Bhindian diyan gallan

BHINDIAN DIYAN GALAAN

Dear Sarpanchani Sahiba,

Sat Sri Akalji, I would like to bring to your notice that I am tied on the village dher post (garbage dump) and at night the neighbor Banti slyly milks me in connivance with the pair of snakes living there. Sometimes, the snakes also milk me and because of them living there, nobody comes close by; as if you disturb them bad luck follows you for 7 years.

I want justice and swift action, needs to be taken. Please schedule me for an audience with the panchayat on the coming Sunday.

Your’s faithfully,

Kali Ga with a chitta nishan(cow with a white mark)

This is a truthful letter which was received by mother –in law who is an elected Sarpanch.

Do not make fun of the innocence or the naivety of the villagers residing in the villages of Punjab; this is the story of real India which I would like to highlight to you all. We need to address these problems of superstition, ignorance, lack of education. All else, are elitist problems. Do you think the 67%of Punjab is bothered about what happens in Copenhagen, or whether the glaciers are melting or whether Headley is a rogue agent? We need to break free from the cocoon of information around us and try a dose of reality. The name of the village is changed.

Daarji's entrance

He walked in an immaculate cotton white kurta-pajyama clad in the softest pashmina toosha lohi his footsteps beating a welcome to his grand-son's room . He was followed by his man-servant Momin who was there always in his shadows ready to anticipate his every whim and fancy. Never ever , since he had crossed over from Sind, south west of Punjab(India ) had he ever had said no, to his master to whom he was bound till death . This practice which had all but died out was upheld by him as a testimony to the zamindar-naukar traditions which were unexplainable as they were tied by invisible bonds.

Clearing his throat to announce his entrance he walked in, boldly to glance at his sleeping grand-daughter who was precious to him than anyone else in his life . The look which she gave him and the lisp .....it just tore at his heart. Agreed, the khaandaan 's line was assured but this lil' girl was his jaan.

Gazing at his grand-son who was sleeping in the day-crib adjacent to her bathed in the morning sun , he was a throw-back on the family's good looks.

Walking out to the family living -room , he glanced at the furnishings which were de riguer in every up-scale home in Chandigarh, but did these crystal pieces and Laliques, silver artefact's be a promise to happiness and peace?He had travelled all this way from pind to make peace with Parkash, an enigma of a woman,if any.

He was different from as chalk was from cheese but the love they shared for their child united them and they kept their appearances and now it was time for the round in Chandigarh. he had to go through a lot this month , with all the celebrations and the huge path which was being organised for the naam karan . Getting back to Sudoku, he waited patiently for his Sardarni to walk in......

the festivities

Oh, Ye! of the lost innocences, how the cover of darkness hides us..Rhea was amazed at the lines which were repeating in her mind while she was staring at the crowd collected in her living-room similar to the glass-eyed looks of a cow..Everyone was busy with a glass of the finest wine, single-malt whiskey (if you,please ) and the bar operated by Karan had everything going ..there was something for everyone. He really had splashed out to celeberate the arrival .How is that,an ivy-league education, a modern upbringing gets clouded by the birth of a son? There was so much disparity, or maybe she was just plain tired. Rhea made her excuses and moved to her room where , she checked on the baby in the crib and Kudrat sleeping on the bed sucking her thumb;insecurities surfacing.Karan entered the room brandishing the famous robin's egg blue Tiffany box. Forgetting her aches and pains she exclaimed "Wow" You had to hand it over to him..the panache and style made him the man he was , she hugged and kissed him..The card from Tiffany's said,"There are times to celebrate, this is one of them" enjoy!Love Karan. The sapphire ring encased with diamonds had an engraving on the inner side..She was going to be the envy of the gals, eat your heart ..she thought.Nobody and that is nobody had ever been gifted a gift straight from Tiffany&co. She had made it to the top.In fact she thought it was worth all the pain and putting up with the relatives.Closing the door, and looking at Karan who was waiting for her near the bed, she thanked her stars for being blessed.

Mama, would look after the guests and would send them off along, and tomorrow anyway was an imp. day Daarji was coming to bless the baby from pind.She wondered what was in store for her closing her eyes....

death, funerals,crocodile tears..

I just came back from doing "afsos"..the punjabi way of giving condolences when someone passes away. We all do it, are guilty of mumbling words of sympathy and shedding tears ;whilst remembering our own pain.

She sat there mute , eyes swollen with tears, her fingers rhythmically pleating her shawl as if this repetitive exercise would free her from the cudgels of life and death. For the family, they had lost a son, a brother , an uncle to many , loved by the village folk . She , who had to hide all her sorrows of him being an alcoholic, a wife-beater had to enshrine him forever to the highest levels of

saint-hood.

I wondered, when we all walked away, was she trapped for eternity or had she been set free by her husband's death? Would we the society let her rejoice freedom or would we condemn her to a life of stricter rules??

homecoming to chandi'

Life is a bed of roses but for her tonight it seemed as it was raining!! All her favorites were lined up and Mrs Khullar had been roped in it seems to transform their room to the Botanical gardens at Kew .. very filmi!!!

Karan had prepared the the room as if, they were consummating marital bliss for the first time..She stifled a giggle,it all seemed /appeared corny to her , all these attempts to welcome her ;honestly it resembled a'B' grade movie she thought hysterically.

Maybe, it was her nerves but she didn't understand all this fuss. The welcome, the stringing of lights outside(the kothi) resembled a x'mas tree, the 'dholi' belting out Babbu Maan's new chartbuster and the people...It resembled a pre-wedding party, everyone decked out with the newest creations from Mintu matching with the oh! so correct jamavaars , decadent solitaires

Didn't , they understand that she needed her space ?

She, had just come back from Delhi with the baby, Kudrat , the new maids and all the luggage, she still needed to get her bearings right.

Karan , had the whole seduction scene planned out and her mom -in-law had her dragon club together to show-off the baby , physical proof, you see.

And her coterie of well-meaning friends were all huddled in a a corner and all she wanted was to curl up and cry, but grinning and smiling she said ssa! and "matha tekoed", the first of many back breaking of the evening.