I have a great admiration for night, the darkness, the stars, the moon, the stillness that only night can offer under its beautiful dark cloak. But most important of all are the crickets.
When everything comes to halt, people go to sleep and all nonsense are put on rest.., you hear the music that nature brings to you,
dissolving all your worries, your sorrows, your fear.
Only if you allow it to, without messing it with unnecessary thoughts. It's easy for us lonely people.
Hum humesha se itne sajjan insaan nahi the.Humko toh kisi ke saans lene se bhi taqleef ho jati thi.
I was one of those people who hated those lonely crickets stridulating for their female mates, everynight.
I couldn't sleep. And I wanted them to just shut up-shut up-shut up.
I remember hunting down a stupid fat cricket at 2am, that drove me nuts with its monotonous romantic music , which google says is impractical thing to do. I was doing it anyway.
Ooh, I was such a stubborn kid back then.
SO,
I assure you, nothing much happened after Vaishali's reunion with her parents. She called me and told me that things are awkwardly fine. Awkward but fine,
Which is a good start for people like Manipal. Dada, my grandfather, he just went to his work after that, without saying much.
The phone started buzzing for the 3rd time now, but it stayed untouched beside my head. I was not willing to pick it up and utter the most used word "hello" to someone, anyone.
I groaned in annoyance.
Why? why me? All i want to be left alone and to be forgotten but here I am getting late night calls from not so friendly friend.
I am just trying to escape comparision.
"Arre phone uthaiyye na ji, kab se baj raha hai!" Aunty barged in my room with a plate. "apka lober (lover) mara jaa raha hai"
"Lober call krta to apko hi pehle heart-attack aajata" i pushed the phone aside with my index finger.
"Aap to mante hi honge, dono dada-poti ko bhoj karne milega"
"Maha-bhoj" I corrected her "Chicken-mutton ka" I said faking enthusiasm "itni raat darshan kahe diye Devi, TV nahi chal raha kya?"
She sat on the foot of my bed with mischievious glint in her beady eyes.
"Uncle se mar-pit kar ke aaye hai?"
"Humko Bhitna ki bahu samjhe hai?" she countered.
"Matlab der raat pet halka karne aaye hai"
"Jante hai aaj subah me khub mar pit hua hai"
"jante hai" I said "achche se"
She waved her hand dismissively "arre apke dada ka nahi"-
"Bhitna ke ghar" She said with a knowing smile.
She is reffering to our neighbour. Which actually has a decent name, but he is known as "Bhitna", I don't know the reason.
"Aaj subah ch-"
"Didi? Mommy ko dekha hai ky-"A small head appeared through the door, stopped as his questionable eyes striked on aunty's face "Tum yaha bethi ho, Papa dhund rahe hai!"
"bhakk!"She stomped her feet "Inko chain nahi hai thora sa bhi"
"Abhi chalo" He snapped as she began to talk again.
She stood up " Jaa rahe hai" said in disspointment.
"jaruri baat to batana hi bhul gaye,parso ladke wale aarhe hai" She said "dekhne aapko"
Well..
I was speachless.
I sprang up from bed and crossed my legs "kon log?" i asked narrowing my eyes
"Arre meri bua ke Jeth ji ki patni ki behen ke devar ke dost ke bete se baat chala rahe hai, ladka engineer hai, apke dada ko bara pasand hai"
"Dada ko hi dikha dijiyega" I deadpanned
"apne dada ko mat boliyega hum apko bata diye hai" she said quietly
"Kyu chupa ke dikhayenge?" I frowned
"Nahi ji! Aap kitne bade upadrav hai hum log sab koi jante hai na" She said laughing.
"Mommy chalegi ya papa ko vej de!?"
"chal! Papi ka bachcha!"
They left arguing over who is the "papi" here.
I wasn't surprised, but discomforted. Marriage is a big change in one's life. whole world upside down.
Thats why he was so quiet today, I blew up his chance to shine, took over, broke the rule to stay silent as a woman. He didn't spoke a word.
he has been planning things against me.
Remember the cricket I was talking about?
I managed to spot that big fat cricket in the corner of my shoe-rack at 3am.
We both stared at each other shell-shocked.
I was surprised that i actually caught him red-handed.
He was surprised like "humar parda fash hoi gawa!"
Bihari jhingur tha.
I raised my chappal to slam it shut for--ever,
But i didn't. I couldn't.
I was laying on my bed, and him foolishly rubbing his ass with his wings on my shoe while I allow the sound to seep into me, flow parellel with the train of thoughts to sleep-junction.
I allowed things to happen, after I did everything I can.
I am not misophonic anymore, and less aggressive.
I picked up the phone as it buzzed again and instantly regretted it.