6 Chapter 6 - Mask of smile
As per Prashanth's family tradition, its ritual is performed by unmarried women after 25 years of age. To get blessings from God for her 2nd life to springs. It's a simple one, to perform puja to Ganesha and invite 5 married women to bless her.
Pallavi ( Prashanth's sister) performs a ritual, which is a tradition of their family. Following rituals in her case just by compulsion of family. . To fulfill it, she performs puja for Ganesha. Colour flowers, delicious homemade sweets, chit - chat among siblings....
Everything goes smoothly up to the last moment. They invited 5 neighbor women. The 2 among them, while blessing her, show their real faces by wearing a mask of a smile.
She gets devasted by her neighbor's words. They curse her in a mask of blessing her in a ritual. He stunned, by knowing the pillar for their cursing.
That lady spells her inner soul words. It sounds like this, what is the use of being a girl. Even if, they use to be pretty. But, she lost the enjoyment of both of these. Her narrow beauty too drags by that thing which she always wore(spectacles). Who wishes to accept her! anyhow it's just their part of work to bless her. Everything left to Lord, for her sin. She left the screen by mumbling in her ears...
She bears the pain in her heart without exploding it out. ... If she shares with her mother, it causes to timid of her strength, happiness. So she bears the pain until the last moment of puja. As her words spelling out, she hugged him.
Prashanth's eyes become wet, he becomes silent for a moment. He thought what the heck with these people, why they behave like monsters?!...he screamed in his mind, how to console her. Suddenly, like a hope of ray, he reminds the story which his teacher( Arpitha) narrated in class.
He consoles her by giving a glass of water. He told her that he is too happy that day. Suddenly, his words puzzled his sister. ..as she looking at him...he narrated the incident which he did in the class.
He told Arpitha, his classmate she is good but silent. He nags her by saying that she looking like the devil. It's all because of her spectacles . So, he tried to pull it from her and tried to make her central idea of their (his friends) humor. She just pulled me, she left the ground by crying.
Her sister puzzled expression shifting to an angry mood. He told even the story which his teacher narrated. And how he apologizes to Arpitha. ..
Finally, he suggests that once analyze the story. He is about to leave her room. He added, " I hope you are my Sanjana(main role in the story which his teacher narrated)". ....
After an hour, she forgets all the incidents. She felt she is unique, blessed,...
At the dining time, she serves the food to all as in past. Prashanth, feel relieved and thanked her teacher (Parinitha), and to her story in his mind. ...he enjoys the dinner, moves towards his room by saying sleep well to his family members.
....Arpitha after she completed her daily chores. She is about to take the bed. She reminds of her past 4 years and she feels all the golden moments just flew away because of her illusion
All those moments visits her mind which makes her fell unconscious. .....she fells down.....
- Shireesha.M.V.
