This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 33; the thirty-third edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is 'Celebrations'
CELEBRATION
THE PUNCHING MACHINE IN THE OFFICE DISPLAYED 7.35pm. EVERY
FOLLOWING SECOND BLICKERING AS IF THE WATCH WAS WAITING FOR ME TO LEAVE SINCE
THE REST OF THE STAFF HAD ALREADY LEFT FOR THE DAY, LEAVING ME AS A DISRUPTION
IN THE CLOCK’S RESTING TIME.
FOR THE PAST TWO DAYS THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF HUBBUB
AMONGST THE LADIES, EACH WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT THE OTHERS’ PLANS FOR THE DAY,
THE SHOPPING THEY HAD DONE, THE FOGGY NIGHTS AND MOST OF ALL THE GIFTS THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO GET FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE SPOUSES. WHEREVER YOU GO, WHOEVER YOU PASS BY ON A ROAD
AND WHICHEVER CHANNEL/FREQUENCY YOU SET ON YOUR T.V. SET OR RADIO RESP., IT WAS
THE SAME TUNE THAT THE WHOLE NATION WAS SINGING.
MARRIED MEN HAD LEFT EARLY TO BE WITH THEIR WIVES, AND WOMEN
WERE BY AND LARGE ON AN OFF TO GET DECKED UP FOR THE FAST AND THE FOLLOWING
CEREMONIES DURING THE DAY. THE OCCASION… WELL, KARVACHAUTH!
FOR THE REST IT WAS A DAY OF CELEBRATION; FOR ME A DAY FILLED WITH
SORE MEMORIES.
DHARMENDER BHAIYA’S
BOISTEROUS VOICE ALARMED MY ALREADY DISARRAYED MIND TERRAIN AS HE BROODED,
“CHALO RUCCHI MADDUM. GHAR NI JANA.
APKI MUMMY NE BI TO PHAST RAKKHA
HOGA NA AAJJ. UNKI MADDAD KARNI HOGGI. CHALO
CHALO JALDI KARO PHIR CENTRE BANDD KARUN AUR MAIN BI JAUN”
I HAD SPENT THE WHOLE DAY TRYING TO VEIL MY UNEASINESS,
CAUSED BY THEIR UNTHOUGHTFUL BANTERS ON MAN, WIFE & FASTING, WITH A FAKE
SMILE. BUT THIS LAST REMARK TOOK IT ALL OUT OF ME!
***
“Ma you’re 50 now!
Look at your health first. Why can’t you make an exception this time by not
observing the fast and giving priority to your wellbeing? Have you forgotten
the acidity and then the anxiety attack you suffered the last time that you are
again taking the chances? And then you even promised that only if your body
allows you’ll fast. Are you even listening to me or am I jabbering all this to
myself!”
“Wo pink wali
chudiyaan kahan rakh di?! Iss ghar me kabi kuch nahi milta! Zara neeche dekh
to. Aa gyi saari ladies ground me? Hey bhagwan! Wo puja ki thali kahan rakhi ab
maine? Abi to yahin thi!!”
Her *pink churiyan* and *puja ki thali* concerns were more substantial to her at this particular moment than her health!! It annoyed me and I considered taking up my appeal to the high court; in this case, my father.
9 pm papa returned home and I welcomed him with my ranting
about how his much-loved better-half was avoiding her physical condition by keeping
herself dehydrated and famished just to abide by the patriarchal norms of the
society. But to my surprise I just got a smug smile in return. My father is of
the opinion that theirs’ is a more physically strong generation as compared to
ours allergic-to-all generation. And so he straight away dismissed my appeal as
being overrated.
Just then the children rushed downstairs bubbling, “chand
nikal gaya! Chand nikal gyaa!” to their starving mommies. I quickly went to the
kitchen to gather all the puja accessories for maa to make a move to the
terrace so that she could finally end her hunger strike and gain her normal
state of being back. Collecting all the things I called her. Gradually she walked
out of her room but with a considerably feeble gait and a pale face. She’d been
lying in her bedroom since the time she came back from the Karvachauth puja. Assuming
that she might be having little weakness, I let her rest undisturbed. She had merely
taken five steps towards me and I heard a thud on the floor. There she was;
collapsed within seconds; lifeless in a jiffy.
***
THE DAY LEFT A PERMANENT DENT IN MY MEMORY AND EACH PASSING
YEAR ONLY INTENSIFIES ITS HURT. CELEBRATIONS ARE NO LONGER AWAITED; THEY ARE AN
INCESSANT STING IN THE HEART.
Maa, WHY DIDN’T YOU
LISTEN TO ME THAT DAY? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE US JUST LIKE THAT?! IT’S SO
EMPTY WITHOUT YOU…
The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Introduced By: MEGHA MALIK, Participation Count: 02
First of all I am truly delighted to read something after ages!! :D :D ..*much awaited read*
ReplyDelete@The Story..well I must say I have always liked your narration, it was as if the protagonist of the story is waiting in front of me..and now she is talking to her Dad. There is one thing which I specifically admired the way your story evokes emotions in the readers heart!
A truly contrasting take on the theme of this month. :) A flip side. Truly pictures how life paints colors for some.
In short you have a *Thumbs Up!* from me - for the effect your story-telling had on me :)
P.S. - I liked the way you have stressed a few things using Capital alphabets and Italics :)
felt grt tht u tuk all the effrt to switch on the lappy to read the stry and shower ur valuable commnts immediatly! it's always gud to hear ur frns acknwldg ur hard work :)
Deletefeels grt to be back!! hope the inspiration stays ;)
:D .. After all it was becoming difficult to hold all the appreciation back :P .. I am sure the inspiration will stay! :)
Deletethat was quite an expected interpretation of celebration. kind of darker. but still had its mellow tones.
ReplyDeletehey muthu!
DeleteRereading your comment, i suppose u meant *an unexpected narration*.. and i agree that the story didn't accord to the title's usual meaning. but hey, celebrations don't mean the same to everyone..ryt! so thot of showing a flip side by portraying such a person for whom celebrations are rather sour.
Anyhow, thanks for dropping by and sharing how u felt abt the stry.
what a strong write....thought provoking, moving
ReplyDeleteemotions and strings are always attached to the happenings in one's life...the narration is just amazing...loved it
ATB for BAT :)
hey Karan !
Deletewelcome back :)
thank u for those lovely words! felt grt that u loved it :)
Good narration and neat flow. It was a moving story. Festivals need not be a reason to celebrate for everybody.
ReplyDeleteABT for BAT :)
hi Shruti !
Deletethank u so much for those lovely words and for understanding the perspective :)
Good narration. When you feel everything is going right and good, something happens which movies you. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteATB for BAT! :)
hey Ritvik!
Deletethanks for dropping by. Glad we echo the same views :)
What sad peepul we are! Happy topic also, we tell only sad stories!
ReplyDeleteLike the grip in the narration. To me the emotions were subtle, but powerful.
There's one element which comes across as a plot-hole to me: Dharmendra bhayya says, "Aapki mummy' and in the next snippet you let the reader know that 'mummy' is not in the past, forever.
So that basically means:
1. Ruchi is a new employee in that workplace and facts about her are not known to everyone - something the writer doesn't reveal
2. Ruchi is an old employee and has been secretive about her personal life - again, a personality type that the writer should have revealed to the reader.
The way the story reads, it's difficult to make out which.
The dissonance arises 'coz the way Dharmendra bhayya speaks, he comes across as someone who is well-acquainted with Ruchi.
As a reader, I can make that leap in imagination; but would really love the author to steer it.
Correction:
Delete...in the next snippet you let the reader know that 'mummy' is in the past....
Interesting story. But the beginning gave some other impressions about the story .. so, enjoyed the twist thought it is a sad ending!!
ReplyDelete