The Broken Lyre

Chapter 1

10 years ago

Aparna woke up to the dazzling sunlight that poured in through the uncurtained windows of her thatched hut. She stretched in a languid manner and then a slow smile lit up her dusky features. Not even a minute had passed as such when Savitri Devi, her mother stormed into the room with all the enigma of a storm. Aparna beckoned her mother to come near. 'What do you want first thing in the morning?'whined Savitri as Aparna pulled her down on the bed and lay her head on her mother's lap. Letting a sigh escape her lips, Aparna closed her eyes once again as Savitri combed her long tresses with her fingers.

Nestled in a distant village of West Bengal called Kalipur, Aparna along with her parents lived a peaceful life. Aparna was 17 years old and barely two months ago had she completed her secomdary board examinations from the village school. The girl was a bright star whose lustre could not be hidden for long. Her dreams spanned the wide earth and touched the skies. She dreamt of attending college in Kolkata and wanted to break the chains that tried to hold her back. But can you change the course of a storm? I dont think so.

'Now, get up. Its late and I have errands to run.'muttered Savitri as she pushed Aparna's head away and got up. 'Maa, you are so cruel sometimes. I wonder whether you at all love me or not?'cribbed Aparna with a adorable expression. The corners of Savitri's mouth twitched as she supressed a smile and walked out of the room.

Half an hour later Aparna skipped past her mother as Savitri screamed at the top of her voice asking her to stay in the house.'This girl never listens to anything I say, always running about the village with her equally naughty friends.'ranted Savitri. Aparna was a force to reckon with even for her mother, who often could not keep up with the weird ideas and dreams of her daughter. Savitri knew her daughter was different because she dared to dream beyond marriage and motherhood, but Savitri also knew that being different meant spelling trouble for yourself in this cruel world. She just prayed that Aparna remained far from harm's way.

Some distance away Aparna sat with her best friend Urmila by the banks of the Ganges. 'You want to attend a college Apu, did I hear you correctly?'asked a dumbstruck Urmila. Aparna looked away at the flowing water of the mighty river before saying, ' Yes,Urmi. I always dreamt of going to Kolkata and being a student of the Jadavpur University. If my board results are up to the mark, I shall definitely go to the city of joy. To succeed in life I have to move ahead of the little village of Kalipur. Urmila looked at her friend with obvious pride before answering,'Have spoken of this to aunty and uncle? Will they consent to you to having a college education? Anyway finding a groom for a school educated girl is an ordeal enough, I dont know who shall marry a college educated one.' 'Urmi, I shall have to convince them. They are my parents and they will always support me in my ambitions. As for marriage, I couldnt care less about it at this point of time.'replied Aparna. 'Aparna, Urmila. They have announced that our board results will be declared tomorrow.'shouted one of their classmates as he passed by them.

The next morning, Aparna woke up with the break of the day. This day would determine the fate of her dreams. She got ready for school with a strange foreboding and a fear that gnawed at her. Hours passed by listlessly and finally she stood before the notice board with tightly shut eyes. Feeling a gentle nudge she opens her eyes only to be greeted by the most beautiful sight in the world- her name in the begining of the list. With a cry of joy she whirls around and clutches Urmila to her heart and then dashes out of the school building towards the new future awaiting her. Life is what you make it, Aparna had heard the saying but she discovered its truthfulness just at that moment.