''Mana..here take these..'', placing those two eggs in my palm, she left in a hurry to the village school where she worked as an #Anganwaadi member. I stood looking at her pacing in the school's direction until she disappeared. The remnants of the food cooked in the school would sometimes be distributed among the workers and she never failed to share with me whenever I visited my village. :)
I call her 'Mausi' (Aunt) ...she has always remained my favorite and the relation here fortunately obeyed the law of reciprocity. This could be partly of the reason that she remained absorbed in her own world (I'm no different) and partly because she was too gentle and loving. How could have someone abused her.. ousted her from the house she rightfully belonged to?... that too when she had a 'life' breathing inside her ! The question posed remained a question forever.. I never dared to ask and she always kept her silence...20 years of silence!
Having nowhere to go, she sought shelter in her brother's family and tried her every best to contribute to it. But what saddened me the most was when I overheard her brother's remark,''I've given her and her son shelter.. I'm feeding those two mouths.. no one else would ever do that!'' Surprisingly yet she had no complaints... rather in the evening when she cam to my abode with her 'gagri' and 'balti' to fetch water.. she found me tensed (about my career) and adviced,'' Don't lose hope... keep trying...sometimes few things take time!''
Devoid of education.. yet not the least illiterate..I don't know if she ever possessed a desire for learning but what I got to know from my mother that when she was a child she frequented the house of her relatives, forced by her father who was unable to meet the needs of the family. There she would work tirelessly but none bothered to pay attention to her,
''Mausi.. why are your fingernails rottening?'' (due to working in the dampness of the 'gobara' (cow dung) and water)
''Arey,no... that's the dye I'm using for hair.. made them black'' she covered it up.
''Mana, my son took admission for 2''
''Yes Mausi.. let him study... its good!''
'' But..tuition, transport expenses.. I just hardly make 1000-1500 per month..and you know that!''
I lowered my head. I spend more than that in one week... and here this woman runs four such weeks!
I wouldn't say that I didn't want to help her...but conscience held me back... she would feel insulted. I shared this with my mother. ''Look in the almirah...go give her... I'm busy right now''
I seized the opportunity... the 'almirah' got replaced with my 'wallet'.. running upto her.. pushed them into her hesitant palms...'' Maa gave this''
In some corner of my heart.. I felt that this is incomparable to what you always give me... your 'unspoken' love with every morsel of food that you share with me... :)