Shadows of the Line

Source: www.reuters.com

The Sun was shining bright, forcing the dark grey clouds to run for cover thus lifting their shadow from the meadow that sprawled around the hostel. The darkness that had spread all across was suddenly wiped away, waking up the soft green grass that glistened in the morning dew as the touch of the first rays kissed the blue, yellow and purple wild flowers making them blush and spread their fragrance around

The meadow had never looked as beautiful as it did this morning, thought Rukhsana as she combed her long tresses standing by the window. She allowed her gaze to travel as far as it would dare to go, making her feel the pasture stretched till the horizon just like the ones back at home. The thought of home, brought a tear to her eye. Quickly she wiped it away; the last thing she wanted was to have Mansi her roommate see her cry. She had seen enough of it already.

But Mansi had been busy since morning packing her bags. She scampered around the room, hunting for the slipper she seemed to have lost months before and her favourite pearl earring which had disappeared from her shelf the previous evening.

“How on earth do you expect to find your things in this mess?” called out Rukhsana looking around her. 

The room was an unusual sight with half of it being spick and span with everything in order while the other half seemed to be ravaged by a tornado. The bed could not been seen under the humongous pile of clothes that perennially stayed piled on it; the table and chair were filled with books that threatened to topple over at any moment. The floor was littered with wedges, heels and pumps of which Rukhsana had lost count months before. The dressing table was covered with cosmetics and accessories that seemed to be there more for display than actual use. That Mansi kept adding to the museum was something she had never understood.

“I have to find them, they are my absolute favourite, how can I go home without them” wailed Mansi making her roommate roll her eyes. Everything that got lost soon enough became Mansi’s favourite.

Quietly Rukhsana slipped out, wading through the melee that had taken birth across rooms outside and in the corridors. She pulled her dupatta close to her throat, stifling a sob as she made her way through the commotion. Girls were running across rooms, packing their bags and exchanging addresses.

“Ruks, are you done with your packing? When do you leave” a random voice which she thought belonged to Hetal called out. She nodded vigorously murmuring a vague reply and opened the main door of the hostel to get away from the happiness and the excitement that smothered her within the four walls.

“You know, I am so looking forward to the silence and solitude that awaits me in the hills. I find the city so boring. It would be so much fun to spend an entire weekend at a hill station with friends” she heard a voice as she made her way towards the meadow.

“Silence….Boring…” the words triggered off the memories that she tried so hard to stifle. Everyday.

Silence had always been deathly for her and her family. The uncertainty that it brought along had strangled whatever little peace they had every single day.

Solitude. There had been more than enough of it where she came from, the home she missed, and the village she loved more than anything else. Days and days of solitude could be found in their isolated land, because that was all that they had to give them company; to suffocate them much more than the lack of food and water could possibly do.

Boring…their life was anything but that. The crash and crackle of gunfire kept them on their toes, making them play hide and seek with their own lives. One wrong hiding place and pellets of bullets could shower over them. She had seen it happen to her cousin Ibrahim right in front of her eyes.  All they could do when there was firing was sit in their hiding places, usually their thatched roof huts and pray. Pray until silence took over; the same deathly silence that made them wonder if a tempest was waiting for darkness to fall; waiting to strike when they fell into a disturbed sleep. They would gladly take boredom any day, but they were never fortunate enough to experience it.

Friends…she had no idea what that meant until she had come to Delhi for her college education. All she had known through her life till then were enemies. Foes who lurked in the shadows and opened fire the moment they got a chance. Not caring if it were a child that got caught in their fire; all they cared were for its identity to be destroyed.

Favourites…nobody in her village of two hundred and fifty had known what it was like to own more than a pair of torn shoes. She looked down at her own Kolhapuri Chappals and winced remembering the day she had bought them with the little money her Abu had given her. Slipping them on for the first time, all the while aware that her Abu would walk bare foot for a few months in order to let her cover hers.

Going home…she had kept a straight face and murmured a reply back in the corridor. How could she tell them what it meant to go home for her? Unlike the girls who were busy waiting for their trains and buses to take them home to a summer vacation full of birthday parties, shopping, movies and eating out, home for her was her thatched roof hut, the framed photos of her brother Rahim and her cousin Ibrahim, the constant shelling along the barbed wires which surrounded her village and the crouching under the charpai each time there was a new bout of firing regardless of day or night.

Partying…she had never known what it meant. Their village plunged into darkness every night, a single light burning could spell disaster for them. They could not even enjoy a meal under the starlit sky, what if a stray bullet made it their last supper?

A nippy wind enveloped around her making her wrap her dupatta around her head, reminding her of the hijab she wore back at home. She was fortunate to have parents who had a forward outlook towards life, who had taken the tough decision of battling against all odds to have her study in the city, who had asked her to be one among the others and experience what they would never be able to- Freedom.

The main doors opened, and the girls poured out, waving out madly as each made way to their own destination. She suddenly felt a movement that made her turn around. Mansi stood behind with her suitcase, ready to go home.

“Why aren’t you ready yet? We will be late for the train” she said, perching herself beside Rukhsana.

“Train… but I never go anywhere… I always stay here… you know that” said Rukhsana looking confused.

“Not this year…nor next…not till I am in your life. I cannot take you to Urusa even if I wanted to… but I can take you home…my home. Your tickets have been booked, and I have worked with the Principal to inform your Abu”

Rukshana did not know how to react. She turned around and hugged her friend; the meadow rustling in the background as if breaking into a song and dance; the sound of artillery that had thudded through her mind, slowly fading away.

---

Along the LOC, Urusa is a village closest to the border on the Indian side. Cut off from the rest of the world, there are no buses or any form of transport that can connect it to the closest villages/towns Uri and Baramullah anymore.          

Cinderella With A Twist!

Source: www.shoebuyblog.com

Her step sisters were excited. They ran across the house, admiring themselves in every mirror they came across.

“Cinderella! A lock of hair has escaped! Do something, quick” yelled one sister.

“Cinderella! I think I need more powder! Help me!” screamed the other.

“Oh girls, get ready fast. I hear the Prince is in the house next door, trying out the shoe on those silly Smith girls who live there. Oh I am sure it won’t fit them. I just hope it fits one of you” 

Her step mother had just stepped in after spending almost half an hour craning out of the window for a sign of the Prince.

Cinderella knew the slipper could fit only her. After all, she was the one who had worn it to the ball. Had the clock not struck midnight, she would have stayed on, with her prince. But alas, she had to return, for it had only been a spell, that had transformed her back into the country girl at twelve.

With a smile on her face, her thoughts went back to the ball and the time she had spent with the prince till all of a sudden she felt someone’s eyes on her, watching with intent, her every move. She turned back and caught the look on her step mother’s face just as she turned and started fanning over her daughters.

“Why did Step Mother give me that look? Does she know? No! How could she? Other than me only Fairy God Mother knows about that night. The secret was safe with her!”

Cinderella went about her chores, but no longer feeling as confident as she had been just minutes before; her Step Mother’s stare still fresh in her mind. She knew the Prince would come in any time now; quickly she looked at herself in the mirror and tried to wipe away the cinders that had settled on her face and the dress from cleaning the fireplace. That was the best she could do with her tattered dress and wooden shoes, the only attire she had ever owned.

“Knock Knock” There was a loud rattle on the door.

“Oh the Prince is here, he is finally here!” the step sisters and their mother wailed as they settled themselves in their arm chairs and waited for the doorman to let the guests in.

The most handsome man in the kingdom walked into the sitting room and looked around. Cinderella watched from the corner, partly hiding herself behind a curtain. He caught her eye and for a moment seemed distracted when her Step Mother called out

“I suppose you want my daughters to try out the slipper my lord”

She bowed down to the prince and paid her respects. Her daughters followed suit and then one by one set down on the stool waiting for the Prince’s guard to bring forward the slipper.

Not expecting a difference in this house, the Prince kept looking towards the corner, to catch a glimpse of the girl he had seen hiding behind the curtain. She had looked familiar but he couldn't remember where he had seen her.

“My Lord! My Lord! It’s a perfect fit!” cried his guard, breaking through his thoughts.

The Prince turned around, shocked at the change in events. When he had first stepped into the room, he hadn't taken much of a liking to either of the two sisters but now… one of them was the woman he had fallen in love with?

The sight in front of him did hint at it being true. The second sister sat on the stool, looking as stunned as he was. She was staring at her foot, the glass slipper sitting pretty on it. It was a snug fit.

Behind the curtain, Cinderella was shocked. How could the slipper fit her step sister? It was her’s! She had just started towards the store room to get the pair that she knew would prove the slipper belonged to her; when she heard her Step Mother speak

“My Lord, let me get the other pair, I have kept it safe in my room”

Cinderella was shattered. How one earth had her Step Mother known? She caught her eye and saw the same malicious glint that she had seen before.The slipper was brought out and her step sister put it on. It was a perfect fit!

The Prince was unhappy. He could sense something was wrong but could not place a finger on what it was. Halfheartedly he joined the group and watched the sisters jiggle around making a mockery of themselves. Was this really the girl he had fallen in love with? His gaze once again shifted to the curtain and fell on the silhouette against the drapes. A sorrowful sight she was and watching her made his heart cry. He wondered why.

***

“Oh Fairy God Mother! Where are you? How did this happen? I need an explanation! Cried Cinderella as she lay by the fireplace covered with cinders in the dark of the night.For a long time she sobbed, sleep evading her. The tears had just started to dry and the eyelids begun to get heavy when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Shush Cinderella, its me” a musical voice filled the room.

“Fairy God Mother! Where have you been? What is all this? How did Mamma know about the slipper?”

“So many questions! Why don’t we sit for a while and catch up? It’s been a while, the questions can wait” and Fairy God Mother settled herself into the armchair closest to the fireplace.

“No! I need to know now, why did this happen? It should have been me instead of my sister. You know that!”  Cinderella was in no mood to listen.

Fairy God Mother let out a sigh and said “Fine. Listen then. Years ago, your step mother had done me a good deed. At the ball the other night, she had recognized you. She also knew that only I could have transformed you that night. So she found me and made me pay back for the favour she had done years ago. She made me change the shape of the slippers so that it fit one of her daughters, then she stole the slipper from your shelf. I am really sorry Cinderella, but I had no choice. In the fairy world, we cannot go back on a favour done to us. I did not know back then that your Step Mother was so evil and that she would use the favour to destroy you. I hope you understand. The kind soul that you are, I am sure you would”

Saying that, the Fairy God Mother disappeared leaving behind a few traces of fairy dust.

Heartbroken, Cinderella knew she had to resign to her fate. The Prince would no longer be hers.

                                              

***

The Kingdom was celebrating. The news of the Prince having found his bride had spread wide and far. The King and the Queen had invited the bride’s family for a banquet at the Castle. Step Mother and her daughters had been dressing up since dawn. Donning colored laces and trying different hats, they had been driving the whole house crazy. Finally it was time, and they had left the house, in a beautiful carriage sent by the King.  As usual, Cinderella had been left behind.

“Welcome to our Castle!” greeted the King, offering his arm to the Step Mother and escorting them in.

“Isn't it such a coincidence? Our prince being betrothed to your daughter?” smiled the King

“I am sorry My Lord, but I don’t understand” said the Step Mother with a quizzical look on her face.

“Oh didn't you know? The Prince is really not our son. He was found in the stables, he is but the son of a commoner. And now he is marrying a country person, just like him. He wants to go back to his roots now, live the country life that he was born in. And who would be a better partner than a lovely girl like your daughter?”

The King smiled, patting his future to be daughter’s hair as he spoke.

“Mamma what does he mean? Will I not get to live in this Castle? Will I not be the Queen?” cried her daughter.

“O King! How can that be? I got the slipper changed so that it fits my-uhhhh” she gasped, quickly covering her mouth but it was too late.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to say the slipper does not belong to your daughter?” the King asked, a hint of anger creeping into his tone.

“My Lord, I just wanted the best for my daughter. The slipper belonged to my step child Cinderella. She is a simpleton and not fit to be a Queen!” Step Mother was scared, not knowing how the King would now react.

The King was now silent. He walked up and down the room, glad the Queen and the Prince had still not joined them. He had made up the story about the Prince to gauge how they would react. The Mother was cunning he thought, so must her daughter be. The Prince is simple hearted, he believes every word he is told. He trusts everyone. When he becomes the King, he would need someone by his side who is cunning and wily enough not to fall prey to the enemies. Marrying Cinderella would mean doom for this Kingdom. No, both of the royal couple cannot be simple and good hearted, one of them has to be shrewd, only then will there be a balance he thought. He turned around, the fear in the eyes of the women in front of him not escaping his attention.

“Well, I need a shrewd daughter-in-law and not a simple one. Let this be our secret, one we shall never reveal” said the King extending his hand to the Step Mother.

With disbelief Step Mother shook the King’s hand, just as the Queen and the Prince entered the room.

“There they are! Let us proceed with Lunch and fix the date for the Wedding” said the King.

 “Will you be kind enough to take my arm, My Love?” said the Prince, leading his future wife into the dining room. For the briefest second, the thought of the girl he had seen hiding behind the curtain crossing his mind.

---

A prompt asking for a twist in the straightforward and romantic Cinderella tale triggered of this post.

The Box

Source: www.pinterest.com

She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled. Running a finger against the contours that crisscrossed forming colorful motifs all over, she felt relaxed. She had cautiously kept the box away from everyone’s sight, lest it be taken away from her. She did not trust anyone, not even the kind lady who swept her room everyday. The box was precious to her, more than her life, more than anything else; it was the tiny little wooden container that she had heard so much about from the Russian masseuse at the salon years before.

“Place a thing gifted by or belonging to your beloved in it and he will be yours forever” she had said with a dreamy look on her face and gone on to tell her how this tiny jewelry box had helped her find her better half. Helped many in her village back home get their love. The conviction in her voice and the belief she saw in her eyes, had made Anjali resolve to find one such box that she could call her own - To use if a time came when her love would be taken away from her…If Satish would be taken away from her.

***

It had been love at first sight for her. Right from the moment she had seen Satish walk into the classroom, holding a helmet under his right arm and a suede jacket casually slung around his left shoulder. Wearing a tight fitting shirt that shamelessly showed off his well sculpted muscles and boot-cut trousers that fit easily over his formal shoes, he had looked like a Greek god who had just descended from the heavens. Wavy black hair that fell on his dark grey eyes completed his chiseled face to perfection. He was the handsomest man, Anjali had ever seen. Time seemed to have come to a stand still; she had thought. Looking around she had watched fifty minds switch to overdrive, all wondering just like her who this god-like being was. The silence had been filled with extremely visible sharp intakes of breath when he had turned towards them and said “Good Morning! I am your new Mathematics teacher, Professor Satish.”

For Anjali, it had been a dream come true. She had always imagined falling in love with a teacher. Her friends had found her fantasy to be weird, but she had never cared for what they thought. For years she had patiently waited, for the day to arise when she would meet her Prince Charming. For years, she had been disappointed, by the grey haired, bespectacled, about-to-retire teachers and professors who had taught her. Not being one to give up, the day had finally arrived when the man she had visualized ever since she had understood Love, had walked into her life. It was only till the end of the first class that she had waited. Once the bell had rung, she had pursued him, with queries that she never had and problems that she had already solved. She always ensured she was dressed in her best, that she was as beautiful as he was good looking had only made matters easier. She had made him notice her; everything about her; right from the shimmering darkness of her almond shaped eyes and the kohl she wore in them to make him lose himself into, to the light shade of strawberry on her lips, the slight plunge in her neckline to the tan line on her shoulders. This pursuit continued till the day she saw a glimpse of the same love in his eyes. They had become the talk of the college; never in its history had a professor dated his student. She was elated, her fantasy had become a reality; she had made her friends eat their words. Despite the rolling eyes and the raised brows Satish and Anjali had become inseparable. Bets were placed on the time they would be together; stakes were raised every now and then. But they always had the last laugh.

With a lot of enthusiasm she had told her family about Satish; both the shock and the anger they had reacted with had shaken her beyond measure. She couldn't think of anyone beyond him. She couldn't love anyone besides him, how could they not understand that? Her family had become strangers for her; she had left the house and moved into the hostel. Satish had paid her fees and told her they would be married as soon as she finished College. He had even bought her a silver ring which she wore on a silver chain around her neck. She had given herself to him, mind body and soul. He was all that mattered; he was her life; her being.

Three years went by and she graduated. Satish’s parents had been yearning to get him married through that time, after all, the fifteen year gap between them meant he was considered well past his age to find a suitable bride. But he had delayed the process for her. On the day of her graduation ceremony he had taken her home and introduced her to them. He had introduced his student Anjali Thomas to Vidyashankar and Lakshmi Iyer as his choice for their daughter-in-law.

The aftermath that had followed was not one that either Satish or she had expected. Subject to cold treatment, she was offered nothing but water, in a glass she realized that was meant for the helps and vendors who belonged to ‘other castes’. In the house filled with Tanjore paintings and the fragrance of incense and camphor, she was made to sit in the corner farthest from their Puja room. A cup of coffee had been hesitantly placed in her hands by his mother who took utmost care to not let her “madi” (pure) sari or her hand touch her bare skin. The awkward silence had been cut short by his father who had decided they had appointments to keep, thus making her take their leave.

Their opposition was evident, but she had faith in Satish. She knew he wouldn't care for what his parents felt, just like she hadn't for hers. She had been disowned by her parents and the entire Protestant Catholic community, but it hadn't mattered just as his parents views shouldn't matter to him, she thought. Her conviction had been sealed when she missed her cycle that month. This, she knew would bring them together for eternity. She hadn't felt happier.

A week after the episode with his parents, they had met. She had sensed something was amiss; they had never been apart for more than a day before. Whatever it was, she knew her news would make it all go away.

“I have something to tell you” she had said with glee, ignoring the tensed look he had given her.

“Wait. I have something of a lot more significance to tell you” Without waiting for her response, he had continued

“Amma-Appa are not fine with our relationship. I did try to talk them but…. They both have threatened they would walk out of my life if I marry you. Amma…she… she went to the extent of saying she would take her life” and he had broken down.

“So?” she had been confused.

“Can’t you see? I can’t let that happen. How can I just let them walk out? How can I be the reason behind my mother ruining her life?” he had started crying by then.

“But, didn't I leave my parents? My entire community has disowned me! What about that?” she had screamed.

“I didn't ask you to do that, did I? You had already walked out and come asking me for help. I had to help you, that does not mean I approved of what you did! And just because you don’t care for your parents, it doesn't mean I don’t either!” Satish had begun to sound angry.

“But… but… I am going to have your baby, this is the news I have been wanting to share with you!” This she knew was her trump card, Satish would now melt down, take her into his embrace and whisper sweet little nothings, his anger would fade away, and his parents would be forgotten.

“What! Haven’t you been taking those pills? How irresponsible can you be? I come from a very illustrious family; do you know what such a thing would mean to my parents? How cheap could you be? Left your parents already and now giving birth to an illegitimate child! Characterless you are; Amma was right when she said that about you! Amma has found a suitable match for me and I intend to marry her. I had been wondering how to break this new to you but your news… well that did it for me! How shameful can you be?”

“But, we could get married-“she had run after him but he had already walked away.

***

“Characterless… cheap…shameful” those words kept playing on her mind as she felt for the box again; hidden away in the folds of the housecoat she was made to wear everyday. She looked around the bench she had been sitting on to check if anyone was looking. In a distance she saw the hazy image of a few month old baby held close by an elderly lady who was quietly walking into the room opposite. What a sweet baby it was! “If Satish and she had one, it would look just like this baby” she thought, a distant smile plastered over her face.

Then seeing the coast to be clear, she carefully removed the box out of her pocket and opened it. Lovingly she caressed the silver ring she had so carefully kept away from everyone else. Then she picked up the strands of wavy black hair and kissed them“Yes, he would be hers forever” she thought, just as the masseuse had said. Her love was her’s forever.

Clutching the box tightly she was lost in her own world when a policewoman walked up and roughly pulled her up “Get up, Anjali! The Satish Iyer murder case is next, your trial is about to start”.

In A Moment...

 This story is written based on Women's Web's May's muse of the month writing cue, “What does the brain matter compared with the heart” (from Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf). The prompt required a word limit of 800, since as always I had already missed the deadline, I decided to ignore it :-)

Wading into the Hawaiian Sunset (Maui, Hawaii)

“Aloha! Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to Kahului airport. Local time is 4:30 PM and the temperature outside is 80F. For your safety and comfort please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the-“

Missy was no longer listening. The view outside the window had her enthralled. Out of nowhere a rainbow had begun playing hide and seek with fluffy white clouds sailing across the deep blue sky. After months and months of late evenings in office with only the walls for company, this was a magical sight for her. Lost playing peek-a-boo with the strokes that adorned the sky, she was shaken out of her revelry by a sudden jolt.

“On behalf of American Airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again soon. Have a nice stay!”

She was finally there! The vacation she had long awaited, to get away from her demanding job, work that kept her in the confines of her cabin for the better part of her day and evening, from Chicago, once the city of her dreams. Once. There was nobody to blame but herself, she thought angrily. She was good at her work, darn good at it. She had been in love with it. Truly, deeply, madly in love. The pay was good, it still was. She knew her colleagues turned a shade of green each time she passed by. Becoming the youngest VP in an advertising firm was no mean feat. But with her more than pea sized brains; it had been child’s play for her. Oh the attention she soaked herself in! Even now the thought of it made smugness capture her face in entirety. She had a beautiful pad downtown, a stone’s throw from ‘The Magnificent Mile’, with a mesmerizing view of Lake Michigan. Come summer, the silhouette of Navy Pier would adorn the river right in front of her bedroom window. It was a house to come to; it was her dream come true. Yes, Chicago had been the city of her dreams.

A sigh escaped Missy as she tugged her weekend bag from the overhead bin and waited for her turn to get off the tiny plane. Her thoughts returned to Chicago. All through her growing years she had loved playing with words but life had dictated its own terms and she had ended up graduating from Harvard with an MBA degree. But she wasn’t complaining, the longing for her pen had soon been replaced by storyboards and sketches. Before she knew it, she had immersed herself into the field and slowly yet steadily fallen in love with it. She had her brains to thank, she was all aware of that. Her ability to adapt to any field, to any industry had helped make her the successfully businesswoman that she was today. Life had been perfect she thought. She had everything she could dream off, yet the glamour of it all had seemed to fade off quickly.Of what use was a house that stayed empty all the time…of what use were those views for which she hardly had any time.Missy deliberately tried pushing those nagging thoughts out of her mind.

She slowly walked down the aisle, down the tiny steps and onto the tarmac. Kahului was a small airport and the walk towards the terminal was but a few seconds long. But the balminess that engulfed her in those few moments was enough to make her drive out all thoughts and resolve to enjoy the four precious days she had managed getting off from work.

***

Maui was beautiful. No, it was surreal. No, it was paradise. She just couldn't decide. All she knew was, she had been floored since the day she had arrived. Her resort, Kamaole Sands was just what she had hoped for. She was glad she had not booked herself into a Hilton or a Westin. She had wanted to get away from the world she was accustomed to. Staying in a place her circle did not frequent was the first step she had taken. And boy was she glad. She had spent the first three days of her stay exploring the island. Visiting the Maui Ocean Center and watching the sea come to life all around her had been more thrilling than making all those presentations in the boardroom. Wandering around the streets of Lahaina and taking the cruise into the Pacific had been so serene, unlike the silence that kept her company when she worked late. The 'Road to Hana' had brought out the adventurer in her, as she drove along the twists and turns and yelled greetings to all cars that passed by. She had been surprised by her own behaviour, wondered where this Missy had been hidden all these years. And finally she had done what she had heard so much about. She had visited Haleakala, the dormant volcano crater to view the sunrise. As she saw the purple hues of the horizon take birth and the morning star steal across the sky, she had heard the sunrise chant reverberate throughout, just as the Sun graced Earth with its presence. She had felt calm like she never had before.

Today she was at a Luau, watching the locals dance across the crowds as soulful Hawaiian music filled the air. She sat at a distance, watching the Sun she had seen rise just the day before, now melt down into the ocean. Not once had she thought of work these four days she reminisced, a smile slowing forming on her now glowing face. Yes, Maui had done wonders to her. She looked towards the Ocean, the smile broadening as she did something she had never done before. She ran into the ocean, wading into the molten orange waters, jumping around with tinkling laughter each time a tiny crab playfully gave her a nudge. It was as if tiny puppies were nipping at her feet, she thought and for the first time in years, words made way into her mind, awakening that dormant urge for her pen, one she had thought she had put to rest forever.

Warmth flooded through her body and suddenly she knew what happiness truly felt like. All these years she realized, she had survived and never lived. She had been successful but not happy. Grinning from ear to ear she made her way back to her room and for the first time since she had landed, she logged into her email. Her inbox was overflowing with thousands of mails, many requiring her urgent attention. But she ignored them all. It was an evening of firsts for her in more than one way. Eagerly she opened a new mail and typed a message to her boss. Imagining his reaction of horror when he saw her note, she smiled, clicking on the ‘send’ button, knowing that she had done what she should have years ago.

She danced down the steps and asked the front desk to extend her stay for a few days; till she found a place she could call her home. No, there would be no magnificent mile, nor any Navy pier. But there would be her pen and the magic it brought into her life. She had finally decided to follow her heart and not her brain; lose herself to her first love, her writing. After all, “What does the brain matter compared with the heart?” She had finally been able to understand what Virginia Woolf had meant.

Missy knew, she was now at peace with herself.


**Special thanks to Sid Balachandran, the famous Fiction Writer for proof reading the draft and his brainwave for the title of this post :-)

The Fallen Krishna

Source: www.rgbstock.com

“BANG!!!”

The deafening sound of a shot ringing through the air woke Rinku from his deep slumber. For a dazed second he wasn't sure where he was. Vigorously rubbing his eyes, he groped around for his spectacles, almost dropping the water jug off the side table. Swearing under his breath, he found the pair and quickly slipped them on. He then reached out to the cell phone he knew was placed next to the glasses and checked the time.

2 A.M. 

He looked around only to find darkness enveloping him from all sides. Peeping out of the window next to his bed, he saw it furthering its cause all across the street. The streetlights hadn't been switched on that night. He fumbled around for the water jug; too nervous to switch on the bed side lamp. What had that sound been, he wondered? Feeling the cold liquid wet his parched throat, he waited with an ear out for any sound that might seem out of the ordinary. After a few minutes of deathly silence, he decided it was but a dream and tucked himself back into bed. Just as he had drawn the sheet over his face, a blood curdling scream filled the air. 

Rinku sat up with a start. Despite the silent whir of the ceiling fan, beads of sweat were now forming on his forehead. This time, he knew where the sound had come from. Slowly he shifted his gaze towards the ceiling, clutching tightly onto the side of his bed as if to brace himself from the terror that seemed to have unleashed above. A sudden thud and the sound of disappearing footsteps made him gather all his might and step out of the bed. 

“What could have happened? Is it Sinha Aunty who lives above…. Has anything happened to her? Or is it Isha?” 

Rinku’s heart did a sudden flip at the thought of Isha; Sinha Aunty’s niece who was staying with her for the summer holidays. Ever since he had seen Isha, he had harboured a secret crush on her. She was the kind of girl he and his classmates dreamt of every night. He had never managed to muster the guts to speak to her and now this… a shudder ran through Rinku as he broke out of his thoughts. 

“Oh God, what if it is Isha? I haven’t even told her how I feel about her! “

With a sudden surge of courage, Rinku swiftly moved out of his room and felt his way to the main door. Years of quietly moving around the house to satisfy his midnight hunger pangs were coming of use today. He opened the main door and quickly looked around.
“Mom and Dad seem to be fast asleep. Its good that they are sound sleepers…” he thought, carefully closing the door behind him. 

Taking two steps at a time he reached Sinha Aunty’s house within no time. He gulped when he saw the main door ajar and the living room covered in darkness. Stepping in, he almost tripped over what seemed like a human body. Stifling the scream that almost left his mouth, he took a step back, his body shaking as he bent down to check who he had stumbled over. With trembling hands he reached out feeling cold brass on first touch. Relief spread through his body as he realized he had fallen over the Krishna Idol Sinha Aunty had so lovingly placed right at the entrance of her apartment just last week.

“But what was it doing down there? It weighed over 20 kilos. Surely that couldn't have come toppling down by a simple accident...” thought Rinku realizing that something had gone terribly wrong in the house.

“Should I go back and get Daddy? Or at least a flashlight..?” he wondered, feeling rather foolish that he had dared to come all alone in the middle of the night without even a light to see what he was doing . 

“What if there has been a murder? And if the killer is still lurking around?... my fingerprints are on the idol now ... Oh my god” Rinku’s trail of thoughts had now started to make his teeth clatter and his hands tremble. 

“I have come till here, I need to carry on and check whats going on. I might be able to help Sinha Aunty and Isha!”. Once again the thought of Isha made his sixteen year old mind firm up and continue.

Without any hurdle in the way, he had now reached the dining hall. Sinha Aunty’s flat being a replica of his; he knew the scream had originated from the second bedroom. He could see a faint glimmer of a light in the room and the door slightly open. Stealthily he made his way towards the room; as he neared the door, he felt his feet touch something wet on the floor. Bending down, he touched the liquid and smelt it. The familiar smell of blood hit his nostrils, making him feel faint. Weak in the knees, he turned towards the room just as the door opened and a pair of hands grabbed him. Before he knew it, a second scream rang through the night. This time it was his. As he sank lower and lower, a cold shower of water hit his face making his eyes open wide.

 “For heaven’s sake Rinku! I was just waking you up! You don’t need to scream so loud for that!” His mom gave an exasperated look and continued “Sinha Aunty and Isha will be joining us for breakfast, they had a short circuit around 2 AM last night. Get ready quickly”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Rinku turned around feeling a rustling sound as he moved his blanket away. The book he was reading the previous night lay open on his bed, at a page with an image of a fallen Krishna idol

Up The Jamun Tree

 This story was originally meant for Women's Web's March's muse of the month writing cue, “To want is to have a weakness.” (from The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood). The prompt required a word limit of 800, since I had already missed the deadline, I decided to ignore it :-)

The tree outside Meena's window (Source: Deviantart.com)

She stared at the Jamun tree outside her window. The slender branches swayed as the leaves rustled as if they were playing “chinese whispers” with her. ‘Whoosha, Whoosha, Whoosha” each leaf whispered, some highpitched in their excitement while others drooping with their feeble tone. All seemed to want to speak to her.

“Just like the stories from those books all girls in the class talk about” thought Meena.

Fairies, pixies and gnomes, some hiding under toadstools, others disappearing behind bushes and climbing up trees. Trees like the one in her yard; with leaves whooshing all the time as if there were little elves hiding on their branches whispering and inviting her into their own abode. Full of jamuns in the summer, she wondered if the tree would bear some other fruit as the season changed, just as the faraway tree all the girls spoke about did. She peeked out, wanting to talk to those beautiful creatures her imagination had given birth to, but quickly jerked back and pulled the curtains when she saw Sneha, her neighbour, staring at her from her balcony.

“Oh why was she there now, just when I wanted to talk to my friends and live those tales all my classmates talk about…what she talks about!” cried out Meena opening her Science textbook and doodling over the chapter on cross-pollination.

Her mother would stop by any time to check on her, to check if she was studying or wasting her time dreaming of what she called nonsensical creatures.

She longed to read, wanted it more than she had every wanted anything. All those Nancy Drews, Percy Jacksons, Hardy Boys and Enid Blytons the girls spoke about. Esp. the Enid Blytons; they sounded so magical, as if they could transport her to a different world. A world that consisted of kids who went on adventures, girls who secretly had midnight feasts in their boarding schools, toys that came alive at night, goblins, gnomes, pixies and fairies who went about their business as soon as it was night fall…. She wanted to lose herself in that world, be one of those kids, be one of those girls, secretly watch those toys and all those magical creatures… if only she could, she always thought.

Wikimedia

“To want is a weakness Meena, all those books girls your age read are a waste of time. Study hard and you will do well in life, those books will not take you anywhere”

Every time she had asked her mother for books to read, she had got to hear these words. She was not allowed to be a member at the local library; she had to study all the time. Her mother even disapproved of the School’s mandate for Sixth standard students to take a book from the school library every month to write reviews and essays.

Meena glanced out of the window hoping to steal a moment to step into her imaginary world before her mother came up to the room for her evening check. She looked lovingly at the tree, trying to imagine a tree house on the broad branch that tapered right near her window when from the corner of her eye she saw Sneha again.

“Oh why was she still there! Cant she just let me live in peace!” muttered Meena just as the door to her room opened and her mother stormed in.

“What are you doing looking out of that window? Are you upto your silly antics again?” yelled her mother, continuing her usual torrent about how if she didn’t take studies seriously she would suffer in higher classes.

Meena had learnt to turn a deaf ear to her scolding but this time she was worried that Sneha would have heard every word of it. Her mother had been very loud.

“Always lost in the world of those fairy tales, wanting those books all those girls in your class read! They won’t score marks reading those books; those come only with hours of studying. How will you manage when you get to Tenth standard? How will you score? You have to become a doctor don’t forget that. Have you seen what a free hand Sneha's mother gives her? No wonder she is always third or fourth in class, can never beat you to the first place!” Her mother went on.

By now Meena was praying desperately that Sneha had not overheard any of her mother’s rant, esp. the last part of it.

Wikimedia

She had put in a lot of effort to make the girls in her class think that she read as many books as them. She tried to participate in the discussions Sneha and the rest in her class had during the recess about wishing chairs, faraway trees and circuses. She had even proclaimed to the class that there was a rabbit just like Brer rabbit in her own garden. Living next door to her;Sneha had given her a curious look then, Meena had realized she had gone a bit far with the rabbit story.

She had made up all the stories based on what she had heard being discussed by all the girls. It was so easy to catch up when you liked something so much, she had thought. Suddenly her mother’s voice broke through her revelry, telling her to complete her lesson and be ready for the revision questions she would make her answer at night.

Meena looked out of the window, hoping Sneha wasn't around. Her balcony looked empty but she thought she had seen a shadow disappear across the curtain. All she could do was pray that Sneha hadn't heard anything. The care she had taken over the years to fit in with the rest of her class was at stake; she desperately wanted to maintain the image she had so lovingly created.

Days passed into weeks and Meena got busy with her exam revision. When she felt bored of studying she would look out of the window, first checking to see if Sneha was around. Once the coast was clear, she devoted her attention to the tree imagining the homes of Silky the elf, Dame Washalot and Moon Face, names she heard from the recess discussions of the Faraway Tree books. She imagined herself befriending the residents of the tree and visiting the different lands that came on top of it every now and then… just as the girls decribed from the books. So lost she would be in her world, staring at the Jamun tree, that she would fail to notice the shadow that fleeted across the curtain in the house next door.

Once in a while she would jerk out of her thoughts and remind herself that wants were a weakness, she had to study and top the class like she always did. That was her mother’s want and she had to live up to it.

She continued to talk to her classmates about the rabbit that lived beneath the Jamun tree and the different Enid Blyton books she had read. She even described the tree which reminded her of the Faraway Tree. All the girls involved her in their talks, listening with rapt attention each time she spoke. All except Sneha.

Sneha had begun treating her differently. She was friendlier than usual but continued to hang out with her own group of friends. But there were tiny things that Meena couldn't help but notice, like how she would warmly squeeze her shoulder once in a while and offer to share her eraser or pencil whenever she forgot her own. There was a change in Sneha’s behaviour, she had noticed; especially the look she gave whenever Meena spoke about the books she read. It was hard to decipher but it almost seemed like she knew what was really going on in Meena’s head. A shudder would run through Meena each time she got the look, it made her wonder if Sneha had overheard her mother that evening a few weeks before.

The final exams came and went and a week later the results were announced. As always, Meena topped the class; Sneha had come in fourth. Happy with her results, Meena’s mother had left her alone for the evening and gone out to run some errands. Meena was elated, this was the best gift she could ask for, some alone time with her thoughts, to focus all her attention on the Jamun tree and the pretend rabbit hole below it. She had just settled herself on the window sill when the doorbell rang.

Irritated with the disturbance she quickly ran down the stairs and opened the door. To her surprise there was nobody at the door. Angry, she turned to close the door when a speck of brown caught her eye. Lying on the doorstep was a bulky package with an envelope attached to it that was addressed to her. She picked it up, locked the door and returned to the room. With a lot of curiosity she opened the letter and read,

Magic Faraway Tree Series

Dear Meena,

Congratulations on topping the class once again. You have always been the brains of the class and deserve to top it more than anyone else. Here is a small gift to celebrate your result. Hope it helps you immerse yourself in a different world, one that has had you enchanted forever. Enjoy this new world because you so want to be a part of it.

Always remember, a want is never a weakness, it is our ability to define the person that we are; that we want to be.

Your Friend.

With trembling fingers Meena opened the package that accompanied the envelope. In it was the Faraway Tree Series. Instinctively she looked outside the window just in time to see Sneha disappear from the balcony.

Lady in Black - Finale

Source: www.sareedreams.com

Read Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 if you haven't already!

The house was submerged in a stillness it had never known before. Ramesh and Komal kept exchanging nervous glances each time Sonia was around… Sonia, she had changed. She looked empty all the time, empty of feelings and emotions, empty of tears and hunger. All she did was lock herself up in her room all day.

They were worried no doubt. But their seemingly modern mind held them back from calling in a doctor. They felt it was just some strain Sonia had which was causing these reactions. After much consideration, they decided to give it some more time before they looked out for external help. Maybe things would sort out and Sonia would get out of it. All she needed was some time… They tried to convince and console themselves, but somewhere Ramesh knew this wasn't over yet.

It had been a quiet week thus far, Komal had worked from home to keep an eye on Sonia but she had to leave for Mumbai that weekend. Sonia’s break was also coming to an end.

Saturday rose bright and sunny. Not able to stay at home all day anymore, Ramesh and Komal had to step out to get unattended chores done. Skeptical about leaving Sonia alone, Ramesh asked the domestic help to stay over until they returned.

The morning was passing by peacefully, thought Ramesh. He was glad he was being proven wrong; things were indeed inching back to normal. Happy and satisfied he decided to do a takeaway from Dominos, the veggie deluxe pizza – Sonia’s favourite. He placed the order and just as he was paying the bill, his phone rang. Recognizing the home number, his heart skipped a beat as he picked up the call.

Before he could speak, their maid burst into tears on the phone. “Anna, please come home, Kutti Ma will kill me, please Anna, please come home” she screamed between sobs. Dropping everything Ramesh rushed out of the store, ignoring the shouts he heard from behind asking him to pay.

Komal was waiting in the car when she saw Ramesh run towards her. The expression on his face told her that something had happened back home. Without uttering a word Ramesh got into the car and sped towards their house.

Within ten minutes they were home. As they parked the car, they could hear a scream and a loud voice boom through the house. Both rushed towards the main door, quickly unlocked it and dashed inside. The scene that met their eyes in the kitchen was ghastly to say the least. Their domestic help was crouching on the floor with scratches over her face and a deep gash on her hand bleeding profusely. Sonia stood trembling in a corner with a kitchen knife in her hand, staring with a murderous look at the help and yelling “I will not take it anymore Durga; you have to go… you have to go!”

Ramesh quickly ran towards Sonia and gently took the knife out of her hand and held her tight, patting her head and quieting her down. Komal had rushed to the maid and was now attending to her gash. Fortunately the cut wasn't deep enough to require medical attention. It would heal in a matter of days. It was however quite a price to pay for wearing a black sari.

After much consoling, both the maid and Sonia had quietened down. Ramesh dropped the maid home, requesting her to keep mum about the incident while Komal put Sonia to bed.

Ramesh returned to find Komal sitting at the dining table, ready with two mugs of steaming hot coffee. She had cleared the mess in the kitchen while he was gone. Sitting down, he took a few sips as they sat in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

“Ramesh, I think it’s time we took Sonia to see a doctor” Her voice quivered as she spoke, at the same time she sounded convinced of what she was saying.

He took a long pause while he gave it a thought. Frankly there was not much to think about. Komal was right. The matter had gone out of their hands. It probably had weeks ago.

“I’ll talk to Subbu and get a reference, he would know someone” Saying that he picked up his cell phone and made the call. An hour after his call, the doorbell rang. Dr. Rajashekhar and Mr. Subramanian stood at the door. As promised they were there within the hour.

Hurriedly he exchanged hellos and guided Dr. Rajashekhar to Sonia’s room. He had already spent a good half hour with her, explaining to her the need to see the doctor. She had seemed to understand, her lowered head and stooped shoulders told him that she had resigned to her fate.

Komal and Ramesh had been pacing the corridor outside, waiting. It was over an hour since Dr. Rajashekhar had gone into the room. Mr. Subramanian had already left. They looked at the clock and began debating whether they should knock on the door just when they heard it click open. Without saying a word Dr. Rajashekhar stepped out, motioning them to be quiet and asked them to follow him into the living room. Once seated, he turned to them and said “I have sedated her for now; she will sleep peacefully through the night and hopefully will not remember much of what transpired today but…” He looked at both parents, focusing on one and then the other. He could see the genuine love for Sonia in their eyes.

“But what Doctor? Will she be fine? What is wrong with her?” asked a worried Ramesh.

“There is nothing worrying about her medical condition. I suppose the legend had a deep impact on her and that led her to imagine the Lady in Black everywhere around, made her forget her own parents and make an attempt on the maid’s life. The only problem with her is that she is quite disturbed.”

“Having said that” he continued “I think it would help her a lot if she were to be away from this house for a bit. It will help take her mind off the painting and resume a normal life. How you plan on doing that is entirely up to you.” With that, he explained the medication schedule to them and let himself out of the house.

“What do we do now?” Wondered Komal. “We have just moved here, finding a place now will take time. But what about Sonia? How do we help her?”

“Relax; let me give this a thought. We’ll have it all sorted out by morning. Let’s just be glad that she is fine, there is nothing adversely wrong with our baby” Ramesh gave Komal a hug and retired to the library. The place where he could put his mind to rest and think. 

Ramesh had confined himself to the library for most of the night, calling it a day only at dawn. When he got to their bedroom he noticed Komal was not around. Instinctively he peeped into Sonia’s room and found both mother and daughter sleeping in each other’s arms.

Saturday finally passed by and Sunday rose. It was a late morning for all three. Sonia had decided to stay in bed, while Komal fixed some breakfast for all of them.

“I think I have a solution to this” Ramesh spoke hesitantly, knowing there was no right or wrong time to have this discussion which had been on top of their minds all night. When Komal did not reply he continued.“How about enrolling Sonia in a boarding school? It is just 3 months into the new academic year, I am sure we will find a good school not too far from here. I hear they have a prestigious school in Ooty, I can try and get hold of some contacts there. She could come home during the holidays but it will give her the space she needs. Right now it would take a toll on your health if we make a move again so once our baby arrives; we can look for a new place. What do you think?” He slowly looked up; not knowing what Komal’s reaction would be on this suggestion.

She was twitching her brow, Ramesh knew that meant she was giving his idea a thought. They had their breakfast silently, and only when they cleared the table did she speak. “I really don’t like the idea of keeping Sonia away from us, isn’t that why we hesitated to go to a doctor in the first place?” she asked dolefully. He fully understood her plight but he knew this was the right way ahead.

“Think about the new baby? Would you want to continue like this and have a dysfunctional family? Is that what you want?” he asked her gently.

Komal winced when he mentioned the word dysfunctional. No, that was not what she wanted. Never. She turned to him with tears brimming in her eyes and said “I guess you are right, this is probably the right way ahead…. But let’s speak to Sonia together about it. Okay?”

As he got up to make a few calls and get in touch with Mr. Subramanian, Komal reached out and held his hand. “Thanks for everything Ramesh. You have been a wonderful husband but an even better father. That too to a daughter who is not yours.” She held him tight and sobbed uncontrollably

* * *

Six months had gone by. Sonia was well settled in Ooty and there had been no complaints about her from the school. In fact she had begun to flourish and had made new friends as well. There had been no untoward incidents after that stormy Saturday. They had found a new maid who would also double up as a Nanny once the baby arrived.

Komal had given birth to a bonny baby girl and they were coming home from the hospital. The baby had already swept Ramesh off his feet and had him wrapped around her little finger. Ramesh had given the maid the day off, he wanted to decorate the house on his own, without any help. Decorate the house to welcome his wife and the baby. Their baby.

He wanted to do everything. Put up the balloon and the streamers. Light the “Welcome Home” cake that he had specially ordered for the occasion. But before all of that he had an important task to do.

He picked up his tool kit and walked up to the landing. Very cleverly he unhinged the painting from the wall and took it down. The painting that wouldn't budge was brought down in minutes. “You have been such a darling, had it not been for you, I wouldn't have achieved my dream today. My dream of having my family to myself – without any outsiders”. He lovingly ran his hand over the Lady in Black and carefully placed her in a bag.

Legend indeed, he thought as he fixed himself a cup of coffee and relaxed in his armchair. He had the 'Legend' planned right from the day he had first visited Chennai after his promotion. Just a few days before he had got the news that they were expecting. Finally, he had thought. Finally he would have his own child. Finally he could put an end to the facade he had built all these years calling Komal’s child from her first marriage his own. The only reason he had done so was because they had never managed to conceive. And when they did, he no longer wanted Sonia in his life. In their life. He had to find a way to keep her out, at least at a distance so that she would not be a part of their immediate world. But the problem was Komal, she loved her daughter to pieces and would never agree to part with her. He had to come up with a plan such that Komal would be forced to keep her away without having any reason to have a fallout with him.

He remembered that day when he had decided to go house hunting in Chennai while Komal and Sonia were still in Mumbai winding up the house. He had thought he would do a preliminary check and shortlist a few houses. But when he came across this bungalow where the previous owners had left behind a painting, his mind worked overtime and he conjured this plan. That the house matched Komal’s idea of a dream home was an added bonus.

He hired a group of struggling actors to make the whole drama appear as real as possible. Lalitha, Subbu, the maid from the 'maid agency' and the domestic help… all did a fantastic job, he thought proudly. He had known earlier that the neighbours in that area were not comfortable with non-Tamilians entering their neighbourhood, he had used their hostility to add to the story. Always making it a point to be the one reaching out to the neighbours and local vendors for anything they needed. He knew that convincing Komal that the painting couldn't be moved, would be an easy task. She placed blind faith in him and her trips to Mumbai had her busy all the time. She wouldn't pay much attention to it.

Once Subbu had planted the legend in Sonia’s mind, he got Lalitha to drape herself in a black Sari and sashay around Sonia first near the kitchen back door, then in the garden. Lalitha even went to the extent of climbing the mogra tree next to Sonia’s window. When Sonia only seemed shaken by the sighting, he himself slashed all the photographs on the wall; he knew that would spook her out a bit. He had marveled at the unexpected bonus his plan got when Komal had worn a black suit; she had unknowingly batted for him so well. He always took care to ensure he never went beyond a certain degree; all he wanted to do was scare her till she was visibly disturbed. The final act was the maid draping herself in a black sari that fateful Saturday. Before they returned home, she had done a god job with marking the bruises and cuts but gone overboard with the gash. He knew she would charge him more for that extra drama. She had then got Sonia cornered in the Kitchen.

Oh it had been a fool-proof plan indeed. The finale had Dr. Rajashekar, another actor step in and give his 'medical advice'. That was enough. He had both Mother and Daughter fall for it and he knew he could now send Sonia away. He had already spoken to the boarding school and worked out a seat for her. So getting her to move there had been a piece of cake. After that, Komal had been so busy with her pregnancy that she did not notice that Mr. Subramanian never visited them again.

He would have to deal with Sonia’s visits during the holidays but he could figure something out when he had to cross that bridge, he thought angrily. Ramesh had never taken a liking for Sonia but he had always been good at putting on the act of a loving father. The same good father who wanted the best for his elder daughter! He thought, a wicked laugh escaping him.

If Komal noticed the absence of the painting, he would make up an excuse about how he got some henchmen to take the painting down while she was at the hospital and they would both crib a bit about how Mr. Subramanian’s paranoia had affected Sonia. She probably would suggest bringing Sonia back home, but he could handle that. Getting Sonia out was the only bottleneck he had ever had. He would think of ways to keep her away.

The doorbell rang and he pushed all thoughts out of his mind. His family had finally come home. He rushed out to open the door, tearing up and crumbling each piece of the Lady in Black and dumping her in the dustbin. Her purpose had been served.

Lady in Black - Part 4

Source: sareedreams.com

Read Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3 if you haven't already!

It was a week since Mr. Subramanian had come home for dinner but it seemed just like yesterday to Sonia. The story from that evening was still fresh in her mind. Could it be possible that it was Durga she had seen that day in the kitchen? What did that mean? Was there a ghost living in the house? She shook her head with vehement conviction, no there was no such thing. Each time she crossed the landing, she felt uneasy, as if Durga had her eyes on her all the time. She got back to her homework but that nagging thought though pushed away was still there, very much there. While Ramesh and Komal had laughed off the legend, Sonia had not.

She was not herself anymore. Her absent mindedness had shot up and her interest in school down. She was forgetting little things like combing her hair, ironing her uniform, even washing her plate; things that were very basic and ones that she was habituated with. Both Komal and Ramesh had noticed the sudden quiet and the preoccupation Sonia seemed to have with the painting. They did their best to make her feel better but were never sure if they had succeeded. They firmly believed that things would fall into place and decided to let her be.

And things did seem to become normal in due time. Komal’s travel had increased as she was due for her leave in a couple of months. She was spending all her time in Mumbai now, leaving the house pretty much in the care of the domestic help. Sonia’s midterm exams were on in full swing and she was busy preparing for her papers, the painting had taken a back seat.

“Finally, that shadow Subbu cast, seems to have receded” thought Ramesh, as he saw Sonia bounce happily down the cobbled path on the last day of her exams.

After dinner that night, Ramesh retired to the library while Sonia headed back to her room. Just as Ramesh had settled into his armchair and begun leafing through his book he heard a blood curdling scream echo through the whole house.

Instinctively he ran towards the kitchen but it was empty. Turning back, he ran up the stairs, taking two at a time to make up for the time he had already lost. Panting heavily, he banged on Sonia’s bedroom door, almost toppling over through the unlocked door. Sonia was crouching in the corner of the room, terror written all over her face. She was shaken beyond measure and kept mumbling “Durga is here, Durga is here” with a trembling finger pointed in the opposite direction. Looking in the direction she pointed in, Ramesh saw the window wide open and the winds crashing against the pane causing a loud banging sound. He ran across to Sonia and reached out to comfort her but she shrank back screaming even louder “No! Don’t touch me Durga, I know you want to kill me, don’t touch me!” Then she fainted. Ramesh picked her up and settled her on the bed; next he closed the banging window and sung a lullaby to make her fall asleep. There was just one thought on his mind, she had failed to recognize him.

The night never seemed to end. After what seemed like eternity, the sun finally decided to make its presence felt. The darkness faded away but did not take with it the gloom that had set in the previous night. It was a Sunday, the maid’s day off. Komal had to stay back in Mumbai that weekend to get as much work done as possible. Ramesh wondered if he should call her and tell about the previous night’s episode but then he decided against it. Komal had enough to keep her occupied and worrying her about this would affect her health and the baby’s as well. No, this was best kept away from her. A sudden noise behind, shook him out of his thoughts; he turned around to see Sonia standing at the kitchen door. Before he could say anything, she took off “Daddy, Good Morning! What do we have for breakfast?” Did she remember the incident? Wondered Ramesh, but decided to shelve the discussion for now. At least till breakfast was done.

After a sumptuous breakfast of bread and eggs, he turned towards Sonia and asked her gingerly “Princess, did you sleep well?”
“Oh yes, I guess it was the relief of the exams ending that made me sleep like a log” she said, beaming at her father. It was as if nothing had happened.

From then on, Ramesh decided to keep an eye on Sonia whenever he was home. That day she wandered about, reading her books and talking to her friends on the phone. It was as if things were back to normal. But he knew they were far from it when he heard the second scream within twenty four hours. This time it was coming from the kitchen, he was sure.

Sonia was still screaming when he sprinted across and took her into his arms. “I saw her again Daddy, she was there in the garden, I saw her reflection in the pond!” she yelled. “She wants to kill me, doesn’t she? Why does she keep coming back?” He did his best to console and tell her that she had imagined it, but this time it took much longer to convince her. After an hour of cajoling and a hot mug of chocolate, her nerves finally seemed to calm down.

“You must be right dad, I must have imagined it” she said as she headed to her room. She did not come back down for the rest of the day.

* * *

Ramesh decided to work from home for a few days, at least till Komal got back the following Friday. He wasn't sure why Sonia was behaving so differently, so weird. But he did know that she couldn't be left alone. He wondered if he should contact a doctor, but then he decided to wait it out and see if the incidents would subside on their own. Despite their contemporary mindset, visiting a 'Shrink' was not an idea he could get used to.  

Sonia seemed to have quietened down. She remained flustered and on the edge all the time but nevertheless quiet. Her friends kept calling her out, to spend their break having fun but she showed no inclination to go. He worried about her but decided to give her the space she seemed to be silently begging for at the moment.

An uneventful day passed by. With the recent happenings, a day such as this was a dream come true. The thought that things were stumbling back to normal made way into Ramesh’s mind, but then each time he had felt some normalcy, something had happened. Maybe, this time things would be different he thought, walking up the stairs. Lost as he was deep in his thoughts, he did not notice Sonia standing on the landing staring at the wall. Only when he rammed into her did he realize that she had been standing there, stoic in her silence. She didn’t seem to have noticed him.

“She must be looking at that painting!” thought Ramesh, turning towards her, only she wasn’t looking at the painting, she was looking around it, once again the same look of terror plastered all over her face. He looked at the wall and realized what had affected Sonia to this extent. He gulped as he saw all family photos slashed through and the frames cracked all over. All the photos on the wall were beyond repair but the Lady in Black. She was intact, just as she had always been.

Ramesh was shocked. He had no idea how to deal with this situation anymore. He looked over to his daughter feeling numb, probably as much as her. Slowly she turned towards him with a distant look in her eyes and said “Daddy, you are right it is probably nothing” and walked up to her room, locking it behind her. Within minutes he heard that terrifying scream all over again. This time he did not move.

He would have remained rooted to the same spot all night long if the doorbell had not rung, breaking the eerie silence with its shrilling sound. After a long pause, he slowly walked towards the door, opening it to find Komal waiting outside, looking very happy to be home.

Ramesh relaxed on seeing his wife after so long. He quickly engulfed her in a hug and let out a sigh of relief.  “Is everything ok Darling?” As always Komal had sensed the tension running through his body. For a moment he hesitated, wondering whether he should tell her all that had happened. But then he decided to wait, she had just come in after a long week; she and the baby needed their rest. “Nothing dear, it’s just good to see you back” he said, hoping she wouldn't probe any further.

“Hmmm, I suppose Sonia is asleep, let me not wake her up now.” She tried to stifle a yawn. Ramesh jumped at the opportunity. “I think you better freshen up and sleep, you need the rest” Nodding, Komal went up to their bedroom, not noticing the slashed photos on the landing.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Ramesh carefully brought down all the frames from the wall. He retired to the library, trying to figure out what was going wrong, who could have done such damage? Would Sonia be fine? Why was she hallucinating so much? Or was it for real? Hundreds of questions attacked his mind, making him restless. It was only in the wee hours of the morning that he finally fell into a disturbed sleep, right there on his armchair.

Komal found Ramesh in the library, slumped in his chair, fast asleep. She had sensed that something was wrong the moment she had come home but had let it drop for the night. Sonia hadn’t stepped out of her room either. It was so unlike her not to greet her mum when she returned from her trips, especially a long one. Something was definitely wrong. She made two mugs of strong coffee and placed them on the table, seating herself opposite Ramesh. She knew he would stir within seconds; the aroma of hot coffee always woke him up. She was not wrong. In no time, Ramesh began to stir; he opened his eyes and looked up.

“A coffee, first thing in the morning! Komal you are such a…” He saw the nothing-you-say-will-work look and knew that he couldn’t get away from the conversation anymore. He had to face it.

“What’s going on Ramesh? Don’t tell me everything is fine, something has happened while I was not here, something that has shaken you up completely. Has Sonia acted weird again, the way she did that first week?” The perplexed look on her face told him that it made no sense to hide things from her anymore. She would stress over it and given her condition, that wouldn't help either.

He took a deep sip of the coffee and began the tale. He told her how he had noticed the change in Sonia ever since Mr. Subramanian’s visit. He told her about the visions Sonia had had in the previous week. He left out the photos part, lest it scared Komal. She didn't need any of that in her delicate state. He could always tell her that he had taken them off to get them dusted or something on those lines.

“So that’s what it is. I don’t know how to deal with it. Should we just let her be, or take her to a doctor or just talk to her… I really don’t know what to do”

Komal cringed as she watched her husband look helpless and lost. She had never seen him in such a dire state before. She had always known that Sonia was a sensitive girl, but this time things seemed to be getting out of hand.

“Let’s give it some time, I’ll try talking to her, in fact let me do it right away” Saying that she walked out of the library before Ramesh could stop her. Visiting the 'Shrink' was still not a conversation they were willing to have.

Komal knocked a couple of times on Sonia’s bedroom door, after a few minutes she heard the lock click open. Quietly she entered the room and saw Sonia sitting in the corner, crouched on the floor. Her hair was all tangled and eyes blood red. She seemed to have cried all night. Not letting her shocked feeling show on her face, Komal sat beside her daughter and held her hand. After a few minutes she started talking to her in a gentle manner, telling her that there was nobody other than them around. The Lady in Black was nothing but a folk tale, one that had no meaning in real life. She looked at Sonia for some response but there was none. At least she seemed to be listening to her, thought Komal. That was a good sign.

She let a few minutes go by before she got up and said “Everything will be fine, you are a smart girl, and you know all this is just a figment of your imagination. Now, freshen up and come down for breakfast, I’ll make your favourite Aloo Parantha “ She saw Sonia slowly nod her head, satisfied with herself, she turned towards the door but stopped when she heard a sound from behind.

“Durga, why did you wear a black suit today?” asked Sonia with a fearful look in her eyes.

Stunned, Komal looked down at herself. She was dressed in a black salwar kameez. Horrified, she looked at her daughter who had not seemed to recognize her own mother.

To Be Concluded...

Read on for the Finale...