Bombay Romance ♡ COMPLETED

Prologue [ ii ] ■

1964.

Udupi, Mysore State.

'Then?'

'The glass shoe fits Cinderella's foot perfectly.'

'And then?'

'The prince is overjoyed to have found his true love. He looks into her eyes, and exclaims, "I finally found you, my dear Cinderella!". He takes her to the royal palace. Then, the prince marries Cinderella and they live happily ever after.'

Mrs. Kalpana closes the comic book, and smiles at her daughter. They are seated on large cane chairs, facing the open courtyard of their house. Rain drips slowly from the edges of the sloping Mangalore tile roof. There is a bushy tulsi plant at the centre of the courtyard. The fresh smell of wet soil lingers in the air.

'Mom' Little Gauri looks at her mother, looking rather unimpressed for a four-year-old girl. 'Why does the prince save the girl?'

Mrs. Kalpana furrows her eyebrows at this question.

'Why doesn't the girl save a prince?' the little girl asks, shaking her legs, which causes the tiny bells in her silver anklets to jingle with great gusto.

Her mother doesn't know of any such fairytale. There weren't many English books in the small town she grew up in. And the old public library didn't stock any. The only English books she has ever read were for her MBBS degree at Mangalore Medical College. This Cinderella story is something she reading for the first time now, with her daughter. She had bought it at Higginbothams bookstore during their trip to Bangalore.

'When you grow up, you can write a story where the girl saves the prince,' her mother smiles.

Little Gauri ponders over this suggestion for a moment.

'No,' she says decisively. 'I will not write a book.'

'Why not, Baby?'

'I will really save a prince, when I am a big girl.' little Gauri reveals.

She is capable of that, her mother thinks in silence. Four years back, when Gauri was born, the astrologer looked at her horoscope with a fair sense of astonishment and said,

"This child shows many signs of Goddess Parvati Devi. She will be the voice of encouragement and freedom in this society. If she wants something, she will make sure she gets it. You know how Parvati married Lord Shiva after years and years of penance, right? Same way. But at times she might find it difficult to sustain the hardships of life. Only her husband, he must have the characteristics of Lord Shiva in his horoscope, mind you, can help her with this"

Thus, it only made sense for Mrs. Kalpana and her husband to name their little princess as Gauri; another name for Goddess Parvati, the supreme Hindu goddess of power, energy, and growth.

This has been proven time and again. Even during the bhootakola rituals in the city outskirts. Hundreds of people would gather to watch the spirits of nature being invoked, and bless them with prosperity. Fire would be blazing, and the nartaka all decked up with fearful red paint, huge head gear, flowers, and turmeric, would perform a fierce dance, roaring and screaming. Ear-shatteringly loud drums would be playing in the background. Children, big and small, would start crying until their cheeks turn red and their voices become sore.

But Gauri would stare unblinkingly, with big brown eyes, like it is the most amazing thing in the world.

'Mom?' she says now.

Her mother shakes off her running thoughts and smiles.

'Of course, girls are the best. Right, baby?' she asks, holding out her hand.

'Yes, yes, yes!' the little girl jumps excitedly and hi-fies her mother.

●●●

'Mom, why are we going to Bombo?' little Gauri asks.

'Bombay, Baby,' her mother corrects her gently.

'Why are we going, Mom?'

Mrs. Kalpana does not answer. They continue to walk along the shore of Malpe Beach. The waves hit their feet, carrying light pink sea shells onto the shore. Little Gauri picks up one of them. She winces at the sand sticking to her tiny fingers and throws the shell away.

'I like Udupi,' she tugs at her mother's pallu.

Anybody who is born amidst the scenic landscapes of the Tulunadu region; with the gushing blue waters of Maple Beach, the uneven rock formation of St. Mary's Island, lush green coconut trees lining the shores, Yakshanaga performance nights, Kambala race events, wouldn't ever want to step outside their little universe.

Little Gauri is no exception. She loves the foam-edged waves hitting her feet at Malpe Beach. She loves watching the sunset with her father at St. Mary's Island. And watching the tiny red light atop the faraway lighthouse once the sun sets down. She loves the special dishes made at home. Patrode, Chicken Sukka, and Goli bajje... and what not. Not to mention the special Mangalorean fish curry on the weekends, made with generous amounts of coconut milk and spices.

Of course, her mother likes it here too. But little Gauri's father has received a job offer at one of the multi-specialty hospitals in Bombay. That will work well for her to pursue further studies in gynaecology. Everyone here at home has been pushing them for another child for the last two years. 

'Bombay also has a beach. And you can go to a big school there,' she tells her daughter.

But little Gauri is still not interested. 'Why are we leaving?'

'Because you can live your life.' Kalpana speaks more to herself, rather than her four-year-old. The sun begins to set, painting thick lines of red, pink and orange in the sky.

'Mom, no Bombo,' little Gauri pouts, and stops walking.

'Do you know what else you will find there?' her mother bends down to stroke Gauri's hair. 'In Bombay?'

Little Gauri looks at her mother uncertainly.

'You will find your prince. To save.'

The little girl's eyes go wide. 'Really?'

'Yes.'

Gauri's eyes gleam in excitement.

'Bombay is called the city of dreams,' her mother says.

'Dreams,' little Gauri repeats gleefully, like it's a fantasy.

'Yes! Nice dreams. But only if you go to bed early like a good girl.'

So, unlike other days, Gauri allows herself to be tucked into bed at nine 'o'clock, without any fuss. She huddles happily beneath her blanket and drifts to slumber within no time.

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Hello!

So that was the end of the prologue. It was a small part about little Gauri just before she moved to Bombay. Hope you like it! 

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