'kchpp''kchpp'
'ktaku''ktaku''ktaku''ktaku'
'kchpp''kchpp''kchpp''kchpp'
These were the rhythmic beats that the dark unlit kitchen,with a faint beam of sunlight peeking in through the whole on the asbestos sheet roof,reverberated with.It had started faintly an hour ago and still there was no sign of stopping,as a young cherubic girl in her teens,sweating profusely from her forehead,kept going at the 'grinder stone' industriously all through the morning in preparation for the night's dinner - Steaming 'Idly's and the next morning's breakfast - Sour dough Dosa.
Every time the heavy stone with the wooden handle, touched the wall of the gaint receptacle stone bearing the semisolid dough,making the 'ktaku' sound,the girl gently patted the unground mixture,driving it into the middle,making the rhythmic 'kchpp' noise.As she kept humming her favorite tamil number,she slowly started to tune in the grinding sound according to the song's beat and kept herself busy all through the gruelling time.
Just as she was about to leave the place,filling the huge Aluminium container with the ground dough,she heard yet another time her name being called from the bedroom..
'Apsaraaa' ehh..'Apsaraaa'
Appu maa...Could you bring the clothes from the terrace maa?Also make sure you collect all the clips from the clothes properly and look out for kerchieves and shoes laces strewn on the floor!
Apsara peeked into the bedroom as she saw her mom facing the wall and feeding her 6 month old baby brother.She peered across the room to find her 3 year old brother sleeping on a mat and the 5 year old sister busy playing with her toys.
She slowly treaded to the backyard of their house to wash her hands and dress laden with the white marks from the Idly dough.She peeped into the well and looked at her reflection yet another time that day,as she spoke softly to the dancing image of hers in the water..
"Hai..Apsara..
You know what...
You look so beautiful and you dance very well like Cinderella.
So,how is your world out there?Lots of fun huh?
Will you take me also to your world?
Please maaaa..Don't say no today also..
I am very tired and my chores are increasing day by day and I see no end to it."
Suddenly she saw the image getting distorted as she realised that it was starting to drizzle.Her mom shouted at the top of her voice from the kitchen window...
"Hey Apsara..Are you deaf?Din't you hear me asking you to get the clothes?Now everything is going to end up wet from the rain!"
Apsara ran to the terrace as she grabbed the clothes and the clips and dashed into her house,eventually almost tripping at the step in the entrance door and hurting her toenail.
As she threw the clothes on the cane chair and wailed in pain,her mom noticed blood seeping through the corner of her toe and screamed at her..
"See..This is the punishment for being careless and not listening.
Had you gone and picked the clothes promptly,you need not have hurried like this and could have avoided hurting yourself.
Now go to the bathroom,wash it and tie a cloth around it.Don't let it become septic!There is no way we can take you to the doctor!"
Apsara always considered the dancing image in the well as the girl she always wanted to be and got herself relieved of her mental stress everyday conversing endlessly with her.She felt that there was a wonderful world of happiness on the other side of the well, where children were allowed to live as children,playing happily and eating candies as much as they wished.Her alter ego from the well was the only person she was able to relate to and who always was there for her to share her joys and bucket load of sorrows.
To be continued..
-Raapi
Posted by rajesh | 
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