“If you can fit in a glass of water, you are bound to receive love , that is what happens in real life. Since, childhood I fought a conflicting battle as to why I hate my childhood so much while others cherish it. Even today , after growing up, I feel kind of proud for actually growing up when others remained worried about money and survival. I never felt the sense of relieve as I do now as I can see the things exactly the way they are.,” thought Maya to herself, holding a steaming cup of coffee in her hand, while her phone got struck to her ear like a glue on paper.
The beats of sweat are falling off her head as she places the coffee on the table next to her and wipe it off using her cotton sleeves.
“Do you get that? Why are you wasting your life on people who does not get you? Why? You don’t have a life, a dream , a drive to move ahead except sitting at home and taking rest? How many days will you survive like this? No flat, no car, no husband at this age. To be honest, I have to die without seeing my grandchildren. Do you hear me? Even our relatives are speaking against you, you can do nothing at all.,” cried Maya’s grandmother with a nasal tone that is almost about to burst in tears.
“I will do what’s best for me.,” replied Maya
“When? After ruining your life to shreds and living on my shoulders. The money on my pension will be spend on your living now.”, complained her grandma with a loud voice.
“Ok. I appreciate your concern. I need to cook the meal for dinner. Talk to you tomorrow.”, said Maya as she hung up the phone. A sense of uneasiness pass through her body as she senses dread in her body. Her spines shiver down.
Maya walks around her entire one room apartment talking to herself. Sometimes, she is cleaning the almirah in between sweeping the floor while half of the vegetables were kept chopped on the table. The next half must be chopped yet.
Maya lived with her grandma for years. She lost her parents due to a car accident. Her grandma raised her to be conservative and quiet. Sit down, Maya will sit down. Don’t straighten your hair, Maya didn’t do for the next time. Once, Maya remembered a day in her childhood when she scored 64 out of 80 in History while her friends scored 66 out of 80. She was happy about the marks but all throughout the road, her grandma spoke about her friends who scored more than her. She was never enough. In her struggling days also, her grandma was so happy that my granddaughter is going to work in a big city. Maya was happy too with tears on her eyes, she was so happy to provide small amount of support to her grandma with her own hard-earned money.
“I don’t know what will I do, I have to do my X-ray but I have no money.”
“Could you please give me some money for the pilgrimage? I don’t have enough to go with my friends.”
“I know you work so hard for the money you earn. I feel so bad for asking you but I couldn’t help myself. I have raised you but you have raised yourself to be better. Could you please recharge my phone only if it is possible? I have spent a lot of money on medicines this month.”
These are some of the conversations that went on between Maya and her grandma. Sometimes, life turned out to be good as both gossiped about the men who entered and left Maya’s life. Sometimes, Maya called her grandma crying about the bullying of her colleagues but life was good then. Not the one which she sees now. Instead of saying, Maya decided to stay quiet, talk less, explain less, and put the ear plugs on her ears and drift off to sleep in the land of oblivion. People change but that doesn’t have to do with who you are today and what you choose to do with your life. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT.
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