They all gawked at the TV. Jack Sparrow swaggered and ranted in his heavy accent. All but Garima stared at the TV screen. After all she was in a household that gorged on soap operas. Sensing the impatience, Garima got up to go upstairs. Her aunt shouted behind her, 'Ruk ja...' and her voice trailed off. Garima looked at her and realized the maid had just mopped the stairs. She still climbed on and heard her aunt whispering to the maid about how mindless she was. It was nothing new, Gar had known her aunt long enough to mind her back biting but this particular day it irritated. It was a Sunday and Gar was in any mood but to listen to her aunt's 'hows, what-to-do's and various other everyday rules. She switched on the tele and closed the room.
Pirates cooled off her head. She took a power nap and went downstairs to eat her lunch. She slept off again. At 5 she was woken up for chai. While sipping her cuppa, her periphery vision told her that as usual her aunt was staring at her legs. It occurred to her then, that she was wearing shorts. Ugh uh- she thought. But she had learnt to neglect stares from her aunt as well.
She was planning to go out when the mobile rang. It was some family friends who were coming over for a visit.
'Can't you change into a pajama?'
'It's very hot.'
'But you're 25! What will you do when you get married? Tabhi bhi ghar par shorts pehenkar ghumegi? Ab ladki nahi hai tu. Aurat ban chuki hai!'
'What? Aurat, Ladki what? Main 25 saal ki l-a-d-k-i hun. And whats the harm in wearing shorts?'
'Tere umar ki kaunsi ladki shorts pehenti hai?'
'Main pehenti hun. Aur kisiko dikhane ke liye nahi. I'm comfortable so I wear it. And about being an aurat.. sab dimaag mein hai.'
There was silence. The aunt gave up.. like always because she was not used to listening to things as and how they were. Garima went into a verbal diarrhea with her alter ego about the kind of people she was living with and left the room.
7 comments:
If I guess it right.. I know who Garima is :) Life is like that bachhe, what can one do !!
garima is right...but u cant do anything...indians abhi bhi itne broad minded nhi huye hain...they are still a bit conservative....
Well speaking of soap operas, isn't this 'Ghar ghar ki kahaani' too? :P
On a more serious note, Garima should realise that it probably is as difficult for her aunt to understand her views as it is for her to understand her aunt's. To ignore and avoid are the only temporary solutions for that. There will be moments of frustration, but as long as she doesn't wanna take any drastic steps, there's not much else that she can do.
Adding to what Samir said, following the rules of the place where one is residing always helps.
I remember few years back when one of my friend was putting up temporarily at his uncle's place. He tried to stay the way he wanted, when ultimately his uncle's wife quoted," This is not a hotel. Tell your nephew if he understands that this is my house."
As per SAMIR, drastic step was taken. He has till date not entered that home.
Still hard to understand why!
Totally agreed to jay and samir,,,,,Jesa desh waisa desh....Waha ki logo ki soch waise dressing ki hai to unko "Broad Minded" nahi hone ka adhikaar kisne diya....aur waise agar Garima bhul se kisi din ek Americi gher mei salwaar kurte aur so called " Pajayamas" mei hi ghumi hoti to Americi aunty bhi yehi kheti...kuch acha pheno... :) so chill out....har baar bado ko jawab dena jaruri nahi hota :) unwanted advise
shit !!! u dont need me anymore baby!!! :P
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