That was a Dark Midnight. After that night with all the sacred ceremonies, there was a late night photoshoot. Photoshoot that busted out the romantic mood. And thereby each and every move was done as per dictated and not by her inner purpose. Mrs. Ray had done it all as it all said to be done. Nothing more serious than her life which was going to be. Nothing was clear and no dear one was near and none was mere familiar except a man who caught her hand with a promise. Her spectacles were missing. No clarity in her eyesight. No clarity in her mind-set. She doesn't know what to speak and with whom to start. All that she could see was only her man who caught her hand with a trust.
She then entered a car with that man who was said to be her husband. Entered a house where a dumb mother in law waiting to give a silent welcome with a grim face with others standing out. Many of them were well familiar to him but not to her. And 'tis damn sure it would take a lot of time to befriend all of them.
Yet that was not possible with a grim faced dissatisfied rich money -minded mother in law, Mrs. Right. And assuredly it was she who didn't even give her a second free to phone both her parents and her in laws. Yet her sensitive heart broke when she was mercilessly tried by her in law blaming her less communication with her so-called husband's kith and kins. There she understood that she was not liked by them all. Her husband? Yes. He too. He didn't speak anything righteous on her behalf. She understood then that - men are satisfied with their wife's pleasure and not with their emotions. They speak well at night and nothing in their deed at day.
After this great and righteous understanding lit her ignorant mind, she dreamt of her divorce. But it was a Pending Decision. She saved her husband's name as Mr. Ray Because she knew that she couldn't rely on him for a better change. 'Yes. He is just a human not a God. Expecting from him won't be righteous. What will he do? Poor man', she comprehended.
"Divorce? oh no. It will make me a burden to others and even to myself and to the baby growing in my womb. No. I won't. I will remain in my patience and perseverance. A time will come when everyone will give me a worthful 'well-done certifying word".
That was her decision taken between the chaotic choices. And everything went more worse for her with more tears and prayers. After her delivery of a girl child she had to face even more risks intact tortures wherein she was forced to do works which she had done with her shaking anaemic physic. Time ran too slow for her. Desired her death. Sick psyche. Request from her husband was to wait and adjust. 'Divorce?' It's a pending decision.
After some nights of terrible still sighing and tears with painful fears, she had a relief. Her poor husband gained some humanity then. Left to her mother's house.
She was afraid even to speak to her mother in law through phone. Infact she was afraid that she would be called sooner before her body gets to a state said to be better.
There were clashes within her inner woman over her past, present and future. She called that situation as 'Wrongwoods'. 'Yes. I was missing in the wrong forest searching my right destination. I call it as wrongwoods.' That was her thought.
There in a simple light coloured Saree stood Mrs. Ray at the entrance of her beloved house with her loved ones facing westward waiting to say good bye. That was not new to her. Yet Mrs. Ray’s eyes clouded with tears. She just asked herself whether to let her tears wash her brown cheeks. Yet her sensitive heart answered, “Don’t". "What? To be open or to be shut? Haven't I the rights to let my fears known to my dear ones? By letting my tears out and to be stopped at least by their sympathetic looks? Of course not. Sympathetic looks? Oh! No. They can merely cast on me the beam of their pains that can't be unmounted from their hearts" - her mind blown with these thoughts. She turned around. Her spectacled eyes saw the gentleman of good height than of hers, of good physic than of hers, waiting to take her with him to the house which for her was haunted and for him joyous. Her voice sank into her vocal cords. No more her voice but more of noise for her awaiting.
Conquering her tears she slowly got into the car taking her seat beside him with all her things kept packed. That one was not her first exploration. She had already made it twice to the same house since married to him. So she knew nothing was new ahead. Everything would be routine and boredom. With those dancing fire on the stove, boxing spoons and vessels, boiling rice and frying meats she needs to stand for hours, run to and fro in and out of the kitchen to pick and drop. She would be thirsty to wind up everything and spare some time to mind her new creations. Still for her it was like casting a net on the shore for fishing. That was not unknown to her. Yet she chose to follow the...