MY AUNTIE AND ME

While
I was a little child
my mother fell ill
and she was shuttling between
hospital and bed most
of the time.
My father’s days were hectic
he knew no rest
his primary duty being
taking mother to hospital
and back
mother’s care and affection
which I needed most
in that little age
badly missed me.
As if to compensate it my auntie
donned the role of my foster - mother.
She cared me, loved me, looked after me
and attended to my all needs
as if I was her own child.
I saw my mother in her
I wanted her presence always
and
knowing my needs
she looked after everything
bathed me in hot water
took me to nearby temple
pasted sandal on my forehead
dressed me in beautiful clothes
fed me with nutritious food
and took me to the local
nursery every morning and
brought me back in the
afternoon..
Such a loving, caring auntie
was a blessing to me, boon to me
and I loved her like
anything.
Others at the home my grandma
father, my younger auntie, my uncles
all had a soft corner towards me
and I found life quite pleasant.
My life went on in the
midst of loving and caring faces
those were festival days in my life.
One day
four-five persons, all well-dressed
came to my home from
somewhere
all strange faces
all accorded a warm
reception by the elders in the home
and
I saw all ladies
except my grandma
helping my auntie
dress in pretty
shining costume
her face shone
like moon
she looked pretty in the
make-up
but I couldn’t make out
what was going to
transpire.
She glanced at me
with a beaming smile
and I wanted to ask her
what was it all about
but
the huge gathering around
her prevented me from
asking anything.
Everything seemed like
a dream to me
a puzzle to me
somebody called her
into the next room
somebody
handed over a tray with
cups of tea and variety
of eatables
and she accompanied
my auntie up to the door-step.
My auntie with shyness glimmering
in her eyes
her hands were trembling
with nervousness
her forehead full of
beads of sweat
and the strange faces sitting
in the portico
casting measuring looks
at her.
The young handsome
chap among them
looked at her stealthily
with a mischievous smile
while picking the tea-cup
from the tray
she gave a stealth
glance at him
and rushed inside.
The relatives and neighbours
made fun of her
in whispering tones.
She was all shyness
personified
and within half-an-hour
after conversations with the
elders assembled at the
portico bid farewell.
Since then my auntie
was always in dreams
smiled to herself and
when I reached her
she showered kisses on me
eyes shining with tears .
I got new dress
everyone in the house got
new dress
all glanced at me
and cast meaningful smiles
but the meaning I couldn’t
make out.
The day everyone was
waiting for approached
a smiling spring dawn it was
a large gathering
relatives, guests, friends
all came with gift packets
my auntie dressed
in fascinating costumes
that handsome man
all in smiles
accompanied by dear and
near ones,
entered the beautifully decorated shamiana
all I watched with
curiosit y
both she and he
sat together
my heart beat faster.
Then both exchanged
garlands
tied the nuptial-knot
exchanged rings
he took hold of her hands
my heart again beat faster
everything was over within an hour.
After the feast
it was time for her
to leave
I wept and ran towards
her
she profusely kissed
me, tear drops touched my face
and the earth.
In a garlanded car
both drove away
I stood alone
and that day
for the first time
I knew ‘what is loneliness’.