What's her mistake ? - 28

Why she kept Nammu in her house? When Dammu explained and gave the reason, I was stunned. Yes, I was stunned. There was no other feeling I could have had. I remembered the words for a long time, even long after..... Sorry, I know it was inevitable, but I can’t think of even thinking about the ultimate end. I am getting my eyes wet.... whenever I think of Dammu and Nammu Aunty. What a great pair of ladies!

But first things first....!

Dammu was reading the newspaper when Nammu Aunty walked out of her room. I watched the exuberance with which she walked.

“Oh Nammu, you are ready to kill someone! You are looking great!” exclaimed Dammu.

Nammu Aunty blushed. She had worn a green cotton sari which was well starched.  She came near Dammu and sat down in the next chair.

“Dammu, remember I was talking about helping people about cancer awareness yesterday? I know a village. I used to go with my husband almost regularly. It is a lovely place. Once I became a mother I could not go again. Then so many things happened and now....” she left the sentence in the middle. A line of pain got formed for a second on her forehead making her small bindhi looking bent.

“Ok, ok... I understand by your speech that you would love to visit the village. Correct? Young man! Heard what Nammu said? Please ask the driver to keep the car ready. You also join us young man” she said and went in to her room

When she came out we could not recognise her! She was wearing a cotton sari which was of different shade of green color!

Nammu Aunty’s approval could be seen in her eyes. Dammu generally preferred churidars. Today her look was totally different!

“Come, let us go and see your village!” said Dammu and caught hold of Nammu Aunty’s hand and they hurried towards the car.

I was wondering whether these ladies have any problem of health! They were like two young high school going girls who love the world and do not care about any problem!

The car went out of the city limits and finally we could see the roads being empty and the vehicles became less and less.

Nammu Aunty was talking nineteen to the dozen about the village. The pain of her husband’s tragic death also had slowly faded. She could talk about him and his involvement in the village.

“After the birth of the first son itself, I became totally busy in looking after him. Later the other three kids were born. I became so busy looking after their health and education that only my husband used to go to the village once in a while. I could never go. My job was only to keep the key of our house safe and handover to my husband whenever he left for the village”

“What?” shouted Dammu. “Do you have a house in the village?” she asked turning towards Nammu Aunty. I also turned from the front seat.

“Oh, you can’t call it a house! It is just a small hut with basic amenities. I can’t imagine you liking it after being in such a big bungalow” said Nammu Aunty shyly.

“Oh,, come on! You can’t brand me that way! Did I any day tell you that I am averse to hut?” asked Dammu with false anger.

Nammu Aunty lauged. There was a tinge of sadness in her laughter. What is the matter? I wondered.

“I do hope that you have brought the key” said Dammu.

Nammu Aunty in a very small voice replied. “Now I don’t need the key. The house is no longer ours. We had to sell the house to the village leader due to our problems”.