Niyojan Nagar
9:15 PM
Dec 21st
Friday
Bai: Yeh dekh! Kaisa laga tujhe (in Gujarati)
There was a tiny glass shelf crammed into the wall in the
aangan/dining area. Bai had filled it with the dinner set Khanak had bought for
her for Deepavali. It was Corelle… Bai wouldn’t use it, but she was happy to
display it.
Bai continued to explain who built the shelf for her, and
how Aada personally picked out the glass..
Khanak could see how pleased Bai was on seeing her, she
wont stop talking.
Her Aada was like her…. His eyes expressed all his
emotions. He quietly went to his newspaper. Dadi and Bua were pampering Sonali,
worrying how she was managing all by herself at college and at hostel. Khanak
could see a distinct difference… when she went to Architecture school at 17,
Dadi was not so anxious… Sonali was doted on… she was born late… they prayed
for a child….
Fa didn’t have a steady job, Aada took care of them
mostly…. And now Khanak.
Bai filled up a plate with various snacks, and sat by her
in the tiny cane divan in the aangan… it was Dadi’s throne…. But since she was
busy pamepring her maternal grand daughter, Bai took it
Bai asked her about Shaan, told her how she hoped to see
him, wondered if he would visit
Khanak spoke cheerfully……….. opened her suitcase and gave
Bai the three sarees she had collected for her, one as recent as last nite at
the girls nite out….
They returned at 2 AM…. The 4 Gujral women… Dadi fully
asleep on the way home, Madz and Boo rode together
Khanak and her best friend…
Speaking of best friend Ritu had called after check in…
and shouted… “I give up on the two of you! Just make sure you hand me that baby
of yours when you have her. Wouldn’t want her to become insane!”
Khanak had laughed….
“She had asked her to ship half the snacks from Ahmedabad…
so Khanak let Bai know, Bai promised Aada would…. Afternoon tomorrow.
There were pujas and lunches lined up at Bua’s house… to
celebrate Dadi’s recovery and the “baby’s return from college”
Sonali complained she couldn’t bring anything for “Mummy”
Bai overheard it and whispered to Khanak that one of her sarees would go to her
sister in law. “Dadi ko achha nahi lagega”
Khanak nodded…………a part of her would forever be claimed
by everybody…. Kaka Kaki, Mehul Mitali… Bua, Dadi, Sonu…………
Bai and Aada never demanded…. They were like her…. Or…
she was like them…….
And then there was her husband…………
She stared down at her engagement ring…….
Beautiful update Aditee!
ReplyDeleteIts lovely how you described the chirpy atmosphere at home at the return of the daughters! :D
And one more point I'd like to add regarding your previous note! THIS is what makes your tale so real, and one can never doubt these characters' existence! I know some of them myself! I dont know what provokes them to act such way, but some things remain the same!
"a part of her would forever be claimed by everybody…" This line saddened me immensly..but it also shows that how many people are dependent on her..and how much she respects all their trust upon her! :')
Her Husband! *Sigh*
^^that's why Shantanu wants to be 'her everything' :D
Delete*Sigh*
DeleteThank youuuu Aditee :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful update Aditee!
Can I say this?
I detest her Dadi. I mean for an outsider it is cruel....seems her Dadi treats her like this due to her ‘widow’ status once upon a time...par her dadi must be thoughtful, Khanaks aid to her family has been valuable...something’s’ never will change!
Tumhari Khanak is aspiring. That’s all :D
Although...this felt like home for me! I relate to her middle-class family more...the little enthusiasm over mundane things...it is existent!
It was a chotaaa update...Can there me another one today if you are not busy considering it is the weekend :)
Lovely Analysis Sonam!:')
DeleteI hate her Dadi as well! -_- But we cant avoid the fact, that such women do exist!!
Update in an hr?? *hides from Ady* Cant stay for more! Its already 2! Have an early morning presentation 2mo! :(
will try
Deletethanks soooooooooooooooooooooo much
loved it, nd yh what shama sed this is what makes ur tale amazing and unique loved it...
ReplyDeletexxx
Beautiful update
ReplyDeleteWhy does her dadi treats her like this... she is the one who takes care of the whole family and thinks for them even before her happiness
i thought may be coz she was a widow but now she is married and in a wonderful family... but sumthings never change or i shd say some ppl
just like bai i really want him to visit
hmm she is just like her parents and shaan is totally opposite so demanding
btw i posted the comment in ur last post(note) hope u've read it
loved it
update soon
Loved it!!! you ve beautifully penned the entire ambiance and other things..can be imagined very well with the minute details that you ve incorporated..grandmothers are generally inclined to their maternal granddaughters..just like how Khanak consider her bai's home as her house even after getting married to Shaan for 2 years..somethings never change..:)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful update!! right from the "glass shelf, the corelle dinner set, dadi pampering Sonali and being partial to her, dadi,s throne, a saree being given to Khanak's bua because dadi would not like it" all was brilliant and very, very realistic!! most of the MIL'S are partial to their daughters all their life even if they have a dutiful DIL!!
ReplyDeleteLovely part aditee :)
ReplyDeleteU penned it beautifully!!