Unforeseen Love
Masi stared at her nephew's daughter, fifteen-year-old Ganga dressed in tight jeans and halter neck top in bright red. "Ganga where are you going dressed like that?" masi asked.
Ganga rolled her eyes before answering masi, "dadi, Risha is having a party at her house. And there is nothing wrong with my clothes, all friends dress like this too."
Masi's felt annoyed, when ever she tried to talk Ganga about her clothes, going out to parties, staying late was wasted, Ganga did as she wanted. She wished Jai, Ganga's father paid more attention to his daughter, it wasn't easy to raise a girl without a mother. Jai spent way too much time looking after his business.
"Bye masi." Ganga called out as she sauntered towards the door.
"Make sure you are home by ten." Masi called out to Ganga's back. She has to talk to Jai about Ganga, if this carried on then the girl was on her way being out of hand, who knew what she did outside the house at this frequent parties she went to. Masi sighed, she wished Priya, Jai's wife was still alive. But Priya had died of brain aneurysm when Ganga was ten. It had been difficult couple of years for them, masi had done her best to support both Jai and Ganga with loss.
For a year now she has been nagging Jai to consider remarrying, emphasising how Ganga needed mother, someone Ganga can turn to. Jai had flatly refused that they both were there for Ganga and if Ganga had any problem she can always come and talk to him.
Later in the night, masi looked at the clock next to her bed for the umpteenth time. It was close to midnight. Ganga had still not returned. Unable to stay put in bed, masi got up and put on her robe and crept out of the bedroom. A thin ribbon of light came out from the bottom of the study door. Jai was still up too. Masi knocked on the door and then stepped in. Jai looked up from the book he was reading and looked surprise.
"Masi! Are you ok?" he asked, taking off the reading glasses and setting them on the coffee table.
Masi smiled, "I am fine munna, but Ganga'she has not returned home yet. She went to a party at Risha's house."
Jai looked at his wrist watch, "It's midnight. Why didn't you tell to return home early?"
"I did'told to come home by ten." Masi sighed and sat down. "She doesn't listen to me any more. If you had been home, may be she would have."
Jai took a deep breath. Here we go again he thought, making me feel guilty for working late. Picking up his cell he looked at masi, "I will call her and remind her." He quickly accessed the stored numbers and called Ganga but found her phone wasn't turned on.
"Her phone is switched off. Why don't you go back to bed masi, I will wait up for her and have a word with her."
Shaking her head masi said, "No, I can't sleep. I will wait for you. Why don't I go and make us both some tea."
"That would be great. I will come down to the kitchen too." They both went down to the kitchen. Jai sat on the stool while masi went about making tea. The faint sound of screeching tire made it's way into the kitchen. Masi turned to Jai, "Go open the door for her munna."
Jai opened the door and then stood still, Ganga was clinging to a guy and kissing him. Seeing the guy hands over Ganga's exposed back, Jai anger revved up and in a flash he was down the steps, hauling the guy off Ganga. Ganga staggered back and fell as she lost her balance. Jai's eyes blazing roared at the petrified guy, "Get lost'she is only fifteen. Do you hear, she is still a kid? If I catch you again kissing her, you won't be standing upright." The guy stared at Ganga for a second and then ran off to his car and quickly drove off.
Ganga still sitting on the floor eyed Jai angrily, "Daddy, what's wrong with you. Ricky is my friend." Jai bending down and grabbing Ganga by her shoulder, pulled her up. His eyes glinting fire, "Friend! What kind of friend is he? How could you behave like that Ganga?"
Ganga swayed a bit, her head still feeling groggy from the drinks she had consumed. Jai watched her carefully, "Have you been drinking?" he demanded.
"No daddy." Ganga said rather too quickly. Jai came close to her and sniffed, noting faint trace of alcohol. His hand raised to slap her but fell back, instead he took hold of her arm, "Don't lie Ganga. You should not be drinking alcohol. Why are you late? You have school tomorrow. And do you realize masi has been worried sick'she is still awake waiting for you to come home."
Ganga tried jerking her arm as they walked into the house and screamed, "I am not a kid. And dadi doesn't have to babysit me. I can take care of myself."
Stinging pain spread through Ganga's cheek as Jai's hand made harsh contact. His voice low and rasping with anger, "Don't you dare raise your voice! You are grounded, until I say so. Now go to bed and I will talk to you tomorrow when you have had time to think about your behaviour."
Jai strode off leaving Ganga with tears in her eyes. Masi who had witnessed everything walked softly up to Ganga and hugged her. "Come lets go to bed." Ganga jerked out of masi's arms and glared at masi through her tears and hissed, "It's all your fault. Why can't you keep out of my business? I hate you."
Masi watched sadly at Ganga stomping up the stairs. Upset by the turn of events, masi went to the kitchen and poured the tea she had made into sink and turned off the light and went to bed.
Jai's mood was dark in the morning when he came down for breakfast. He sat down in his usual place and helped himself to coffee. Masi came with the arti thali and held it out to Jai. Jai quietly took the arti and let masi put tikka on his head. Masi caressed his hair and gave silent blessings.
"Where is Ganga?" Jai asked masi when she sat down.
"Munna she had already gone to school." Masi answered.
"Without breakfast'and why so early?"
Masi winced at the shimmering anger in his voice. "Beta she said something about wanting to use library."
Jai gulped his coffee and then flipping the paper open said tersly, "She is not allowed to go out after school masi. Make sure she is here when I return."
Masi feeling the need to advise him to handle the situation carefully said sofly, "Yes. Munna you have to talk to her gently, you can't be angry."
Jai folded the paper and stared at masi, "Masi I know what I need to do. She needs to understand she can't do as she pleases, she is still a child."
Masi emphasised, "She is fifteen munna. She is growing up'not a child anymore."
"Well then it's about time she start behaving responsibly."
XXXXX
Jai returned home early. It was quiet in the house, masi was nowhere to be seen, usually she would be sitting in the lounge waiting for him. He walked up to his room and flung his jacket on the bed. His eyes drifted over to the dressing table in the corner and to the lonely frame that held the photo of his wife. It was taken just after their marriage, it was only reminder of her in his room now. The dresser stood empty, no longer cluttered with bottles of cream and nail polishes and so did the closet, which used to be filled with her saris and dresses.
The loss had faded over time now and memories long buried in some deep dark corner of his mind. He had learnt to live without her now, without the need of her presence in his life now. It was the fear of having to go through the same process of bringing someone into his life and then losing her that had stopped him from remarrying again. Masi had tempted him several times with offers of what she considered suitable proposals, but each time he had declined.
Shaking out of his thought, Jai left his bedroom and went to Ganga's room. He found her lying on the bed, earphones plugged into her ears as she played her ipod. Jai sat down and looked at his daughter concern. Ganga took the earphones off and gave Jai a defying look, letting him know she wasn't in a listening mood.
Jai ignored her glares and asked softly, "So care to explain what you were doing last night?"
With her chin jutting out, Ganga replied stonily, "What I did last night is my business daddy. I didn't do anything wrong. I went to Risha's party, had a great time and then came home with Ricky. Just because we kissed doesn't mean I am sleeping with him. I like Ricky a lot," she finished lamely.
Jai arched his brow, "How old is Ricky?"
"Eighteen."
"And did you tell him you are only fifteen? He was doing more than kissing you last night Ganga?"
Ganga coloured, remembering how Ricky hands had been all over her bare back last night. Looking away she tried feebly to defend Ricky, "Daddy Ricky didn't do anything wrong. We just kissed nothing else."
Jai dropping Ricky, then asked, "Why are drinking alcohol Ganga? We have talked about this before, drinking and smoking. It's not something you should be doing at fifteen."
Ganga jerked her head up, her eyes glittered, "Daddy, everybody drinks now'they smoke too but I don't touch them as I don't like it. And I don't get drunk like some of my friends."
Jai's face turned grim, his voice piercingly cold, "I don't care what your friends do. I want you to think'decide if you are doing what is right for you. What if something happens while you are drunk? What if you get into trouble?"
Ganga flinched at the force of his words. "Daddy'"
Jai cut her off, "I don't want to hear excuses. You are grounded from going out. You go to school and come back. Do you understand? If you do something stupid then I will ship you off to boarding school."
All Ganga could do was stare at him with tears brimming her eyes. Jai shook off the feeling of pity that rose up and walked out of the bedroom, he could not soften on her now.
Passing near the stairs he saw masi sitting on the sofa downstairs looking at him.
XXXXX
A month later Ganga had stopped talking with Jai. She was livid with being grounded and some of her friends stopped inviting her to parties or get together. Ricky kept away from her ignoring her pleas. Masi hated the tension reverberating in the house whenever Jai and Ganga were together. Her effort to talk with Ganga failed miserably too. With the school breaking for holidays, masi decided she would go to Punjab, see her brother in the village where he lived and worked the farm. She would also take Ganga with her, get her away from Jai for a while, may be there away from her friends she would be herself again.
The day after school finished Ganga found herself boarding a train with masi for Delhi. The tantrum she had thrown when she found out had also thrown Jai overboard too and both father and daughter had a bitter row. As masi settled herself, she looked at Jai's tense face and smiled at him, "Don't worry munna. We will be fine. Try and take couple of weeks off from work and come and see us. Sukhvirmamu would love to see you. He is always complaining that you don't remember him anymore."
Jai tried to smile but failed and churlishly said, "I will try masi. Please call me when you reach at mamu's house safely." He bent down and took masi's blessing and looked at Ganga who had buried her face in a book, left.
XXXXX
It took over a day to reach her brother's farm. Ganga had surprisingly been quiet throughout the two train rides and then a long ride in a jeep to reach the farm. The huge villa, which housed the large extended family, surprised Ganga. There were several girls and boys, her cousins, who were close to her age. Ganga found herself sharing a room with two older and one younger girl. She was too tired to complain and after a hot bath and meal, she fell asleep quickly.
Next day the sound of girls bickering woke Ganga up. She peered from top of her sheets, Neelam and Sujan, her two cousins were tugging at a t-shirt, both of them wanting to wear it. Ganga sat up and leaned over little Noor, who was still sleeping.
"Hey'" Ganga called out. :"Chill girls. Why are you fighting over a t-shirt?"
Neelam held the t-shirt, "It's my t-shirt and Sujli is always borrowing it."
- Show quoted text -
"Why don't you wear your clothes Sujan?" Ganga asked.
Sujan made a face, "Because I don't have a good t-shirt."
Ganga sighed and thought of a drawer full of t-shirts she hardly wore back home. Getting off the bed, she opened her suitcase full of clothes and pulled out a t-shirt, "Here take this, you can wear it." Sujal grabbed the bright pink t-shirt and pulling her tongue ran towards the bathroom. Neelam pouted at Ganga, who pulled another t-shirt out and held it to her. Neelam grabbed it and immediately threw her old t-shirt on the bed.
An hour later, Ganga found herself squashed between Neelam and Sujal at the table, her plate piled high with sabzi, parathas and pickles. Ganga who mostly ate toast and eggs for breakfast, picked gingerly at the paratha. Masi chuckled as she saw Ganga frown at the sabzi. "Ganga eat up, its freshly sabzi from the farm. Look at your cousins, they eat like this everyday but they don't get fat."
Neelam nudged Ganga, "Eat up or you will be hungry later. We have lots of work to do." Ganga looked horrified at masi at the mention of work. Accustomed to being cosseted back home, Ganga didn't even pick her clothes off the floor and wondered what kind of work the girls talked about. She soon found out as she followed Neelam and Sujal from room to room, picking up clothes for washing and then sweeping all the rooms.
When they finished Neelam and Sujal went to their room and picked bag containing their books and pens. "We have to go for tuition. Do you want to come? It's in the village. You can wait for us. I don't think Banididi will mind."
Ganga picked up her ipod and followed them, might as well tag along, there was nothing else to do here. Masi looked pleased when she saw the girls walking away. She turned to her sister-in-law, "Bhabhi, the girls still go for tuition?"
Her sister-in-law nodded, "Yes didi. Bani wants the girls to study further. Neelam and Sujal are both getting good marks."
"Tell me, why doesn't Nishikant get Bani married off? She is young. I mean it wasn't as if she was married, it was just an engagement." Her sister-in-law rolled her eyes, 'You know what people are like didi. Think she is bad luck, she is held responsible for the boy she was engaged to dying."
Masi gave an exasperated sigh, "People don't change much do they even these days. Poor girl, what a responsibility for Nishikant."
"Don't think like that didi, Bani makes good living of tuition. The girl is liked by all the kids."
"Still she should be married and have her own kids." Masi said.
"Well then why don't you ask Jai'I mean Ganga , poor girl needs mother and who better than Bani."
Masi eyes sparkled and then face fell, "I wish munna would listen to me." And then she related the sorry tale of the last month to her sister-in-law.
When masi finished, her sister-in-law said, "That is too bad. I am telling you didi, girls now days need a mother more than ever, especially in big cities. Did you ask him to come down and visit us?"
Masi nodded, "Yes I did. I hope he comes."
XXXXX
Bani watched Ganga sitting, engrossed in listening to her ipod. She found out from Neelam that she was visiting from them from Mumbai. While the girls did the work she assigned them, Bani came up to Ganga and sat down. "Hello." She said.
Ganga took her earphones off and gave her an odd look and then replied. 'Hi."
"Neelam tells me you live in Mumbai. What school do you go to?"
"It's private school'I am in tenth standard." Ganga replied.
"What do you like doing best at school?" Bani asked.
Ganga grimaced her face, "Nothing much'I hate school."
"Why?" Bani asked, surprised since most of her students loved studying.
Ganga shrugged, 'It's boring. I would rather be with my friends, having fun."
Bani smiled, "Fun'you can have fun and study too. Have you thought what you want to do after you finish school? The kind of work you want to do."
XXXXX
Unforeseen Love II
Bani tapped on Ganga's shoulder. She held out couple of pages torn out from a magazine.
"What's this?" Ganga questioned as took them.
Bani smiled, "Why don't you look and tell me."
Ganga scanned the words and figures, there were words she did not understand. A few minutes later Bani came and sat crossed legged next to her.
"Tell me, have you seen one of these before?"
Ganga shook her head, "No. It's kind of boring, all these big numbers and words I have not heard before."
"Hmm'" Bani took one of page from her hand. "These are called financial statements. Something that your dad looks at all the time, they tell him how well the business is doing. You see Ganga, you have to be able to understand these yourself and not what someone else tells you. In business you have to know at every level what is happening, that is if you want to make sure the company keeps on doing well."
Ganga shrugged, "Thank God, I don't have to learn all that now'dad can take care of the business. I want to have fun, do stuff with friends, not sit in a stuffy office."
Bani put the pages aside, "You know Ganga, you can still have fun and study at the same time. Neelam and Sujal will tell you they have fun."
Ganga rolled her eyes, "Tell me how'I mean there is nothing to do around here. No cafes, malls or even a movie theatre."
"You don't need those to have fun." Bani said quietly. "Here you can do a lot of things which you can't do in the city." Ganga giggled, "Really?"
"Have you ever been to a mela? Bani asked.
"No."
"Would you like to go to one?" Bani asked.
Ganga just shrugged her shoulders. Bani stood up and went back to see how her students were doing, while her thoughts lingered on taking Ganga for an outing, so she gets to experience part of Neelam and Sujal's life.
Neelam slipped her sandals off and rushed into the house, "Maa'bua." She shouted, "Banidi is here to see you."
Masi came out of the room where she had just been lying down. Her sister-in-law followed behind. Bani bent and touched both the older ladies feet.
"Chachi, I was thinking of taking the girls to Chandigarh for Gurpurab celebration. We will see the parade and go to the temple."
"Thank you Bani. It will be nice for Ganga to visit the Chandigarh. But how are you getting there?" masi asked with concern in her voice.
"Aunty don't worry, there is special bus going."
"Didi don't worry, Bani will take care of Ganga. Bani beta, I will pack some snacks for you all."
"Thank you chachi. I will go now." Bani bid goodbye and left.
Masi turned to her sister-in-law, "Bhabhi you were right. Such a lovely girl, beautiful too. Kash'munna would listen to me."
"Don't worry didi, just get him here. I am sure once he meets her, he will change his mind."
Masi and her sister-in-law both said at the same time, "you know we have to find a reason to get Jai running up here'hmm. Let's think what will make him come here urgently."
"Ganga'oye Ganga'wake up. Or we will miss the bus because of you." Neelam screamed at the top of her voice.
Ganga groaned and was about to bury her face under the blankets, when Neelam yanked it off her, "No'get up Ganga."
Ganga opened her eyes slowly and then closed them, "Neelam let me sleep'just few more minutes."
"No Ganga, you have to get up right now."
Ganga got up and stretched. Neelam put a package in Ganga's hand, "Here you have to wear this today'mom's order."
Ganga pulled out the bright blue salwaar from the bag and put it back, "I can't wear it, it's too bright."
Neelam put her hands on her hips, "Well you go and tell mom. We are not allowed to wear jeans to the temple."
Ganga stormed off to the bathroom with the bag.
Half an hour later, masi walked the girls to the bus. Bani was already there, organizing the girls. Bani greeted masi cheerily. She got the girls settled and then turning to masi, "Aunty don't worry, I will take good care of Ganga. She will enjoy the trip."
Masi touched Bani's head, "Thank you beta. May you always be happy."
Bani's eyes misted a little, remembering her mother, seeing her mother in masi. "Thank you aunty." She said softly.
It was a noisy bus trip, the girls all talking, singing and giggling all the way. The bags with snacks were passed around and Ganga for the first time sampled so many different varieties of namkeen, tikkis and ladoos.
Four hours later, in bright sunshine the bus stopped in grounds close to the temple. The girls trooped outside, jostling each other and giggling. Ganga stared at the number of people walking towards the Gurudwara.
Bani told the girls to line up and warned them to make sure they stayed together. "Neelam, stay with Ganga." They walked towards the Gurdwara and joined the line of people waiting to go inside and offer prayers. Set in lush gardens with a lake, the old gurdwara was a small-whitewashed building. Inside it people were sitting and doing kirtans whilst devotees went up to the front and offered their gifts and prayers.
Afterwards they went and watched the parade with palaquins, musicians and singer and martial arts (ghatka) teams displaying their mastery with the swords. Ganga had never seen a parade like these, more used to the huge parade at the time of Ganesh Chaturthi. She wished she had brought her camera along. When the parade got over, they made their way to langar and partook prasad.
Bani took the girls back to the bus to rest for an hour so, before they made their way to the mela. Ganga felt tired with all the walking they had done in the heat and soon dozed off on Neelam's shoulder.
An hour later the bus dropped them near the mela, which was in full swing. Ganga gawked at the rustic rides, the snake charmers and small groups performing traditional dancing and singing. There were plenty of stalls selling, glass bangles, clothes, jewellery, food and other trinkets. Neelam and Sujal brought some bangles and jewellery and they tried Ganga to buy some but she refused, saying she would never wear it.
"Banididi why don't you buy some?" Ganga asked, noticing Bani's bare hands. Neelam nudged Ganga, 'Shhhh'didi is'"
Bani just smiled. "Thank you Ganga, but I don't wear them. Can I buy you a set as a gift from me."
Sujal grinned, "Yes didi, make her buy'she won't listen to us."
Ganga reluctantly chose dark red ones.
By the time they were ready to leave it was dark. All the girls were now tired and the trip back was more subdued, with some of them going to sleep and others just talking quietly. Ganga nudged Neelam, "Tell me why can't Banidi wear bangles?"
Neelam whispered back, "Because she was almost married and her fiance died. People say she has bad luck, that is why no one will marry her."
Ganga gave a frustrated sigh, "People are still so stupid. How can it be her fault that the guy died? She didn't kill him. Anyway it was just an engagement. She is so young."
Neelam yawned, "Yes. We all feel sorry for her."
Bani walked the girls home in the dark. It was quiet late and she wanted to make they got home safely.
A black pajero was parked in the compound. Neelam commented, "We have visitors."
As they approached the porch, Ganga gave a squeal of delight, "Daddy'" Next moment she was flying off and launching herself at Jai.
Hugging him tightly Ganga shouted, "Oh daddy, I missed you. When did you come? Why didn't you call me to tell you were coming?" She pouted at him, "I wouldn't have gone out if I knew you were coming."
Jai eased Ganga off him and then giving a piqued look at masi, "I came because masi gave me fright. Mamu phoned and said that masi was really sick."
Ganga looked from masi to Jai and then she wrapped her arms around Jai and pecked his cheek, "I am so happy you came."
Bani stood silently watching Jai and Ganga. The way Ganga's face was showing happiness now and the doting glance that Jai was giving his daughter made her feel peculiar.
Masi noticing Bani, called out, "Bani come here and meet my son. Jai."
Bani walked up to them. Ganga tapping Jai on the chest, "We went to Chandigarh with Banididi'a whole bunch of us girls. It was fun." And then taking out a packet of bangles and showing it to masi, "Didi bought me these bangles masi."
"Very pretty Ganga. Now I will have to buy you a dress to wear them with."
Bani feeling awkward decided she should leave, "Aunty I will go now. Good night Ganga."
Masi stopped her, "Bani it's dark, you can't walk home alone."
Bani laughed softly, "Aunty don't worry, it's quiet safe. And it's not far. I will be home in two minutes."
From the corner of her eyes, masi observed Jai watching Bani walking away. She smiled to herself, may be just may be'
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