Felt and Fell

Forty-Two

The sun was warm overhead as I stood beside Anjana Aunty, watching her inspect the fresh vegetables with the practiced eye of someone who had been doing this for years.

The colony market was buzzing with activity, vendors calling out their prices, and the sound of bartering filled the air.

I was focused, trying to learn how to pick the best of everything—crisp okra, tender spinach, and plump tomatoes.

Anjana Aunty was mid-sentence, showing me how to check the freshness of green beans when I overheard a conversation that made my stomach churn.

"Who's she? I’ve never seen her around," a woman whispered not too far away, her voice loud enough to carry.

"I think she lives in that pilot's house. What was his name? Aditya... right?"

My hand paused over a bundle of coriander, and I felt a tightening in my chest as their words registered.

I wanted to ignore them, but their conversation was quickly becoming impossible to tune out.

"Beta? What's your name?" One of the aunties turned to me with a curious, probing look.

"..Yes?...Zoya..." I replied with a brief eye contact and continued with the vegetables.

"You live with Aditya, Right?..Are you his wife?...We didn't know that he got married."

Caught off guard, I fumbled for an answer, glancing quickly at Anjana Aunty, who was on a call a few feet away.

"No... I'm not," I replied, forcing a polite smile, though I could feel my discomfort growing.

The auntie’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she exchanged a look with the woman next to her.

"Living without marriage?" she said, her tone carrying a hint of disapproval. "These kids these days... Mrs. Mukwani, weren’t you trying to get that pilot's hand in marriage for your daughter? Looks like he already has a Muslim girlfriend living with him....."

My heart pounded in my chest as the weight of their judgment pressed down on me.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself to stay calm.

They were elders, and the last thing I wanted was to create a scene.

"Aunty, I'm sorry, but I think you're getting too inquisitive about my private life," I said, trying to keep my tone respectful but firm.

The woman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "But isn’t it disallowed in you people to even touch a man before marriage?" another auntie chimed in, her words laced with condescension.

I bit down on my tongue, resisting the urge to snap back.

Their ignorance was infuriating, but I didn’t want to lose my temper.

Before I could think of a response, Anjana Aunty, who had just ended her call, stepped forward with a commanding presence that immediately silenced the murmuring women.

"Excuse me," Aunty said, her voive was sharp, yet calm. "Is there a problem here?"

The aunties, who had been so bold a moment ago, suddenly looked hesitant. "We were just... concerned.... talking to ... This girl, Zoya." one of them muttered, trying to soften her earlier tone.

"Concerned about what?" Anjana Aunty asked, raising an eyebrow. "About who my son lives with? Who he chooses to be with?" She looked directly at the woman who had made the comment about religion. "Zoya is a part of our family. and the last time I checked.... We don't need unsolicited opinions of strangers... Maybe you should try and mind your own business."