Mom, we are back preethi said pushing the door of the aunt's room while the aunt was standing close to the door in her room
oh, darn, you both broke my new sandel, i had just brought it a day before yesterday, I've told you many times . Those who come without knocking on the door are called thieves,
my aunt said scolding us as she searched for something and catching her sandel in her left hand but i wondered how we broke the sandel while opening the door well whatever nevermind
"Now, where have I kept the Fevicol" Then she mumbled
"Naina, nowadays people no longer knock on the door before entering " my cousin sister Preethi said trying to tease her mother
" Preethi, nowadays people don't lock their doors either" i said joking as we both fell into laughter why my aunt finally found her Fevicol and started applying it on her sandel as she said
" oh, lord! what strange fate i have out of all people in the world i made my sister in law as my neighbour, who keeps moving around in and out of my house the entire day"
"Mummy, you're not ready yet?" my cousin sister Pooja asked
"oh! oh! why are you getting restless? As if it's your wedding, okay take this and keep this in the shelves and don't forget to take a paper and a pen to there it will be helpful in writing over there " my aunt said while handing over the Fevicol to pooja
" where are you going" Preethi asked
"Hmm, Ms Jain at the third floor has invited me to her house to see the dowry for her daughter marriage, let's me go and check how much do the girls parents have to give in dowry nowadays" aunt answered
" But aunt Bela, isn't dowry a wrong thing?And why do you need to see what they will be giving to their daughter" i asked
" Actually dear " she started but was interrupted by Pooja who started saying this
" oh, come on then how would she find out if she doesn't see how much she has to give, I'll get married in future.So mom should have an idea about she needs to give in dowry" pooja said with the little bit hint of blush
" oh, your right dear" , wait a moment " she said as if she remembered something
" Did they gave your math's results " she asked
" Yes" i answered
" how much did you get Naina"
" i got 19 " i answered
" wonderful 19 /20 well-done "
" You always get good grades but you Preethi, Did you pass?" Pooja asked
" What? " preethi looked shocked for a second
" you passed didn't you" aunt started asking
" yes , mummy even i got 17marks" she said proudly
" wow, you did great too" aunt said looking proud then she continued
"Anyway, there is no point of these tests . A girl undergoes a real test when a boy comes to see her for marriage " she says
" My pooja is anyway preety anybody will take her ,i will have to pay heavy dowry for you kalu( dusty one)" pointing towards Preethi
"Mummy, you're always on mean " Preethi mumbled
" Anyway, I'm mostly worried about Naina's marriage, Neither you have your mother not your father has money to give as dowry even if your preety people wouldn't marry you if you don't have a mother, only god can help you Naina" she said
"aunty"
" yes"
" God listens to everyone, moreover the way uncle liked you ,someone will like me too " i said giggling while my aunt just glared at me
xxxxxxxx( in their room)
Your mom just keep saying anything. i just don't understand this tradition of dowry, why does someone still follow this weird tradition i mean to say they want our daughter and also our money - this is wrong, huh do you know what happened in school today when teacher gave results i handed it over to Swati to check and she saw that teacher gave me wrong marks and she went to teacher ---- Preethi what are you doing, are you even listening to me -- i said lying on the bed after changing the clothes while she slowly closed the door and started searching something
" preethi what are you even doing huh why don't you listen to me" i said glaring at her
" i am turning 7 into 17" she said quietly
" what do you mean" i shouted
naina what happened aunt knocked at the door
"nothing" Preethi shouted
" okay i don't understand why you guys talk so loudly" aunt said through the door and left
" why do you always shout when i say something like this? Anyways I failed the test Naina " As soon as I heard this i got up from bed and ran towards the study table and took her report card from the table
" You failed yet you lied to everyone" i said quietly
" yes , because of mom sees these marks she'll slap my cheeks until those turn red . Hence , I'm putting a 'one' before "
'seven' to make it seventeen"
"okay, if the truth about your 'one' is caught then the first uncle will hit you with a big stick and what would your parents think of you" i said leaving the paper on the table and lying back on the bed
" well, I'm doing all this for them , they'll be happy to see this marks otherwise even seven is enough for me to be satisfied,- Naina , aren't you my good sister" she said pulling and pushing me as i was trying to sleep
"No, don't - don't even try to drag me into this mess you have just created" i said pushing her aside
" Hey, then just be quiet then , just listen to me once "
" i don't want to listen to anything"
" Naina , please help only this once"
" I told you, I'm not going to be in any mess- i want to live a peaceful life"
"Naina, you don't understand "
" I told you no means no - now let me sleep i didn't get enough sleep today okay"
" okay, I'll do everything on my own " she ran towards the table saying that
okay nothing can be done with this girl i thought to myself and seeing her running from here to there as she searched for something
" Hey -listen Now that you have decided to do it use ballpen instead of inkpen - even teacher checked the paper with ballpen -- you will definitely get caught if you use the wrong pen" i said keep my one hand on my eyes trying to cover my eyes from light entering it
" Wow, Naina - although most of the time you won't lie but if you.do- you will do it perfectly " she said jumping on the bed and hugging me and kissing my cheek
" i won't lie and why do you want me to lie in the first place - do you know how much work that is, too much work to hide things ----- now don't bother as i told you i didn't get good sleep yesterday
" when do you even have a good sleeping shedule" Preethi said mocking me
xxxxxxxx( present time)
i would've never said that if i could see the future " that i will never lie " As there was someone for whom i lied and done all sorts of things