TANGLED TRADITIONS

Aradhaya's Jhumka Drama

                       Chapter 5

The Sharma household was alive with the midday hustle and bustle. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden hue over the chaos. Aradhaya Sharma, ever the whirlwind of energy and drama, was in the midst of a frantic search, her 2-year-old sister Anaya clinging to her leg. Today wasn’t just any day; it was the day of Aradhaya’s much-anticipated job interview, and she was in a frenzy to find her favorite jhumke.

“Anaya, where is my jhumke? The one with the blue stones!” Aradhaya exclaimed, her voice echoing through the house. She tossed clothes aside, flipped through drawers, and even looked under the couch cushions.

“Aradhaya, stop! You’re going to drive us all mad,” Jyoti called out from the kitchen, shaking her head with a bemused smile. “And why are you looking under the bed for your jhumke? My God, this girl.”

Vikram, who was reading the newspaper in the living room, chuckled as he watched Aradhaya’s frantic search. “Come on, Aradhaya, you’re not going to find a jhumke under there. You’ll be late for your interview at this rate!”

Ignoring her mother’s comments and her father’s laughter, Aradhaya continued her search. She crawled under the bed, her legs sticking out like a pair of flailing windmills. “Anaya, help me look! Where could it be?”

Anaya, clearly enjoying the spectacle, clapped her tiny hands, her giggles filling the room. “Jhumke! Jhumke!” she chanted, as if she knew exactly what Aradhaya was looking for.

Vikram put down his newspaper and stood up, joining the search with a grin. “Aradhaya, let’s be real here. The last time you wore those jhumkes was at that wedding two months ago. Have you checked the drawer where you keep your jewelry?”

Aradhaya popped her head out from under the bed, looking exasperated. “Of course I’ve checked there! They’re not there! They’re supposed to be here, somewhere!” She flung herself onto the floor, dramatically spreading out her arms. “Why do these things always disappear when I need them the most?”

Jyoti, now chuckling, walked over and patted Aradhaya’s shoulder. “Look, you’ve got to calm down. We’ll find them. Maybe they’re in the laundry basket, or even the bathroom sink. You have a habit of leaving things in the strangest places.”

“Mom, you’re a genius!” Aradhaya shouted, springing up and dashing to the laundry room. She started rummaging through the clothes, tossing shirts and pants aside. “Jhumke! Jhumke! Where are you?”

Vikram and Jyoti exchanged amused looks. Vikram leaned in close to Jyoti and whispered, “Do you remember the time she lost her phone and found it in the refrigerator?”

Jyoti laughed, nodding. “How could I forget? She had put it there while making a sandwich.”

Vikram shook his head, still chuckling. “And remember the time she left her sunglasses in the toaster?”

As Aradhaya tore through the laundry, her phone rang. She fumbled to answer it, her voice a mix of excitement and panic. “Hello? Yes, it’s Aradhaya. Wait, what? The jhumke? Oh no, I can’t believe I forgot them at home.”

Vikram, who had been laughing silently, now joined in. “So, Aradhaya, you forgot the jhumke at home, but you’re still planning to go to the interview?”

Aradhaya, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder, started pacing around the room. “Yes, yes, I’m on my way. I just need to...oh! Wait, what’s this?” She pulled a crumpled piece of paper from the laundry basket. It was her jhumke, tangled in a pair of her old socks. “Found them! I found them!”