AAHARA

PROMISE.

Mumma didn't let go of me for a long time nor did she look away once. My mother wasn't the usual soft, kind and compassionate one. From what my grandparents told me she was a rebel. She had a very strong, hard headed and brutal personality. She didn't loss and it's wasn't always because she was the best or perfect, it was simply because she didn't accept defeat. For her all that mattered was triumph. Whether it was accompanied by blood or death.

Her face that I had seen so many times in pictures now made me feel like I was looking at it for the first time. It was angelic completely contradicting her actions. I still remember the first reaction I had when I saw Mumma in some newspaper. So Beautiful, that was the only thing I could think of.

It was my deepest darkest secret, one that even Naani didn't know about. My parents, both of them scared me, more than anything. I wasn't unaware of who they were and what they were capable of. People like them were feared because of their deeds, deeds that meant only one thing, sin. I had always wanted their affection but my subconscious mind was also there nagging at me, telling me that I didn't want to face them. I was scared of them. Still am. Maybe it was the reason that I didn't ask about Mumma.

I knew more about Mumma's dark side and that was why I wanted to ignore it as much as possible. I was brought up by her parents after all. People feared her. That's why my identity was hidden for the most part. Naana and Naani didn't want me to be discriminated. As a small kid, parents refused to let their kids play with me. They believed that I was just like my mother.

I was left alone and mocked. I could still see myself in my room, alone and sad. Nobody my age came near me in our neighborhood. Naani and Naana did their best to distract me from my disappointment of being friendless but it was still present.

I was only eight when this happened. Me and Naani had gone to a park near our house as I had begged her to take me there. She was reluctant but I was persistent and she eventually gave in. I wasn't navie than also but I was optimistic.

"Baby I will sit here. You go play." Naani said with a nervous smile. Probably worried because of our previous experiences. I smiled at her and ran off.

I went to the kids who were play with sand. There were two, both boys. They were making a tunnel so I smiled and went to help them.

"That's a really nice tunnel." I praised them but one boy stopped what he was doing and glared my way.

"It's a castle." He huffed but I tilted my head to the side.

"It looks like a tunnel." I pointed out but he ignored me and went to join the other boy who didn't even spare me a glance.

"Can I join?" I asked and they shook their heads.

"Why?" I asked. I thought that if I will be nice they would let me join.

"Mom told us to stay away from you." One of them replied now busy with his 'castle' again.

"Please." I requested. I was sad but I could at least try once. Yet before one of them could answer a Lady came running. To get to them she pushed me in the process. I fell and hissed in pain. From the corner of my eye, I saw Naani running my way.

"Stay away from my kids." The Lady said hugging both the boys to her side. By then Naani was holding me so close that she felt like a second skin to me.

"Mrs. Jai you shouldn't behave with kids like that." She said.

"She isn't a kid. A monster's child is a monster as well. Just keep her away from my children. Why do you even let her leave the house? If I were you I would lock her up in some basement so she can't come out." She snapped and I felt tears picking in my eyes. Naani's hold tightened impossibly. She was shaking from rage but before she could give the woman a piece of her mind the Lady walked off with her kids.