Didn't even realise how time passed away and the D Day is here. I’ve to go to my cousin's birthday. I packed my bag and dress that I’ll wear at birthday. I was packing my bag and Parul di walked in and took look at my bag and asked

Where you going?

“At my father’s house, there’s a birthday of my cousin and he recently got married so they want to celebrate a big birthday party. Like birthday and happy marriage celebration. I’ll be back by evening.”

“Why don’t you stay for a night at house you’ll be travelling. “said Parul di

“I just shook my head, and mumbled. I don’t want. It doesn’t feel like the home”

She went quiet and I went back to pack my bag.

“You leaving tomorrow, right? How are you getting to bus stop?” said Parul di

“By autorickshaw”  

“She sighed, I’ll ask Pranit to drop you and you’re not saying no for his help. Please, I’m worried for you.” Said Parul di

As I sat on my bed she called Pranit bhaiya and told him to drop me at bus stop tomorrow. He said yes. And they talked for a bit and when she was done with call, she sat beside me on the bed.

 She put her hand on my shoulder and spoke “try not to fight with father, he’ll not back down and will scream on you. It’ll be you who’ll suffer. Your sleep and you schedule would be affected so make sure not to engage with him.”

I nodded, and then we went back to our evening routine

Next day, around 6am I was standing on hostel gate with Parul di. Pranit bhaiya arrived to drop me at bus stop on his friend’s bike

“Don’t come back until she’s sat in bus. “Said Parul di

Pranit bhaiya nodded and he started the bike. I sat on bike and I said bye to Parul di. The ride till bus stop was silent. And we reached at the bus stop; he bought the ticket for me. As we sat down, and was wating for bus to arrive.

He nudged me, and asked;” what happened ishhu? “

I shook my head, and stayed silent.

The silence between us was so awkward, so breaking the silence he said “I heard you’ll be coming back today. So make sure to call me. You’ll be late, the hostel gate would be close. so I’ll tell my friend Disha to let you sleep at her flat. “

I nodded.

And bus arrived, Pranit bhaiya steeped in bus with me. Put my bag on upper rack. He bought me a makhana packet. And said, I guess this will be your breakfast. We both chucked. Travel safely bala (kiddo, in marathi) he said.

The bus started and it’ll took me around 6hrs to reach at my hometown. So I’ll reach by 12pm. I just tried to distract myself with songs, but I couldn’t enjoy the songs. So I was just looking out of the window.

As I was reaching closer to hometown, I saw fields full of bloomed orange and yellow marigold. It was such soothing scene on my eyes. I tired to capture them on my phone but the speed of bus was impacting the focus of my phone camera. So, I just sat there and enjoyed the scene. I noticed as I was getting closer the hometown nothing has changed about it. The houses I would see on journey are still there. The road is bumpy; houses are shaggy as if this town just refuse to change.

I arrived at bus stop of my hometown. And I sat in rikshaw. Told the man address and he dropped me at the house. As I was getting out of it I saw many curious gazes on me. The nebhiours were curious about how am I doing. There is this old lady lives near our house and she loves to gossip. She was walking towards me but I acted as if I didn’t saw her and just entered in my father’s house. And rang the bell. As soon as the door opened and entered in house. The house was mess. Old newspapers were staked on his study table. Curtains changed their colour as if they haven’t washed in years. I looked at him and sighed. As I didn’t even take of my shoes the nosy nebhiour knocked on front door. I steeped away and started taking my shoes off. And my father opened the door. My father didn’t even invite her in but she just walked in and sat on sofa. She just let welcomed on my parents’ house. She looked at me and said, “she’s gotten so tall na; I mean even taller you”

My father nodded. And said, “she’s a state level volleyball player. I mean it runs in blood. I played volleyball in my collage and she plays it now. But I had responsibilities so I couldn’t continue. If I had some time and support, I could’ve gone to state as well. But I let her play. I let her do whatever she wants. I didn’t raise a weak girl. She stays in Pune by herself.”

The nebhiour was here to check on me, or more specifically she wanted to know why I was back here. She was hoping it was more gossip worthy. She didn’t get anything so she just chitchatted with father and left.

As she left, I looked at my father said, “she didn’t changed a bit, how old is she? In her mid-60’s? “

“Could be” he said

I remember this one-time grandma was here cause she made this golden bangles from the jeweller mother knew. And this lady wanted to know why grandma was here so she literally asked grandma why are you here? Question. Can you believe

“She’s shameless like that. Let her be. You should change in better clothes we’ll go to the venue birthday is about to start.” Said father

“Venue? I thought it’ll be at the old house”

[we have this old family house. The old family house where the generation of my grandparents grew up. That house been renovated before lockdown. And mostly family gathering is held there]

“Well, the dinner would be there, you know how the older generation don’t like the cake cutting and all. So, we’ll be doing the cake cutting at a venue that I booked.” Said father

He went inside the house and I sat on sofa thinking, the people who can’t even allow cake cutting for birthday celebration will be in that family gathering. Will be there and judging every other kid in family. Not to mention the girls who are in college and not yet married. And off course they’ll talk ill about my dead mother.

“God, even dead woman can’t be saved from their judgement” I muttered to myself

And here I’ll be stuck in this hellfire, for half day.