BEHADD

Teen

Tripti

Mumbai, Maharashtra

I never got the chance to buy any fancy cloths in my life, we weren't really close to any of my mother's relative, in Diwalis I used to wear cloths my mother's friend, Sumitra Masi used to give, but those too were not "party like". 

Long story short, my father left my mother for another women, at that time I was eleven and my sister four. We used to live in father's flat but after the incident mother left behind everything related to him... Except us.

For her the years succeeding, were nightmares. No one was ready to help her not even her own parents. Then came Sumitra Masi, she helped mother fight depression. My mother sold her gold jewellery and did multiple jobs to get home loan. She got us enrolled in the best school. It was not easy of course but she is a fighter.

I had to accompany my sister to an engagement party she was invited to. Her best friend Sia had asked us more of pleaded us to come there, it was her sister's wedding and she wanted to enjoy herself with Navya, my sister. Mother was busy, so I had to go there with her. Her best friend was extremely rich everyone in her school was, Though we are not affluent my mother wanted the best for us, especially in education.

My mother did offer me some money for buying something to wear on her wedding like she offered Navya, I declined, instead I wore one of her saree. We weren't rich, it was no news. My mother is a high school teacher, her salary wasn't enough for paying our fees and loans, bills, she did other part time jobs initially to make our ends meet, saved money to get the house built. I don't want to spend money on useless things like clothes.

When I was in my first year of college I got a part time job in a library to help my mother financially, she was not happy about me doing job while studying but eventually accepted. Last year I had got an internship offer from Infosys because I was the semester topper but I had to convert it because I couldn't get the will to leave my mother and sister alone.

The function was to be held in Leela, the hotel which only a person like me could dream of going. I was afraid people might think low of us, actually I don't really care about myself but I do care about my sister's feelings. What if she feels bad being seen with me. Keeping my insecurities aside I took my saree and got dressed up.

The saree was orange net with thin border, I wore a sleeveless matching blouse and tied my hair up in a bun with a few white flowers tugged inside. I didn't have cosmetics either so I borrowed some from my mother and sister. I don't know much, but I applied Kajal in my eyes, and lipstick on my lips. Done.

It was my second time wearing a saree, the first was during my farewell. Although it was a bit confusing, I eventually got it. 

I had elbow length straight black hairs, brown eyes and height of 5'2. So yes, I had to wear a pair of heels to prevent myself from falling over my saree.

"Di, kitni der aur?", asked my impatient sister.

(How much more time are you going to take, sister?)

"Bas, aai!", I replied and quickly grabbed my heels and went out of room.

(Coming!)

When I stepped out, I was greeted with surprised gasps from my sister and her best friend Sia.

"Wow, Tripti Di you are looking so....", gapped Sia.

"Chal ab itni bhi acchi nhi lag rahi, mammi ki barso purani saree hai ye toh!", my sister announced, Sia's eyes widened.