Nisha looked at herself in the mirror and felt happy,she thought that her eyes had a shine and her cheeks were red as Rose.Her day was advancing near,she felt a strange feeling of joy and anxiety.She in her mind had already thought about the name of the child.Ravi was a man of few words,Nisha herself didn't know what made him extremely happy or excited even when she had been married to him for the last five years.Nisha was hardly 21 when she was married to a tall,well built,stout Ravi who was 32,Nisha's father told her -" Ravi is educated,he is a Graduate,he has a Govt job,what else do you need ?". Nisha was naive and timid and she knew that her parents would choose the best for her.
Nisha was in the first year of college when she got married and unlike her friends who went out for movies and lunch,she rushed back home to take care of the house but she had never complained about it.She had always been giving,caring and family oriented.Ravi too didn't like his wife spending time with friends,though he didn't express anything directly to Nisha but she understood.It's a strange blessing upon womankind by God that they understand even those unsaid boundaries drawn for them.Nisha obeyed her in - laws and have never questioned them not even then when her Father-in-law laughed away at the idea of Nisha working with an NGO after finishing college.
Nisha always cajoled herself thinking that they were right as she had seen her mother-in-law agreeing upon everything said to her.
Nisha's father was an ordinary village postmaster and for him getting Nisha married to such a prestigious family was no less than an achievement.Ravi's father was a member of the Village Panchayat and has been actively engaged in social work.On one such village campaigns aiming at "Gender Equality" did he see Nisha and chose her to be his son's wife.All this felt very funny for the friends Nisha had in college,for them marriage meant knowing one another first, checking compatibility but Nisha knew for her this is the way that has been going on and this was the right thing to do.Nisha used to cycle to the college which was eight KMS away from her village and came back home tired but she had never complained about anything.It seemed like she accepted life offered her.
After a year of the marriage the elders wanted to see the face of their Grandson and Nisha knew this was inevitable.She had always wanted Validation and though she indirectly told Ravi about it,he seemed to be least bothered.Most of the time he used to be busy doing rounds around the nearby villages and collected data about various Govt schemes and had very less time to spare.For him giving Nisha two meals a day,a roof over her head and his lastname was enough.It was the third year and by now Nisha stopped going out in the fear of being asked the same question,she wondered why does no one tell anything to Ravi.Her Mother-in-law even suggested her to visit the village priest and seek his blessings.
So when Nisha realized she was pregnant,she was ecstatic about it.She wanted to see Ravi's reaction and for the first time in her married life she saw Ravi so happy,he made a point to come back home early and ask about Nisha and her health.Everyone in the household was very happy.Nisha enjoyed the pampering,she wasn't allowed to go to the well to draw water or spend time in the kitchen.Ravi used to bring fresh flowers Every evening for Nisha as Nisha loved to tie flower in her hair.Nisha felt how wrong her friends were when they once teased and told her "Night and the Sun can never be together like Nisha and Ravi".
Ravi always used to ask Nisha what would they name their son,Ravi wanted to name him Krishna,but Nisha decided in her mind that she would name her daughter Usha( the Ray of the Sun).Once she even told Ravi,what if it's a girl? Ravi said-"No,it won't be." Her Mother-in-law also insisted her to listen to Krishna bhajans to be blessed with a baby boy.But for Nisha a child is a blessing irrespective of the gender.
Finally it was the D-DAY for her,she was crying in pain,an excruciating pain engulfed her.She saw her mother sitting by her bedside trying to comfort her before she lost her consciousness.
When she opened her eyes,she saw her mother sitting near her bedside crying,her father stood there motionless.Nisha was worried,she tried to get up but couldn't,she asked-"Where is my baby? Where is Ravi?".
Her mother sobbed and said-" You know you had kept your in-laws waiting for the child and after so many years,all you give them is a Girl.They are planning to get Ravi re-married ."
Nisha's face was blank,she asked-"And Ravi?"
Her father said-" He didn't even look at the child,he left for work."
The sound of the Dhak and Conchshells were heard outside as the idol of Durga was being taken for immersion,but as Nisha lifted up her baby she smiled and said-" My Usha has come to lighten up my dark life".
The words 'Ravi and Usha can't stay together reverberated in her ears.