Life Beyond Love, Chapter-2: After Five Years
361 Words
It was my last year of college. I was going to complete my M.A. at my home college in Women's Studies. I was quite accustomed to the daily journey. And it was not far from Santagar except for the muddy, uneven village road that I had to cross every day balancing on my bicycle to reach the main road. I kept the cycle in Abani uncle's potato shop.
"Hi, uncle? How are you?”
"Fine beta. How is your Mamoni?"
Uncle never asked of me, every time he asked for Mamoni. And not only Abani uncle, every friend and relative just cared for her. As if my father's death had only affected my mom, not me, not five years before or now. But it was I who was carrying this daily drudgery to continue my studies without living in a hostel comfortably and happily enjoying life with friends. But this matters nothing to anyone. I grumbled.
The bus horned and I got up.
“Bye, uncle.”
“Take care.”
Something blackened my mood. After my father's death, everyone got anxious about Mamoni, even myself. How couldn't I be? I was her only child. I never left her alone, and I never thought of studying at another institution. I started tuition as my father’s pension was not enough for both of us. And Mamoni had to remain under continuous medical supervision for those long years. She was weak physically as well as mentally.
The sudden loss threw me into a sudden maturity, as if I had grown a lot. I can feel it when I spend my time with others. I could not enjoy the time so freely as them, something kept gnawing inside me, and I had to get up and head for home. But who cared when my heart cried for adoration and pampering? I also liked to be treated like a child within the lap of Mamoni. I also sought a hand of care upon my head. Feeling my eyes getting wet, I checked myself. I did not want to draw attention or sympathy from any unknown, in a public place. Was I not a brave girl?
- Writer
