Bride & Maid

The young girl sat with her eyes downcast and looked at the mess that she was cleaning up. It was something that she could not fathom and her mind was in a gamut of emotions. She looked furtively to her left & right as if expecting somebody to jump on her. She felt hot tears stinging her eyes but, she kept it in check. She was a new bride and had been married only six months back. Her new house was a palatial bunglow, compared to her father's house. She felt almost lost in here as there were very few people around. Her husband was a good man and he sincerely went about his daily work. He worked in a small company and was very devoted to his work & home. She had no expectations whatsoever from this household and had not come with stars in her eyes. The reason being that she had herself volunteered to marry this young man. So, she only wanted to be his wife....she never thought about the enormity of marrying into a huge household. Today, she had woken up and with sprightly steps, went into the kitchen to cook some breakfast for her husband & his Ma. She was a new bride and had a good interest to feed her husband herself. She cut the onions & chilly and cooked with gusto. The end-product was a dish which she loved and wanted all to enjoy. Her husband took a spoonful and she watched him with expectant eyes. He smiled and that was all she needed. Later he left for his work, as always. She wanted to share it with the 2 maids who were regulars and stayed in the big house. She carefully put some food onto their plates and served them. Imagine her surprise, when the younger maid took the plate and dumped the food near the door, on the floor. She was so bewildered that no words came out of her mouth. She looked at the elderly lady for some reaction. But, surprise of surprise, there were none !!! She could not open her mouth out of fear and she was so nervous. Slowly she bent down and cleaned up the mess and out went the dish into the garbage bin. She washed her hands and slowly retraced her steps, to her room. She closed the door and then, the tears started flowing.....copious, hot stinging tears. Her eyes were red and puffy. She did not know her fault.

A Rainy Day

It was a bleak, rainy day........some 30 or odd years ago. The sky was overcast and everything looked bleak and grey. The sky poured out like a torrential waterfall cascading down a mighty mountain. The little girl was lost in thoughts, looking once at the sky and later at the emptiness of her small home. She wondered about the whereabouts of her mother and suddenly missed her warm presence. Her consternation soon gave way to some respite as her father came to dress her up. She was happy that she was being taken out. It did not matter where but, at least she can a have nice outing now. And the rains suddenly made her very happy, as she loved the pitter patter. It was better than being holed up inside the house and she can play in the water too. She quickly put on her frock and shoes and was ready in no time. Her father looked very excited and she wondered what was it all about. He held her little hand and down they went the stairs into the compound. The rain was lashing wildly and the streets were badly flooded. It was one of those years when there was a non-stop downpour for days in the month of July.The rains and flood did not look so nice now, as it seemed from her fourth floor house. It looked menacing and the water swirled about her. From where they were walking, it started getting more and more deep. At last her father took a firm grip of the girl's hand and lofted her up onto a concrete cemented area, which was at least 2 feet higher. There they stood, father & daughter, hand in hand. Her father was looking for a means to get out of the swirling water and go to the place where he was planning to go. Meanwhile, the little girl was fascinated by the vast expanse of water everywhere. The roads and alleys were all full of water and one could only see water everywhere. Transport was scarce and there were hardly any humans around. As the little girl fidgeted and was getting bored of the spectacle, she suddenly noted something bright beside her. It caught her fascination on this grey day, as it was bright blue and just lying beside her, on the concerete. She looked at it carefully. It was a plastic bottle but, with its head neatly cut off, so that it looked like a small container without a handle. It seemed as if she had something to cheer about on that dull day. She was getting tired of just standing there looking into the vacant waterspace. She started extending her leg towards the object and with one expert kick, she let the blue plastic container fly across into the water. It landed with a gentle splash in the swirling and meandering water and bobbed around quite a bit. She could not contain her glee, as it gently went on its way in the water. She could see the blue in the vast grey & dirty water and it gave her lots of happiness. Her happiness was short-lived, as a large menacing man who seemed no less than a giant, suddenly appeared before her. He was so furious that she suddenly felt very frightened. He pointed a finger onto the plastic thing and thundered, asking her to fetch it back. This man was a roadside barber and the blue container was an asset to his profession, as he stored soap water in it, which he lathered onto so many faces. Now, he had to find another good container. He had taken pains to cut the top off neatly and it was light enough to be carried around. Naturally, the man was furious. The little girl's father face clouded and she was given a harsh stare. But, precisely at that moment a cab appeared from somewhere and her father hailed it. She was bundled into the cab and she heaved a big sigh of relief, of having been saved from that menacing giant. She was left with no doubt that had she been still on that concrete, the man would have made her wade in that dirty water and made her bring back his blue container. She shuddered to think of it, as she would have surely died as the water was deep enough to cover her from head to foot. And to add to her woes, she did not know how to swim. She looked happily at her father as he had saved her by hailing the cab, just on time. Soon, they were at a huge white building. It was silent and cool inside. She padded along with her father. Now they were in a small room with a bed, with white sheets. Suddenly, the little girl ran forward. Her mother was reclining on the bed and she had a strange, happy smile on her face. Her father took her hand and guided her to a small, hanging bed beside her mother's bed. She looked inside and was surprised to see a small, creature with puffed up eyes and scaly, reddish skin lying on that bed. She looked at it in amazement, as the little baby moved a bit. Her parents now encouraged her to touch the baby. The little girl extended a spiny, little finger and touched the baby's hand. Soon, the baby had wrapped her finger in its own. The connection was complete. The family was complete. My sister was born that day.

Rangamashi

It was a sultry summer afternoon, when I first met her. She was sitting in a chair wearing a gown and appeared quiet & attentive as I was introducing myself, to her mother. The imposing older lady was to be my future grandma-in-law from my mom-in-law's side. I turned myself to her and saw a lovely lady with large eyes and fair skin, with a welcome-smile for me. She was to be my future aunt-in-law (the youngest aunt of my husband). When I took the decision to break all tradition & rules of a well known Malayali tharavad and get married to a young Bengali man, it was a leap forward several times in our large Nambiar family. But, I was young and adamant and gave an ultimatum to my parents. Once they met my future husband, they were all for it. And so, that was how I got married in true Malayali Nair style to a Bengali household. I say "household" because, the relationship encompassed lots of uncles, aunties, cousins & 2 grandmas at my in-laws and I was to become inextricably involved in the tribulations, pains, happiness & sorrows of these lovely people. So, that is how the youngest aunty , whom they fondly called - Rangamashi, came to represent my wedding with uncle (her husband). She was an epitome of grace & beauty and everybody was taken in by her at Kerala. Later, when she contracted the deadly Cancer, which eroded her body with a vengeance, we could only marvel at her strength of mind. She fought & fought and never did we see her cry in public. We were amazed & appalled too, by her strength of mind. She went through the surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy & numerous medications with a single-purpose mind - not to let her dear ones know how much she suffered. She knew that if she breaks down, the whole family which rallied behind her also breaks down. In the midst of all this, uncle suffered a massive heart attack; his 3rd and underwent a bypass surgery. It was a crucial stage for everybody but, this lady fought with all her mind. We knew we were losing her, as the disease had ravaged her liver. I saw her daily, as I work from a space in her house and can see her even now, coming down the stairs to have tea with us, as always in the evening. I grew up & matured 10 years in a year......in 2009, on June 21st, she gave up, the fight was over and we learned a lot from this great lady, how to fight and never give up, never, never. Soon, it will be 21st June 2010 and we will remember that fateful day. But, it plays almost daily in my mind. I take this opportunity to pay my homage to Rangamashi with utmost love & happiness (as she would have wanted), for all the lovely times we had together. May she always be happy, wherever she is and may she be a reminder for all of us, to savour life with all its happiness & sorrow.