Maruva

The sun was out on a lovely Saturday morning on the 18 th of March, 2015. It was 7:30 a.m. As she dipped in the sunbeam that managed to find its way in, she got ready to set off. She had to leave by 11:00. The last glance in the mirror was a little longer than usual. Maruva was fair with a captivating pair of eyes, a small chin, a pointy parrot-like nose, and chubby little cheeks - all delicately carved on an innocent, pretty face. One could easily tell she was adorable! Lean and five foot five, she preferred to talk less. Instead, she’d communicate with her eyes and expressions. Her alluring and enticing smile could color the world in different hues. Joy radiated from her face as she pulled her hair back with a hairband. Her hair didn’t usually go beyond the shoulders and perfectly hung on either side of her face, making it all the more charming. It was now 11:00 in the morning. Maruva had put on a loose maroon top, a long cream skirt, and her favorite yellow hairband with curved silver lines weaved in. She smiled at the mirror and it seemed to turn bright in delight. Richu, her Pomeranian was taking his morning stroll in the garden, smelling the newly sprouted grass with little droplets of dew upon them. He seemed to roam in the hope of sniffing something out and making a discovery. When Maruva stepped out on the veranda, he ran over to her, his tail wagging in delight. As every day, Maruva got down on one knee, Richu leaping on to her and l*****g her fervently. She held him tight, as if assuring him of her deep, pure love. Together with her brother Akankash, the four of them made the perfect happy, stable Indian family, albeit with their own flaws. Mridula was 45 - 11 years younger to her husband. For the first 15 years, they’d had a turbulent marriage with differences in opinion emerging every now and then, until they had learned to live with each other’s flaws. Jeevan worked for the Indian Railways. He was a manager of vigilance in the Rail Wheel factory. It was a well-deserved accomplishment after 27 years of dedicated, meticulous service. He earned enough to live in a 2BHK independent villa. A giant oak tree spread wide by the entrance across a spacious veranda, the branches shedding over Maruva’s Activa and a paprika red Ford Ikon. HBR Layout was a residential area in the north of Bangalore, a serene locality that inspired a sense of calm and peace. Maruva was 22 and was pursuing a degree in M.Com. She was enjoying her vacations at home after completing the first year of her course. Akankash was the elder one, pursuing a degree in MBA. While he was done with his academic papers, he still had to appear for a project presentation and seminar assessment. He also had backlogs in two subjects which required him to stay at home and study. In reality, his one year break was an excuse for him to do nothing without having to look for a job. Mridula was fine with it and Akankash didn’t care much for Jeevan’s disapproval of the situation. Akankash was sharp, both in terms of looks and intellect. He was lean and stood tall at five foot eleven, with a wheatish complexion and long, smooth hair. He was an introvert but often managed to impress people with his quick-wit, exceptional sense of humor, and intelligence. A little eccentric, he had a unique outlook and rationale towards several societal issues. He was inquisitive and often pondered upon the customs, rules, and rituals that had been rooted deep in society over the stretch of civilizations. Those who knew him lived with the knowledge that he was truly unique with an impulsive and intuitive disposition. He stood firm in his belief that people tended to disagree with his radical ideas because they had been indoctrinated into accepting societal norms. He didn’t reveal his thoughts to many people, limiting discussions with only those close to him. He knew his unconventional ideas were sure to offend many. While he was jovial with Mridula and Maruva, he spoke to Jeevan in measured amounts. He didn’t bother to speak much to the rest and came across as reserved to new people. By 11:00, he had already shut the alarm several times, hitting the snooze button every ten minutes. He relished the bits of sleep he caught between snoozes. It was noon when he finally dragged himself out of bed all the way to the sofa and switched the television on, demanding his mother for coffee. It wasn’t unusual for him to wake up almost three hours after the family was done with its breakfast. In a few minutes, Mridula merrily arrived with his morning coffee. He picked up the newspaper as there was nothing interesting to watch on the television. He tossed a question to Mridula, “Mom, you must know that Goddess Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth – is the wife of Lord Venkateshwara?” Busy with her household chores, Mridula casually said, “Yes, it’s a well-known fact. Why do you ask?” Akankash responded, “Yes, Mom. But the thing is, when Lord Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, why is Lord Venkateshwara a borrower and lives in debt forever? What is this power that supersedes the relationship between a husband and wife, especially when they happen to be almighty lords?” Mridula was dumbfounded and didn’t have an answer. She pretended to ignore his question but started contemplating over it. She was usually astounded by his questions but seldom did she have an answer. Akankash often threw some pebbles in such lakes. She now thought it was a lack of knowledge that kept her from answering his questions. But his question hung in the silence - what could possibly take precedence over the power of the Gods? It was a disturbing thought. Never had she previously mused upon ideas of this nature. So she did what she could do best - asked him to take a bath and have his breakfast kept in the hot box. Like most of his questions, this one went unanswered too. Not ignorant like the rest, the seeker of truth pondered over it for some time, gobbled up his breakfast and then went to brush his teeth.