Anu
The Police Station left her feeling dirty and depressed. She stopped off at home to have a shower and ran into her mother.
"Are you going for the sermon today? Priya maami told me she saw you at the ashram. Thank you for going."
There was hope in her mother's eyes and it made Anu even more depressed. Her mom's life was a tragedy cliche. Dead husband, one daughter cold dead and another dead cold to her. Then she said something that wiped out every shred of sympathy. " They even run a matrimony service for Ammaji's devotees, lot's of foreign mappillais."
"You never learn, do you?" she whispered and walked into her room.
She could hear her mother sobbing in the puja room. The thin walls of the government housing flat did not allow much privacy. Though there had been hope for something better before her father died, some hope even remained once her sister got married, but now it was all gone. Her journalists salary covered the basics. Though her mother apparently still harbored the old desires even if it had cost her one daughter.
The desk she was sitting on still bore the faint etched impression of her sister's signature. Anuradha. Better looking, better in studies and always better behaved. She had grown up in her sister's shadow. Not only at home but in school too and because of the small age gap, among their friends too. When their father died, Anuradha was 19 and doing her BCom and training to be CA while Anu was 17, in school and with no idea what she wanted with life. Her closet drinking, bank manager father had opened the locker for a customer before keeling over and falling. The customer had apparently finished clearing her locker, locked it and then called for help. The doctor said it didn't matter, he had died by the time he hit the floor. The gas pains he had been complaining about for days was actually something else. Once the news hit, relatives poured in from all over into their small flat. There was no time for mourning. Just making space for people and listening to their stories of her father or others who had died suddenly. Anu was sure that whatever their father had left as meagre savings went towards feeding these people in those excruciating first few weeks. Once they were left to mourn alone and pick up the pieces, her mother had dropped the bomb. There was no money except for the pension, which had to go for their expenses. They were not on the street, but they could not dream of any luxury, including an expensive college for Anu or the CA training class fees for Radha. Anu joined the nearest college with an affordable fee structure, which even then stretched them to breaking point. Radha, the ever resourceful found a part time job as a pizza place cashier and soon got a part time job for Anu too. Shewished those times back. Even though they had no money, it was a time of hope. The sisters for once agreed on something. They needed to work hard and get out of what Radha termed as the 'Austen Novel' type poverty.
Hari was the typical foriegn groom. Studied in one of the most acadamically inclined schools in the city, went on to do his engineering, from where else but IIT and then obviously went to the 'US' for his masters, got a job and was now looking for a homely, beautiful, accomplished wife who could talk English and cook with equal ease. Long story short, him and his parents liked Anuradha, who wouldnt? He convinced her that she could continue her studies and until she started earning would help her mother and sister by sending some money every month. After all, he was earning in dollars.
They got married and three months later she flew to start her life anew with a stranger. 6 months later, she had a broken arm. She told them, she had slipped and fallen in the bathroom. These foreign bathrooms were not built with Indian, splashy, washing habits in mind. Her in laws used to visit and started asking her mother about why her daughter was not giving them a grandson. "Grand Son?' was all Anu had to say when her mother came to complain in tears. ' and its only been a year. They must just be getting to know each other'
Satellite TV and mobile phones had arrived in India. Anu often pictured her sister's life. A life filled with clean carpeted rooms. Shiny cars anda loving husband taking her out to all those restaurants that served perfect french fries and a multitude of coffees. Latte and Cappucino had just entered the urban Indian vocabulary. Here they were the envy of neighbours, friends and relatives. Foreign brother in law who actually sent his wife's family money and gifts every month! it was almost unheard of.
A year later she had broken her arm again and sprained her neck. 'How could you sprain your neck?' Anu wondered. Her mother began a round of pujas in temples across the city to appease the gods who were being so unkind to her daughter. Anu always noticed a strain in her sister's voice. when she asked the reply was always something slight. I'm a little home sick. I just finished a round of cooking. Its so cold here, its making my voice weird. Then one day a letter arrived. White envelope with a red border. Mobile phones had taken off big time and nobody sent letters, only invitation cards. It was addressed to Anu. Her mother had opened it obviously and had refused to give it to her at first. Then thrust it in her hands screaming ' Your sister is a liar!'
The letter had been like a punch in the stomach. Her sister wanted them to contact the Indian embassy, the police, anyone and ask them to bring her back. He had locked her in the house for the past 6 months. He was mad. At first he just raised his voice, then his hands. She was bewildered, then ashamed and by the time anger and a determination to leave had settled in, he had locked her in. She was pregnant. He had changed a little after that but still kept her locked in. When he took her for the first check up, she had slipped this letter into the pile on a nurses desk, hoping for a miracle.
Anu wanted to go to the police immediately. Her mother argued and argued. She was pregnant now. He would change. She cant leave now. Who had the money that would be required? Finally, she agreed to call a lawyer friend of her fathers who may know what to do next.Anu was satisfied but little did she know it was just the beginning of the nightmare.
The Police Station left her feeling dirty and depressed. She stopped off at home to have a shower and ran into her mother.
"Are you going for the sermon today? Priya maami told me she saw you at the ashram. Thank you for going."
There was hope in her mother's eyes and it made Anu even more depressed. Her mom's life was a tragedy cliche. Dead husband, one daughter cold dead and another dead cold to her. Then she said something that wiped out every shred of sympathy. " They even run a matrimony service for Ammaji's devotees, lot's of foreign mappillais."
"You never learn, do you?" she whispered and walked into her room.
She could hear her mother sobbing in the puja room. The thin walls of the government housing flat did not allow much privacy. Though there had been hope for something better before her father died, some hope even remained once her sister got married, but now it was all gone. Her journalists salary covered the basics. Though her mother apparently still harbored the old desires even if it had cost her one daughter.
The desk she was sitting on still bore the faint etched impression of her sister's signature. Anuradha. Better looking, better in studies and always better behaved. She had grown up in her sister's shadow. Not only at home but in school too and because of the small age gap, among their friends too. When their father died, Anuradha was 19 and doing her BCom and training to be CA while Anu was 17, in school and with no idea what she wanted with life. Her closet drinking, bank manager father had opened the locker for a customer before keeling over and falling. The customer had apparently finished clearing her locker, locked it and then called for help. The doctor said it didn't matter, he had died by the time he hit the floor. The gas pains he had been complaining about for days was actually something else. Once the news hit, relatives poured in from all over into their small flat. There was no time for mourning. Just making space for people and listening to their stories of her father or others who had died suddenly. Anu was sure that whatever their father had left as meagre savings went towards feeding these people in those excruciating first few weeks. Once they were left to mourn alone and pick up the pieces, her mother had dropped the bomb. There was no money except for the pension, which had to go for their expenses. They were not on the street, but they could not dream of any luxury, including an expensive college for Anu or the CA training class fees for Radha. Anu joined the nearest college with an affordable fee structure, which even then stretched them to breaking point. Radha, the ever resourceful found a part time job as a pizza place cashier and soon got a part time job for Anu too. Shewished those times back. Even though they had no money, it was a time of hope. The sisters for once agreed on something. They needed to work hard and get out of what Radha termed as the 'Austen Novel' type poverty.
Hari was the typical foriegn groom. Studied in one of the most acadamically inclined schools in the city, went on to do his engineering, from where else but IIT and then obviously went to the 'US' for his masters, got a job and was now looking for a homely, beautiful, accomplished wife who could talk English and cook with equal ease. Long story short, him and his parents liked Anuradha, who wouldnt? He convinced her that she could continue her studies and until she started earning would help her mother and sister by sending some money every month. After all, he was earning in dollars.
They got married and three months later she flew to start her life anew with a stranger. 6 months later, she had a broken arm. She told them, she had slipped and fallen in the bathroom. These foreign bathrooms were not built with Indian, splashy, washing habits in mind. Her in laws used to visit and started asking her mother about why her daughter was not giving them a grandson. "Grand Son?' was all Anu had to say when her mother came to complain in tears. ' and its only been a year. They must just be getting to know each other'
Satellite TV and mobile phones had arrived in India. Anu often pictured her sister's life. A life filled with clean carpeted rooms. Shiny cars anda loving husband taking her out to all those restaurants that served perfect french fries and a multitude of coffees. Latte and Cappucino had just entered the urban Indian vocabulary. Here they were the envy of neighbours, friends and relatives. Foreign brother in law who actually sent his wife's family money and gifts every month! it was almost unheard of.
A year later she had broken her arm again and sprained her neck. 'How could you sprain your neck?' Anu wondered. Her mother began a round of pujas in temples across the city to appease the gods who were being so unkind to her daughter. Anu always noticed a strain in her sister's voice. when she asked the reply was always something slight. I'm a little home sick. I just finished a round of cooking. Its so cold here, its making my voice weird. Then one day a letter arrived. White envelope with a red border. Mobile phones had taken off big time and nobody sent letters, only invitation cards. It was addressed to Anu. Her mother had opened it obviously and had refused to give it to her at first. Then thrust it in her hands screaming ' Your sister is a liar!'
The letter had been like a punch in the stomach. Her sister wanted them to contact the Indian embassy, the police, anyone and ask them to bring her back. He had locked her in the house for the past 6 months. He was mad. At first he just raised his voice, then his hands. She was bewildered, then ashamed and by the time anger and a determination to leave had settled in, he had locked her in. She was pregnant. He had changed a little after that but still kept her locked in. When he took her for the first check up, she had slipped this letter into the pile on a nurses desk, hoping for a miracle.
Anu wanted to go to the police immediately. Her mother argued and argued. She was pregnant now. He would change. She cant leave now. Who had the money that would be required? Finally, she agreed to call a lawyer friend of her fathers who may know what to do next.Anu was satisfied but little did she know it was just the beginning of the nightmare.
