At times traditions and cultures may not necessarily create a harmony.
Dishes were flung,'clatter! clatter! everywhere, the sounds of a disharmony.
The Kitchen was big with two tiny windows that faced the garden.A single big chimney stood above the fire,and,upon a two holed wood fire oven sat a kettle of boiling water.Vapors from the kettle lost its way along with the smoke that came from the burning woods.It had a huge black door with a broken latch.The door remained open almost at all times,except at night it was closed.This door usually stopped the cats from stealing the buffalo's milk.The window being tiny and the door remaining open during the day,all the smell from the Kitchen wafted to the street.So did the laughter,cries,shouts and even the farts.
The big black door now more turmeric shook with fear, before the mess scattered on the floor.The brown dog with white spots above his eyes was happy for the free buffet he received.And he deeply prayed for it to occur every day.
"Iam not going to stand all this! I've suffered enough already" a woman yelled with a lot of venom."I've done nothing wrong,I took my share and gave you what is yours' ,you don't have to break your neck like mad" a man roared back."Yes you gave me my share,but a hand short! Iam not going to take this at any cost and I need the missing hand" the woman replied.The couple had just divorced after twelve long years of marriage with two children.A nine year old daughter Seema and a five year old son Ganesh.Five year old Ganesh was like any five year olds.As a matter of fact he was mischievous than many.He always moved around like a goat's tail.One of the reason why he always needed an extra eye.But it did not take her an extra eye to notice the missing hand."Don't accuse me of things I have not done,and Iam sick of your circus madness" said the husband,his neck stretched like
a lizard's."Why are you trying to act like saint? you very well know what you did!,I can't be a mustard grain to you,and enough! enough! I had enough of you already"the wife said her breath still hot."By no way you can claim that,and no more are you going to create this fuss with me,allright!"angrily said the husband and turned back and with a deaf ear he disappeared.The chaos made the little Ganesh cry.He cried in alteration of Pappa! Mamma! and Mamma! Pappa!He barely knew what was going on.He thought his Pappa Mamma to be playing an interesting reality game.
There were times when their neighbours used to participate in the events of such disputes and help settle down fights between them.But this evening ,their doors were closed and you could only see the steady lamps glowing inside their houses.Most marriages are arranged.Therefore,the strains in the relationship are well handled by the close relatives and the neighbours.There are few divorces.
Ganesh's father Ram is from a reputable family.Much of their reputation came from the power of their wealth,and all the villagers lowered their heads whenever they used to meet Ram's family.Ram's parents wished not to fumble such pride on issues regarding the potrayal of their family values.So,Ram's marriage to Maya was an arranged affair.It is though not true that, all arranged marriages are an act of equal agreement.Ram simply obliged to his parents,who stood in their own interests like an oak tree.Ram's parents were surprised to their son's lack of interests in many social activities.They were utterly concerned about his lack of motivations to the interests of his own family.Rest of the people thought him to be just one of the spoilt kid.
After a long thoughtful discussions,they decided Maya to be an ideal wife for Ram.
Though Maya looked average,she was a very practical girl.Hardships have smeared some of her youthful charm.When she was just a little child,her mother had passed away which taught her enormous life lessons.At the tender age of only eleven she had to nurse her ill father when her brother had left home to join the army.
Maya knew very little about Ram.One thing she knew about Ram was that he is an only son from a wealthy family.Maya consoled herself that all her earthly worries will vanish once and for all after she marries Ram.Ram's village was four walking days distance from Maya's village and was a slightly bigger with twenty houses occupied by fifty one living souls including the livestock.Ram and Maya aren't close family relatives but just close and legal enough to get married with.
It was a very lovely afternoon..All the colours of a grand ceremony alighted Ram's house.The villagers and the visitors looked happy and cheerful.Even the dogs from the nearby village took the humble courtesy to come all the way with their bouncing tails.The vibrant dance and music enlivened the atmosphere and the event ended quite joyfully.
A very interesting family altercation. It's good to read of other cultures, the way of their lives; better to understand the people of the world! I'll be hunting for the "continued" part of this story. Thanks Roshan...
3 WAY MIRROR is about a lost identity as experienced by a twenty-eight-year old who thinks he's Charles Randall, until strange events suggest otherwise.
3 WAY MIRROR is about a lost identity as experienced by a twenty-eight-year old who thinks he's Charles Randall, until strange events suggest otherwise.
