Pinku-Enchanted Life

The phone call came just as she was dropping off to sleep. Initially the ring of the cell phone sounded far off and she thought she was dreaming but then the sound became more persistent and she realized with a start that it was her cell phone ringing. The number was unfamiliar and for a moment the events of the past twenty four hours came flooding back. The midnight flight to Delhi and then the long journey to and fro to her daughter’s residential school in the hills. Amit had an important meeting to attend and that meant that they immediately take a flight back to Bombay as well. The ringing was becoming shrill and she finally picked up the call. The road was bumpier than she remembered, the recent rains must have caused havoc or perhaps bereft of the sweet nostalgia of her last journey it seemed more tedious. Her nerves were on edges. She couldn’t remember the last time she had traveled so much in so little time. Perhaps in the days when she had been a part of the troupe and

Malaysia. Truly Asia. The song and images of the Malaysian Tourism promotion shown on television stayed in my mind – long after they went off-air and to add to it I happened to come across a CD which had songs describing the beauty of the country which had me totally hooked. Which is why a visit to a country with 12 royal families – who elect their king and vice-king, every few years, sounds so intriguing. I would ideally want to have a family getaway around June.We would reach by late afternoon, freshen up a bit and  get photographed in front of Petronas Towers – arguably Malaysia’s best known man made marvel. Next is a visit to Penang Bridge -  a dual carriageway bridge that connects George Town on the island of Penang and Seberang Perai on the mainland of Malaysia on  the Malay Peninsula. Penang Bridge is also the longest bridge in Malaysia. 8.4 km of the bridge is above the water – sounds a lot like the part undersea bridge – connecting Denmark to southern Sweden that

The party was in full swing, as the wannabes tried to ingratiate themselves with those who had already achieved. Sujata held onto her glass of orange juice and looked around for Amit. He had excused himself to take a call on his mobile and had not returned ever since. She wondered slightly who the call would have been from. Normally Amit didn’t take calls when out for social evenings. Her anxiety to find him had a bit of curiosity however the chief concern was not to be cornered by an acquaintance without Amit, who knew all the correct polite answers to the questions those people asked. She wandered on the edges of the party, looking unconcerned and yet keeping an eye out for Amit. Finally she spotted him under a tree, intently talking on the phone. As she watched she felt a twinge of jealousy for all that kept Amit occupied and his life so purposeful. Her own life in comparison seemed so goal-less. Amit finally kept the phone and looked around; he saw her at a distance and be

Not a fortnight passed when Sunaina realized that the smell of money travels a long distance. Her husband who had been missing for months returned home one evening. It was clear that he knew of Sujata’s visit and the fact that she had left money and provisions with his wife. Sunaina and the children both cringed inwardly on seeing him. They knew drunken brawls and the beatings would now be the norm. Sunaina thought hard of what to do with the money that Sujata had left behind, she had no doubts that it was for this money that her husband had returned home and once he could lay his hands on the same he would disappear again. The children quickly hid their new clothes; experience taught them to hide everything from their father. The youngest one was the only one unafraid largely because also inexperienced. She crawled to him and sat close looking up at him wonderingly. It wasn’t often she saw a new face in the house. She was rewarded with a pat on the head and then her father walked

The return journey went in a daze. Sujata was happy to have been able to help her friend and also a little apprehensive about lying about the dream. The fact that she had to use her daughter and God as an excuse goaded her. For the umpteenth time she consoled herself that the Lord after all knew that she had used his name only for a good cause. Before she knew, the familiar arrogant gates of the bungalow were there before her. they opened almost automatically, the guards having spotted her car at a distance and she was engulfed once again in the beautiful, lifeless existence she called life. Amit came home a little early; he gave himself a few reasons for this unusual behavior. He felt he wasn’t feeling well but couldn’t locate what exactly was the problem. Then he rationalized it by thinking he needed to pack for his trip the next day, which wasn’t true since he never packed, the servants did the needful supervised by Sujata. 'Ah Sujata! She would be home by now'. This

Sujata stared at Sunaina, she had pictured her in many ways but the reality brought a lump to her throat. Sunaina’s once beautiful hair now had streaks of grey and it had lost its sheen. Her hands and feet were calloused from working constantly in the fields and then at home. Even her saree had a tear which she had tried best to hide, and this was her best saree. The children had said so to Sujata. Sunaina was sleeping peacefully, they had gossiped till late after Sujata said that she was not hungry. Sunaina had secretly sighed in relief which had not escaped her friend. Their chat had revolved around the various acquaintances of their childhood. Every time Sujata had tried to bring the discussion back to Sunaina, she had been met with a silent wall and a quick changing of topic. She knew her friend was in trouble but how was one to help without knowing what exactly the ailment was. She got up stealthily and went into the kitchen; walking on tiptoes she checked the near empty rice

Sunaina looked out at the pouring rain and felt the elation she had felt for the past two days draining away. No one would be able to travel in this torrent she thought, not even Sujata with her rock strong will. Two days ago when the telegram had arrived saying that Sujata was coming down to meet her she had not believed her eyes. Though they had been planning this visit over their letters for the past three months it seemed unbelievable that it would actually happen. Once it sank in, she had got into a frenzy trying to make her small home look its best. She had taken down all curtains and linen to the river for a rigorous wash. The kitchen had been cleaned and the soot which had collected over years was scrubbed away in a matter of hours. The children had looked on bewildered as their mother who normally cursed under her breathe while she went about the daily grind was actually heard humming an old hindi film song. Now all that seemed a waste, since the rain looked like it wou