Have you heard of Palampur? It's awesome little village nestled between the hills and valleys.
The atmosphere there is so tranquil that it really makes you contemplate life. In this village, there's this fiery short- tempered Jiya, who lives with h...
🏍️ Intoxicating allure of self-indulgence. ﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌ 🍃🌙🪞🪷✨📜
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Mature content ahead!
I've been standing at the door for the past hour, all for the elusive meaning of the word "fuck." Tara had made me wait, insisting she'd be ready once her house chores were done, but here I was, still waiting.
"Taraaaaaaaa," I called out, my patience wearing thin.
"Just a second, Jiya," she replied, as if that second wasn't already sixty minutes long. I huffed, throwing a resigned look at Vidya aunt, Tara's mother. Her husband died of a heart attack, leaving her to manage everything on her own. That day was haunting for both Tara and me; he loved us both and was always standing up for what was right, especially for women. Why do bad things always happen to good people?
"Aunty, she isn't planning to come with me today," I said, exasperated.
"What can I do? Doing things at a snail's pace has become her habit," Vidya Aunt replied, clearly as fed up with her daughter's dilly-dallying as I was. We chatted a bit until Tara finally emerged, dressed in a new suit. Clearly, someone was trying to impress Vikas. I couldn't help but be grateful for the entertainment.
"Why did you get so dressed up, Tara?" Vidya aunt asked, giving her a sweet smile while she fiddled nervously with her dupatta.
"Yes, do tell us, Tara," I added, fanning the flames of her embarrassment. She glared at me but tried to play it cool.
"Just felt like it, Maa," she said, unconvincingly.
"Nowadays, you're feeling a lot of things," Aunt said, and I was unable to resist laughing. As her partner in crime, it was my duty to enjoy this moment. I walked over to Vidya Aunt, hugging her from behind and resting my cheek against hers.
"I'm taking your precious treasure for a while, bye!" I said, making us sway together as she giggled. Vidya Aunt is just the sweetest. I grabbed Tara's hand, and we ran out of the house, giggling, we deliberately made our dupattas flying in the wind. We headed straight to the library.
"I heard you 'fuck' Vikas?" I asked, hands on my hips, glaring at my friend for keeping such a secret.
"What does that mean?" she asked, clueless just like me.
"Uhh...I don't know."
"Then why are you saying it?"
I sighed, still no closer to understanding the mysterious word. Tara had passed her 12th exams, and her mother wasn't earning much, so they got by on Vidya Aunt's tailoring work. Her mother dreamed of seeing Tara married off in gold jewelry, working hard to make sure her daughter wouldn't face hardships or dowry demands. I'd seen Tara cry over her mother's struggles, desperate to ensure her future happiness.
