Hullo! the festive mood is on in the beginning of chapter three of my fiction, ‘Ripples Roping Memories.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-pankh— . Rani is conscious of the blaring note of this popular Hindi song. The song thrills her and fills her with joy. The tune reverberates and Rani skips to hop out of the house. She knows the Vanita Steels corporation have set up the stage for oncoming Navratri festival. There are night performances and children are made to sit on the ground to watch the programs. Music and dance seeps into Rani’s mind. People from Mogra chawl are happy to watch the program staged by professional dancers, actors, musicians and magicians. Festivities chime with garba songs and dances performed on the stage. Sound of the damru beats vitalizes the mind into a rhythm of cosmic trance. Rani lifts her legs and taps her feet. She listens to the metallic, sonorous sound of her silver anklets and smiles.
Rani’s close friend Alifiya observes her roza. Alifiya has to spit out her saliva many times. Alifiya tells Rani about Ramzan Id, a major Muslim festival. Alifiya wears new Salwar khameez and footwear on Ramzan Id. She has henna tattoos on her hands, palms and feet. Rani is fascinated by the glittering, colorful dress and fancy new slippers of Alifiya. Rani’s mother prepares sweets and lights oil lamps during Diwali festival. Rani wears her pattu pavada and gold jhumkas. She loves to burst crackers.
Dad respects learned women and appreciates women who take to jobs. He wants mom to take up a job. She refuses because she believes that women should take care of the house. Sashikumar Nair lives in front of Rani’s house. He has two daughters Sangeetha and Vinita. They have oil massage during weekends and Rani sees them basking in the sun in front of their house. It is a peaceful family of four. Sashikumar has a friendly smile. His wife has a relaxed way of doing her household work. She coaches her children at home. She compares her daughter’s marks with that of Rani. Rani and her parents speak to them in Hindi.
Grandmother selects a girl for Sudesh mama. The girl is from a remote village, Sethuramapuram in the South. Rani accompanies her parents, brothers and sisters to attend the marriage function in Ukoor. They take a train to Ukoor and from Ukoor they take a bus and a bullock cart to reach the bride’s place. There are rows of mud houses with thatched roofs. Many brahmin families live there. Rani finds that the houses have no electricity and they use oil lamps to light their houses during nights. After a three day marriage function, Rani, her parents, brothers and sisters return with lots of eateries packed in plantain leaves. Sweet smelling ladoos and athirasams are also packed. They take a train to Sagarpur to reach home.
(The video can be viewed on You tube by typing, ‘Ripples Roping Memories’)
