Through swirling mists
I followed you
on faith alone.
When the haze lifted
I reached out and
blindfolded myself
This is another unexplored genre for me. What do you think? Did it make sense? Is the format all wrong?
In response to the Daily Post’s one-word prompt – Blindly
It had been a long day at the office and Sonali was looking forward to putting up her feet with a cup of tea.
Raja, her 12-year-old-son, opened the door. “Mom, my scholarship money which was in the drawer has been stolen.”
Sonali suppressed a groan.
There went her hopes of relaxing. “Are you sure? Did you check properly?”
“Yes Mom.”
“Let me see.” She hunted high and low with Raja prowling about like a bear that had misplaced her cubs.
“Perhaps you spent it and forgot?” Sonali asked hoping against hope.
“No! I didn’t. I had Rs 7122. Now there is only Rs 122.”
“Why would a thief take only part of the money?” Sonali wondered.
“Probably because she was in a hurry?”
“She?” Sonali turned to her husband.
He shrugged. “It’s obviously one of the girls.”
Sonali looked at him in dismay. Who else indeed? Nobody else entered Raja’s room.
“Mom, are you going to call the police? Will they go to jail?” The bear wanted blood.
“I am not going to do any such thing.”
“Why not? They are thieves and they should be in jail.”
“There are three of them and I don’t know who has taken the money. I can’t just call the police.” Sonali was aghast. “This is a domestic matter and not a very big issue. I will sort it out.”
“Not a big issue? It was my scholarship money!”
“How will you sort it out? You do realize this is a tricky situation, which could blow up in our faces? What if they bring counter allegations of harassment?”
Mama and Papa bears pulled her in two different directions.
“Let me think! I haven’t even been to the washroom.” Sonali snarled. “And you,” Sonali turned to Raja, “It’s all your fault. How many times did I tell you to take care of it?”
“So it’s my fault? Not the thieves? You want to put me in jail and let them go scot free?” He followed his mother to the washroom.
Sonali slammed the door for some peace and quiet.
Her husband was right. This was indeed a tricky situation. She couldn’t –shouldn’t talk to the girls. Who knew how they would react? They would of course deny culpability. It would be better to talk to their mother, Sheila.
In the privacy of the loo, Sonali allowed herself the luxury of a groan. If only Raj was still around. None of this would have happened.
“I can’t come to work from tomorrow.” Raj, Sonali’s longtime and trusted house help, had said not so long ago.
Disaster!
Raj was Sonali’s right and left hand. A delicate health, a full time job, a hungry teenager, breakfast, tiffin, lunch, high tea, and dinner – the heat! How would she manage?
“I am sorry but the family is shifting far from here. You know I can’t read bus numbers. Besides I have never traveled alone. So.” She raised her hands in a helpless gesture.
“Can you suggest someone as a replacement? Someone trustworthy?” Seeing no other option Sonali asked.
“I will see. But I won’t be able to vouch for trustworthiness.”
“I suppose not. But at least send someone who is regular and doesn’t take too many offs. You know how things are at home.”
After a frenetic week, a middle-aged woman turned up. “Memsahib, you are looking for a maid? Raj sent me.”
“Oh.” Sonali wiped the soapsuds off her hands. “What’s your name?”
“Sheila.”
“Are you new? I haven’t seen you around.”
“No Memsahib. I have been here for longer than Raj has. I was the one who arranged for her accommodation near my house when she first came to town.”
“Okay Sheila,” Sonali interrupted her self-righteous affronted speech, “I do need someone to help me with the housework. But you have to come early morning before I leave for work and after I come back from work.”
“But Raj used to…”
“Yes Raj had a key. But she’s been with me for more than a decade now. I can’t just…” Sonali trailed off for fear of offending her.
“Don’t think like that of us Memsahib. We are of good family Memsahib. It’s just that we have fallen upon bad times.”
“I am sure! I didn’t mean to imply that you weren’t trustworthy. But you do agree trust takes time? Even with Raj…”
“Okay Memsahib. As you think best.”
“And I don’t want you to take any leave without information. At least give me a call, if you can’t come.”
Sheila nodded.
Relieved, Sonali agreed to Sheila’s demands of a salary hike and handed over the reins of the cleaning to her. She could go back to having a cup of tea in peace.
After a bit of tussle with the men of the house who didn’t like the idea of a strange woman roaming the house and encroaching upon their activities.
“Why do I have to go out? My room is clean.”
“Who is she? What are her credentials? What if she steals something?”
“Whoever has objections can take her place. I will even pay for it.” Sonali smartly turned the tables. They backed off mumbling and grumbling.
Sheila turned out to be a God sent – she was regular, clean and a reliable worker. Sonali relaxed and bonded with her new ‘friend’ and life savior. Saturday was Sonali’s day off and Sheila would share a cup of tea her life’s woes and joys while the bears were away.
“Memsahib, this morning breakfast that you are kind enough to give me everyday? I really appreciate it. I come for work without having breakfast. It saves me time. And money.”
“My husband is a good man, Memsahib. No smoking no drinking, no bad habits. I feel sorry for him that he got me as a wife. I couldn’t give him a son.”
“Without a son, there is no respect in society, Memsahib. I gave birth to five daughters but no son.”
“My husband can’t sleep nights for worry. The other day he fainted because of high blood pressure. Running around the hospital is no woman’s job. I cannot even read and write. If only we had a son.”
“My husband is taking a life insurance policy. He has been advised to make his nephew as the beneficiary not me or my daughters.”
“My youngest says she is my son. She said she would never leave me and go.”
“Daughters’ weddings are expensive business. We are still dealing with the burden of loan for our two elder daughters’ marriage.“
“I don’t know how to control my daughters Memsahib. They are driving us crazy with their demands for an early marriage. The middle one especially is running out of control and is straying. She has a boyfriend. She has no shame in flaunting him. She carries on publicly with him. She cares more for him than us. She gave us an ultimatum, either we get her married or she will run away with him. Think of the shame Memsahib, we will lose face in society.”
“We can’t put off their wedding much longer. But where will we get the money to marry them off?”
“Sweets for you Memsahib. I am very happy today. My daughter’s second child is a boy. Now nobody can taunt her or me. Our ‘sonless’ curse is broken.”
“Memsahib, I need leave to take care of my husband. He’s had a heart attack.”
Sonali looked at her in dismay. “Oh no!”
“Don’t worry Memsahib. Your work won’t suffer. I know you also don’t keep a good health and I will make sure that at least one of my three daughters comes to do your house work.”
Seeing no other option, Sonali agreed. Besides, it was considerate of Sheila to keep her comfort in mind in this situation. But her neat orderly house running like clockwork was thrown into disarray. It’s not that the girls didn’t come, but each had a different way of working and special area of slipshoddiness. But Sonali had little choice but to bear it as well as she could.
And now money was missing. And who knows what else was missing.
“Mom, you are still letting thieves walk about the house?”
“I don’t know which of the three took the money. Besides, I don’t want to say anything to them. Sheila will have to deal with them.” Sonali said. “Until she comes to work, things will carry on as usual, except that we will have to keep a closer watch on their activities.”
A long drawn out altercation followed but Sonali was adamant.
Much to everyone’s disgust.
Sheila reported for work four days later.
“Sheila,” Sonali was uncomfortable and apprehensive, “I wanted to tell you that some money is missing from my son’s room.”
Sheila stared.
She turned off the tap.
“My youngest would never do it.” She said at last.
Relieved not to have Sheila take offence or fly off the handle, Sonali said carefully measuring each word, “You know your daughters best. I didn’t say anything to any of them because I thought you were best suited to deal with the situation. And there is no doubt I am afraid that one of them must have taken it.”
Sheila didn’t say anything and went about her work as usual.
Sonali escaped to office but she was bombarded with dire warnings and advice from all quarters.
“Be careful of these people. They are very cunning. They will land up in hordes and create a ruckus. Worse they can also file a harassment complaint at the police station.”
“So what should I do?” Sonali was getting more and more apprehensive.
“Forget about the money.”
“And continue to let her work?”
“That’s a bit tricky. Best you deal with it diplomatically.”
“But how?”
“Oh look at the time! And I have tons of work…”
That’s it work – work was the only distraction and Sonali pushed the domestic crisis for later.
When Sonali returned from office, she found Sheila and her husband waiting for them.
Now what?
Sonali looked at her husband. He set his lips and walked inside.
Sonali steeled herself for the worst.
“Yes Sheila.” Sonali hated the defensiveness in her own tone.
“Memsahib, we came to apologise and offer compensation. I know my middle daughter has taken the money. Please don’t call the police.”
Sonali stared at Sheila unable to believe her ears. “How do you know?”
“Like you said Memsahib, I know my children best. I knew my youngest couldn’t have done it. And my middle one has been getting desperate about her lover. I confronted all three of them. They all denied. So I accused her outright. She denied vociferously. Then I told her ‘Memsahib has a CCTV camera and she saw you take it.’ She broke down and confessed.”
Sheila wrung her hands waiting for the axe to fall.
The wind taken completely out of her sails, Sonali was dumbstruck.
In all the scenarios that they had painstakingly constructed, they had never ever considered that Sheila would accept culpability or identify the culprit.
“Memsahib, we have brought some money. Please take how much ever she stole from you. She confessed that she stole for her boyfriend and has already given it to him. We would have thrown her out Memsahib, but her wedding cards have distributed. Think of the bad name our family will get. How will I get my other two daughters married? Please don’t call the police. We just have Rs 5000 with us right now. We will give back the rest to you as soon as we can.”
Sonali felt humbled yet victorious, small yet exhilarated.
***
A/N Based on a true incident.
In response to the Daily post’s one-word prompt – Outlier
The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge wants us to share ‘a’ photo of something that represents security. Initially, I couldn’t think of a single photo that would fit the theme but then I ended up with four of them! Unwilling to play favorites, risking life and limb, discarding all thoughts of personal security I decided to post all them 😀
Doesn’t this look like a soldier’s helmet and rifle?
A ‘real’ security guard – don’t miss the flowers in her hair and the red painted toenails 🙂
I snapped this photo of the kitty from behind the security of the barred gate 🙂
Taadaaa – Heights of e-security! Back up of back ups! And would you believe it – I still end up disconnected. Oh well…
Here’s wishing you all a safe (e and otherwise;) secure future!
Do let me know which one is your favorite 🙂
For readers of Moonshine, here's Chapter 130
The Weekly Photo Challenge wants us to get into the thick of things. Here I am with my collection.
The morning Sun makes the park look denser than it is
This one is a pretty dense wood in the midst of Delhi
With lush green foliage and thick leafed trees.
Have you seen a dense jungle beside a sea beach? Quite an amazing sight at Radhanagar beach, Havelock Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Dense artwork of the Chidambaram temple gopurams. You can see more pics and read about it here.
A dense green tree at the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. And a couple of more dense colorful trees from around the world 🙂
Wearing the colors of the Sun.
Party time in Prague 🙂
Hope you liked this collection and thanks for dropping by 🙂
Green is such a wonderful color, so soothing and something I can never get enough of. At one point of time, all my dresses had something do with green. Now it’s all about blue and red 😉 This week, the Daily Post’s Weekly Challenge is about celebrating green – It IS easy being green!
Come join me on a green tour…
“Do you have a personal mantra? Mine comes from a childhood song.
“Wherever I go the grass grows greener.” ― Richie Norton
A green spire and a matching green dress 🙂
Yellow, red and orange dot the greens
Greens own the ruins of the Golconda fort, Hyderabad.
Whiled away many an idyllic childhood day traipsing up and down this stream near Dehradun.
A final green feast – a boat ride through the picturesque Chunnambar backwaters, Puducherry, India.
Hope you liked – ciao until next time!
Do let me know you were here so that I may feast my eyes too 🙂
The Weekly Photo Challenge hosted by the Daily Post has thrown up Atop. Taking the literal route, I bring some views from the top.
On our way up to Mt Pilatus in Switzerland by the cable car, the obdurate spoilsport clouds insisted on obscuring the spectacular view – decided to begin by sharing my frustration 😉
A bunch of flowers sitting atop a pole as a peace offering 😀
A view of Vienna from atop the Ferris wheel
A bird’s eye view of the picturesque city of Prague
And that brings us to the real ‘topper’ – don’t you agree?
Thanks for visiting 🙂
For IPKKND fans and readers of SS - there's a little something from DM's Desk. Do have a look if you are so inclined
This week show us a wish – this is the daily post’s weekly photo challenge. What do I wish for? I have to confess I am a bit skeptical about wishes – Be careful of what you wish for, you may receive it” ~ W.W. Jacobs.
But a challenge is a challenge so as the sun rises on a new day, I will settle for a prayer:
May I be so blessed that there is no need for me to wish for anything at all ~ D
If you had a wish, what would you wish for?
Would you like to take a walk with me? Come along then, the weather is just perfect!
Would you like a stroll through the woods?
Or perhaps by the mighty Ganges?
But to get the real feel, let’s walk the streets
And it wasn’t even Sunday 😀
Tree on a water tanker, albeit a broken down one. Growing on just air and water. Amazing where a tree can grow right?
I had to come back for a second closer look. Almost fooled us (and you) there 😉
OMG I wonder if the workers are expected to walk up the ramp? I hope not…
This one is rather special for it is one the rare photographs my son has deigned to share with us (after being prompted of course) on his first trip alone to an unfamiliar city.
I don’t usually link to multiple challenges but I am rather tired after all that walking 😉 So I am linking to Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge The Road Taken and Cee’s Which Way Challenge. And since all good things come in threes – Becca’s Sunday Trees – 277.
Appreciate your company on this stroll around the country – hope you aren’t too tired to leave me a note 😉
That’s a long shot of Golconda Fort, near Hyderabad, India.
I took the long shot from here. What’s the big deal you ask? Fair enough. But clearly something is afoot as you can make out from the bunch of visitors gathered under the portico. The blue shirted guy in the middle was animatedly translating for his non-English speaking companions the magic of the ordinary looking portico.
If you stand at the center of the portico and clap, you can hear a resonance. And this resonance can be heard at the palace built on the hillock about a kilometer away (the first picture).
Strangely, if you move away from the center of the portico (about seven feet) you cannot hear the resonance. Quite quite magical. And wait there’s more!
This hall was once the Royal durbar where visitors were brought to meet the royalty – if you look up you can see part of a balcony. That’s where the King sat. A bit too far away for conversation right? Well, the Royalty couldn’t risk mingling with the common crowd so they devised an ingenious method of communication. Clapping? No that was too common and loud.
Standing at the center of the hall, tapping a taut piece of fabric is enough to cause a distinct vibration, a resonance similar to that we noted at the clapping portico.
Another royal hall fallen upon bad times. But what is intact is the magic. Guards standing at the corners could talk to each other by whispering into the walls. Unlike the other two places, this whisper is not audible at the center. It’s true – we tried it out. No need for telephones, wires or internet 😀
A closer look at the palace – actually the closest I got to it (I wasnt going to climb 360 steps!). Apparently from the palace, experienced clappers communicated orders to soldiers stationed at the perimeter of the fort.
I don’t exactly know how the mechanism works – something to do with a series of arches, each smaller than the preceding one on one side of the portico. Apparently this helps a sound wave generated under the dome of the portico to get compressed and then bounce back amplified enough to reach a distance of more than a kilometer away. Whatever – but it was amazing, scintillating, magical and unmatched.
Game, set and match to the architects don’t you think?
Thanks for visiting do share your thoughts and have a good day.
The Veiled Rebecca depicts the veiled bride of Isaac. Created by the Italian artist Giovanni Benzoni, it stands at a height of 167.0 cm with the statue and its round pedestal carved from a single block of marble without any joints.
Another closer view of the stunning work of art. How he managed to create the appearance of a transparent veil from marble is beyond my comprehension. I cannot even remove the reflection of the light 😦
Benzoni is believed to have made four copies of this sculpture, one of which is kept at the Salar Jung Museum Hyderabad. I am sure he was so stunned by his own creation that he wanted to make sure it was no fluke or magic! Apparently, the only difference between this and the other three is that in this one the right hand is lifting the veil while in the other it is the left hand.
Did you notice the fingers in this picture and the one above? In one it seems as it the fist is sort of clenched but in the other, the fingers seem to be unfurled. Quite magical don’t you think?
I could stare at it whole day long – the flowing robes, the posture, the poise, the grace, the fluidity of stone, the….
Linked to Daily Post’s Weekly – against the odds
The Story Club for this month is overdue. If anyone is interested, please suggest a story, otherwise I would like to propose ‘The Kabuliwala‘ by Rabindranath Tagore. I hope to post my review over the weekend. I would be happy if you join the discussion.
Have a good day and thanks for visiting.
Stories and more 