Hi again.
A while back Fahima started off a thread when Urmila went to free Rashi from the Modi offices after she had been locked in. It had something to do with a ladder. I wanted to see a different scenario and thus wrote this. I couldn't post it earlier in the week as we were all too raw with emotion. As always please forgive me for any mistakes or inconsistencies but I hope you like it. 😊
Urmilaben Shah stomped along the road on her way to Modi
Bhavan. Sari flapping in the wind she
looked like a mad woman, muttering to herself.
People walking in her path quickly moved out of her way.
"This daughter of mine," she grumbled, " ghaderi!! It's been three weeks since she went back to
her sasural. Three weeks and she hadn't
called her once. More so she had even
disconnected her calls." Of course, what
she didn't know is that Hetal had taken Rashi's phone and everytime Urmila had
called she had listened silently with Kokila to Urmila's calls. Listening as Urmila slowly unravelled
everything that she had orchestrated. Desperate to get all the gossip she decided to
go unannounced to Rashi. Bemoaning the
fact that she did not have enough money for an autorickshaw she decided that
she would go part of the way on foot and then get a lift. If she didn't have enough money, then never
mind. She could scold and abuse like there
was no tomorrow. Wiping her brow with
her pallu she glanced back down the road and saw one coming up. Standing in the road she waved her had to
stop it. Not exactly a clever thing to
do as it buzzed passed her. She turned
and hurled insults as it drove out of sight.
Realising that she had gathered an audience she glared at the
people. "What do you people think you
are watching? Am I an oddity!" quickly
the crowd dispersed. Sighting another
autorickshaw on the horizon the steadied herself to stop it. As it drew closer she put out her hand and
watched in satisfaction as it stopped.
"Yes, Behenji? Where
can I take you?" Urmila gave the address
and sat in the back. She was short on
the fare but never mind. Rashi will
settle with the driver.
Standing outside Modi Bhaven Urmila argued with the driver.
"Look, this is all I have," she said throwing the money at
the driver, "Take it."
"Madam. If you did
not have enough money, then why in the name of god did you stop me? If
everyone behaved like you, I would be penniless!"
"Oh don't be such a drama queen," she retorted, "behaving in
such a manner. Look. If you pass by here in an hour I will have
your money for you and if you are lucky a big tip also. My daughter is daughter in law of the
Modi's. Do you know who they are?
No. You come back."
"Madam. I swear. I will circulate your photo among all the
autorickshaws. I will make sure that
they know exactly who you are and warn them not to stop for you." And moved off. Urmila's eyes popped out of her head.
"How dare you insult me?!
Get away with you. You'll get no
money from me now. Idiot. Hmfph." Carefully she walked up to the gates of the
house and carefully looked towards the security cabin. It was empty. Gingerly she pushed the gate and winced as it
creaked. Once in she flattened herself
against the cabin. Like an army pro she
crept towards the house and stopped.
Should she go to the door?
No. She shook her head. She needed to catch Rashi on her own. Chances are that she would be watched like a
hawk. No, she'll go round to the side of
the house. A noise startled her and
without thinking she dived into the nearest bush. From behind the bush she spied Chirag bhai's
car coming into the drive. Terrified of
being seen she stayed very still until he had disappeared into the house.
She freed herself from the bush and looked up at the windows
at the side of the house. Rashi was on
the balcony arranging some flowers. Not
wanting to break her cover she quickly ran nearer, keeping herself close to the wall. Standing to the side of the balcony she tried
with all her might to catch Rashi's attention. She hissed, she waved and when
any of that didn't work she threw her little bag. It hit the target but unfortunately Rashi had
disappeared from sight by then. Throwing her
hands up in exasperation she looked around her.
The side of the house was being decorated and the painters had left
their ladders.
"Yes," she smiled triumphantly. She could use the ladder and get into Rashi's
room without anyone knowing. The balcony
was curved and would not have supported the ladder. So using all her strength she put the ladder
up against the wall and proceeded to climb up it. Reaching near the balcony she spied a
rope. Grabbing it she tied it around her
waist. "You can't be too careful" she
said making sure that it was tied tightly.
Coming adjacent to the balcony she stretched her leg to get a
foothold. Too late! She realised that the ladder was falling away
and she screamed.
The Modi family were sitting down to their dinner when they
heard a scream followed by a crash.
They all looked at each other.
"Oh God? What could
that be?" Kokila asked Mota Bhabi. The men stood up.
"Lets go and see." said Ahem, "C'mon Gopi. He wheeled her out, followed by the family.
Round the side of the house they were greeted by the image
of Urmila, suspended in the air,
swinging side to side like a clock pendulum.
Everyone was speechless.
"Urmilaben?" It was
Koki who broke the silence. "What are
you doing here?"
"Oh vevanji." Urmila stopped struggling and put her hands
together in greeting. This prompted her
to slowly turn upside down. She
shrieked. "Please help me. I am stuck.
I came to see my daughter. What
type of people are you. You bring my
daughter to your house and cause her to forget me." She started to struggle again and this in
turn made her swing side to side in jerking movements. She looked at Ahem and Jigar. "Please
Jamaiji,, Jigarji," she beseeched.
"Please help me down.
Please?' Ahem had turned his back
on the scene. Kokila looked at
him utterly bemused. He was facing Gopi
and his head was down. His left hand was
across his chest and he had covered his face with his hand. His shoulders were shaking. She realised that her Ahem, her stuffy son
was in the throes of laughter. Even Gopi
was giggling but was trying to surpress it.
Jigar was trying to keep control but was facing a losing battle. Rashi ran forward.
"Mummy? What are you
doing? How could you do this to
me?" She ran back and forth under the
path of Urmila. "Mummy?! How could you embarrass me like this? Get down!"
"Soo embarrass," she retorted and felt herself tilting
forward again. "Hai, mara Takurji." She
flapped her arms and this action led to whatever control the family had to
disintegrate as she continued to swing. She looked like and uncontrollable pantomime fairy.
In between laughing Kokila, in mock anger ordered Ahem and Jigar to get
Urmila down. Ahem had tears in his
eyes. He was laughing so much. Breathless he couldn't speak and gestured
that he was unable to. Jigar was not
far behind. Both boys used each other
for support. Trying to control
themselves both straightened up and wiped the tears of mirth from their eyes. They both found it very hard to gather their
strength as they were both weakened with laughter. They untied the rope from the wall and
Urmila came down to earth with an oomph.
"Kokilaben?" their neighbour Savita was walking up to
them. Seeing the scene in front of her,
her grey eyes twinkled. "What is this Kokilaben. You have come so far in this
world that you are now raising a flag when you are home."
"Savitaben. What can
I say? Just as the Queen of England raises a flag when she is home, I thought
I'd do the same. Now we have some
business to attend to, so if you don't mind."
She put her hands together in greeting.
She turned to Ahem and Jigar who both looked like two naughty
schoolboys. "You two! In." She commanded
and watched with a smile as Ahem gathered Gopi vahu and he and Jigar went into
the house. Gathering her pallu she
turned to Urmila. It was time to bring things to a head.
Fahima, hope it didn't disappoint.
Signature: Close your eyes. Now imagine that everything you held dear has been taken away from you. Breathe deeply. Open your eyes and promise to live each day as if it is the last.
comment:
p_commentcount