A tinge of red
Vaidehi wakes up in the morning to the warm sunshine that filters through her glass windows. Its just another day in her routine small town life. The tree whose branches always grow in her through her window is showing new shades of green, new leaves are peeping out to enjoy the warmth of sun like everyone else. The smell of incense and prayer bells from distance just adds to the warmth of the morning. But its not just the incense, theres smell of something delicious in the air too. Something she hasnt tasted in a while. But her sleepy head isnt ready yet to tell her exactly what to expect. Her beautiful curly hair is in a mess and thats something she wants to deal with later as well. Mornings are just not meant for worries, so she walks upto her window with a carefree walk just to feel the sun on her face. She feels more attached to the land beneath her today, well thats unusual..she thinks,but then she never been the perfect piece in a puzzle. Shes used to feel unusual things and this new found feeling to feel the soil on her feet is just another one of those. Vaidehi collects these thoughts as she opens her window, and takes a deep breath inside..ah!!! the mornings in mountains are just amazing, but she has never been away from them, its the only kind she knows. Nevertheless it doesnt bring her down, what she has is perfect, the green valley in front,lined with mountains majestic and tall. Her window tree that always sends in branches into her room as a friendly reminder of its presence. But then these lush green fields that streach in front of her are somehow greener today. Is it the glistening dew in them or the occasional spots of colors in green, she isnt sure, maybe she doesnt have to. She just stands there taking it all in. Her mountain morning.
Vaidehi!!! her mother shouts, and thats enough to put her on her toes. Startled she turns and there she is standing at the doors, a lil mad, a lil amused, a lil in haste like all mothers are in the moring. "I will be in breakfast in a minute Ma." But thats not enough to convince Aruna, Vaidehi's mother. Shes a women in her late thirties. A mother of four children Vaidehi being her third shes a benovalent mother and Vaidehi...well she sees her own reflection in Vaidehi, which makes her extra strict towards this little girl who had stepped into adolesence a couple of years ago. Shes has the face of a queen, Sharp facial featues and big red bindi on her hear head betwen her brows. Aruna is not very stern if come across her, but she deepky respected and often not taken lightly. when it comes to her family shes fiercely protective. Aruna says with a frown on her face "And whos supposed to make ur bed in the morning? You should be taking care of these things by youself now now Vidhu", Thats how she used to call her 'Vidhu'. Aruna picks up the blanket and drops it abruptly, rushes to the door and closes it in a frenzy. "Vidhu didnt u see this? Couldn't you feel it happen? Since when have you been experiencing it? Why didnt you tell me?" Aruna just starts shooting questions. Vaidehi puzzled comes closer to the bed to see what all the fuss is about only to find a patch of red on her bed. "Oh my god its all over you Vidhu, take off your colthes and sit down. I will be back in a minute." Aruna rushes out and closes the door behind her. Vaidehi takes off her colthes only to find the back of her skirt soaked in red too. It took her a while to realise it was blood. She bled last night, but she wasnt hurt when she back home after playing last evening?, This was strange and kind of confusing too. She was waiting for her mother though, she acted so strange maybe she knew what it was about, so she waited for her mother as she checked herself for open wounds.
Aruna rushed back in with a bowl of water, with steam coming off off it. Since when has this been going on Aruna asks? Well its the first time something of this sort happened Vaidehi replies. Aruna carefully wipes her legs all the way up to her vagina as she says, "You are a women now and there things that women should know and take care of". Vaidehi looks at her confused,as Aruna goes on, this is going to happen often now and we have to be careful not stain another sheet or skirt. You don't want all your clothes with red stains on them now do you Vidhu?". Vaidehi nods as Aruna goes on to explain her what her mother told her when hit her puberty. She tells the story of her first period and the lessons she learnt from her mother. Its a bit too much for Vaidehi to process in an hour. Shes still confused as to why she bled? But shes a good daughter and she listens to every word her mother says, although it doesnt make much sense to her. Then Aruna comes in with a piece of cloth and hands it over to Vaidehi, "You have to keep it between your legs under your clothes at all times for the next few days till the blood stops Ok? And no jumping around till we are sure the bleeding has stopped." Vaidehi frowns "But why Maaaaa??", "No more questions, Just do what I say and it will be over in no time, untill next time." Perplexed Vaidehi looks at her mother like she had been punished for a mischief she had't done. Vaidehi sits with Aruna smiling as her continueswiping her legs, like shes happy which makes her Vidhu even more angry. "You change into fresh clothes now and put the bad ones in this bag in that corner I will throw them away later, I will get your breakfast here by then." Aruna says. "I will sit with baba for breakfast like I usually do, why would you get my breakfast here?" Vaidehi resists. Aruna gives her a stern look and says, "Well you are not getting out of this room today, Its the first day of Navratri and you are not allowed to be around the puja" and she shuts the door behind her. Aruna is really busy with the chores, specially with the puja around and although she really wants to she cannot sit next to Vaidehi and answer all her questions which she knew would follow once she had processed the whole incident. Vaidehi on the other hand is really mad at her mother but shes not the kind of kid who argues or talks back a lot. She has always been the meek and obidient one among all siblings and even if she wants to she cannot get her rage out on her mother. She is also really mad at her this new heriditary disease she has caught which all women in her mother's family had and she doesnt want to carry it on. But in between her anger and her serene nature there is little shes able to do or say. So she sits in a corner, naked with tears rolling down her eyes.
Vaidehi gets and gets dressed, her face looks twice its original size, her cheeks red with anger thats breeding inside. So she tries to distract herself and the sweet smell of something cooking in ghee hits her again. What is it? She ponders...something thats related to todays puja and it dawns on her,Its ofcourse "MohanBhog". The last time she tasted it, it was the month of shravan, On Janmashtami. Alekhya her youngest brother was supposed to climb up and break the matki this year, but he fell down instead. The minute he reached the matki it oveflowed from the edges of the matki and Alekhya slipped on the spilled curd. Vaidehi would tease him for days, on how funny his face looked when he fell down. Alekhya and Vaidehi were very close to each other and they were the ones to fight the most together and hence the once to be disciplined together the most as well. Where is Alekhya though why isnt he looking for her...maybe Maa has gotten him involved in chores as well. She found the silver lining, she didnt have to help around with the puja all day. She pushed herself into the bed. Shes the queen today...food will be served in her bed.
Aruna walks in with Vaidehi's food. Shes in fresh clothes, all cleaned up and laying in her bed humming her favourite song. Aruna smiles at her obidient daughter, shes happy her little girl is growing up. The fact that she grew up so fast is quite unsettling. It seems like yesterday when she and her husband were praying in their fields offering their prayers to the land godess asking for a daughter, for in their village it was so believed a man who hasnt done 'Kanyadan' atleast once in his life has not lived a complete life. After having their first son they prayed for a daughter next but god blessed them with another son. But Aruna wasnt one to give up, a women of great perseverance she fasted for 12 days and would eat only after the sun had set down the horizon. And on the day the rains first kissed the land, when she and Bhuban started building their dream house, which stands proud as a sign of their success today, they buried a gold coin in the ground, their most prized possession as peasents into the land and asked for a daughter. She still remebers the evening as the sun was setting and the scent of freshly wet ground was overwhelming the lands, she stood there with folded hands and Bhuwan took a coconut and broke it before he started digging into the earth for building his new house, and when they had made satisfactory progress Aruna handed over what her mother in law handed over to her when she entered her in laws house as the 'Lakshmi' of their new household, A glistening gold coin with godess 'Lakshmi' engraved on both sides of it. They buried in deep in the north eastern corner of what was going to be their house someday and left with hopes in heart. And Vaidehi came into their lives a year later, a playful little girl with a smile to die for, Bhuban wouldn't let her go for a minute for the first couple of months. Life has been kind to them since she came, shes their strength like the ground holds the walls together she holds the family together. With her adorable mischiefs, her non stop giggles, her helpful nature with hoselhold chores, her childish obstinance, her kindness towards her baby brother she was the perfect daughter they could wish for. Aruna keeps smiling at her daughter lost in her thoughts.
Vaidehi turns around and jumps, "That smells delicious maa give it to me already." ,"I am going to feed you with my own hands today" Aruna replies as she runs her hand around Vidhu's head. Aruna sits down and puts Puri's into curry and then into Vidhu's awaiting already open mouth. And she starts a conversation about what had happened to her and how it was a part of her growing up. She also tells her to deal with the changes coming ahead and how to take control of her body and actions in the days come. She leaves out the discussion of staying away from boys. She feels her little girl is too young, she saves the conversation for a later date when she would understand things better. Vidhu listens to her mother still confused. She doesnt want to worry about it now, shes enjoying the momemnt with her mother. The smell of freshly cooked Puris, the steaming curry's spices blending to give a rich aroma, the smell of ghee in sweets, how could someone worry, she rejoiced every word. She knew intsructions will be repeated as and when to be carried out again, but this meal isnt going to repeat itself anytime soon. Vidhu smiles at her mom as she takes the last bite of sweet in the mouth and aruna kisses her cheecks as she gets up. There are chores to be taken care of, she leaves the door open this time, she knows her Vidhu isn't going to abide her words and who could lock up a child like that all day. Vidhu goes back to her window dreaming of things she wants to do as she grows up, but first she wants to laydown in that green streach of grass in front of her.
Vaidehi gets and gets dressed, her face looks twice its original size, her cheeks red with anger thats breeding inside. So she tries to distract herself and the sweet smell of something cooking in ghee hits her again. What is it? She ponders...something thats related to todays puja and it dawns on her,Its ofcourse "MohanBhog". The last time she tasted it, it was the month of shravan, On Janmashtami. Alekhya her youngest brother was supposed to climb up and break the matki this year, but he fell down instead. The minute he reached the matki it oveflowed from the edges of the matki and Alekhya slipped on the spilled curd. Vaidehi would tease him for days, on how funny his face looked when he fell down. Alekhya and Vaidehi were very close to each other and they were the ones to fight the most together and hence the once to be disciplined together the most as well. Where is Alekhya though why isnt he looking for her...maybe Maa has gotten him involved in chores as well. She found the silver lining, she didnt have to help around with the puja all day. She pushed herself into the bed. Shes the queen today...food will be served in her bed.
Aruna walks in with Vaidehi's food. Shes in fresh clothes, all cleaned up and laying in her bed humming her favourite song. Aruna smiles at her obidient daughter, shes happy her little girl is growing up. The fact that she grew up so fast is quite unsettling. It seems like yesterday when she and her husband were praying in their fields offering their prayers to the land godess asking for a daughter, for in their village it was so believed a man who hasnt done 'Kanyadan' atleast once in his life has not lived a complete life. After having their first son they prayed for a daughter next but god blessed them with another son. But Aruna wasnt one to give up, a women of great perseverance she fasted for 12 days and would eat only after the sun had set down the horizon. And on the day the rains first kissed the land, when she and Bhuban started building their dream house, which stands proud as a sign of their success today, they buried a gold coin in the ground, their most prized possession as peasents into the land and asked for a daughter. She still remebers the evening as the sun was setting and the scent of freshly wet ground was overwhelming the lands, she stood there with folded hands and Bhuwan took a coconut and broke it before he started digging into the earth for building his new house, and when they had made satisfactory progress Aruna handed over what her mother in law handed over to her when she entered her in laws house as the 'Lakshmi' of their new household, A glistening gold coin with godess 'Lakshmi' engraved on both sides of it. They buried in deep in the north eastern corner of what was going to be their house someday and left with hopes in heart. And Vaidehi came into their lives a year later, a playful little girl with a smile to die for, Bhuban wouldn't let her go for a minute for the first couple of months. Life has been kind to them since she came, shes their strength like the ground holds the walls together she holds the family together. With her adorable mischiefs, her non stop giggles, her helpful nature with hoselhold chores, her childish obstinance, her kindness towards her baby brother she was the perfect daughter they could wish for. Aruna keeps smiling at her daughter lost in her thoughts.
Vaidehi turns around and jumps, "That smells delicious maa give it to me already." ,"I am going to feed you with my own hands today" Aruna replies as she runs her hand around Vidhu's head. Aruna sits down and puts Puri's into curry and then into Vidhu's awaiting already open mouth. And she starts a conversation about what had happened to her and how it was a part of her growing up. She also tells her to deal with the changes coming ahead and how to take control of her body and actions in the days come. She leaves out the discussion of staying away from boys. She feels her little girl is too young, she saves the conversation for a later date when she would understand things better. Vidhu listens to her mother still confused. She doesnt want to worry about it now, shes enjoying the momemnt with her mother. The smell of freshly cooked Puris, the steaming curry's spices blending to give a rich aroma, the smell of ghee in sweets, how could someone worry, she rejoiced every word. She knew intsructions will be repeated as and when to be carried out again, but this meal isnt going to repeat itself anytime soon. Vidhu smiles at her mom as she takes the last bite of sweet in the mouth and aruna kisses her cheecks as she gets up. There are chores to be taken care of, she leaves the door open this time, she knows her Vidhu isn't going to abide her words and who could lock up a child like that all day. Vidhu goes back to her window dreaming of things she wants to do as she grows up, but first she wants to laydown in that green streach of grass in front of her.
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