She must be too frustrated
or too cynic! Just a moment of
conversation and she spilled the beans about her family problems. Honestly I
was not interested in knowing her family problems. While visiting Itanagar, the
vehicle stopped at a place called Dimu for lunch. (Not sure about the name of
the place) There I saw an old woman working
as domestic helper to hotel owner.
Wrinkles were what I saw
her face. Her nerves and veins were clearly visible in her hands. She was not
weak though. After having lunch I went to a toilet to pee. As there was
no running tap but hand pump, I went there to wash my hands but there was no
soap. I used ash. She was there cleaning
the utensils.
I asked her, “
arrey kuch saabun bhi nahi
haath dhoney ke liye!” (Oh there is no soap for
washing hands) She abruptly replied,” kahan rakhegaa sabun yeh
log, . yeh log sirf paisa ko dekhta hai. Kanjoos!” (Who bothers to
keep soap? They are only after money.
Stingy!).
When I asked in spite of
this you work here. Want of
money has forced her to do such work. Her husband is paralyzed and bed ridden
since months and she revealed that her
two sons are already married and away from home. They don’t’ send any money to them. When I
suggested her to be strict, her mood
changed to that of agony and revealed that they beat them when
they are home. So are frightened of them. I wanted to know if they had daughter(s). Yes was her reply. I
told her to ask from them. Her
reply really surprised me- when she said they don’t help her and said, “shaadi
ke baad toh ladki aur haraami
ho gaya.” (After marriage girls have become bloody bastard)!
I could feel suppressed
anger in her when she uttered those words. I did not say anything but
came back and took my seat. After sometime, the journey resumed. I was wondering what made her sharing her
problems with me (a complete stranger) within that short span of conversation between us. What a life but such is life!
Image Courtesy: Google
Image Courtesy: Google
