Kaaka's Story

2. The Reception

After an hour travel, Kanaga reaches home and throws her handbag on the sofa. An distinct voice of her mum says, "Kanaga! Is that you? What happened to your dance class?" She replied, "My master is ill, So he announced leave today." Her mom stands next to her and says, " Okay then.  So get ready for the reception I'll book a cab in an hour. I kept a glass of milk on the table. Drink fast." She instantly replies, " Yes mum."

Kanaga goes into the bathroom and gets some shower. After a good shower, she selects an attire to wear for the reception. She selects her favorite pink party wear. She wears and goes towards the dining table.  There, she finds a glass of milk, she drinks in one gulp and keeps the tumbler on the table. She yells, "Mum I'm ready." Her mum wears a red colour and sees her with a shock. She says, "Oh God you're looking pretty. I bet all the eyes of the visitors will fall on you." Kanaga feels shy and blushed. Her mum says, "Okay. I had booked a cab and it will arrive in a minute. Come on let's go." 

Kanaga and her mum comes outside the house and her mum locks the door and the cab arrives at the gate step. They both boards the cab and the travel starts. 

In the cab, her mum asks," So, how's your college today?"

Kanaga, "Well, somewhat good."

MUM: Somewhat good? Why? Did the girls ragged you?

KANAGA: Nope. Instead, they ridiculed me and called me "Kaaka." It's the usual thing I expected.

MUM: Then?

KANAGA: I got a new friend. She spoke really good to me. She consoled me when I was a bit upset about the tease.

A message sound came from Kanaga's phone. That's a message from Mythli states, "Hi Kanaga, I'm Mythli."

Kanaga says to mum," Mum What a coincidence! I just spoke about her. She herself texted me on WhatsApp."

Kanaga replies to her message, "Hey! Thanks for pinging me."

Mythli texts, "So what are you doing now?"

Kanaga replies," Just hanging out with my mum for a reception."

Mythli texts, "Hmm enjoy yourself. Don't forget to ping me or call me when you're free. Till then Bye. Love you (with a heart emoji)."

Kanaga replies, "Yeah sure. Love you too (with a smile and heart emoji)."

Kanaga keeps her phone inside her handbag. 

They both arrives at the Marriage Hall and her mum pays an amount of rupees two hundred to the driver. They both enters the Marriage Hall. Kanaga totally falls in love with the decorations and arrangements. The preparations was so grand and rich.  A DJ music from the distinct hears.  They both enters the reception hall and there the crowd sits in a chair and having fun chats with the nearby people. The children plays with the balloons and the DJ plays music and making remixes accordingly.  They both sits in a corner and waiting for their turn to take photographs with the bride and groom.

Kanaga says with an exciting voice, " Mum, I'm gonna get some ice cream, Do you want something."

Her mum replies, "No need. And don't take too much. Or else you will catch cold."

Kanaga runs to the ice cream pandal and gets a small cup of ice cream. She started eating it and enjoys every bit of it. She was just falls in the taste of the ice cream.

Her mum sits silently. Suddenly, her old friend gave a boo.

Kanaga's mum, "Hey Malar, It's you. Long time no see".

MALAR: Yeah! So How are you?

KANAGA'S MUM: Doing good? Then How are you and what's your son doing?

MALAR: We're good and my son is doing his Masters in Philosophy.  So Where's your child?

KANAGA'S MUM: Just a minute, (shouts) KANAGA

Kanaga enters and says, " Yes Mum"

Malar says, "Is she your daughter?"

Kanaga's mum replies, "Yes."

Malar says, "Why is she so dark? If she's dark and who will marry her? I feel really pity for this kid."

The both smiles just to show that they took her thoughts light heartedly.  But their heart is too heavy to take Malar's opinion.  They exchanges byes and gets on the stage where the bride and groom started to take the photographs.  Kanaga's mum gave a present to the bride and they both poses a smile to the photos.

After some minutes they hire an auto rickshaw and they return back to home.

They reached home and Kanaga's mum turns on the lights and throws her handbag at the sofa and sits in depressive. She started weeping about Malar's words on Kanaga.  Kanaga too feels sad for herself.  She comes near to her mum and kneels down near her mum's lap. Kanaga's eyes flooded with tears.  She says, "Why am I so dark? Why people mocks at me? Why dark is considered as ugly?" Her mum continues her weep, but she answers for none.  Kanaga runs back to her bedroom and lays in her bed.  She weeps aloud.  She decides to stay there for some days and becomes an introvert.