Kalra - A Cage of Desire

Aneisha! Renu called out from the doorstep. Dinner is ready.

Renu always looked forward to these rare instances when her children managed to take a break from their busy schedules and visit her at her little cottage in the hills. Avi got bored here quickly, because he could not find much to do but Aneisha loved staying over for as long as she could. The mother and daughter would sit outside in the lawn under the gentle winter sun and chat for hours. She shared everything with her mother. Mihir would drop by often, and even though Aneisha knew of her mothers relationship with him, she never questioned it. Tell me whenever you are comfortable, Maa, she had said chirpily that one time when Renu tried to explain Mihirs presence in her life. Avi had not been too pleased with Mihirs closeness with his mother initially but as he came to know him better, his apprehensions gradually faded away and they had grown to be friendlier now. Aneisha, of course, had a role to play in reshaping his perspective and it made Renu smile every time she remembered how her daughter had done it so cleverly. The younger of the two siblings, Avi had always been more possessive of his mother, but Aneisha hadover many months and many conversationsmade him aware of his mothers emotional needs. He had gradually come to understand that Renu was more than his mothershe was a woman in her own right, and she needed love and companionship too.

Aneisha! Renu called out again when she did not get a reply. She walked out into the lawn and saw her sitting on the garden swing with her phone pressed against her ears and tears streaming down her cheeks.

Renu knew it wasnt her turn to speak. At least not yet. She waited patiently for Aneisha to finish her call before walking up to her and taking a place beside her on the swing. Without asking or saying anything, she gathered her daughter into a tight embrace. Aneisha buried her face into her mothers chest and cried softly.

Do you want to talk about it? Renu asked once Aneishas sobs had subsided.

Theres this guy, Maa, Aneisha started and Renu listened intently. Her daughter was twenty-five and so far, she had never been in a serious relationship, at least not one that Renu was aware of. This must be a special one, she thought.

Did you have a fight with him? Renu was curious and anxious about the boy in her daughters life but she wanted to approach the topic cautiously, without being too intrusive.

Its not just one fight, Maa. He hurts me. He deliberately hurts mementally, emotionally, in every possible way! Aneisha sobbed.

Then why is he still in your life? Renu asked, now very worried. Her little girl seemed deeply wounded, scarred and heartbroken.

Because I love him, Maa, Aneisha whispered, almost apologetically. Renu felt a dull ache in her heart as harrowing memories of Arjun came flooding back to her mind. Those memories were long dead and buried, the scars had dried up and faded but there were times they still ached and tugged at her soul like a festering wound. Renu had accepted it as the price she had to pay for her hard-earned wisdom but her daughters helpless tears mortified her. She had been to hell and back, but come what may, she had resolved to never let her daughter walk down the path of terrifying darkness that she herself had treaded.

Lets go inside, Aneisha. Well sit there and talk, okay? I have something to tell you, Renu said and helped Aneisha up, holding her tenderly by the shoulder. What she was going to do was perhaps one of the most difficult things shed ever done but she could not keep quiet now. Her daughters life and happiness were at stake.

She sat Aneisha down once they were inside the house and then she told her everything about the men in her lifethe kind of relationships she had with them and what those relationships taught her. Words poured out from the deep graves in her soul. She did not hold back any details. Aneisha listened intently without saying much but her face changed even as her mother spoke. She could only imagine the heartbreaking agony of the trials and tribulations her mother had gone through.

Did it make any sense at all? Renu asked softly when she was done narrating everything she had to.

Yes, Maa, it does. A lot of sense. And it makes me see the future of my relationship, Aneisha said firmly, trying hard not to choke, her beautiful eyes wide.

Renu smiled at her. Show. Dont tellthats what the best storytellers do, dont they? No matter how close she was to her daughter, she really wasnt expecting Aneisha to part ways with a man she loved solely on her mothers advice. You are wise beyond your years, Aneisha. You always have been. Never accept less than what you deserve, she said. Never accept less than what you deserve. Renu had spent a lifetime learning that lesson on her own, but her daughter understood the depth of that statement immediately. After dinner, she stepped outside to make a call and in five minutes she walked in with a wide smile on her face.

A tear trickled down Renus cheek as she hugged her daughter tightly.

ONE

Renu! Renu! Where are you? Kishan Kumars coarse voice boomed across the living room.

Yes, Bauji! Renu scampered out of the kitchen, her hands coated in flour and forehead punctuated with beads of sweat. Even after almost two decades of living under the same roof, she was not comfortable with this authoritarian cranky old man, her father-in-law. What happened, Bauji? she asked nervously, because whenever he called out to her like that, it rarely spelt good news.

Why dont you ask your daughter? he said, glaring at Aneisha who stood cowering by the table, her head hung low.

Aneisha? Renu looked at her sixteen-year-old daughter who was on the verge of tears. Her silky black hair fell loosely around her beautiful oval face, which now seemed pale with distress.

Aneisha, what did you do? she repeated, louder this time. For whatever she did, Aneisha would be better off being reprimanded by her. At least that would save her from Baujis caustic tongue, which could inflict wounds that took years to heal.