Amazon Best Selling Novel “Malabar A Flame” in Lima World Library
13.Damsel in distress
Aiysha! How long since I saw you!. Mary was pleasantly
surprised.
An elated Aiysha ran to Mary and hugged her. Sara was
also glad. “Don’t you study well? Aiysha asked.. Sara’s face
brightened as she moved her head in affirmation.
Aiysha was in their new home for the first time since they
moved in. Mary took her all over the house before settling in
a cosy chair to exchange more serious matters.
Ali had brought his own sister to England as his wife.
Demanded Aiysha to bring Ali’s brother as Aiysha’s husband.
Aiysha rejected the demand. That night Ali assaulted her
and she fainted. Abu bit Ali’s hand. Ali kicked him down
and threw both him and his unconscious mother out of the
house and locked himself from inside.
Ali’s sister could only stand there as a mute witness. She
knew that his brother is wicked and cruel. But she wanted
to somehow bring her own husband and two children to
England. Kashmir. Ali also decided to bring his first wife and
children from there.
Aiysha and son wept in the dark outside their own home.
In the dawn they walked to Antony’s old house and took
refuge there.
While sipping tea Mary observed Aiysha. Her face bore
it all, the despair, anguish and ther bleak future that awaited
her. She was not anxious about her being deserted by a
selfish and wanton husband. Why should one need such a
cruel self-centered man. In her native place the family lived
a happy life. No wicked thoughts. No bashing. No kicking.
She remembered what her bapa told her once “Whatever
hardships are there do not get disturbed. Don’t flee from
misfortunes. It is for cowards to flee. Don’t trust them’’.
“No. Bapa, this Aiysha will never flee or end life. I hide my
misfortunes within me, not letting others to see!” she told
herself.
According to Ali’s will I will agree to a divorce. My life
taught me that all these relationships are mere farce and
shallow. But after coming here at Mary chechi’s I feel a little
better. She is my eldest sister t whom I can confide anything
and act according to her wishes. Mary put her palms on
Aiysha and tried to console her. Aiysha did not want to get
away from there.
Plants wave in the wind and doves flutter aloft as if
nothing has happened.
Mary tried to console Aiysha who was sobbing into her
shoulders. She stroked her friend’s head and mumbled: “I
understand your woes. We, women, should not be dejected
about every turn of life. We should learn to take on life
with its problems. She told her that there could a solution
to every problem. Mary’s words like a cool breeze soothed
her nerves. She wiped off her tears and said: I should marry
his brother and come back here. “Enikku pattoolla, chechi.
Mayyathayalum pattoola!” she wailed.
“It is better to endure the woes than crying over by rocking
them. If it is a tunnel, there will come a time and a day we will
see some light at the end of it,” Mary told her after serving
a cup of hot tea to her. Aiysha sat pensive for a while. She
sipped tea’ After regaining some composure, she told mary.
“Chechi, now only I find some solace, some courage, to face
my problems as they come”.
Aiysha was in a pensive mood. She looked at Mary as if
she found a solution. She was ready to meet any eventuality.
Her anxieties desolated her. “The flame in the mind
subsided when I saw chechi,” Aiysha said. The mind braced
up. She didn’t try to conceal her thoughts. She said it frankly:
“Chechi, now only I got respite”.
Sara came down to be surprised by the sudden change
of mood between her Amma and the visitor. “Oh you are as
happy as ever!,” she exclaimed.
Danny and Abu were there on the yard.“ Both of you
go and take bath and come for tea,” Mary told them loudly.
They went upstairs. When Aiysha got up to go, Mary pulled
her back.
“Today Saturday. Abu has no school. Tomorrow Sunday.
We can go to the church together.”
Aiysha was a bit surprised. “Do your church allow other
castes come in? she asked. “Yes they do. There is no caste or
creed differences before God who is one and the same for all
people on earth. All differences are man made!”.
“Does aunty know English?’’ Sara asked flashing a smile.
“Edi, edi, don’t make us beetle heads. Aiysha has studied six and me seven. Don’t we talk to each other in a mix of
languages?” Mary told her sharply.
“Did you know aunty that amma is now reading an
English novel’’, picking up a book from the table and
showing it to Aiysha said, “This is C S Lewis’ fantasy novel
`Magician’s Nephew’, amma should have read it ten times”.
Aiysha was surprised at the speed with which her friend
and compatriot picked up the alien language. She longed to
learn English and be on her own.
Aiysha joined Mary to prepare the day’s supper. Mary
could not wait till Antony showed up. She had many things
to share him with. First of all, Aiysha will have to apply for
a municipal accommodation for a divorcee. Till then Aiysha
and Abu will be his responsibility. They will live here in his
own house.
The wild calls of Danny and Abu playing on the lawns
did not disturb her day dreams. For the time being she has a
damsel in distress as a living in mate. Great!
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