Random meows in my head (drabbles only) 8th up pg26 15/2/2022 - Page 8

Because Suman Pandya really needs to feel regret now... And because the sindoor scene was, goosebumps.

Sindoor...

Suman still remembered that day. The day that kaagdi ki beti had prayed for her son and herself. Had applied sindoor and partaken in the rituals of her house despite the rishta she was honouring through it holding on by frayed threads.

She had hated her for it. For acting like a goody two shoes, pretending to be a good person when she'd been so sure that the girl's blood had finally shown. That Prafulla's blood that it was. And when her son had partaken in the ritual as well, she'd seen it in his eyes. He believed in the girl. Despite her truths or other wise, depending on perspective.

A week later she had seen Anita push Dhara down the step in her kitchen first hand. And she had watched Raavi catch Dhara. The devil and the angel working in tandem, she'd thought. One couldn't exist without the other. One had no reason to visit, and one no reason to stay. The sisters would both never set foot in her house again, she'd decided in that moment.

She'd delivered her verdict. And when that girl looked around the house one last time before leaving, she'd called out to her. "Ay Kaagdi ki beti! Akhri baar iss maha saas ki aashirvaad le le zindagi main... " And when the fool had bent down she'd grabbed a fistful of her hair and made her own point clear. "Agar aaj ke baad teri shakal iss gali main dikhi bhi na, tho jo haath main mile uthake phenk dungi. Itni khubsurat shakal hain, ki isko chupane main hi teri balayi hain. Aur haan, mere bete se dur reh, samjhi?!"

Five years later, and she hadn't seen that girl's face once after that day. Despite her family still living in the house right opposite theirs. She had finished an MBA, had begun a small business selling artwork successfully. But every time she stepped out of her house she covered her face. With a dupatta or scarf or her pallu. And she closed every door and window of her house when she stepped inside. Except for one day of the year. Today.

She watched from the street as the girl, face still covered, stood in front of the Shiv Parvati idol opposite the door of the Kaagdi's house. Praying. Then she applied sindoor and turned to look out, through the door, the door of Pandya Niwas, to her son standing in front of the idol there. He looked right back at the girl, barely noticing that his mother was in between them before applying a teeka. The girl quickly walked inside, calling out to Prafulla to close the door.

That night as Suman went to sleep, she regretted. Her son hadn't gone against her words. He hadn't even tried to meet the girl beyond this day every year. But she knew that he'd sabotaged every rishta she'd brought for him on purpose. She knew that the last thing he saw before falling asleep was a passport size photo of that girl that she'd left here by mistake. Perhaps Disha would truly have been a better choice for her son, but his heart wanted only that girl.

Perhaps it was time to give in. Perhaps she had been wrong. Wisdom truly did take time to come to people.

xxxxxxx

I know that Suman's actions may have been a bit too extreme for reality. But Suman herself has always been that way to me.