Ishwar
I woke up feeling fresh and happy. I had reached home last night and since my room was on the first floor, I slept so soundly that it was nearly breakfast time when I woke up. It was not like my mom to let me sleep in but maybe she decided I needed the rest.
Humming a tune to myself, I refreshed and came down. The staircase was decorated with bright yellow flower garlands. Oh yeah, it was grandpa's annual ceremony. That must have been why she insisted that I come here for sure. I stepped in to the kitchen and caught my mom busily working.
"Ma, what is with the huge ruckus? Is it his 25th ceremony or something?"
Mom smirked at me and said, "Ah you are up Ish. Yes and it is a grand function. Go and wear the new dress I have hung up in your closet. There are guests coming and we want to introduce them to you. They might become our relatives in future."
I felt like smirking myself as I went up to get ready. I understood my mom's meaning. There was nothing they could do beyond my power. When I was ready and about to come down, I heard my mom talking to my dad.
"He believed me! He thinks this is his grandpa's ceremony!"
"What did I tell you? See this proves that he inherited his brains from your side of the family."
Mom growled, "Shut up. I have made him get ready. Listen, he should think he is doing some ceremony for your father. Fool him further. I have a ton of work to do."
"Leave that to me. Go ahead."
I quickly hid below the stairs as my father climbed up to my room 'to fool me'.
I swallowed hard, my tongue bitter with betrayal. Why would they want to fool me now? What was the real function? What was going on here? If there is one person who could answer me, it was Gani. I stepped out from under the stairwell.
Keeping my face innocent, I sought out Gani's tall frame somewhere at the other end of the hall. He was lifting a heavy looking basket over his shoulder, his face red with strain as the veins popped out. I started making my way towards him, focused on his face.
"Ish."
I stopped short and glanced at my mom who was looking at me apprehensively.
"Where are you going?"
'Guilty conscience pricks the mind,' I thought to myself caustically.
"To help Gani. That package looks heavy."
I kept my tone neutral and happy while all I wanted to do was throw the basket on top of my mom.
"Gani can manage himself. Come here. I need you to have this on your face at all times."
She placed a small kajal dot almost on my ear and we both stared at each other for a second.
"Why are yo-"
Perhaps she anticipated this question for she interrupted quickly, "You look like a King today and I do not want any dristi to fall on you. Now go to your room and rest."
I wanted to grit my teeth. My mom did not want me down here. With her here and my dad on the first floor, how was I to know what was going on?
But I acted appeased and stepped back towards my room only to double back and round the house and come via the front entrance.
"Ish!"
My mom's screech made me jump. She seemed to have followed me.
"Mom," I practically whined, "Let me be, will you? I just want to help."
