HER POV
It was one fine early morning in our district with birds twittering on the tree branches, squirrels beginning their food hunt and sun hues falling over the Haveli and the garden in front of it, followed by the huge wrought iron main door. While sitting on the stairs of our Haveli's entrance and looking at the water splashing out of the fountain just a few feet away from me, I was thinking of how this morning looked pleasing, it was anything but that.
We, the people of Mansukhdhar were fighting our daily survival battle. Mansukhdhar district was situated near the borders of Jodhpur shared by Jaisalmer. Our district comprises of 8 villages. It's rich in aluminium and gypsum mines and is the 3rd largest producer of vegetable oil in the entire state. My father Raghuvir Maan Singh is the District Chief and Sarpanch of our village- Roohgarh, and my mother Rukmani Maan Singh is the head principal of this district's schools.
But Mansukhdhar has lost its essence and life for more than 8 months. The district is facing pest attack adversities in many considerable parts. Due to this people are suffering crop failure and a vegetation crisis. If this situation continued, people would soon suffer from poor drinking water quality.
I endured this pain every day. The people you love and have lived your life with for more than 25 years, witnessing them suffering every day, kills you every moment.
Everyone from the Mayor to the Subordinates to the other district government employees was grieving over this issue helplessly. We had asked for help from the State Government but their help could not do much as the vegetation requirement in the district is much larger than the number of crop containers we receive every month. Because the State Government had to meet the requirements of other drought-stricken districts. We could understand that but we also had to answer our people.
Concerning this matter, my father Raghuvir Maan Singh has put up a meeting this week, with other district's Mayor and Magistrate who are comparatively more affluent than us. Many other districts and states have offered to help us in this tough situation.
My father and brother have been preparing documents, day and night for this meeting for about a month or two. My mother is also busy collecting revenue data from all school trusts. I on the other hand submitted the documents, last night, regarding the financial report, as I handle finances for the family's mining and other businesses. And likewise, everyone in the district, was busy for the Meeting Day, hoping for the best.
"You are sitting here, I've been looking for you everywhere," I heard Sunaina, my sister's voice.
Sunaina is my cousin-sister, 3 months younger than me. She is a sweet girl and my sister cum friend. She is the daughter of my father's younger brother, her father and mother passed away in a car accident 10 years ago. Since then my parents have been like her parents too. My elder brother, Manav Man Singh is a father figure to her. Sunaina is much closer to him than my father.
"Where are you lost?" She asked.
"Nowhere, I was just here for my morning walk," I replied, smiling a little. Her face was saddened upon hearing me.
"You don't have to lie to me," she said. "Everything is going to be okay in a few days. Don't you worry!" She said assuring me a little.
I smiled looking at her, being a family we could understand each other very well. We both were each other's support from childhood.
"Yes, it sure is," I said while smiling at her, and got up. She smiled and held my hand.
"Let's go now, we have to get ready before your soon-to-be in-laws' arrival." She said grinning. I tensed upon hearing that and my heartbeats raced.
YOU ARE READING
DAKSHIKA
Romance"Sshhhhh....." he hushed and pinned us against the wall leaving no space between us. I held onto his biceps with my hand in reflex. He shook his head lightly signalling me not to scream. But did not remove his palm, awaiting confirmation I guessed...
