I read a story about love,
marriage and relationship. So I interpreted this story through my imagination
and experience and publish on my blog. I hope you will enjoy this
interpretation.
Sky-scraping of Metropolitan Life
One more month is
remaining to come Christmas and New Year. Suddenly Dad announced “You have to
go to Bhubaneswar”. “Which Bhubaneswar, I won’t go to Bhubaneswar or anywhere”,
I said angrily.
After One month, Sunburn
Festival is going to be held in Goa. I have decided to go there on the eve of Christmas
and New Year with Sahir. Sahir is my current boy-friend. We have planned for these
three months ago. I will pay for flight tickets and Sahir will spend on hotel
bills. He has already booked the tickets in advance for the show. And suddenly
Dad destroyed my plan and told me to go to Bhubaneswar b’coz “Granny is ill and
she needs us”. I was thinking to tell him “You go, she is your mother. I don’t
even know her well, why should I go?”But I was speechless b’coz I know about
his feelings. He eagerly wants to go back to Bhubaneswar leaving here everything.
Two months ago, Granny fell in the bathroom and broke her one leg. Dad hardly
got one month leave and immediately went to Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar is state
capital of ODISHA. Granny stays there. And now it’s impossible for him to get
leave from University and also his research is going through peak time. And
also within a week he is going to Chicago to attend a conference. From morning
to evening all the day he spends in the lab. After Mom married to Rajiv Uncle
he made himself busy with work. Sometimes, he never comes home at night. When
he is not at home, I call Sahir to spend night with me. Of course, I have to
hide that from Dad, b’coz he doesn’t like my friendship with Sahir.Afterall he
is an Indian. He is not so open up like Mom. She knows about my plans with Sahir
to Goa, but I had lied to Dad.
He doesn’t like Sahir.
He never says anything to me. He always asks about Divya and Suhani. Divya from
Kolkata and Suhani from Punjab. Divya is now in London and Suhani is busy with
her boy-friend. I m still in contact with both. But at this age, girls don’t
want to be friends only, afteall we are not lesbians. Dad always takes tension
for me about all these things. Actually, Sahir is my 4th boy-friend.
I had also one Oriya boy-friend that was Arvinda. That time my parents were
just divorced. Dad was very busy with his work and I was lonely. Dad’s friend
Uttam Uncle’s son Arvinda an IT expert came to Delhi and stayed with us. Dad
told me to call him bro, but I called him by his name. Dad told that in
childhood I tied a rakhi to him. But we could not able to behave like brother
and sister. Even we had physical relationship. After sometime, Arvinda forced
for marriage. But I haven’t grown up with this mentality that if you have
physical relationship, then you have to marry. Dad heard from Uttam Uncle about
us and Arvinda wants to marry me. I was so angry and shocked. I packed his bag
and told him “we are no more in relationship and get out from my house”. Dad
was hurt so much with my behavior. But I was happy and relieved.
Last year, Arvinda
married to a girl from Odisha. She is Anita. She is so beautiful like Oriya
film heroine “Mahesweta”. She is my Dad’s favorite heroine. Dad had shown me a
lot of Oriya films, so I can understand as well as speak little bit Oriya. Dad
has lot of Oriya songs in his mobiles. Here people prefer to go pubs or clubs
in their free time, but Dad prefers to listen those Oriya songs while sitting
in the garden. That time he looks like he lost somewhere else. I know he misses
Mom so much. After all he born and brought up in Odisha. Arvinda is also just
like him. He doesn’t like my friendship with Anita. I know him afraid of me
that some day may be I will tell Anita about our past. But I went there to eat
“manda pitha and chakuli” (two most delicious food made by Oriya people).She
also taught me how to wear saree. Here, every year RathaJatra festival of Lord
Jagannath happens. This year I went with her wearing a saree. Dad was surprised
to see me. He came into tears. I don’t understand why in Odisha fathers start
crying when they saw their daughters first time in saree and also they starts
planning their daughters’ marriage. Uffff……f…ing sentiments. Oh I hate marriage.
Each and every time you are in fear whether this relationship is going to work
or not. It will destroy your peace, happiness and everything. Sahir is also
just like me. He also hates to get marry. His parents are also divorced, but he
has no contacts with his father. But my Dad takes a lot of care for me. Sahir
always says that I am a lucky girl.
Finally, I succeeded to
convince Sahir to take someone else to Goa. He also returned my advance money.
But he warned me to come back soon. When I was only six years old I went to
Bhubaneswar with both mom and dad. Mom says Bhubaneswar is too hot place, so
much dirt, pollution and lots of mosquitoes. We also went to Puri. Whenever Dad
goes to Bhubaneswar, he must go to Puri, not for sea beach but to see Lord Jagannath.
Granny gave me to wear a locket which is made from sea shell stone (Sankh)
having three lords picture: Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath. My friends say
it looks trendy and fashionable. But I wear it b’coz of granny’s sentiments.
We had a picture with
Granny on the Puri sea beach. The picture frame is hanging in Dad’s bedroom.
Many times I have seen Dad watching the picture silently. Earlier Dad went to
Odisha alone, but this time he forced me to go there. Sometimes I got
irritated. I never interfere in my parent’s life. When they decided to get
divorce, I told them “Ok, I have no problem, it’s your life”. Actually I never
hate Rajiv Uncle. I felt happy to see that Mom is happy with Rajiv Uncle. Dad
was always busy with his work and never gave time to Mom. On my birthday Rajiv
Uncle gifted me diamond earrings, but I kept that with Mom b’coz I know Dad
will get hurt. Recently, we all met at Ridhima aunt’s anniversary party. Mom
came with Rajiv Uncle. Mom said hello to Dad, but b’coz of male ego Dad didn’t
utter a single word, even he didn’t enjoy the party. I just don’t understand
that can’t he behave like a mature person. He returned home early and started
crying looking at the picture. He asked me “Don’t I miss my Mom?” and I replied
him that I am a grown up girl and also Mom had taught me to live independently.
Suddenly I said “I think you should get marry again”. Dad was shocked and
stared at me angrily as if I murdered someone.
When I told him first
time to get marry again, he did n’t speak to me about a week. But after that I
told him many times. But he said, “If I will get married what will happen to
you?” OMG, Indian mentality. What will happen to me yaar? Am I a baby? Do I
need someone’s help to change my diaper? Dad said “If I were a child then
he will think of marriage again. But he is a father of a grown up girl. He
should think about my marriage”. Oh god, whenever I asked about his marriage,
he started talking about my marriage. I don’t know how to handle this
situation. Only b’coz of him I am unable to move another apartment. My friends
teased me “homesick”. They said that I am wasting my time without enjoying my
freedom. I know somehow they are right. Christmas and New Year is to enjoy with
your BF, but that time I am going to Bhubaneswar.
Delhi to Bhubaneswar.
Nobody came to receive me in the airport. Actually, Granny stays alone. So I
took taxi and reached Rasulgarh. Ufff….traffic and traffic everywhere. Taxi is
going very slowly b’coz someone’s marriage procession is going on the road. On
the middle of the road drunken people are dancing madly with high pitch music
sound. Oh god, some people are watching them from their balconies as if Prince
Harry’s marriage procession is going on. Anyhow I reached Granny’s place. I
pushed the ring bell. The maid opened the door. While entering inside, I asked
him “Where Granny is and how is she now?” He said “she is not feeling well, so
she is sleeping now”. It’s almost 10 pm. So I didn’t disturb her. The maid told
me that the doctor is coming two times in a day for checkup. I had dinner in
the plane and feeling so tired. So I went straight to my room and decided to
meet Granny in the morning.
I saw a weird dream at
night. Really unbelievable. I saw that marriage procession is coming for me.
The groom is wearing “MUKUTA” (as per Odisha custom) and I am looking like a
beautiful bride and sitting in this room at granny’s place. There are lots of
friends and relatives in our house. Granny is welcoming everyone. Then she came
to my room with her jewellery box. She gave me to wear all her gold bangles, necklace,
and anklets. Tears came to her eyes. She told me that she has been buying all
these jewellery for me since I was born. I got surprised even in my dream. Then
she told me to apply “Alta” in my leg. Seeing that Mom started screaming
“Blood……Blood”. Granny told Mom to stop shouting. Then Granny hugged me tightly
and said “We get one life to live. We die once. We should get marry once in
life. It’s biggest auspicious day of your life. Your marriage day is the best
lovely day of your life”. Then she looked at Mom angrily. Mom got angry and
left the house. I woke up suddenly. I was in sweat and thought “why did I see
such a weird dream?”
I checked my mobile.
Eight missed calls and one message from Dad “how is Granny”? I went straight to
Granny’s room to meet her. Before going inside, I met the maid in the dining
area. He told me that till now Granny has not woke up and usually she does not
sleep so late. I got tensed. I called the doctor immediately. The doctor
reached and went inside to check up. Till that time I could not able to gather
courage to meet Granny, especially after knowing that I am here, it’s
impossible that she is sleeping so late. I am so nervous now. The doctor came
out from the room and said “Granny is no more”. I don’t know what to do now.
Except Dad to whom I will say “Granny is no more”. To Sahir, To Mom or To Arvinda,
Anita, Divya, Suhani…..I cannot say anything to Dad that I came so long after
so many years, but I saw her dead. The maid told me that Granny asked for a
glass of water and some fruits at night. She told him to call me. But he said I
was tired and sleeping. So Granny told him not to call me and let me sleep. But
when I woke up she is no more. Dad told me that when last time he came, Granny
asked him to bring me to Bhubaneswar. She wants to meet me at least once before
she died.
Slowly neighbors and
relatives started coming to see Granny last time. I decided not to tell Dad
anything right now. I am not with him, so he will not able to handle himself
and also it’s impossible for him to come immediately from Chicago. Except that
I don’t believe in this custom and funeral procession etc. I grew up in such thinking
where human life’s value is much more costly than his death. But In India,
People believe in another birth after death. Only son can give you fire at your
last time. I think Granny also had same thoughts. But Dad is not here. I did
that against everyone’s wish and also told them that I am taking her ash to Delhi.
Everyone started gossiping about Dad and Mom separation. But I did not care
them b’coz I know how much Granny is meant to Dad.
I came to Bhubaneswar
with upset mind, but while leaving I am quite and silent. After reaching in
Delhi, Dad and I sit quietly in front of Granny’s photo. Dad said” You are lucky;
at least you were there with her last time. What she told you?” I can’t able to
see Dad. What I will say, I reached at night and went to sleep. But she was no
more in the morning. Will Dad able to forgive me?
So I changed the topic
and asked him “from how many days Granny was staying alone?” “From the beginning, when I was 3 months old.
My father died in TB. My grandparents were also no more. So she was all alone
brought me up.” Again Dad said “you know how much old she was at that time? 20 years old only”. “Only 20 years, so young.
Granny did not try to get marry again” I asked. Dad said “Granny believes that
when she will die, she will meet my father in heaven”. I was surprised to hear
that how one can live entire life with
only one person’s memory. “IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA” I said. Dad said again
“when your mother got married again, here all my friends and you told me so
many times to get married again”. I was so disturbed and could not able to decide
what to do. Then I asked to Granny. You know what she told to me. She said” You
should marry once whether your marriage is successful or not. You’re a father of
a grown up girl, not a kid’s father. If u will get marry then she will become
alone”.
I don’t know what
happened. Suddenly I felt something hollow inside me. I looked at Granny’s
photo. She is smiling while staring at me. I hugged her picture and put a kiss.
I told Dad that Granny also told me the same thing in her last time in my
dream. I will definitely get married at least once in life.
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