O.K.

Three a.m. Only two hours until she had to leave.
His snoring was deafening. The weight of his arm, unforgiving.
Looking around, she sighed. The walls were stained with patches of an unbecoming, reddish sepia. Like paan juice, she thought.
The creaking fan caught her attention. Ironically, it had O.K. stamped on it. She winced.

Dignity

Staring blankly at the dripping fifty rupee note, she turned it over in her hand. Dinner for three nights. Crocin for Babbla who was sick. New pencil box for Chikki. Maybe some Mogras and a toothy smile. She looked down at her calloused hands, straightened her back and got up from the bathroom floor.

"Meemshaab."



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First Day Jitters

She stared back at the nine year old in the unforgiving steel of the prison-like elevator. Carefully patting her freshly oiled braid, she adjusted the fragrant string of mogras. Her fingers trembled as she reached to ring the doorbell and she nervously smoothed her pallu while she waited.

Click.

"Mummy, new bai has come."

It was a baby pink shirt with yellow polka dots and she loved it. But not as much as she love(d) him.

"Don't cry didi... Remember that time bai burned your favorite shirt? You were so upset you didn't talk to anyone for two whole weeks! Then bhaiyaa bought you the pink top from Express and you were so happy."

She couldn't help smiling wistfully at the trusting naïveté.

"Belongings are easily replaced, choti. People are not."

Perspectives: II

She stares blankly at the dripping fifty rupee note. She hears appa's voice, "We might be poor but noone can call us thieves". Chikki doesn't have pencils for school. Babbla's so sick he can't stand. Her heart breaking inconsequentially, she tucks the note into her blouse. Honour is perfectly fine, when you can afford it.

Anticipation

They sat in the big laundry hamper, eyes round, waiting for her next word. "And then, Bai?" they asked. She savoured the moment. The smell of fresh cotton enveloped them. She folded a shirt, Ralph Lauren. An alphabet-string. She looked up at the shining faces. She wanted to cry. They would pay with attention.