The Bright Pink Saree

"Get up Radha! No matter what is going on around the world, you sleep like a lion! I am not waking you up once more." shouted Maya.

"Mom, please don't shout. Nayar aunty is always peeping from the window. All she needs is a topic to gossip! So, calm down. I am coming."

"Let her gossip. Why should I bother? She is a woman of drama. Anyway, don't you forget that we have to go to Meeta's wedding in an hour. So hurry up! Brush your teeth, clean your bed, have coffee, take a shower, wear a good Punjabi suit...yes, a Punjabi suit...no arguments, no questions and come outside. I am waiting for you."

"Mom! Please! Punjabi suits are so uncomfortable! Firstly, I am extremely sleepy. Secondly, I am supposed to wear something in which I can hardly walk properly and lastly, I hardly know who Meeta is. What am I going to do in her wedding? Spare me mom. I cannot come. You can go. I'll drop you there if you want to."

"Radha, do you want me to go alone? There will be so many ladies coming with their husbands. Am I meant to be alone? All my life?" said Maya wiping her sudden tears with her off white colored saree.

"Mom, come here. Sit next to me. I need you to understand one thing. You are never meant to be alone. Till date, have I made you feel so? If yes, then I have failed as a daughter. And yes, one more thing, these tears are precious. You shouldn't be wasting them for those ladies who come along with their husbands. Now, don't you cry. I'll be ready within thirty minutes."
Radha hugged Maya and gave her a convincing smile.

Maya was a lady who had lost her husband in a plane crash five years ago. Radha, the only daughter of Maya was barely fifteen then. Since then, Maya lived a life of dependence and a whole lot of restrictions. Radha being fifteen then, hardly understood why, what and when. Today, being twenty, she was a girl of independence and strong determination. Radha took a bath and opened the almari to find a Punjabi suit. A little purse fell down which had a lot of money in it. She kept it back and got ready.

"Mom! I am ready! I look more beautiful than you!"
"My dear girl, you are my daughter! So you are bound to look beautiful!"

"Let us leave mom. I know I can never win this debate! Err... wait a minute mom. Why are you wearing such a dull saree? We are going for a wedding, right? Wear something good and festive."

"No beta. I am fine with this. People talk a lot. They look at me and leave me feeling very uncomfortable. Anyway, bright sarees are not for me now. Let's go." answered Maya.

"Mom, are you kidding me?" screamed Radha with her eyes filled with tears. She looked terribly devastated.
"One straight question, mom. Have you killed dad? Tell me, have you murdered him?"
Maya stood there shocked as never before.

"Beta, it's not like that. Ehh.. Err... see, I feel you are small to understand that my life is..."
"Mom, dare you utter a word. Sit here at once and forget about the wedding now. Both of us are not going. Mom, I am 20 years old now and I can at least understand what is right and what is not. Though I am not a 'matured material' yet, I can still understand what your life is and what it should have been. Rather, what it still can be or should be. You haven't answered my question yet. Tell me, were you the reason behind dad's sudden death? Did you tell the pilot to crash the plane so that everyone could die?"

"Mind your language, Radha. Do you even realize what are you asking me? Have you lost your mind by any chance?" asked Maya in a choked voice.

Radha hugged her and wiped her tears with her dupatta.

"I am sorry, mom. I did not mean to hurt you. Look mom, I need you to come in the real, practical world. You really need to change. I have lived without the support and love of a father for more than five years now and I know how tough it is. My friends celebrate 'Father's day'. I don't. They come with their parents...both of them...to tackle problems at college. I manage them alone. I don't even let them come to you. They share secrets with their dad. I cannot. Mom, I have accepted the reality but in a positive way. When I know I am not going to get certain things, then that's fine. Even if I cry, scream or keep shut, things are not going to change. Then why should I be wasting my good days in that? You need to do the same and mark my words mom, it is not that difficult. Mom, tell me one thing. I found a little purse in the almari. It had a lot of money in it. What is that for?" asked Radha sounding calm.

"That is my monthly saving. I spend it every month by buying something for you or the house." said Maya feeling a little better.

"Mom, let me tell you something. Life is tough. I know. For you, it is tougher, I know that too. But living a life of a widow is the toughest thing I've seen till today." Radha stressed on the word 'widow'. Maya looked down.

"Mom, do you really like wearing those dull white sarees? Do they please you? You never buy good clothes. You never put a bindi. You never wear any necklace or even an earring. You think about the rest of the world more than you think about yourself. Is that right? Rather, is it practical? You have the ability to save but you cannot spend it for yourself. Then what is the use of saving it? I'll be married one day and will leave this house. If you stay the same, it is going to be extremely difficult for you, mom. Moreover, I'll never be able to sleep peacefully. What dadimaa and dadaji tell you to do is something that is completely irrelevant and it used to prevail when women were considered next to nothing. Today, women rule. Yes, they do. You have to be a woman of self respect, dignity and confidence. Time is changing and so should you. If that does not happen, people like Nayar aunty will gossip even more. She talks behind your back. Why don't you give her a tight slap? She deserves it. Mom, I love you unconditionally. I live for you and hence I want you to be strong. You need to respect your own choices. If you feel like dancing, go ahead! Just because dad isn't here, don't stop yourself from living happily."

Maya smiled with moist eyes...

"Mom, you have not even celebrated your birthday for so long. Birthdays are so special! It is a day to celebrate your existence! You must never miss them. Above all, your birthday falls on eighth march. Do you even know that eighth march is celebrated as woman's day? Live it, mom. It's worth it. Don't torture yourself with those dull sarees and lifeless atmosphere. You need to stand for yourself. If someone passes a comment on you, retaliate. Don't just keep mum and listen...and then cry. Keep this attitude away. Your life is full of freedom, joy and shine! Enjoy it! I want you to be happy."

Radha had emptied her heart. She sat down as her knees weakened and wept like she had saved those tears for five long years. Maya bent down and made her sit on the sofa. "Radha, I am proud to own you. You are my princess. I have no words to express what I am feeling now. I feel I have underestimated you all these years. You were never small. You were always a matured girl. I am sorry beta. I have let you down."

"Mom, please don't say that. I am here because of you. You have raised me up regardless the financial and social constraints. You are beautiful! Don't think bad or less of yourself. Time heals everything. You are not responsible for the loss that has come to us.

Mom, I feel like eating an ice-cream! Can we go?"
"Radha, you'll never change! You shall always be my darling! Anything for you dear! Have two instead!

A year later, Maya celebrated her 45th birthday. She wore a bright pink saree bought from her own savings, a matching bindi and a silver necklace. Her hair left open, she looked stunning!

"Open the door Radha! Someone is knocking." shouted Maya.
"Yes mom. Nayar aunty is here to wish you! Come outside!" Radha replied.

"Maya, you look so different... I cannot believe you have worn a bright pink saree...Err... Maya, I don't want to hurt you on your birthday. But, you should have known that our culture doesn't teach us to live like this. A widow should... Err... I mean, I care for you, so I don't want people to talk behind your back.

Maya interrupted Mrs. Nayar saying, "Who told you that I am a widow? I have a husband Mrs. Nayar. The only difference is, he stays in my heart. He is not my license to showcase my wealth or richness. And by the way, God forbid, but what if your own daughter goes through this one day? Will you suggest her the same thing? No, no, I don't demand an answer Mrs. Nayar! It was just a rhetorical question! Now think over it more than ten times and then talk to me. Anyway, thank you for wishing me. Now if you don't mind, can you please excuse me? I and Radha are going out for dinner to celebrate! See you later Mrs. Nayar.

Maya left with her head held high...