Chapter 3
"Kalpi, hurry up and come here. Select a dress that you will wear for the party?"
"Me, No Paakhi jiji. I can't wear any of these dresses?"
"These are not new dresses so you don't have to bother too much. Most of them are last year fashion. I just did not have the heart to give them away coz I love them so much."
"Yes, jiji and thats what I am trying to say. I can't wear your dresses that you love so much."
"Yes you can and you will look adorable. Just like the doll that you are."
Neetu comes in and looks at Kalpi wearing a satin gown. Looking very uncomfortable and on the verge of crying in discomfort. She would also need shoes if Kamla lets her go to the party.Neetu thought to herself.
"Kalpi, come here beta. Paakhi give Kalpi the bandhni lehenga choli. The one you wore during Rakshabandhan!"
"Mom, thats too simple. I want her to wear something like this..." Paakhi picks up a royal blue halter neck gown.
Kalpi recoils once again in nervousness thinking about Kamla and her reaction.
"Yes, try this one Kalpi."
"Paakhi, please jaanu... can you for once consider what Kalpi wants instead of going on about your own wants and needs!" Neetu intervenes
Kalpi felt much better when she saw the beautiful deep green silk Bandhni lehenga. She was mesmerized. She had never worn anything this soft and beautiful. She took it with shaky hands and exclaimed.
"wow, this is just beautiful. I love it. Neetu aunty. Paakhi jiji. what do you think, can I borrow this one?" SHe looked ar Paakhi with expectation.
"No, you can not borrow." oaakhi said in a dramatic manner. "you will have to take it for ever. I give it to you"
Kalpi and Paakhi quickly changed into their party attires and started prancing around laughing and giggling as Neetu looked at them in an indulgent manner.
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"Arre! Kamla there is no question about formalities. You are my little sister and it's been 3 weeks since I last saw you, so could not wait any longer to visit. Moreover, Pallavi made these cakes and cookies for all of you. This is her new hobby these days. She watches cooking programs on the cable and my kitchen has been turned into a war zone. Only difference is that instead of gunpowder, shrapnel shells and explosives, its flour, eggshells, and sugar everywhere." Laxmi giggled at her own joke.
"You let her watch the idiot box, Laxmi jiji? It will play havoc with their fledgeling minds. She is a young girl be very careful. Do not give them free rein to run amok at this impressionable stage. As, I say she is a girl." said Kamla grimly.
"Ah! Kamla. TV is no more an idiot box, now it is a source of education. In fact Palash's science teacher gives them assignments to watch on TV. Can you believe that? Then he sits down to write what he was watching. Arre, doesn't Kalpi get these assignments too? How does she manage her assignments?" questioned a now perplexed Laxmi.
When she did not hear any reply from her younger sister, she carried on with her monologue. "Arre, Kamla, I also wanted to ask you, what has happened to Kalpi. She has fallen back in class it seems. Palash told me that she does not come first anymore. In fact for the last two years her rank has fallen. I think you make the girl work too hard at home."
"Laxmi jiji, please stop reproving how I bring up my children. She is doing just fine. If you don't remember she got the first prize in math. And, she studies with Paakhi whenever she can. Keshav's father can do nothing by himself. Who else is there to help me? If Kalpi does not help me how will I manage everything on my lone shoulders? Who will look after Keshav?"
At that very moment Keshav came running to his mother and crashed into her. She let him hug her and then slowly raised her hand to caress the sticky perspire drenched hair. She was just about to say something to him when Laxmi interrupted her.
"hmm... you are right but the water tank then the earthen brazier it all seems just too much. I told you let me help you with the finances. But you are too proud to take any help from me." mused the elder sister.
"You know that water alone on this whole land costs us around Rs.10,000, some times more, every month. So, I decided to block the water around the chicken coops and the barns and some here and there." She did not want to disclose too much to her sister. But her sister would not rest until she was satisfied and so she decided to let her know.
"Jiji dont worry. The weekly water tanker was an offer from the Shingania's that I just could not refuse. So what was the point of keeping unnecessary expenses."
That the kerosene and sugar from the ration subsidiary seemed a better option instead of spending more few more thousands on gas cylinders. Although she has not taken it completely off she had limited it used to save as much money as possible. The automatic water sprinklers on the fields had costed a lot and she wanted to save as much she could by cutting corners. And, now that Kalpi had started taking care of the home she could take up more work hours.
Kamla's thoughts shifted to her first born. She was barely 1o years old when she started taking care of the house without any assistance from her. And since the last 3 years, Kamla had bit by bit, shifted much of her domestic burdens, especially the kitchen chores on the frail shoulders. Carrying water for the cattle was not much but cooking on the brazier whenever the need has risen, has been a handful task. She has noticed some deep burn scares on Kalpi's hand but the girl never came to her with her wounds. Kamla felt a hard knot in her throat.
Kalpana, her first born was a quiet, docile and hardworking child but...
"Kamla, you have become so harsh as you have grown older. You were such a fun loving girl who loved to dance, do you remember? Imli ka bootaa beri ka, Imli khatti meethe ber song that we loved so much as kids... and you used to climb those thorny trees to pluck ber and tamarind for me."
"Jiji, stop talking about those days... they are now forgotten dreams," Kamla's eyes had just begun to glitter then immediately dulled.
" Accha, now cut the cake. Pallavi made this plum cake and ginger cookies these are christmas specials you know! Why don't you put some water for the chai?"
" Oh! jiji how silly of me," she shouts for Kalpi. "Kalpi, don't you know you have to make tea for Maasi? What is wrong with you?"
" Now there Kamla, again you are doing the same... why call Kalpi? Fine, let me make it. Poor girl. Moreover, my Pallavi will get bored then," she gets up agitated and moves towards the kitchen.
Pleased to see the kerosene stove running, Laxmi exclaims, " At least today you have your stove up, coz I have no idea how to manage the earthen chulha. I have no idea why you have started doing all this. And, kudos to that brave little girl of yours.
Kamla's thoughts once again went to the scars she had seen on her daughters hands but she quickly shook herself out of those dark memories.
She calls the children in and begins serving them with tea and cakes.
"Chalo, lets go out and sit in the garden jiji"
It was time she shifted the conversation towards things she preferred to talk and live for. This was the favorite time of the year. The trees were laden with ripen fruits, the weather this year has been favorable with low temperatures combined with bright and sunny days that encouraged healthy blossoming and ripening but not too severe for the frost to kill the new saplings.
She was hopeful about things getting better soon. She had also started looking at a permanent shop for their produce and start a pickling and jamming business in a smaller scale. She had in fact already started working on it but did not want to share the news with anyone till her plans took a more concrete shape. So she decided to talk about her neighbors and their lives, a life she would be living soon.
"Raghavbeta is here for the holidays. He has flown down from London for the first time since he went to study. So Madhav ji is throwing a big party for his son. This time I am thinking of taking Kalpi with me to help. She will learn the basics of running a large commercial catering kitchen."
"Kamla! I do not know how you bring yourself to work for them and call them friends in the same sentence... But leave Kalpi out of this. That girl is already loaded with too much work...She is younger than Pallu.. My Pallavi is going to be 16 soon and I still do not make her work like you do with Kalpi. If I was not this sure about it, I would doubt if you are her real mother. How can you be so hard-hearted?" Laxmi said in exasperation for both the reasons - Singhania's exaggerated generosity towards her unreasonable sister's family and Kamla's unnaturally tough behavior towards Kalpi. it just never added up in her mind.
In return Kamla just shrugged her shoulders. She was never the jealous kinds, especially where her sister was concerned.
Right from the formative years she was aware that she was the prettier of the two and thus would always have and undue advantage. Their father was a simple clerk in the local private college. They were a family of many mouths and one earning member. SO they knew how to live a life of constraint needs.
Her sister got married early to a local shop owner. But, Kamla had big dreams. She knew she deserved better, like the pretty girls who drove around in big cars with the dark windows up. And that is what she aimed for.
Nirmal Jadhav was 10 years senior to Kamla. He saw Kamla in the annual food fest organized by the agricultural University. She was there with her friends and he was there to showcase the new flavors of jams and jelly from his company. Soon after a whirlwind affair they were married.
But, life threw a harsh curve ball and smashed all the plans of Kamla.
She sighed and took a sip of her tea.
"What will Kalpi do in the party. It will be better if she helps me in the kitchen."
***********
Raghav was listening to the latest Bollywood songs that he had missed in the last 5 months and playing Xbox, when he felt like munching on something. He thought of calling Subedarkaka but then decided to take the walk till the kitchen. But after looking around the kitchen for sometime an idea stuck him and a smirk speed on his face.
"Mom, I am walking out over to the lands" he informed Gauri.
"Why don't you walk over to the Yadhav's and get some apple guavas's for dessert." Gauri asked him. "They are your dadi's favorite she would love it if you got them for her."
"Mom, is that the right thing to do? To walk into their lands and pick up their fruits?
"They are our lands, beta. The Jadhav's are fine with it." Gauri gave a quick reply.
He shook his head at his mom's pompous presumptions but nonetheless followed her instructions. He did not know the complete details of the business transactions but he did know that his parents were constantly supporting their neighbors in their hardtimes. With these thoughts he reached the guava groves. The fruits were in season and the trees were laden with fruits. He heard people talking and not wanting to interrupt anyone he decided to keep himself discreet.
And that is how he unintentionally eavesdropped on the conversation. His young mind could not understand how Kalpi could work in the kitchen while her friends Paakhi and Prem would be enjoying the party, then most likely be served by her. It just seemed so wrong to his ears. He has seen this girl grow up in front of his eyes. And, he had seen how tiny, fragile and shy she looked. He had also often seen her laughing and playing with her brother or sometimes with Paakhi. And, he had caught her more than once whimpering alone in these very groves when she thought that no one was around. he always felt sorry for this little girl. And, he also remembered how nervous and scared she was of her mother's anger. He remembered in his eagerness to soothe her anxiety he had given her his favorite pen. That pen was his lucky charm. But that was alright cause the twinkle in her eyes has been a worthy reward, he smiled.
But right now as he heard her speak, he wondered, what is this woman's issues?
"Namaste Kamla aunty, I just heard what you said and I don't think it would be right that you make Kalpi work in the kitchen of my house. Firstly she is a student at my old alma mater, my school. And it would be highly insulting that a fellow schoolmate work in my kitchen when they have been invited to the same party as my friends. Secondly, she is Paakhi's friend too, it just does not seem right. And most important how old is she, she must be a kid 10 or 11yrs? I cannot imagine how you can make her work. I would call it child labor and never allow it. Please don't mind but this is my request to you. Let Kalpi and her little brother attend as my friends and guests."
Kaml stood shocked and embarrassed then tried to recover from her condition and replied in a hurried voice, "Yes, beta, of coz she will attend. I was just saying since she is so shy and does not know anyone. She would herself prefer to stay with me. But if you say then she will surely attend."
Laxmi grinned, "Yes I am sure Kalpi would love to join. Such a lovely girl. I am so glad you invited her Raghav baba."
"I came to pick some Guavas. I will leave now."
Kamla looked as Raghav turned and went back to his house.
"Look at him he did not even ask my permission, either for the guavas nor for Kalpi. These teenagers!! Such is his audacity!!" She sneered
"But didi, this is his land and he was right isn't he?"
Kamla stared towards the grandeur of the Singhania mansion and swore silently that one day she will get back what is rightfully hers from the Singhania's by hook or crook.
But how?
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