The Brown Belt

Little Komal was sitting on the hot stone pavement waiting. Like everyday, the school bus had dropped her at the bus stop at 2 pm. All the kids had left with their mothers. She was the only one sitting there. But this wasn’t new to her. She knew mummy was busy. “Mummy didn’t even say goodbye to me in the morning,” she thought to herself.

Just then, a car pulled up next to her. She recognized the car and stood up as Namarata got out. “Sorry beta. Mausi got late in the traffic,” Namarata looked at Komal.

Komal smiled. She was fond of Namarata but was disappointed since her mom wasn’t there. “Where is mumma?” she asked, the innocence of her face giving way to an early maturity. She knew the answer already. It wasn’t unusual for her to see Namarata at the bus stop instead of mummy. “Mummy got busy with her work bachcha, that’s why Mausi is here,” Namarata said, picking Komal in her arms and taking her into the car.

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Just an hour back, Arjun had called Namarata. He was sounding stressed. “Namarata, I have a favor to ask of you. I don’t know who else to reach out to.”

“Tell me Arjun, what happened? You sound worried.”

“Payal has gone out with her friends again and is not answering her phone. I am stuck in some work at office and cannot leave right now. Will you be able to pick Komal up from the school bus stop? I will get late and I don’t want my little girl to wait in this sun. Payal didn’t tell me earlier else I would have planned my day accordingly. I will come and pick Komal up in the evening. Is that ok? I am really sorry for this.”

Arujn was such a sweetheart, Namarata thought. Arjun was always there to help others even if it meant going out of his way. “Sure, don’t worry Arjun. I will take care of Komal,” Namarata had told him.

Arjun had thanked Namarata profusely and hung up. Payal was four years younger to Namarata. Arjun’s work required a lot of traveling and Payal would always accompany him. Payal had stated that as a reason for never pursuing a career of her own.

A few months after the marriage, though, Payal seemed to have changed a bit. Not caring about the family and only partying, staying out with friends and alcohol had become her priorities. Arjun would juggle between home and office and Payal started staying out more. That had led to health implications, she had bags under her eyes and what not. But all this didn't seem to bother Payal. All that she cared about was having fun.

Source: Google

Whenever Namarata or their parents called her, Payal would not return calls. She would never be home if Namarata went to check on her. Namarata had tried to talk to Payal a number of times but it had had no effect on Payal. She had stopped hanging out with her old friends and found new ones.

But, Arjun never complained. He always told Namarata not to worry. “I want Payal to enjoy life. I am there to take care of everything. If she is happy this way, I see no problem” he would tell Namarata whenever she would voice her concern.

Then, Payal was pregnant with Komal and things started to improve. She would stay at home. The booze and partying stopped and there was a visible difference in Payal for good. However, soon after Komal’s birth, everything started again. She would leave a crying Komal with Arjun and go out with her friends.

Namarata hardly saw Payal nowadays. She would get to know of her well-being from Arjun once in a while. Payal always seemed busy with her plans and friends. “Poor Arjun has to manage everything. And what about that little child? At an age when she needs her mother the most, the mother is never around. I hope Payal mends her ways. Please God,” Namarata had thought, as she left for Komal's bus stop.

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Namarata shared a special bond with Komal. Namarata, a divorcee, had no children of her own. Thus, Komal bought her immense joy. Apart from work that kept her busy, she loved spending time with Komal. She could be a child again and forget about her own worries.

Komal and Namarata had spent the day playing hide and seek, doing homework and watching Tom and Jerry. Arjun had messaged asking if Namarata could drop Komal home since Arjun’s car was giving some trouble.

After dinner, Namarata drove Komal to Arjun’s home. Arjun was looking tired but couldn’t thank Namarata less. Payal was nowhere to be seen. When she enquired, Arjun told her that Payal would be late. That made her a little angry. However, Komal was sleepy so Namarata put her in the bed in Komal’s room and prepared to leave.

Arjun was at the door to see her off. “I am sorry for all this, Arjun. I have tried speaking to Payal but she doesn’t listen to me. I know how difficult it has become for you. I can’t do much but let me know if you need help in any way, anytime.”

Arjun smiled, “Thanks. But don’t worry Namarata. I want Payal to have fun and I don’t mind her partying or staying late outside. I just need her to inform me in advance so that I can plan my day accordingly and Komal doesn’t have to suffer or I don’t have to disturb you.”

Namarata nodded and left. Arjun shut the door behind her.

In the other bedroom, leaning against the wall was Payal, hands tied, face gagged and tears rolling down her cheeks. The brown belt that had left her battered and killed her soul lay next to her.

As the bedroom door opened, the thought of another night with the brown belt made her shiver with fear.

Source: Google

The Pink Rose.

Garima looked at the old carton lying in front of her. When she had walked into the attic the other day, she had not anticipated finding it there.

Today, she was back to look at what the carton held. She knew it held a piece of her heart. Sitting on the floor, she pulled the carton closer and put her hand inside.

From the touch, she knew what it was. She pulled it out and flipped through the pages; it was a story she had learned to forget. A dried rose fell onto her lap. She picked it up and as tears welled up in her eyes, memories of that day came back.

Source: Google

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She stepped out of the Barakhamba metro station and noticed it was quite sunny for a January morning. She hurried towards the Statesman House. From a distance, she saw Adi waiting at the door of the Oxford Bookstore.

Adi looked at her and handed her a pink rose. Garima didn’t like red roses. She preferred pink and every time she would meet Adi, she would get one. How can I do this to Adi, Garima thought.

They sat at a table in the other corner of Cha Bar so that nobody could see them. Adi held Garima’s hands as she rested them on the table. “We can’t be together, Adi. Papaji wants me to marry his friend’s son. I have been trying to say no but he isn’t listening. I managed to come and see you today,” Garima said, moving her hands away and looking beyond Adi. But, Adi was looking into Garima’s eyes, as if trying to reach her soul. “We can run away.”

“No!” exclaimed Garima. How could Adi even suggest something like this? Running away was not an option. It never was. Even when they had gotten into this relationship, they knew no one would approve it.

They kept sitting there in silence for sometime. After what seemed like ages, Adi got up and asked Garima to walk. They walked in CP's inner circle for sometime, their hearts and minds somewhere else. Then, Adi held Garima’s hand and said, “Please don’t leave me, Garu. I can’t live without you. I will go mad.”

Source: Google

Garima looked the other way. She knew no one would understand them and for Adi’s sake, she had to be tough. She took a deep breath and said, “We always knew our fate, Adi. We knew we couldn’t be together forever.”

She could hear Adi sobbing. Her heart ached. She wanted to hug Adi but she was amazed at her own self-control. She was breaking Adi’s heart into a million pieces. “Would Adi ever be ok?” This question had come to Garima’s mind a thousand times but she didn’t have an answer. All that she had was love for Adi. A love she had to kill with her own hands.

Adi begged, cried, but Garima kept her composure. Finally, Adi looked at her and said, “If that’s what makes you happy then so be it. When I fell in love with you, I promised you that I will stand by your decisions and your happiness will be my happiness.”

Adi’s eyes were tearing through Garima’s soul. Garima lowered her eyes. Adi continued, “Keep that rose with you, Garu. Don’t throw it away. It will always remind you of me, if you ever want to think of me,” and started to walk away.

Garima held out her hand, trying to stop Adi. “What if I want to meet you again?”

“You will find me in the smell of that rose, Garu.”

That was the last time Garima saw Adi.

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Garima opened her eyes. She could hear footsteps downstairs. Ishan was home. Garima kept the rose in the book and rushed downstairs. “Mom, Jenny is coming home today, remember?” Ishan said. Garima nodded. Ishan and Jenny were set to marry in two months.

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About 11, 000 kms away, a woman, in her 50s was sitting on a bed scribbling something in her torn notebook. The doctor asked, “What are you writing today?” Without looking up, Adi turned her book towards the doctor. The name “Garima” was scribbled all over.

The doctor frowned and walked out of the door. The sign on the door read ‘Staffordshire County Asylum – Ward 147.'

A Parallel World

Sitting on his bed, he was staring at the window, oblivious to the time. All he could do was think about the last night. Half of him wanted to go back in time and erase her from his life. The other half of him just wanted her to talk to him again. Because it was her voice alone that gave him hope that all was going to be alright. Despite of her telling him that all was over.

He was scared that if he said anything, she would tell him off. What was he expecting after what he had done. The cigarette in his hand was slowly burning away. It was his nineteenth cigarette. How many did he smoke over the night, he had lost count. The stubs lay all around, in the room that had become a mess, just like his life. He threw the burnt cigarette away; it was about to burn his fingers and closed his eyes.  He didn’t realize when he fell asleep.

Mira was in the other room, unpacking. Just back from a weekend trip, her head was exploding with pain. She took a painkiller and decided to sleep for a while. She knew what he was going through but she didn’t have the courage to deal with it. So she walked into the bedroom and without wanting to disturb him, she slipped next to him in the bed silently. As she closed her eyes, he wrapped his hands around her. She looked at him - he was still sleeping.

He didn’t know for how long had he been sleeping. He rubbed his eyes trying to clear his vision. The room stank of cigarette smoke. A loud noise startled him again. Somebody was at the door. He couldn’t hear anything except for the loud knocks. He opened the door and saw Nitya standing. She had been crying, he could tell. Her koel smeared on her face; her eyes were blood red and her hair falling over. She stormed into the room and asked him what the message was about.
Mira was still asleep and he didn’t want her to get up so he spoke softly.

Nitya shouted. She wanted to know what the message was about. “That’s the truth,” he said calmly, lighting another cigarette. She moved close to him and slapped him hard. His lip started bleeding. Without batting an eyelid he said, “that’s the truth. I can’t help it.” Nitya left the room. He knew it was tough for Nitya but he had no choice.
Amit looked at Mira still sleeping, and whispered into the phone, “Yes, a table for two, please.”

 

Source - Google Images

In a parallel world, Karan looked at a picture saved on his phone. He had clicked it without her getting to know. Mira was looking so serene and beautiful that day that he had fallen in love with her. He smiled, wiping the blood from his lip, the impression of Nitya’s hand still visible on his right cheek.

Back on track after 4 years!

It’s been more than 4 years since I last wrote. It has been a long long time and life’s seen a few (read many) ups and downs since then. Some black hair has greyed and some grey hair has turned white (ok, the second part ain’t true and I haven’t become a grandmother).

Before I write about something that’s important or give my (worthy or not so worthy) comments on the world in general (as if the world’s been dying to get my expert comments, well, we can at least imagine so, for my sake!!), let me do a bit of catching up. We’ve been away four years and there is a special someone who’s got added into my life last year. Let’s call him Mr. S (No points for guessing, that’s the initial of his name).

Life’s been packed in a suitcase pretty much for the last two years. Having spent more than 2 years in Delhi advertising and then moving to Bangalore from saddi dilli (post the marriage nuptials with Mr. S.) The last one year went by in figuring each other out and then running to mommy land on festivals and exploring life hand in hand on those long weekends.  And, don’t I love it!

The first trip, right after getting pronounced husband and wife, was to Europe. Oh, what a wonderful experience of touching the snow for the first time and trekking in those beautiful Swiss mountains. (We covered Vienna, Innsbruck, Lucerne and Milan – shall update on that trip soon.)

Then there was Ooty on Independence Day, then back to Delhi for rakhi, Kanpur and Delhi for Dushehra, Kerala for Christmas, Goa for Republic Day, Munnar for another long weekend, Delhi-Kanpur for Holi, Kanpur for another break, Delhi for first anniversary…phew!!! (In case we are wondering about the Kanpur angle, that’s my sasural)

Life’s changed a lot since Mr. S decided to waltz into my life without any prior intimation and trust you me, I am on a roll since then. And, now that I am pretty much unoccupied almost all the time, I am hoping that I shall be able to get back to my love for writing sooner and share the roller-coaster ride that life has been.

                               

Cya for now. Back tomorrow with anecdotes from the last four years J