rediff.com
Hi Guest
Log in | Sign up

Archive for August, 2009

THE EBB AND THE FLOW

Posted by sarita singh in short story on August 24th, 2009

 The dinner time was unusually silent. The evening news on the T.V. played like a background score to the silence and did nothing to heighten or diminish the pain within their hearts or answer the innumerable questions racing through their minds. Yet to each other they pretended to completely sure that nothing can go wrong with their only son. A gradually growing painless lump on his elbow had been operated on and sent for biopsy. The report was expected the next morning.

 Both spent a sleepless night trying desperately not to communicate their fears to each other. Each time she shut her eyes the same images kept replaying in her mind ..her son as she first saw him, the first steps he took, the first time he called out "ma" the ever bubbling, restless child who always kept her on her toes and also how she had to firm and almost harsh to make him open his books and study .

As the darkness melted into light, she was more than eager to get out of bed. After a so-called breakfast, as her husband was leaving to collect the report, was the only moment they let their defenses fall for a short while . But soon he was on his way and she back to her daily routine like a zombie mentally repeating over and over again, " its just my old habit of worrying too much everything's going to be alright"

An hour later  the telephone rang    it was her husband saying that the report said that the growth was benign and everything was okay. For the  first time she let the tears flow through the flood gates of her heart as sat in front of the mandir in  their house .her tears were her “thank you” to God

Later in the evening, after visiting the doctor with the reports, on their way back, her son wanted to go to the ice-cream parlor. Instinctively she reminded him that his class tests were scheduled on Monday, how prone he was to sore throat, how too much sweets will harm his teeth .. But, even before she completed her sentence she broke into a big grin and agreed and soon they were their usual selves chirping away over ice-creams and sodas, teasing each other and laughing together.

The last few days had taught her the most important lessons of her life that life cannot be lived in water-tight compartments or in scoopfuls . The good and the bad, the happy and the sad,the hopes and the fears,our expectations and life’s uncertainties co-exist and have to be accepted together to make life a complete whole. The day had began  laden with unshed tears and suddenly changed into a rainbow colored evening…..this was what life was all about….

52 Comments

MOVING PICTURE -V

Posted by sarita singh in Life on August 6th, 2009

The Commander marched ahead & her 2-men army, oops, 2 prisoners'of-war followed. The younger one looked as if he had been asked to choose between death by hanging and death by guillotine!!! This was the routine for the last weekend every month when mummy went grocery shopping at the supermarket (more crowded than hell), housed in a mall well known for its food court (which is the only reason kid bro agrees to become our chauffeur & coolie for a day) Soon our odyssey began .


There was only 1 big cart left and a gentleman was almost near it…I kind of slid past him (thanks to all the pushing around during my hostel days, landing on my feet is a natural instinct) & grabbed the handle even as his fingers were just a few inches away. Then, of course I gave him the politest & the most apologetic smile I could muster & walked away with the cart.


Mom pointed to one end of the store & just started to speak, "look there is the " when younger bro cut her short with a bland "looked . only aunties there" even mom couldn't help but smile. The ever- hungry 19 yrs. old scuttled away saying he will grab a bite and come back soon. I glared at him for deserting me he didn't even bother to look my way.


Near the refrigeration section was a young couple with two cartons of Soya milk of different flavors arguing about which one to take. I saw them about half an hour later in the oils section & they had both the cartons in their cart!


Next to it was the ice-cream & chocolates section. A little child was haggling expertly with his mom for a chocolate.  The lady kept shaking her head as the child stoutly held his ground claiming "bahauuuut bhookh lagi" (another lil bro in the making?) . Then he started picking up each piece of chocolate and reading out the price loudly & asking if that suited his mother's budget. With everyone looking her way, poor lady told her son to take one the smart kid promptly picked up a large bar & announced loudly "Rs 65", dropped it into the cart and moved on


In the veggies and fruits section the sight of a young woman desperately trying to choose the freshest ones reminded me of the time when I was living alone in another city. What a difficult job it is to identify the fresher veggies & fruits & after umpteen horrible experiences I was banned by my flat mates from shopping for veggies or fruits.


Next stop was the poultry section. Looking at the deep brown "protein eggs", (commonly known as "pro eggs" and used by muscle building enthusiasts), an elderly lady asked a store attendant nearby what it was. She heard "pro" as crow & her "aiyeeee! kauwe ke ande kaun khata hai" almost stopped many of us in our tracks!


A loud squeaky "hato  hato" caught our attention as we saw one of the bigger carts hurtling down the aisle. As the cart swept past us, we saw "Mr. Hato"— around 4 or 5yrs., shorter than the cart, so invisible from the front. His father grabbed him and the cart before any mishaps could happen and looked exasperatedly at the child's mother who continued choosing cookies with a nonchalant air (probably a very familiar scenario for her).


 A lady was standing at the kitchen items section with a few 'vim bars' in 1 hand and a few 'pril bars' in another. She had a deep frown and was looking intently at them with a deep frown I still haven't figured out what she was worried about .


Just then mom called me to read out the mfg & exp dates of some of the items she was buying . Wonder why she is so obsessed with it. All these will be used up in the course of a month and the same   scene will be enacted once more


 


 


 


 

45 Comments