8 The Queen of the Hearth Part 8

Maa agreed that they needed to confirm her uncle's role in her abduction and predicament before deciding whether to avoid him altogether or to try and seek his help.

"I think I should approach your uncle and tell him that I have information about you. I will meet him and try to find out whether he is guilty or not. If by the grace of Wahe Guru, he is innocent, you might still get back to your old life and start living again", Ma said.

"I know Maa. I am trying not to get my hopes up but if he is innocent, my heart will certainly lighten up considerably. I find it very difficult to digest that he did such a thing to me. He was not very warm but he always took care of me. He is the only person I had in my life who offered me some kind of semblance to 'family'."

"I know, child, I know."

"You know, Ma, there was no one to help me with how to manage a household, how to cook, how to fold clothes. No one to hold me when I had my first period and no one to tell me what to do at such a time. My teacher did tell me how to use sanitary napkins later but not without scolding me first for not knowing such things in time.

Some of my friends understood. They used to share whatever delicacies their moms prepared for them. One of them, we called her Cookie, was a good cook. She took me home during vacations and taught me to cook basic things like Maggi, tea, packet soups etc. That was my only exposure to cooking. I hardly ever got another chance to polish my skills.

In the village of Rajeshwar, they used to make me cook and sleep near the hearth. I had never seen one in real life before that. They made me do everything while beating me, mocking me, making fun of me, burning me. Renny forced me into that situation. I am not so sure now whether uncle was involved in this or not.

And then, they were trying to find another girl like me! One who is an orphan, has no family to fall back on, and who can be their mute slave. Ma, why is the world so cruel?"

Jassi couldn't hold in everything anymore. She burst out crying.

Ma hugged her and patted her head. The girl was finally coming out of her traumatic experience. Her breakdown was a sign that she was ready to let go. She will soon heal now. The kindly matron silently prayed for her ward's wellbeing and promised herself that she would make sure that Jassi gets on with her life before she moves on to another life.

In the morning, Jassi and Maa were ready with their plan. Maa will not share her whereabouts with the uncle in case he is involved with Renny and Rajeshwar. Instead, she will mention her native place as her current location and tell him that she saw Jassi running with a dog there. Jassi was sure that if her uncle was in touch with Rajeshwar, he would already know that she ran away with Shera. It would be a big clue for Maa to guess how much he already knew about Jassi's misfortune.

Maa decided to call up uncle from Delhi itself, in case he would trace her location from the mobile phone. Since they had only one mobile phone between them, Maa decided to leave it with Jassi. She said that she would go to Delhi and call her uncle from a telephone booth. She wanted a way to contact Jassi whenever she wanted.

There was one other issue to be handled. Maa was the only link between Jassi and the world outside their little room for several months. With Maa gone, there had to be some way for Jassi to cut the vegetables in the morning and get her food.

Maa appointed Radha to take vegetables to and bring them back from 'Rani' and to give her food three times a day. Radha was a little dumb-witted girl and was afraid of crazy Rani. So, Maa was sure she wouldn't try to be too nosy.

Maa had little to pack. She left with a small bag and promised Jassi that she would call her as soon as possible.