Indali's P.O.V :-
In a time period of few hours , everything changed. The pitter patter of rain turned into storm and so my life.
They said bandits killed him due to previous enmity. Men from village and distant family performed his last rituals few hours back. Binod Babu never had a father figure in his life and I never experienced a mother's unconditional love. After my father's demise I never felt alone cause I had a family to call my own and to rely upon. But today that family called me what? An orphan?
The creaking sound of the door caught my attention. Someone entered my room and sat near my foot. But I never looked towards that person, all the while I was looking out of the window. "Indali" she called out ever so slowly as if she is afraid that if she spoke loudly I will break. She will break me apart.
But what she didn't realised that she broke me already.
I pulled my knees closer to my chest and kept looking at the stray dog who was trying to find a shelter in this storm.
My mother-in-law placed her hand on my knees and said ,"It's time for some last rituals" my tears died the while I wore this white saree. With a straight face I asked ,"what rituals?" , "Binod's aunt suggested for your mundan and all others agreed , so did I". I looked towards her in horror ,"What?" is all I could ask.
She started explaining hesitantly,"what do you mean by what bahu? Don't you know mundan is a symbol of widowhood?" I was speechless. These days mundan wasn't something everyone performed. And moreover my own mother-in-law who is a widow herself has not performed mundan , so why me?
"But maa why? You didn't perfor-" she cut me off , stood up and started speaking in a rage filled voice ,"what did you said? Why? And you dared to compare yourself with me? I am pure , I will never look towards a man with any other intentions but you , you are young. What if you think of remarrying?" Her sweet voice turned venomous.
If I say I was shocked then it would be an underestimate. I was way beyond shocked. My husband died and these people are thinking of what? That I will remarry? I rose to my feet , still stunned by her words. She looked at me with rage filled eyes and a clenched jaw. I walked towards her and stood infront of her and said,
"It's been hours since your son and my husband died , not once you came to me and console me , forget console you even accused me for I don't know what. And what you people are doing downstairs? Discussing about my remarriage that never crossed my mind. For god's sake a person died in this household".
She looked shell-shocked. Never in my one year of marriage I have raised my voice at her but this was way too much. "How dare you? You-You raised your voice at of me? At Kaushalya. I don't care if you agree or not but this is the harsh truth and you have to perform the ritual". All I did was looked into her eyes and with a clear voice I said ,"NO".
"You witch , either you do Mundan or get out of my house right now". I closed my eyes listening her words.
"My brave girl" baba's word rang in my ears. I opened my eyes and started walking towards my cupboard.
******************************
Numb. That was all I was feeling. Clutching a photo frame of my father closer to my chest , I was walking down the lane. Cold wind was blowing against my skin , the rain was pouring down. And I was abandoned just like that stray dog.
God has indeed covered the world in darkness and was singing lullaby for the mankind to sleep in deep slumber. But today his magical lullaby didn't worked upon me. I bitterly laughed at my fate. I could feel the warm tears flowing down my cheeks and getting mixed up with the rain water. Is nature crying for me or is she mocking me?
Few meters ahead I saw a light flicker. It was a hope in the darkness. It was someone's home and I walked towards source of light. Reaching near the house I saw the same old man who informed me about Binod Babu. He was sitting in the doorway looking towards the night sky. Tear stains were still visible in his cheeks.
Sensing someone's presence he looked at me. His eyes were red as if he was crying. My heart pained seeing him cry.
The day after my marriage, this old man is the first person who came to me and said ," She is the most prettiest Boumaa of the whole Birbhum" everyone laughed and I clearly remember I touched his feet and lovingly he pressed a 50 ruppee note in my hand.
My tears welled up seeing him like this. His eyes went wide , he looked at my white saree and with a quivering voice he asked ,"Boumaa , you here?"
And with a firm tone I replied ,"I need your help kaka."
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Hello hello,
So here's the update.
Mundan :- Where the widow get bald , it's a Hindu ritual , a mark of widowhood.
Do Vote and comment.
With love,
Ek Choti Lekhika
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INDALI
General FictionRamnagar , the only village of Bengal under Woman Zamindari. It wasn't easy for her to take control over everything but she did. People called her witch , she was no less than a goddess , they said she is a bad omen but she never cared , they called...
