for a job? Are you still not satisfied that she is a graduate? Now you want to eat off her salary", taunted Mrs. Shrivastava when her father went to seek Mr. Shrivastava's advice in the evening.
"No bhabhi. She wants to do a job. And she is educated so not doing a job would be wastage of the talent and skill she has."
She stood still next to her father glaring at Mrs. Shrivastava.
"Her own daughter sits at home all day talking and watching television wasting her time, she wouldn't say a word to her", her thoughts were fuming.

"Vaise Tripathi Saab last year Misra ji also sent his daughter for a job. People were telling me she was caught living with 4 boys and even accused of doing prostitution. Tauba Tauba Tch Tch!!! Such shameless girls are a blot on the society. Her father sent her for a job and she did this. This is what happens in bigger cities. These girls lose their character, drink and smoke and roam with boys. These are the kind of girls who get raped or sell their bodies", Mrs . Shrivastava venom to the atmosphere with her viscious words and evil smile.

"Bhabhiji why are you telling me this? I have full confidence in my daughter. I'll take my leave now. Tell Mr. Shrivastava that I came," her father replied and ushered her to move as well.
"Tripathi Saab hope you don't regret your decision." Mrs. Shrivastava slammed the door shut.
The echo resonated in her ears. Tears of humiliation formed in her eyes. She came back home and announced that she did not wish to go anywhere.
Her father came and sat down next to her.
"So you are quitting? So easily? This is not even one hundredth of the evil that you will be facing out of the down. How can my brave daughter be detered by useless words of a neighbour. You will go and prove them wrong.  You need to understand the responsibility you have on your shoulders. See one wrong step by Misra ji's daughter has closed doors for many girls who aspired to work. You have to go out and set another example, a motivating one so that when people quote the bad things there is some little hope generated by telling that not everyone faces the ills of the society and not everyone succumbs to the pressures. You are not just going for yourself but for all theses young girls who will graduate one day. Those who would want to do a job. You represent not only us but all the females around."
She felt ashamed of having thoughts about quitting. She wiped her tears away.
"Appa I am sorry to let you down but I promise I will come back with an job."

She had four days in hand. She started preparing for her interview. She revised and revised. Her mother washed, starched and ironed her favorite kurta. She beamed seeing her dress. She kept all her certificates in a folder her father got for her. Her father got her seat reserved in an AC compartment which was a luxury for her because he did not want her to feel tired after the journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Bye all the best. Make me proud", her father waved as her train gained momentum.


She entered the premises of the building where her interview was going to be held. She saw everyone clad in shirts and trousers. Their clothes radiating the aroma of newness and the royalty they live in. Almost no one was wearing a kurta. The girls were speaking in English continuously. All of sudden her kurta did not feel as special as it did minutes ago. She felt intimidated. She felt uncomfortable and her confidence went all time low. She went and sat next to a group of girls. Not that she wasn't fluent in English. Her conversation skills and expertise over her subject were her strong assets. But she felt a misfit in this new city among everyone. Everyone was holding big smartphones with screens bigger than their hands. She silently slid her Nokia 1100 in her bag. She forced herself to smile and clearing her throat mustered a "Hello" to the girls sitting next to her.
They looked at her with amused looks.
They started whispering amongst themselves not paying any heed to her.
She went to the washroom and cried. She took out her phone and called at her landline.
"Hello", her father picked up the phone.
She hung. She couldn't tell him that she wanted to quit again.
"He invested so much money in my education. He arranged for an AC compartment so that I travel comfortably. He has so many hope from me. I am here to answer back Mrs. Shrivastava and all ladies who find our education a peril. I have to do it. I have to. My clothes don't make any difference but my skills do. I will do my part. Rest it is upto God."
She drank water and went ahead towards the Group Discussion round.

"Your topic is Globalization has led to Linguistic differences"

The grueling session lasted for next 10minutes. Everyone was amazed seeing her speak so fluently and her thoughts laced with facts and figures. The GD was a cake walk for her. Her confidence increased.
She cleared the GD.
Round after round her confidence increased. She felt better and better. By the last round there were only 10 students left. She made friends with almost all of them. She realized each one of them is facing the same fear if rejection. It did not matter from which background they came. Their skills were speaking and not their old report cards. Everyone was given an opportunity. And everyone was trying to avail it. She felt as their equal.
She made her way to the HR round.

"You hail from such a small town. How do you find in it Delhi?"
"Sir the place we live in has a lot of impact on our mentality. But I guess I am coping up. Delhi just like my town is full of aspiring young people. I hail from a small town but we have faced equal hardships. Life tests at every place."
"Hmm lots of wisdom. Are you ready to relocate?"
"Yes sir."
"Tell me something about you other than what your CV mentions."
"Sir before I came in here I was told how difficult it is to survive in this world. There are so many ills but then my father insisted that I come here and bring a change. This is not just a job opportunity but an opportunity to bring some little change in the mentality of people of my town. Even in my town we study English, get the same technical education. I have read all novels by Dan Brown, Norman Vincent Peale. I follow news regularly. I write articles. Being from a small town has nothing to do with skills one has. And I want to change that."
"Well just because you have stated this I must tell you I hail from a village in Tamil Nadu.You can make it big when you want to. And it is people like you who achieve their dreams. Welcome to the Infosys family."
"Yes sir?"
"I said welcome you are selected."
"Thank you so much sir."

She went outside and gave a call to her father.
"Appa I did it."
"God bless you my child."

Her father wore his shirt and made his way to Mr. Shrivastava's house with a box of sweets.
Change was on its way.

Another Chance

He woke to the sound of his blaring alarm. Yawning he switched off his phone and turned to the other side and slept again. After an hour he felt refreshed enough to resume his daily routine. His body demanding it’s daily caffeine fix. He took his cup and sat down glancing at the daily news. Weekends were always meant to relax. They were a subtle reminder that there exist a world out of his lab and research work. Usually on week ends he would reply to all emails, messages and inboxes. His work kept him really busy nearly detaching him from all social hangups.

He scrolled down his newsfeed not paying any heed to the statuses or photographs and then suddenly his fingers stopped. His friend went to an engagement. A very familiar face lit up his laptop’s screen. He kept staring at the screen and then to the comments below.

“Congratulations for this new phase of life.”

“So happy to see this.”

“Nice pair.”

Three beautiful girls clad in Indian wear were standing next to a man dressed in a business suit. The man and the woman next to  him appeared an extremely good looking and compatible couple by all standards. The only fact that pinched him was that the lady was the love of his life at some point of time. His memories took him back to the last conversation they ever had.

“Are you thinking about our future”, she asked.

“What future?”

“I mean my parents are pestering me now for marriage. I guess it’s time we should break it out to them. We both have achieved a little part of our dreams and are working. There is no reason for us to delay it anymore. But incase you want more time for your career we can still wait for like 2 more years.”

“I do not want to marry you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“See we both have been in a relationship with each other for a very long time. But then I don’t think we are compatible as a couple. We argue so much. And I don’t think you’d make a perfect wife for me. I have so many grudges due to our past bitter experiences. I love you no doubt I do but then I don’t want to marry you. I’ll stay loyal to you but then again I do not want to be bound to you.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Why so? What will this love mean then? What am I supposed to do with this love? How can you even think that I’ll be in a relationship with you knowing you’d not marry me. How will I justify it to anyone and more than that myself? I love you a lot. I want to marry you , have a family with you and want to live with you forever.”

“Why don’t you understand I do not want to marry . That is it.”

“What do you want then? You want me to stay with you and one fine day move ahead with someone else in a matrimony? How will I be able to do that? I want to be with you. I know with time you’d change your decision.”

“I won’t keep you in dark I will not change my mind. I do not want to marry you. Stay if you want or else leave. You’ll destroy any house you go into. No man will ever be happy with you. You are so possessive , clingy and a cry baby.”

“Yes I am emotional but then we both have flaws. I do not mention yours does not mean you do not have any.”

“What ever. Stay or leave. I hardly care.”

“Are you sure you are not joking?”

“See how dumb you are. You don’t even get simple things.”

“I am leaving for once. And let me tell you perhaps right now this freedom seems alluring but one fine day you would want to hold my hand and be with me and by then I would have gone. You are saying that I will destroy any man but yet when I will be married you would be pained the most. Why is it that your love is scared of commitment? I love you a lot and I have never left any stone unturned for your happiness. Take your time but then don’t end things like this.”

He blocked her.

From everywhere.

He thought how clingy a girl she was.

“Why was marriage so important? Why does every relationship has to end in matrimony. I love her. Wasn’t that enough for her? Why do we have to tie our relationships in threads of marriage. I loved her and would have stayed with her out of my will but then I do not want to be forced into something I do not want to do. Whatever I can concentrate on my career now. Anyways our relationship had reached its deadlock.”

He never heard anything from her again. All he got to know was that she did her MBA from a good college and turned into a writer.

Somehow today he felt restless. All these years he did not give a second thought to why things ended. Occasionally her memories haunted him but he shunned them away. Seeing her today next to another man enraged him. He was furious. He read all the comments and finally clicked to the link of the man she was engaged to.

Viraj Misra

He was a young entrepreneur who had won several awards for his skills. He appeared quite rich and was decently good looking. Above all he was insanely in love with his love. They had so many photographs together. He felt jealous. His own emotions surprised him. Unconsciously he started comparing himself to this other guy.

“He is like shorter than me and just a rich business man. I am a researcher, so well known in my field. He doesn’t suit her the way I did. He appears to be snobbish.”

Suddenly it struck him why was he even trying to compare. He himself told her that he did not want to marry her. Pushed her out of his life. She has every right to seek a new companion. But then the reasoning of his mind couldn’t pacify his heart. His heart refused to accept that she can ever forget him.

This photograph was a slap to his ego, the same ego that did not let him talk to her ever again.He started questioning if he took the right decision back then. He wanted to talk to her, tell her that yes he missed her in every moment of life yet he did not call her because he did not want to appear weak. He wanted to prove to her that he was independent and he could live without her. He did prove it all but to whom?  He wanted to love her again and wanted to be loved again.

He felt devastated. The uneasiness he felt everytime he saw the photographs revealed his true feelings for her. He longed like a small baby for his mother. She was his, only his. He never knew seeing her next to someone else will evoke feelings that had the power to turn his world. How happy he was thinking that he could live without her. But then all it took was a photograph to prove how wrong he was. Pangs of guilt and remorse engulfed him.

“See she is not happy in the picture. She never smiles like this. I know her fake smiles better than anyone. Huh. Now she doesn’t even appear possessive. This man is standing so close to all the ladies. Huh cheapster. He is not good for her.”

He kept comforting himself.

Through out the day he kept seeing the picture and kept reminiscing about the beautiful time they had spent. He repented each word he had said. His plush apartment seemed so silent. How he loved silence but today he wanted her to come and break the silence.

“I should talk to her. I’ll ask her if she loves me. Obviously she doesn’t or else why would she marry him. But then I should try once. But she’d mock me. But isn’t it better to talk to her.”

His thoughts were in a turmoil. He was in this strange dilemma whether to call her or not. In the end his heart silenced his brain and he picked up his mobile. He still knew her number. Praying and hoping she wouldn’t have changed it he called.

The ring went. Once, twice thrice.

“Hello.”

His heart melted hearing her voice. He wanted to get into his phone and hold her and cry. He composed himself.

“Errr hello.”

There was silence on the both the ends.

“Is this you?”

“Congrats you got engaged. Saw on Facebook. Thought I’d give you a call.”

“What? Me? Engaged ? To whom? “

“Ummm Viraj. It’s okay if you don’t want to break the news to me.”

“ Viraj is my best friend and colleague past 3 years. It was his engagement not mine. He is engaged to the girl wearing the purple attire. I was attending that event.”

All of a sudden he felt relieved. “She is still mine”, he thought. It occurred to him that he never cross checked that guy’s profile that who he was engaged to. Neither did he check her profile. He felt like a fool. He sheepishly continued.

“Oh I am sorry. I thought it was your engagement.”

“How does it make a difference to you. One fine day even I’ll be married. I do not understand after so many years you made a call for this?”

“Well I mean I guess I mean how are you?”

“I am perfectly fine. Doing great. What about you?”

“I am good. Are you seeing someone?”

“Why should I answer that? It is my personal life.”

“That means you are.”

“No it means I am not telling you.”

“Tell me.”

“Fine I am not.”

“Do you still love me?”

“What sort of crap is this. After 3 years you are coming to me out of the blue and asking do I love you? Hell no!! I don’t. Why should I? You left me. You said I can’t be a wife. Please end the call now.”

“I love you and I have loved you always. It is just that I was immature and my stupid ego did not allow me to call you again. I really want to be with you. Please can we give it another chance. I would make sure I don’t spoil it. I swear.”

He spoke in a flow.

“Umm.. No. Not like this. I cannot give you the authority to hurt me when you please.”

“I love you. Please we can sort it out.”

“I have one condition.”

“Yes yes tell me.”

“Woo me back. If you meet my standards I’ll say yes.”

He could sense her smiling.

For once he knew what to do. For once his ego lost to his love.

“I’ll make you marry me.”

“We’ll see.”

My Aiyya and the Exemplary Journey of her Life

This story is based on the life of "Mrs. Jagwanta Pandey" who was the great great grandmother of my chachi, Dr. Anita Upadhyaya and whom she lovingly called "Aiyya". It is a narration based on the events as told by my chachi.
In the year of 1902, in the village of Manth, near Ghugli station, Dewaria, Uttar Pradesh, when India was struggling for freedom, under the glimmering shimmer of the stars, the villagers heard  a cry.
"Congratulations. Goddess Laxmi has bestowed her choicest blessings on your family. Such a beautiful daughter", chimed every one who saw her.
Being the daughter of the most respectable Zamindars of the village, she lived life like a princess surrounded by maids and servants who adored her. Big innocent eyes, dusky complexion and a smile that could melt even the strongest hearts. She personified beauty. Blessed with an extraordinary melodious voice, her mere words sounded like songs of a nightingale.
At a tender age of fourteen, she got married. Her marriage like the village fair lured her since she was a little girl. She felt happy, extremely shy, excited all at the same time. Trying new jewelleries, bangles, clothes, she beamed with joy. Her father gave everything that could have been possible from drums filled with gold, elephants, the best sweets but to his surprise her father-in-law refused to accept anything.
As a part of  their custom, she went to her in law's place for a few hours and returned back. She was too young to fulfil the duties of a wife. There were another five years before she could join her new family again.
She enjoyed her stay at her home cooking, sewing, playing with dolls and talking with everyone in the village. One day she requested her mother to allow her to study. Soon her father arranged  for the best teachers and her daily lessons started.
But destiny had other plans. There came a telegram. Her husband died of smallpox, an epidemic that was spreading like wildfire in the country.
Soon all her green, pink, red, blue sarees were replaced  by white cotton sarees. Her bangles lay shattered on the floor. Her forehead that so proudly was marked with red was bare now. Her long, lustrous hair cropped short. She could not understand why everyone was cursing her fate and crying. Her mother in a few days also got caught by the epidemic.
She felt alone. Everyone who once loved and adored her had started detesting her. She was prohibited from attending any auspicious ceremony, badly scolded if she laughed, cursed for bringing bad luck and continuous remarks of being evil always hit her hard, She was confined to a small room in her palatial house.
In a few months, she withered away like a flower that did not receive sunshine.
She went to her father and hesitantly asked him if she could go to her in- laws place. Surprised by her unusual request, he tried his best to make her understand that her home was the safest place in this word for her and her in-laws maybe wouldn't want her there. But her constant requests made him change his decision.
Clad in a white saree, she entered her in-laws home. Her mother- in- law hugged her hard and smiled telling the house members that her daughter had arrived. Everyone in the house welcomed her with so much warmth which was contrary to what her father had told her.
The very next day, her new mother got her a blue saree but she refused to wear it. She started liking the purity of the color white.
She was simple, she never made unjust demands, devoid of tantrums. Her father came many times trying to cajole her into coming back home but being caged like a bird in a big home was something she did not want to experience again. She loved her new family so much, she did not want to go. Neither did she want to marry again. Strange but her decisions were firm.
She played with the children, cooked food often competing with the "elder bahu", she made stuffed toys with so much precision that left people wondering if they were factory made. Occasionally she loved fighting with the elder bahu but being the apple of the eye of the entire family  she usually won.
One fine day the family was invited to a big feast in the village. Her mother in law took her early for helping the people with their preparation. Suddenly someone pointed at her calling her a widow and asking her to leave the place at once. Her father in law who was also the Sarpanch and an unusually calm person lost his cool strictly telling everyone that if they treated their daughter as an outcaste , his family would never participate in any celebration. For the first time in the history of the village a widow had attended a celebration. She had tears in her eyes. She was subjected to so much isolation that she never expected people to accept her. Not even her own father voiced his displeasure against the ill practices and here there was a fatherly figure with whom she had never had a word and he was fighting for her rights. Her devotion towards her in-laws increased multiple folds that night.
Years passed. She grew old but she still played with children. Her heart never grew old. She'd play with kids with the same energy and vigour at times fighting while declaring the winner. She was often seen making "Choolha", a fireplace to cook, by the river to please little girls who had a yearning desire to learn cooking. She'd paint the "Takhtis",writing slates, of children, helping them with their homework and even sometimes writing their homework. It was then the kids started calling her "Aiyya".
Aiyya was everyone's best friend and everyone's confidant. Kids discussed their homework and heard stories. women often poured in for advices. All vows and all happiness were shared with Aiyya. Any big or small problem had to be rushed to her in order to be solved. No decisions were made without asking her. Every new born in the village wore clothes specially made by her as an omen.
With time Aiyya changed her life from a curse to a blessing.
Aiyya spent her life among people she had no relation with but who meant her world.
"Acceptance when comes from both the sides creates bonds that are stronger than blood relationships."
Her life was a perfect example of it. She was the most heart warming, giving and loving individual, devoid of any cunningness or shrewdness.
To accept others you need a clean pure heart and that was her most precious asset. Her in laws got a daughter in her and she got family, respect, love and freedom in their home.
Nobody knows what prompted Aiyya to come to her in laws, neither the reason behind her undeterred devotion towards her in laws was known.
Even in her last days , she was often seeing playing with the grandchildren of the village.
Amazingly her smile never left her face in those 85 years she lived.
Even today if you happen to got to the village of Chakdehi and ask about Aiyya, someone would be as eager as me to tell you her story
She was our Aiyya, our great great great grandmother.

The House Of JOY!!

She looked at the bare wall of the room where once a big collage of her family photographs hung. She went ahead and felt the holes in the wall which she had so enthusiastically made years ago so that she could have brightened the room with her masterpiece of creativity. She smiled reminiscing how she felt like Thor holding that heavy hammer.
She felt an inexplainable urge to cry. Biting her lower lip she turned away and walked out of her room.Yes it was her room.
"Loneliness is something you can never ever get used to. It is that chronic disease that spreads its' roots in your body only to be discovered when chances of survival go grim."
Her father believed that life was a gift that unravels only to give you surprises.
" Had he been here in my place would he have felt the same", she wondered.
The last she saw her mother and him was at the dining area where she saw them holding hands and making elaborate plans about their late evening stroll by the sea. She felt happy coming to Tamil Nadu for her holidays. Her brother was smartening himself up in order to flirt around with the girls on the beach.
She smiled. She wanted to punch him hard once again and run down the staircase only to hide in the store room and yell out to him to catch her. She knew now there will be no one chasing her.
Nobody returned who left for the beach that evening. All she remembered was reading a book in the hotel room and then water and finally waking up in the hospital where she continuously faded in and out of consciousness for around a week. Everything that happened next was a blurred memory.
Barely a month had passed when she received a notice from the Government that it was providing compensation to the families of people who died during the Tsunami.
She did not want a compensation. Perhaps nobody can actually compensate for the loss each survivor was suffering from. If only God could release all souls and get them back to life. If only.
She wondered if they can compensate for the mother's milk a new born is craving for, or for the tears of a newly wed girl who now is a widow or for the ailing parents who lost their kids.
The money can only fill their bank accounts and that too partially but the void inside them, would money be able to fill that as well?
She dragged herself to the kitchen and nostalgia swept over her with full force. All the delicacies that she cooked or burnt, the taste of the food that her mother made with so much love and the memories of her family enjoying dinner came in front of her eyes. She could even smell the wafting aroma of her favorite muffins in the kitchen. Within moments there were just three walls, empty cabinets and even a more empty heart.
Every nook and corner of this house had been used to their frivolous laughter and endless joys. This house had seen her grow from a diaper clad baby to a young individual. It saw her failing, falling and yet standing up again to reach heights. It saw her family's journey from poverty to extreme riches. Every beautiful memory in her heart was attached to some place in her house. It had witnessed the most spectaular moments of her life. The silence today was eating her up. The bricks were pleading her not to leave. Sadness was weighing her down. How badly she wanted to hear her mother shout at her for not eating her food on time, she missed how her father would give her secret high fives when they teamed up for some mischieve and above all she wanted to tell her brother how much of a necessary nuisance he was to her life.
"This house has always been radiating with joy and it will continue to do so", she was firm and determined.
"It will now be a home."
She lay flat on the ground of her terrace where her family enjoyed late night strolls after dinner. The starless sky was dark yet her heart felt  darker. Her heart full of despair. People often told her that it was a miracle that she survived, a blessing of God. If only they knew what a curse it was to live life without those who taught her what life is.
She felt like that little duckling who had been separated from her family. Hardly had she learnt how to swim and an ocean was left to cross.
A tear slipped from her eye, and another and another. She cried for the loss of her family, for the loss of so many innocent lives, the loneliness and for the loss of a reason to live.
The sun was about to rise. She sat down and wiped her tears away. It was a new morning. The pain was no less yet the law of nature was reducing the grief. Her mind continued to be in the state of endless thoughts.
Suddenly she was struck by hope. A hope that maybe her family made it out of the disaster. Maybe they are struggling for life somewhere. How would she ever know sitting there and crying. She decided to get moving and search for them and help others to search for their families.
She decided she'll keep searching till she finds them or the purpose of her life.

Hours later she handed over the keys of the house to the owner of an orphanage.
She smiled as she said, "Please let the house be full of joy. It is not used to sadness."

Match Made In Heaven

She nervously looked at the clock. Looking in the mirror she adjusted her hair and cautiously analyzed her own reflection. Her dusky appearance looked a little fair due to the layers of foundation that had been plastered upon her face, her eyes felt heavy from the weight of mascara and eyeliner, her cheeks appeared crimson, all thanks to the generously applied blush and lips shimmered with the artificial sparkle of the lipstick. She felt disgusted and moreover dejected because she knew the reflection looked far more hideous than she could have ever looked in life. Is this that necessary? To be caked up like a clown and be presented in front of people who’ll scrutinize the way she walks, talks, she smiles and carries herself. She’ll be a mere commodity that will be appreciated or detested on the basis of how she looks and nobody will even give a fleeting glance to her qualifications let alone her nature.

“Maa why do I have to look so different from who I am? Will this makeup permanently alter the kind of appearance I have?  And even if they approve of me today then how will I ever be able to live with this fear of being exposed  and my real self being revealed?”

“We are not lying. This is a general makeup that every girl does to enhance her appearance. Don’t make such a big deal about it. Had you given a little importance to your appearance before then we wouldn’t have had to run behind boys in order to get you married.”

“I was giving importance to my studies maa. I thought it was more important to be well read and behaved than to be beautiful.”

She found herself talking to the walls as her mother had already left. Many boys had come and rejected her. Many others came and promised marriage but never returned back. Some asked her to deny. All her medals and glories stood mocking in her room every time a boy seemed more interested in her looks than what she actually was. She felt so helpless when she couldn’t justify to her own self that what was it in her that was not present.

She was dusky, slender and with decent features. She was not strikingly beautiful yet she wasn’t plain. There was a different persona to her. So different that men failed to understand it. Tears welled up in her eyes. She went to the washroom and washed her face vigorously.

“I will not meet this guy being who I am not”, she told herself firmly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Meet our daughter,” her mother chimed.

Her mother’s face fell as she saw her daughter wearing a saree with almost no makeup and her hair braided in a plait.

Another round of snacks followed with questions pertaining to her. For a moment she felt awkward thinking if it was a mistake to remove her makeup but then the gesture of the guest was heart warming.

“I guess you should show him your room now.”

She died a little inside. She dreaded this part of the entire meeting. She felt uneasy. Maybe now the boy will make some unjust demand or maybe he will tell her that he likes someone else. Her past experiences have made her very skeptical.

“This is my room.”

“It is nice.”

He went to her bookshelves and started reading the titles aloud.

“You like reading?”

“Yes I do. But I must say your collection is just way beyond awesome. If we happen to marry would you bring it along?”

She was taken aback. For the first time in so many years someone had just so straight forwardly said those words to her.

“Yes I might only if you don’t reject me.”

“Excuse me?”

“It might sound a little rude to you but before you many boys have come and said similar things obviously not the marriage part but yes quite nice things and then in a few days they disappeared only coming back to life when they had already married some other girl. Just before meeting you I was also caked with makeup but then I did not want to be someone else or rather I did not want to be what I could never be and that is beautiful.”

“Ahhhhh,” he sighed.

“Huh?”

“I am relieved. All this while I thought you’ll reject me.”

She smiled.

“Why would I reject you? Who gives me that power?”

“Matter of fact I have been rejected by many girls too. Some found me fat, some said I was short, some complained about my salary and some had lovers and trust me there were many for whom I had to sacrifice my desire to be married only to pave their way so that they can unite with their lovers. You have no idea how bruised my ego was. Even today when I saw you and then heard you I was astounded. Your qualifications, your merits everything was perfect. I was planning myself for another rejection.”

She looked at him bewildered by what he just uttered.

“Do you mean it makes no difference that I am dark?”

“Well come on you are educated and by the way it’s called dusky and not dark. And I like dusky girls. Haven’t you seen Bipasha?”

“But still that means you will say a yes? I mean you can get a better girl.”

“I haven’t got any one yet and I am equally unsure about my own looks. I mean look at me , my flabby stomach , it vibrates when you touch it.”

Within moments they were laughing.

She felt so much at ease. For once she felt accepted and appreciated. Her medals were talked about. Her interests were talked about. He was an extremely pleasant person. He went to her dressing table and picked up the lipstick.

“Will you put this ever?”

“No I find it hideous.”

“So do I.”

“Your lips are naturally pink.”

She blushed. For the first time in life her cheeks felt heated and she felt shy.

“I guess we should go down now, “ she spoke lightly.

“Not that I want to but then yeah if only I go down , then only I can tell my parents that finally their search is over. One more thing you are a very beautiful woman. More than that I was smitten by your confidence and the way you respectfully treated everyone downstairs. You were modest and calm. Over the years I had met many girls who’ll scream and yell about their minor achievements as if they were laurels and then tell me all sorts of things that I was least interested in knowing. Meeting you made me realize that we all do have pairs made in heaven. Please say yes. I really like you and want to make a happy family with you.”

“What makes you think I will say a no?”

“But then I have one condition.”

Her heart sank. The word “but” had never brought any good news.

“What is it?”

“Nothing much I want dowry.”

She stared at him. The man who was so nice and genuine had the same demands.

“I am sorry. I do not approve of dowry.”

He stuck his tongue out and pointed to her bookshelf.

“I want that. Please.”

“What?”

“Your bookshelf.”

“You scared me.”

“Now you are scaring me. Will you not bring it along?”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll come and stay in your home.”

The Silence she Adorned

The sunlight entered the room unabashedly from the window knowing it was an unwelcome visitor that morning. It fell straight on her face registering its presence and marking its victory. She pulled the blanket over her face and slept again. This time her alarm clock conspired to break her sleep. She stretched her arms and sat in bed trying to tie her hair in a bun. She looked for her slippers but could only see one and she decided not to wear any and turned towards the bathroom door.

“Saturdays are supposed to be lazy. Why did I have to ruin my peace and tell the old lady that I’ll get her groceries. These random acts of kindness and my absolute stupidities. Never the less every time I do something good I am bringing more positivity so lets just not ponder over it much and get ready”, she thought.

She took a hasty bath and pulled over a loose T shirt and her trackpants. She glanced in the mirror once before leaving. She patted the hair that came out of her head in weird angles.

“Hey good morning granny”, she joyfully went and pulled her into a warm hug.

She hummed on her way to the grocery store. It was a sunny day yet the sunlight wasn’t that harsh. She beamed with joy seeing almost no crowd in the grocery store. Picking all the green vegetables, and the red ones and also the brown and the violet ones she lifted her bucket. And the lemons in her hands went rolling by. She ran after them only to collide into someone else. She apologised.

There stood a man who looked at her not shifting his gaze even once. She felt a little uncomfortable with his constant gaze. She turned around and almost in a moment it dawned upon her who he was. She stood stiff in her place as waves of memories created ripples in her heart. Had it been the year of 2011 she would have hugged him hard and told him how she missed him but then it was the year of 2014. Three years since she left him.

She did not turn back, not because she was afraid but because there was no reason to turn around. She left him because she fell in love with another man, a man who she still was madly in love, who gave her existence the meaning she searched for all her life and who was the reigning king of her heart even when he was not a part of her life anymore.

She knew it very well that even if she turned around and looked at him it would not evoke any feelings in her and she was very sure about it because somehow in these 3 years someone had filled her with so much love that there was possibly no space left for anything else. But she did not want to trade her loyalty for something as trivial as a look of her ex which anyways would have failed to give her anything. It is not that she never felt anything for him but she also knew it very well it was not love that she shared with him. It was attraction, an adolescent relationship.

She was going through a rough patch in her present relationship with the man whom she claimed to love more than anything. They had stopped talking now  and their relationship had hit the downfall that perished the pristine bond they had. but just hours ago she was so sure that she had moved on, not with another man but with life. She knew she was happy with the way her life was going and had made peace with the fact that he would be a part of her love if not her life. But know seeing her ex she felt an overwhelming urge to have the man she loved by her side holding his hand so that she could have looked deep in his eyes and perhaps the presence of anyone would have ceased to matter but then the reality was that she was alone and the responsibility was solely on her shoulders. As of now she alone represented her relationship and life. This one incident made her realize the feelings she was trying to overpower and that came gushing back. Her intensifying love for a man who was miles away quite oblivious to the turmoil her heart was in now, was scaring her. But it was a comfort to know that her heart finally belonged to someone.

She went ahead, paid the bill and moved out smiling. She felt free. All these three years she wondered if she would lose all her control if she saw her ex. She contemplated if seeing her ex will alter her feelings for her present man. Yes they did alter the feelings, her feelings for the man in her life intensified. She thought would her man behave the same way if he got into a similar situation?

And that is when it hit her hard, perhaps he won’t or maybe he would, she was not sure. But then was his loyalty towards her a reward she was asking for in return for her loyalty towards him?

Loyalty is not a competition neither it is a reward. It is an unsaid promise which usually people fail to keep yet they want the other person to comply to all its conditions without any questions.

She thought of calling him. But then she was sceptical. Would he believe that she did not turn back? Or perhaps he would accuse her of infidelity that she did not even commit. He would make his own version of the story and would believe that wherein she would have slept with her ex and then planning to two time on him. She knew that is what exactly was going to happen. He also did not trust him.

And that was the only problem with their relationship. They did not trust each other. She was tired of proving her love and even more tired of asking for him to prove his. They both knew they loved each other but none was ready to even share a part of breath of the other with even the atmosphere. They were madly in love but too immature to believe each others love. She left only because she was tired of fighting with him over issues so trivial. The bond they shared was perishing before her eyes and she had no option other than to leave or else her love would have slipped away.

Her silence was an after effect of the decision she took. His bruised ego did not allow him to speak to her either. Their silence was the most treacherous journey they undertook in their relationship. It was more fatal than their vicious words. But then today she again chose her silence because she knew her words will only worsen the situation. But she still thanked God for what ever happened at least she was sure that there was one man whom she could love beyond the boundaries and namesakes of a relationship.

She kept the bag of grocery and went to her room. She took out her diary and began to write thinking if only he could know how much she loved him.

12000 kilometers far away a guy muttered in his dreams “You know how much I love you.”

His love lived far from him yet closed in his heart.

The conflict

“The electrons are then excited and they move to the next state but in order to gain stability they lose some energy and shift to the metastable state.”

The entire class was listening to the Professor with rapt attention but however hard she tried to concentrate her mind got diverted to the rambling of her stomach. She felt uneasy and dizzy. Excusing herself from the class she made her way to the washroom. Retching the contents of her stomach she felt better and more in control.

“God knows what has entered my system. I’ll skip the counselling and visit the doctor.”

She pulled out her mobile and typed a message to her best friend Miya.

*I am not well. Write an application for me and meet me at the college gate.*

Miya rushed to the college gate. Her face looked flushed and full of concern.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

“Nothing I have an upset stomach. Lets go.”

Miya prayed in her heart. She knew her friend had endured so much in the past one month that now she did  not even want her to go through an upset stomach as well.

“Please come back tomorrow to get your reports and make sure you don’t miss your counselling sessions, you need them.”

“Yes doctor”, she replied promptly.

The day passed swiftly . She decided to skip college today and collect her reports.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She entered her home, devastated. She threw the report on the bed and slumped in her bean bag. The pages of the report flew in the entire room. She sat still in her place not even bothering once to put the pages back. She punched in a number on her phone. Nobody picked up. She tried again. No response. She threw her phone.

“What are you doing here? I went to your college and Miya told me you are at home”, Raul shouted.

She sat still. He shuddered. Last he saw her sitting so still brought back all those memories. He instantly softened.

“Baby what happened?”

“I am pregnant.”

He was shocked. Entirely shocked.

“Did you not take the emergency contraceptive pill that night?”

“I did.”

“Then how is it possible?”

“There is no 100% guarantee.”

“Its okay baby. We’ll deal with this. We’ll get it aborted.”

“I want to keep the baby.”

“Do you even know what you are saying? Keep this baby? Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes I want to keep it,” sounding more determined.

“Baby think about your future. You are just 22. You have college to complete. Your entire life awaits you. Don’t take life long impaling decisions in moments of instant madness. Think about it. For once.”

“What is the fault of this baby? Why should we punish it for no fault of its own. Please Raul I want your support right now. Don’t fight with me.”

“I love you and you know that but I am not ready for this at all. This child is not coming in our lives. And that is final.”

“But why not? Raul I am going to give birth to it.”

“Enough is enough when I am telling you to abort it then do so. Simple as that. I don’t want a further argument. Choose and decide.”

“Are you asking me to choose between you and my baby?”

“For God sake what my baby shit is this.”

“You can leave.”

“What the hell? Are you telling me you’ll leave me for this god damn child of a rapist? I stood up for you all this while. I never left your side and now after everything you are doing this to me? You are not his mother. This is the memoir of the event that ruined your life. And not only your life, but your parents, your family and even my life. Do you even know how I feel? The girl I love the most got raped and I couldn’t do anything about it. I accepted this fact somehow and now you are telling me you want to have the child of that rapist? What do you think I am? A saint? I have no problems with what happened but under no circumstance am I going to support you bringing the child of that fucking man in our lives.”

“Calm down Raul. It happened with me and I am the only person who knows how it feels. Neither my parents, nor my family nor you do. And when I do not harbour any hatred for this child why are you making an issue out of it. He is not just a rapists child. It is mine as well.”

“Baby listen to me. You are very emotional right now but think about it whenever you will see this child you’ll be reminded of that night. I seriously don’t want you to undergo that pain.”

“And if I don’t see that child will I not be reminded of that night?”

“Its better to bang my head against the wall than to make you understand. I am leaving and I am making it very clear to you that I will not support you in this.”

She sat in silence. Thinking about everything that was happening.

“Maybe I am expecting too much out of Raul. Why should he back me up with this? He could have left me after that night. But asking him to support me with this, no I am being unfair towards him as well. But then I want this child. I know this is insane, outrageously stupid but I don’t know what is leading me now. At any cost I want this child.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4 Months Later

She picked up the bag full of groceries with discomfort. Her bulging stomach ached But she balanced herself.

“Let me help you.”

She turned around to find that Raul was standing, extending his hand towards her.

“No thank you. I am fine.”

She went away. All these four months Raul tried hard to convince her to change her decision. Seeing her pained his heart. But then he did not give in. He knew he loved her with or without that child. But then he did not want her to be burdened by a responsibility that was not even hers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She laid on the operation table screaming in pain. The nurses trying to pacify her. The doctor knew he could save just one.

Outside Raul was pacing up and down the corridor praying for her.

The light went off. He immediately rushed to the OT. The doctor appeared tensed.

“Can I meet her?”

“She is still very critical. We are unable to stop the internal bleeding. She might not survive.”

He waited outside cursing all Gods, cursing the new born and cursing his luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Raul you know perhaps I won’t survive.”

“Thats rubbish, doctors are trying. You have another surgery in an hour. All would be fine.”

“Raul will you do me a favour?”

“Hmmmmmm...”

“I don’t want my child to be an orphan like me. I will not survive and I can sense that. Will you take this responsibility?”

“You have given him birth , and you better come back and take care of it. Nothing will happen to you”, he kissed her forehead.

“She could not make it”, the doctor said.

He went still. He felt numb. He couldn’t breathe. Almost suddenly he heard the cry of the baby. He felt enraged.

“Stop crying you bloody evil thing. You took her away from me. I’ll throw you, kill you or leave you in an orphanage. You don’t deserve life.”

The baby cried harder. Unable to resist he went to the crib. His eyes refusing to even look at him.

With hatred laced heart he looked at the crying baby. The eyes. The eyes of the baby resembled her eyes. He could never see those eyes in tears. Not even now. He picked the baby up and almost instantly the baby held his finger.

He felt a connection because it was her baby and he wanted to be with her always and keep her happy.

“Doctor can we have the adoption papers?”

A Teacher Once Is a Teacher Forever

The sound of horns and screeching of tyres woke her up from the deep slumber. She yawned and stretched herself. She went and made tea for herself and snuggling the hot cup full of her favourite green tea,  she made her way to the balcony. The Sun was all prepared to go to sleep now.

Every evening she stood in the balcony bidding the Sun goodbye and watching the city traffic making its move. The crowd moving with a caterpillars’ pace, people struggling to cross the roads and tired white collared people cursing the traffic.

“Everyone must be going home by now”, she thought. The feeling of going back to home after a day of hardwork is exhilarating. Everyday we slog throughout our working hours, adding value to the work we do and the mere thought of going home makes us enthusiastic. You can’t trade the peaceful ambience of your own niche with anything.

The phone rang. She rushed to grab it.

“Dadi how are you”, chirped her grand daughter from the other side.

“I am fine. How is my little princess doing? I was waiting for your call”

“Oh Dadi I get so much homework. Dadi I called to say that you should join Facebook.”

“That is for youngsters like you. What would I do?”

“Just join it, then you can see all my pictures na”, she insisted.

“Okay okay I will see.”

She again went to her balcony.

“I should have gone with them to USA. It feels so lonely out here. Since I have retired there is nothing to do. My life is nothing but on the path of slow deterioration. This boredom is eating me away. I can’t sit and watch these idiotic daily soaps showing crying wives. Neither can I tolerate these gossipmongers of the kitty parties. Having taught kids how to utilize their time , I can’t waste mine like this”, she sighed.

A group of teenagers were passing by. She was in no mood for eavesdropping on their conversation but then they were loud enough for anyone to hear.

“That math teacher of ours is good for nothing”, said one.

“He would himself fail in the paper he sets for us”, added another.

“He will pass only those who’ll attend his tuition.”

Her heart sank.

“This is what it all boils down to. We spend our entire lives trying to teach them whatever we know and these kids would not even respect us. But somewhere the problem can’t be just in the students. Even teachers now a days are not that passionate about teaching. For them it is a job. For me it was my worship. Each student of mine was a lump of wet clay for me whom I moulded as long as I could. They all have reached places but somehow I never heard from them again. We as teachers selflessly devote our lives to these students without yearning for appreciation. Appreciation does flow in but only once every year, 5th September. Rest for the entire year they will treat you with indifference. I wish students were a little more sensitive towards us. Never the less I am not a teacher anymore.”

She felt agitated. She missed teaching. That is all that she had done in her life.

She sat on her laptop and then created her Facebook account. She filled all the information and updated her profile. And sent a request to her Grand daughter. She closed the laptop and attended to her daily chores.

Late in the night she logged back again to check if her little princess had accepted her request.

“Not yet.”

But she saw there were many friend requests from different people. Some of the m she did not even recognize though the names felt oddly familiar. Another red sign was blinking in the corner of the page. It was her inbox. There were around ten messages.

“How come so many messages”, she wondered clicking them one by one.

The first was from some man named Arun

Arun (Active 2 hours ago)

8:05 pm

Good evening ma’am

Do you recognize me? You taught me in class 9^th. I am that student who brought my driver to the Parent Teacher Meeting instead of my father. Now do you remember me?

“Oh Arun. My God he has grown into a well built man.” The memory of a lean child ushering a well dressed man with no manners into her classroom came to her. She smiled thinking of the notorious child. Another memory flashed by where that same child stood next to her , his body tensed and his lips shivering, when he barely managed to speak that he flunked and had to give supplementary papers.

She typed I do remember you. On a humorous note I hope you are no more taking your driver in your meetings.

Instantly the messenger beeped

“Hahahaha Ma’am I don’t. I told my children how you saved me from all that embarrassment. Ma’am can I say something?”

“Yes go ahead.”

“Ma’am do you remember when I got those 4 supplementary papers? I came to you. Ma’am I knew nobody else would help me. You were always a saviour. I still remember the entire week when I kept testing your patience by repeatedly asking the same questions and you without a speck of annoyance kept explaining. Those 10 chapters have stayed with me all my life. My kids are very eager to meet the teacher who their Dad brags about all the time. Would you please tell us where you are these days?”

She stared at the screen. He still remembers that. Her lips contoured into a smile as she typed, “ I live in the same home. Whenever you pass by bring them along.”

“I surely will ma’am. I surely will.

She hopped onto another message which was from a girl named Sheetal.

Sheetal (Active now)

9:12pm

Hello ma’am

How are you. Ma’am it took you so long to join Facebook. I searched for you so many times. Ma’am please see the picture that I have enclosed.

She clicked on the picture. It was a passport size snap of Lord Ganesha, a little worn out picture that she had given to a girl who was scared of exams.

“You still have this?”

“Obviously ma’am. I have never ever separated myself from it . It will go to my grave along with me. Over the years it has become my lucky charm. I do not go anywhere without it. I am very sure you laced it with blessings of yours. I never felt scared after keeping this with me.”

“I am glad it helped you.”

“Ma’am teachers like you are hard to find now. My kids aren’t as lucky as me. Please open a school. I’ll send my kids there only.

She typed controlling her laughter,” Sure sure.”

 Next was a message from a man she was sure she did not know.

Riten  (Active)

9:12 pm

Good evening ma’am

I am very sure you don’t know who I am but you have brought a very lasting change in me. I was student of yours for five years but I was very introvert so perhaps I never came under limelight. In your class you taught us not only our chapters but the real value of life. You may have not realized but everyday you were bringing change by telling our subconscious the power we were not aware of. I personally idealized you in my life. I was never a very bright student or a very poor performer. I was just average. If you recall once you patted my back and said that I’ll do wonders if I put my inhibitions aside. That line stuck with me ma’am and since then I never looked back.

She was overwhelmed. Her eyes had become moist. The moment she was about to reply, it started raining heavily.

“Oh my clothes are still outside”, she rushed to the balcony. She collected her clothes and bundled them on her bed. She logged out thinking she would reply tomorrow. She wanted to seize the moment. All this evening she was thinking how worthless and unappreciated a life she lived. But these simple messages unravelled the simple magic in forms of words that touched her heart and soaked her soul with love. She never realized she was changing lives all these years just by existing. She was astonished that these kids found her and took time to message her. What surprised her more was that they told their kids about her as well.

“I am of no use to them now but still somehow I reside in the memories of so many. My life has not been wasted. These kids are just a few whom I have taught.  There are many more. And who knows they still care.”

Suddenly she felt very proud and happy.

Outside it was raining hard and she still dry and comfortable in her bed was drenched in love.

In Love With Freedom

The hard hitting rain drops had changed to a soft drizzle by then. The air in the cabin felt suffocating. She pulled out her jacket and tied her hair into a high ponytail.

Outside the weather had turned into a romantic poetry. Light drizzling, sunshine finding its way in between the parting clouds, a half rainbow and a flying seagull.

She stood gaping at the sky, wondering if it was a painting. She held the bars tight and stood on her toes to see below. Crystal clear blue water, rippling through the movement of her mini ship. She could see small fishes swimming back to their home or maybe to a new place just like her.

She held out her hands and smiled to the open nature welcoming it, embracing it in all its glory.

“This is life. Calm, serene and most importantly beautiful.”

A camera adorned her neck but somehow she did not want to take a click. She wanted the scenic beauty to create the most perfect photo on her retina whose snap shall always be a part of her memory. Surprisingly the weight of the camera did not seem as much of a burden as much once the only sign of her marriage, her mangalsutra, had felt.

She did not want to think about it. Not at least now. But the reasoning of her mind lost to the memories she had in her heart. She did not realize that it had been five years, five whooping years since she left home. The home which was never her own.

She was 21 when she got married to a man who claimed to have fallen in love with her the very moment he saw her for the first time. In a matter of merely a month they were husband and wife. The first month was a bliss, a sweet never ending honeymoon that abruptly came to a halt when during a heated conversation, he slapped her for the first time. She was outraged, shocked and to an extent scared but she preferred staying silent. Her first mistake. She assumed that maybe he got very angry and he won’t repeat his mistake. How wrong she was. In a month she knew that he was controlling and abusive. But still she thought she could make things work out. Her second mistake. She took him to various therapists but to the outside world he was near perfect, well behaved, very loving husband who made a great pair for her. Every now and then he beat her for things as absurd as talking to the neighbour. She suffered but never spoke a word to anyone about it. Her pride and her crushed self esteem did not allow her to do that. Ten years, the most beautiful ten years of her youth passed by in misery. She kept finding excuses to stay and he kept abusing her in different ways. Every love has its limits, hers had been stretched way too much. They did not have kids and he shamelessly called her barren without even getting himself checked once. She was not barren, she knew it but found it unnecessary to prove. There was anyway no one who would have listened. Staying weak for so many years, she became a volcano. A volcano that was ready to erupt.
And one fine evening it did.

He came home and found that the tea had no sugar. He threw the boiling tea at her. It scathed her arms but then stirred her soul. She got up and slapped him hard. She looked deep into his eyes and told him firmly that if he dared to touch her again she’ll call the police and get him behind the bars. The very next morning she packed her bags and left. She had earned enough in those ten years to have a decent saving. She left no note, no number, no address. For him she disappeared.

“Hey Meera would you have a cup of coffee?”, yelled her captain.

“No I am fine. Thank you.”

Since that day she pursued her love for photography. She did a short course and then started travelling, meeting people, going on excursions. Not even once did she feel tired. Or bored. Life had something new and better to offer every passing day. This journey was of them.

The salty breeze of the sea hit her nose. She inhaled deeply. She was happy and more than that she knew she was respected and adored by people around. It was difficult initially for her but then had she stayed she would have never known what life could offer. For the first time in years she was applying make up because she wanted to look beautiful and not hide bruises. She could sing to her heart’s contentment without someone telling her to shut up.

Suddenly she saw a dolphin far away in the sea, jumping out of water, diving back and moving forward as if she was dancing with joy. Her synchronised movements were like lyrics of a song, a beauty. She kept looking at it. The tiny rain drops on her face, the hazy mist, the aura of mystery and her never ending thoughts.

“Freedom gives us wings. Love that shackles away that freedom is not love. You can try very hard and fail but then staying in a position that makes you feel miserable is unfair. Sometimes you have to move out, experience life in you, bubble out joy, scream , yell, laugh, and cry but the tears should of joy. Those ten years were painful. But what followed were the most beautiful days of her life. She did not regret leaving that home. The only regret she had that it took ten years for her to make a decision, as simple as being happy, too late.”

She waved to the dolphin taking a snap.

She was smiling. She felt liberated and thankful for giving life another chance.