What's her mistake ?- 34

It seemed she was traveling for ages when she finally found a group of dwelling. From where she was standing it looked as if she had to walk another 4 kilo meters before reaching the place. The sun had already started coming down.

She felt like sitting for some time. She had no idea what was in store when she reached the village. But the hunger and thirst jointly decided her visit to the village. For all she knew the place could be full of people who act upon the orders of her husband’s first wife.

She was thinking what to do if she finds adversaries there. Her inner voice told her that ‘you reach the village Dammu! You request for some food and water and shelter also since the sun is getting down in the west. May be because it was summer and Western part of India, there was some sunlight still left in the sky and the heat in the air.

There were some trees near the village. She tried to see whether she gets something to eat there, a fruit or two. Then she could sleep there only and leave the next morning for a bigger town without getting into the village. But the fate had decided that she should reach the village to face the next part of her life’s tragedy.

The balance journey to the village was uneventful. She very badly wanted to eat something. More than that, she wanted some water to drink.

The evening was turning into night. There was a little coolness in the air. She was greeted by the bark of two dogs. She had no strength to even run or protest. She just stood there holding hands high lest the dogs do not bite away her fingers!

Fortunately for her, a wiry woman came running and shooed the dogs away and took her hand and led her to a house nearby.

It was a small house with tiles on the roof. She was made to sit on a low height cot with a thin bedspread on it. The woman went inside and came out with a tumbler of water and a plate.

Dammu found two rotis, a green chutney and two pieces of raw onion.

She was ravenous and tried to eat in a hurry. She had hiccups and had to finish the whole tumbler of water. The woman brought one more glass of water.

Now Dammu ate slowly and finished the rotis, Chutney and the onions. Then she washed her hand carefully in the plate and stirred the chutney mixed water in the plate using her right hand fingers. Then she drank the water from the plate and licked her fingers after wiping the plate clean.

The woman watching her smiled. This lady is like us, she knows the value of water in these areas, she must have thought. Dammu smiled at her.

She felt little more relieved when she went to the bathroom and threw some cold water (a very little quantity) on her face.

The woman asked her to sit and went out. After a few minutes she came in with a local ladies’ dress of a big size and handed over to Dammu.

Dammu thankfully took it and went behind the kitchen door and changed into it. The woman was the only person in that house. Probably the man of the house must have gone for work.

Now she asked Dammu her name. The moment she uttered her name, there was a change in the face of her savior woman.

Now, what is this? Wondered Dammu. Has the lady become aloof after hearing her name? Dammu could not tell.

The woman took the hand of Dammu and led her out of her house. Dammu followed not knowing what to do or how to react.

Is she an unwelcome person now? Or is there a chance that this woman knows her husband’s first wife?

Her questions were partly answered when the woman took her inside a small hut which was about 6 houses away hidden behind a bigger house.

Dammu took some time to get adjusted to the small kerosene lamp burning inside the hut.

Even in that light she could recognize her husband’s brother’s body!

Body?

No, he was breathing, but very lightly!

He looked as if he was about to die!