"Bhavika, see who is here! " ecstatic uncle cried lugging my luggage that he had snatched from my very grasp and was now shifting through the narrow pipe-like alley built through the entrance beside the bathroom and toilet to the south that smelled too high heaven burning the hairs in the nasal pathway and north held the staircase to the ascending floor, of which the following railing of the staircase was as if employed like drying rack for freshly rinsed and washed clothes, especially during rainy seasons just like any typical middle-class Indian house that hadn't transformed at all.
"Who is it? " a beautiful healthy youthful female with squirrel-like cheeks and pale moon-like skin stood at the end of the alley holding her lips up in a smile forcefully but her eyes, her fist, and her crimpled forehead said of how much this volcano was willing to burst however, She, my Chachi (uncle's wife) was lulling herself all for the sake of the public image but isn't it interesting to note, a moment ago she was raving like any creature.
"Have a wild guess" he smirked approaching her with that hefty luggage bag of safari with green strips, that ultimately drove a frown over that gorgeous face something tense was exchanged within the couple's eyes however, as she lifted her chin over his shoulder, perplex and ticked off but,
"Guddu? "
"I guess it's me" I grinned shyly almost shocked under my guts as she took me in her squeezing embrace, and everything calmed down abruptly.
"How have you been, darling? "
Excuse me, is this question supposed to be answered by me for sure?
I mean nothing was supposed to change, wasn't it? And my trendy chachi who typically believed me to be invisible has confirmed my existence herself today.
Trust me, That's a ground-shaking thing at least to me!
"Where is Bhabhi Bhaiya? aren't they with you?" she questioned clapping on my shoulder enthusiastically and peeking through my shoulders hopefully but, how intruding?
"I'm here all by myself. "
"Of course, who is a newly graded school pass out now?!" she grinned merrily; however, smoke was emerging through those two chimneys as she glanced at the backpack in Chachu's muscular grips through those corner gaze of hers, continued with a locking jawline expression,
"Such a nice big bag"
"Uh... Ahem...maybe Mummy must have got it, I guess"! running my fingers through my thick chestnut hair however, her smile deviating to an awkward gesture on her face as she sighed with a hunch in her shoulder "cool"
while I stubbled with utmost uncertainty like an electron is deprived of having both momentum and position at a particular period and for this electron called Hattie, it was neither of both- no momentum of any sorted care to know what this bag was of or for nor the exact or approx. position of the place or date-time of purchase for this particular product.
However, who is ever talking about bag here?
"ladies, why don't you both scoop inside rather than testing each other at the portrico of nalanda vishvvidhayalya--"
"Navi..."
When abruptly cutting through his thoughtfully jovial words, that trembling weak voice which can be emphasized of all pain that aging voice had gone through but... A tender soul was all hollow and in mercilessly unexpected.
"What is this voice?"
I rotated my face away from the origin of that voice with a clenched breathless jaw, having genuinely no desire to look up because I literally knew who was filtering through the light that fall through the open slit off the ceiling gleaming all the hall painted twilight purple, a petit woman with irish red-orange hairs falling over her swollen and bent shoulder upto her thights that were wrapped with saree, a wholly traditional clothing that has it's divergence all through south-east of axial a connection that make us all- India, Pakistan, Nepal, srilanka, Thailand extra. common even after our political or lingo difference somehow.
"Ahem, bhavika why don't you prepare milk and biscuits for guddu"
However, isn't it called harmony that all of us just ignored her existance, nevertheless,
"Arre... My princess has returned? " that hassle wrinkled but infamous smile stretched out wider exposing a mouth vacant of vital teeth or even good teeth, one of left canine stood standing strong but rest has either become victim to old age or cavity and her hands clasping the wall tightly in order not to fall,
"Let the girl settle first! " chachu crossed her with a pout yanking my bag into the hall
nonetheless, her brownish gazes those are same colour as mine stood over me very hopefully even after his rough words, like a little puppy asking for me to drive my fingers through his fur.
"Do come inside" chachi too smiled ignorantly patting on my shoulder drawing my gaze into the hall,
Never the least... I walked towards the hall and...pulled my arms around that old aged woman who got all jolly as I was taking her in my embrace that was cold and unkind and most just for... Sake for maintaining the image of 'Everything is like old times' but in reality...
It never was! And it never will be!
But...bitting my tongue, I said in the sweetest of tone that rested inside my code,
"Hi, dadi (Grandma) "
(Hillo, readers
I don't know why but I am still hooked on dedicating to these stories I once begin but one part of me says, like elsa. From frozen- LET IT GO. However... I guess that option I refuse to take for now,
Let's see... If I may or not.
Yours,
Author)