The air was thick with
tension. Nammu Aunty was looking very weak. I had forgotten to breathe. Is this
someone’s life or a suspense story? I was wondering. If I was a writer and had
written this as a novel, I would have called it bunkum. But this is someone’s
real life. Dammu lived like a princess. She dared to do unconventional things
(like sex without wedding). She found herself in impossible situations. Come to
think of it! She had a rich father. She had a boyfriend from north with whom
she slept and got the wrath of his parents and finally held captive in the
house of her ‘husband’. Now the younger brother of her husband is helping her.
Can she believe him?
Almost as if she read my
mind, she said, “I wondered whether I should believe him? But the other options
were not useful. If I am outside this haveli, I could try to escape and go back
to my place. With this in my mind, I decided to leave with him”
Then she turned to Nammu
Aunty and said, “Nammu, I was always adventurous and opportunities were thrown
at me or I was thrown into some kind of adventure or other. I had this
principle in my mind, when you are sure to be in trouble, why cry and clutter
my mind? Instead I could try to come out of the problem, especially if my mind
is clear without any self-pity thoughts”
Nammu Aunty just nodded. I
could see that Nammu Aunty is quite tired. I think even Dammu must have sensed
it. She said, “Nammu, have a good sleep. Let us talk tomorrow”
The day dawned beautifully.
The sun was so beautiful! I had gone up the terrace to water the plants in the
terrace garden. Dammu had tastefully got planted some exotic plants which
needed good sunlight. I had totally immersed in the lovely hues of sunlight
that I did not know that I had two people for company.
I found that Nammu Aunty and
Dammu were standing beside me and enjoying the cool breeze and lovely sunrise.
Nammu Aunty’s real short hair and Dammu’s artificial hair were flowing
backwards with the breeze. I could see that both of them had forgotten the
world. They were really happy to stand there and take in the nature their
inside.
Actually, to see the beauty
of the nature, we need not travel to the end of the world spending a fortune.
Of course, if we have the extra money we could spend it! But the coolness of
the breeze, orange and yellow of the Sun, the green of the trees around are the
best pictures of nature we could watch from where we are!
“Nammu! Come here and have a
look!” cried Dammu from the other end of the terrace. We went to the west side
of the house. There was a park in the next road. We could see some aged women
and men standing, sitting, walking etc.,
“Come Nammu, let us go and
meet with them and talk to them. It would be interesting to see people of our
age and exchange experiences!” said Dammu and took hold of Nammu Aunty’s hand
and walked down the stairs. I followed.
We came out of Dammu’s house
and went out of the gate and walked. Strangely, Nammu Aunty looked eager to
walk. Is she the same person who was looking so fragile and unhealthy?
We reached the park. Dammu
was looking around. I thought that she might be looking out for someone whom
she knew.
“Hi, how are you?” she said touching a 60 year old woman
on her shoulder.
The woman turned and saw Dammu.
To my amazement, the woman’s face lost color. She
suddenly sat down on the bench behind her and started sobbing.
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