What is the question? │✔

{ 8 }

"Devi! Look how the veranda is getting flooded and how the water is entering! Look!"

Huffing, she glared at the grumbling woman and dropped the broom held in her hand. Standing up, free from her squatting stance, she took a deep breath and stretched her legs, tired and exhausted, despite dusting the house for only twenty minutes. Letting her hair free, she pushed back the loose strands and tied it up into a tight bun. Determined, she set to work.

"Oh, Devi! Why are you becoming so lazy? Work harder!"

A wide range of colorful words, danced across the tip of her tongue, ready to be fired. However, shooting down the woman who gave birth to you, even if through words, would just bring about another tale of an ungrateful daughter. Hell, she felt her mother-in-law was more loving and caring than her Ma.

"Stop daydreaming! Close the door and wipe out that dirty water!"

Her mother-in-law had suggested that she should visit her home; the old woman sincerely believed that she needed rest. After all, she was not only taking care of their home but the whole colony by herself. And so she did. She headed back to her parents' home, to the city where she was born, amidst the hills and clouds.

Swiping the floor recklessly, she cursed the monsoon rains. However, she couldn't help notice the change of air, the freshness of mountains bringing the fragrance which she was so used to breathing. Of course, that was before she shifted to the bustling city where her marital home was located.

"Devi? How come you're here? Your mother did not mention anything!"

Receiving the remark with a tight-lipped smile, she knew that she would've had to behave sweeter than the most expensive Mishti-Doi, sugarcoating each and every word of hers. Only then she would get what she wanted.

Gossip.

Tidying herself up, she opened up the doors of her house for the elderly lady. Ensuring everything was set according to her visitor's comfort, she asked her housemaid to brew up a strong cup of tea.

"Great! Now the tea leaves are wasted! Useless prat!"

Glaring at her mother, she knew she had to make up for her rudeness as well. Bringing up plates of sweets and snacks, she crossed her fingers, hoping the delicacies would be good enough compromise. At least, that's what the plump figure and swollen cheeks of her guest had told her. Casting another heated glare towards her mother, she gave her complete attention towards the visitor.

"Ignore Ma...you know how she is, right?"

The whisper did not go unnoticed by all three listeners, as her guest and the housemaid shared a laugh, while her dearest mother grumbled on about 'stupid women' and walked over to the other room.

Laughing harder, Devi started her mission, slow and steady, always ready to win. One hour, two hours, three hours passed. And Devi? She successfully extracted every piece of information, right from the flings of her neighbor's daughter to those of the dog who slept on the ground floor.