The Broken Mirror (Complete)

The Broken Mirror

The doorbell rang and Sonia grimaced. “Sunooo, gate khol do koi aaya hai.” still holding the pieces of glass together she yelled. Ten days ago the floor-length mirror of her room suddenly broke down at midnight but instead of throwing it away she decided to make different art pieces out of that waste material. She has been great at making art with waste material ever since. 

(listen, open the door, someone has arrived.)

“Sun rahe ho? koi aaya hai? Gate khool do plz.” She again yelled at her husband and sighed while preparing herself to stand up but suddenly. “Phuppi jaan, main aa gyi.” A loud voice echoed in the home and Sonia smiled brightly. 

(Are you even listening? Please open the door, someone is here.)

(Phuppi darling, I am here.)

“Arey Neha, mera bacha,” she opened her arms to hug her niece but Neha stopped her to come and gesture towards the broken mirror. She smiled and started arranging the broken pieces of glass to make a peacock. “kesi ho beta?” without looking at Neha she asked in a hushed tone. 

(Hey Neha, my baby.)
(How are you, dear?)

“Bilkul wesi hi hu jese 10 din pehle thi.” Neha’s reply forced her to look up “Haa tune kapde bhi wo hi pehne hain.” remembering the video call of ten days ago in which Neha was flexing her new clothes Sonia broke into a chuckle and Neha looked at her clothes silently.

(Exactly the same as I was 10 days ago.)
(Yes, you are wearing the same clothes.)

“Neha.”

“ji Phuppi jaan?”

“Tujhe meri yaad nhi aati?” Sonia asked with a different level of fake anger. “10 din pehle tum log Nainital gye the, main kitna intezaar kar rhi thi tum logo ke phone ka lekin ek phone nhi kara tum logo ne, kesa raha tour? Wapas kab aaye tum log?” 

(Don't you miss me?)
(You went to Nainital 10 days ago, I was waiting so long for your call but you did not call me, how was your tour? When did you come back?)

Ignoring all the questions Neha only focused on the very first one. “Yaad aati hai phuppi jaan, tab hi to aapke paas aa kar bethi hu, warna main kahi nhi jana chahti thi.” Neha's statement was wrapped in the cloth of truth

(I miss you Phuppi jaan, that's why I am sitting here with you, otherwise I didn't want to go anywhere.)

“Haan haan, tu to bohot badi Officer ban gyi hai na? Kahi nhi jana chahti thi.” Sonia minic tha last part and gave a disappointed look to Neha while arranging the mirror pieces. 

(oh yeah, You have become a very big officer, haven't you?  “Didn’t want to go anywhere.”)

"Achha bata, birthday par kya leg? 14 ki hogi na is baar?" Sonia asked in a hushed yet cheerful tone but Neha said nothing in reply.

(okay tell me what do you want on this birthday? You will turn 14, right?)

“Aa gyi tu?” Sonia looked up at her husband who entered the room just now with this question, Neha nodded in reply and Sonia again looked towards the pieces of mirror present in front of her.  “Suno, main ye bana rahi hu, tum Neha ke liye bahar se kuch order kar do. Bachhi kab se aayi bethi hai mene paani tak nhi diya.” she muttered but her husband shoo away the topic in a friendly manner. 

(you came?)
(Listen, I am making this, you order something from outside for Neha. My baby has been sitting for a long time, I did not even give her water.)

“Rehne do wo kuch nhi khayegi.” said her husband in a loud yet friendly voice, just like his signature style and Sonia rolled her eyes. “Tumhara hamesha ka yahi hai, ya to sare kaam mujhe bina bataye kar lete hain ya wo kaam bhi nhi karte jo main kehti hu.” she gave a little disappointed look but her husband smiled with sadness in his eyes.