The alarm rings continuously. One of the figures on the bed lies still, the other one stirs.
Looks at her cupped palms and recites:
“Karagre vasate Lakshmi…. Kara madhye…..”
She bends down and touches the ground reverently and steps out noiselessly. As if her footsteps on the carpet would awaken the sleeping figure where the shrill noise of the alarm had failed.
Setting a huge pot of water to boil, she steps out through the front door, a broom in her hand.
A fine layer of sweat breaks out on her forehead and her nightie sticks to her skin by the time she finishes sweeping the front courtyard. The milk bottles for the morning have arrived and she puts them to boil and adds the rice to the other pot to cook.
The slender fingers cup the hot steel tumbler of tea as she flips through the newspaper enjoying her 15 minutes of peace before the household awakens and the mad frenzy of the day to day chores take over.
The other figure, Shanmugham, stirs slightly and calls out rudely to the woman for his morning tea and newspaper.
Her face is devoid of any expression as she hands over the things to the man who is sitting up in the bed.
She proceeds to the kitchen and gets started on various dishes simultaneously.
**********
Chattering noises are heard and Ramya and Sowmya, the two daughters descend the steps into the dining room. The man joins them soon and there is a friendly banter as the father and daughters settle down.
The woman brings plates of dosas and chutney and sets the table. Three sets of tiffin boxes are packed and put into the respective bags. They finish their breakfast, say bye and leave the house while she is washing the dishes.
Quiet descents on the house, now vacant except for the woman. She puts on the radio and goes about her routine. In another 30 minutes, she leaves for office.
************
“Tsk tsk…” She ignored the cat calls. “Ey aunty…Here here…Come I will drop you” they were getting courageous, but she seemed indifferent to it, almost as if she was used to it.
************
The boss on the swivel chair asked her to close the cabin door as she strode in with the files. Asking her to take the chair in the center, he pretends to be looking at his computer screen while evidently looking at her, as if undressing her with his eyes.
“Okay. You can go now,” he almost sighed.
“Wear that yellow saree tomorrow. It really suits you.” He remarked as she closed the door and stepped out unfazed.
************
She stepped down from the bus and purchased milk and vegetables on her way back home. Dinner was made and served. She finished all the chores and retired to the bedroom where the man was lying down and scrolling through the Instagram account of a fashionista whose clothes were a bare minimum. The man rolled on top of her and satiated his desire while she lay there looking at the whirring fan. He rolled away and started snoring immediately while she lay there with open eyes for a long time.
The woman in my story has no name. She could be you or your sister/friend/ aunt/mother. This could very well be the story of the average Indian woman…And the average cannot be identified, they do not have names.
I am participating in WriteTribe Festival Of Words and the prompt for the day is to feature a day in someone’s life.
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Yes. Could be the story of many, I think. So much that it would feel routine to them, sadly.
Well written. Definitely well written.
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I guess it’s the story of most of the households!
Beautifully penned, and I’m craving dosa now 🙂
I am at a loss for words because you have penned it so beautifully, Bhavya. It’s sad but I know it’s the story of many many women.
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Growing up, I imagined our generation would be the change. Today, weary and deflated, I worry even the next generation will not change. Especially seeing the attitude and mindset of so many who are online.
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Beautifully summarized the plight of many women. Choice is something we should proudly own but sadly- many are not allowed to.
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Yes this lady is all of us! From generations past and generations to come
Poignantly penned Bhavya. A thankless job doing everything under the sun. Yes, it could well be any woman.
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This was sad…brutal almost….to imagine someone living like that, just going through the motions and the hand that life dealt her….and yet, it is the reality for quite a lot of women, I’m sure.
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wow what a poignant tale you have weaved. So powerfully written, with instances that a lot of women must have gone through. Excellent narration.
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You write beautifully Girl! Loved it .
Sad it’s not fiction but a reality where many women lead such soulless life.
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That’s a beautifully written sad reality. Many women can relate to this. 🙁
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A silent sufferer…but why? Why it cant be changed… I wish she gathers up the courage and breaks the self imposed, society imposed clippings… Cant she sing the song one day… “Kanton se kich ke ye aanchal”
– Anagha From Team MocktailMommies
https://mocktailmommies.blogspot.com
i feel completely rattled by this post. This stirs up a lot in me. Very beautifully written. The narration took me inside the woman, and at certain points, it felt like the woman was me. *applause*
Superb! A perfect description of the average Indian woman, surviving in a chauvinistic world. 👌
That that ki sad kahani. 🤕Beautifully penned.
Great narrative and totally enjoyed your style of writing. I’m coming back more to feed my soul😊
As for the story – it is the harsh reality so many women live by day in and day out!
Someday things will change: so I pray 🙏🏼
https://natashamusing.com/2017/08/tinas-tryst-writebravely-writetribe/
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A very sad story .But some people have lives just like this and don’t know what to do.
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The emotions have been beautifully portrayed. Underrated yet undeterred, a woman hopes her time will arrive soon!
“Just lie back and think of England,” eh? Tragically sad, and doubtless common. Of course, if this is “average,” and I am fortunate – I hate to think what lies below average. Women need to demand more, and remind their daughters constantly that they are worth more.
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Wow! I am so glad you stopped by my blog, my followback has led me to some terrific writing and I am going to keep coming back for more.
Superbly written Bhavya, your flow of words is so good that the reader (me) is totally hooked and wants to know whats happening next.
You have so effortlessly written about “average” life of a woman in India – this is so true and how it breaks my heart to see so so so many of them suffer it!!!
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Brilliantly written! Its a story of many women in our society. Underrated and denied of respect. So sad that it still happens in this so called progressive society.
This is story of so many women – The story of my own mom, the story of my next door neighbor, my father’s sister…. But thankfully there are men – a lot many men who are changing the story around. I am lucky to be married to one. I hope we as women realize this and raise our sons to become partners & not just husbands.