Mess [ Pakhi Ghkkpm ]

1.miserable mite

1.miserable mite.

[ REPUBLISHING BTW!! ]

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Pakhi was a miserable mite.

Her life was a mess and she was beginning to suspect that she had no one to blame but herself.

She, Pakhi Patil, was the only child in a loving home. Of course she was spoiled. Her parents doted on her. She was used to getting whatever she wanted. Until recently she believed that she was kind and humble and reflected the values her parents instilled in her.

However, here she sat, Patralekha Salunkhe, the eldest Chavan Bahu. She was mouthy, rude, opinionated, and simply tolerated, rather than loved. 

She despised this feeling. It was hard for her to identify what the feeling was exactly, but whatever it was, it was loathsome. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream, rip her hair out, tear the curtains down, throw up, curl up into a ball. She wanted to cry. For the first time she understood that she was alone. Entirely and utterly alone.

She sat on the floor, her back against the bed, arms curled around her knees. She found herself in this position often. It was comforting. She needed comfort and she felt that no one in this house gave her any. Sure, they gave her praise and affection, but comfort was nowhere to be found. Not today, not after her latest introspections.

This all started when Badi Mami came down with a bout of flu. She was confined to her room by the family doctor to rest and recover.

Until this time she thought she understood how the Chavan household worked. Badi Mami, or Kaku, as everyone else called her, was the unchallenged matriarch of the household. Everyone looked up to her, respected her, abided by her wishes, and hung onto her every word.

Ninad Mama and Omi Mama admired her greatly. Ashvini Mami and Ninad Mama clearly had a distant relationship and did not get along. It appeared that Ashvini Mami didn’t get along with any of her sisters-in-law, appearing outspoken and impudent. Sonali Mami admired Badi Mami and always tried to please her. Aai, or Mansi bua as she was lovingly referred to, held Badi Mami in high regard and stayed away from the governance of the household. Karishma was an unwelcome, but tolerated member of the household. Her and Mohit’s relationship was a love match, but was visibly strained. Sai was the outcast, the one who created barriers in relationships. She, Pakhi, was beloved by all except Sai and Ashvini Mami and seen as the perfect Bahu to lead the next generation.

However, without the presence of Badi Mami, Pakhi saw a different side to the Chavan household. The family members were smiling, laughing, and cracking jokes. The environment was so relaxed it felt like she was at her own parents’ house.

She observed as Ashvini Mami and Sonali Mami giggled like school girls in the kitchen, happily making the morning meal together. She stood off to the side, bewildered at their camaraderie. Where were the snubs? Where was the blatant show of power between them? When they were joined by Karishma, she faced no contempt from Sonali Mami. Rather, they appeared to be a loving mother-daughter duo. Even Sai was welcome amongst them with nary a word from Sonali Mami.

When Pakhi had made a comment to correct Sai’s language, she was met by disgusted looks from Sonali Mami and Karishma and a swift reprimand from Ashvini Mami, rendering her speechless.

The day continued in such fashion. At the dinning table various couples sat together and she observed a healthy dose of flirting amongst spouses. Even the ever serious Ninad Mama smiled happily with his wife, and helpfully gave Sai some fatherly advice regarding her education.

Pakhi observed her new family and felt like she had entered the twilight zone. Who were these people? Why had she never seen them act like this before? Why were they so different when Badi Mami was present?