The Life line

I was II was so ready for school, oh! Silly it was not the Sarkaari School that I went to, but the evening school I went to, where Madam ji taught everything from English to basic math to keeping myself clean. In fact, following her and the regular lectures she gave me, and us all, I did not even smell during those days…

Rani kept on muttering non –stop to her cousin from Amritsar. She wanted to take her along with her, and she kept on saying come along, hurry up, we can’t be late. Comb your hair, plait it, we can’t leave it open, and wash your hands; she checks the nails otherwise worms go in your stomach.

Sunita, was scared, excited and hoping Madamji would not say anything to her. She had just come visiting for a few days, till her mother could borrow money or find some work to tide over their difficulties. Her chunni didn’t match, it had a hole, her salwar was also getting short her; her ankles showed, she would have to tie it a little lower but that meant her waist would show if she wasn’t careful. The kameez was also a bit tight, snug and frayed from one side. Why was she poor? Why could she not have new clothes and also have the shiny earrings the girls in Aabadpura wore? She did not know any English but she could say her name in English and she could write her name and also could even tell the name of fruits and colors. Rest, she had forgotten.

They both hurried to the school, it was in the open, and she entered the gates with the rest of the children. Everyone seemed cleaner, shinier, and sharper here. She felt so out of place, her chappals were dirty, feet were cracked and her nail paint was all chipped. What would she do? She put her hair back with a quick wet finger. Rani was walking in with a swagger and she sat down on the grass. She sat behind her, hoping no one would notice her.

Madam ji came walking in and saying Good evening. Sunita just fell in love with her, there and then. The pretty lady who smiled and asked about everyone and who was just taking attendance when she spotted her.

Who are you?

Madam ji, she is my sister from Ambarasar, said Rani.

Amritsar, not Ambarasar, said the teacher.

Sunita, stood up, knowing now she would be asked to leave, dying with shame, and blushing a red, pulling her shirt down, knowing everyone was looking at her. At that moment she felt so vulnerable and as about to cry when she heard Madam ji say, its ok, baith jao…

She quickly sat down, sinking into the ground.

The class was wonderful and she learnt things she never knew about. One hour just flew and she knew the entire math.

She just couldn’t wait till tomorrow.

Later in the evening, when Rani kept on showing off her English words and her sentences to everyone, Sunita kept ton dreaming about what the Madam had said. She too can learn English and go to college and get a job. She would not be like her mother, she would not need to work in the fields, she would not be stupid, illiterate, she would not be made a fool of…Sunita sat with her mother looking at her hands, knew that the life line which curved on her hand meant the change was happening now.

Rani and Sunita woke up early in the morning, ran to the fields before anyone could spot them. And then clutching their chunnis came back home. Sunita, reminded Rani to wash her hands. She came near her mother and hesitatingly asked her haltingly , Maaji has anything worked out? Her mothers brother was their last hope for some money or work  as her father had lost his job after one of his repeated drinking sprees . They owed money to everyone in the village and the sarpanch had warned her that if she did not have money to return her small home would be taken away . Sunita , wondered where her father was , he had disappeared after beating her mother and blaming her for everything , to being a kalmuhi , to being a woman who could not bear any sons , or the favorite one , she didn’t bring enough dowry with her . Her mother , banto looked as if her life had beaten from her, listless hair , vacant eyes, bruised cheeks and she wore clothes that had been washed so many times that the print and color had all faded to a muddy color …..

She never smiled or laughed anymore. Sunita , shook her agin , waiting for a response .Keep Quiet, we will know by the evening , your uncle has gone to the sardaar’s house.

She knew now not to say anything but while her time .

The day passed quickly , but then time stood still and the clock hands would not move to 4:30pm. She started getting ready , as she was wearing Rani’s shirt ( she had borrowed it ). She wanted to look nice for teacher ji and had also learnt her English again and again . She was going to study and study and she was going to make every one proud and get a job and they would never be poor or owe anyone any money .

Around 4 pm her uncle  came back and he shouted Banto , Banto ..Her mother came running and said haanji, what happened?

Suddenly her mother, called her . She went outside all dressed up , clean , hair in two pigtails and Rani had her books all ready with her. She, immediately said , I have no time, mother hurry up! And tell me what happened .

Beta, all our problems are solved, we have a job. Sunita was very happy. At last, everything was falling into place . All was fine. She smiled and said , ok , mother .

You have to go live in the sardaar’s house and be a companion to his daughter. They will give you food , clothes and look after you and have given me an advance of rs 5,000 . All our problems are solved.

Oh! You look very nice, meri Sunita . Bhaji , she can go in the morning . Go , go with Rani and you are so lucky , now you can go live in the house and you are truly my life line.

But , mother I wanted to study .