It has almost been a year since I met my lovely niece, Aliza. I have no idea how big she have grown. How she looks now. Does she remember me? Oh yes, how could I forget. She came once to my house, a week ago.
I was at office. As usual , working like a machine. Suddenly my phone rang. " Bhai.Aap kab ghar aaoge? Main Ali...za!" That innocent voice I heard and my heart pounded to see her and hug her tight in my arms." Haan main aa raha hooon bus thodi der mein."
By the time I reached home she was already gone. But there was some good news too that she left behind. Her Birthday! She came with her mom all the way to invite us to her birthday on weekend. It would be the first birthday of Aliza that I was going to attend.
Tink Tong~~~~. The bell rang. we could hear the scream of Aliza . I could feel how excited she was. the sound of her foot steps as she ran closer to the door to open it made me excited too. "Arey yeh khul kyun nahi raha hai?" She asked impatiently. Her father , my uncle, helped the door open and I saw the glinting eyes in the dark. It was Aliza's She exulted in Joy. As soon as the door opened, she leaped into my arms hold me tight and shouted at the max volume " Bhaiiiiiiiiiii" I took her inside. My mom and elder brother were with me
Aliza took my Mum 's hand and said " Come Mamma , I'll show you my house" and took her straight to the balcony which opened to the heavenly beauty of the river side.
We reached there by afternoon and so had our lunch. My Aunt told me that today she had eaten her meal properly. That was obvious, a lone child does not feel hungry.
After Lunch, Aliza run to the bags we carried. Every time she pulled out something she enquired," What is this? Is this for me? What you brought for me, Amma?"(She called my mom Amma imitating us.) My mom was pleased with her innocence and her bright face full of gleam. Every time she asks that, my Mom would reply ," Yes my sweet heart, it is all for you!". Love was over flowing in that one room.
My mom , half finished with her food, got up , washed hands and got busy with her love. She opened the first gift that she brought for Aliza. Nail Polish. Yes. Aliza loves makeover. Aliza tried wearing it but ended up painting all fingers except the nails. She ran to me and said." Dekho Dekho, I painted them so nicely!"
A girl catching the grills of the door stood there watching everything. "Look Rujul! I have new nail Polish!" flinging Aliza dashed to open the door. It is funny that I could not open that complicated lock system but she could. May be because she is used to do it every day.
A perky little girl that wins your heart not by her cute looks but her mature understanding that even grown up lacks- that was Rujul. She had her hair hanging till her neck. Always sported a natural smile on her face. Her eyes just became a line when she giggled giving way to those lovely dimples.
She was tempted. The shining pink nails of Aliza. She dreamt of having one like that. Rujul's mother never allowed her to put them on. Nail polish and make-up were not allowed at her school. But she could not resist. Had it been any other child of her age, that child would have by now considered it as her own property and by now using force would have applied it on her nails. Children are not afraid who is around. They don't care whether she owns it or not. They only fathom that they want it and so they'll get it. There are no better satyagrahis than children. But Rujul was different.
Aliza being in the company of her family and standing in her own lair, did not entertained Rujul's polite request of using it. Aliza was jealous - a congenital defect that every girl has. But those genes were mute in Rujul.
Aliza caught my index finger and took me to the balcony. She showed me her new kitchen set. Perfectly girly thing. I didn't know what to do with those pink plastic utensils. She made me son and became a mother herself. She kept saying something to herself. I just sat saying" yes ok mama" . That was the job I was assigned. I felt like being given a job of junior artist in a film with the cast of just two.
Rujul came to the balcony. She also wanted to be a part of the game. She picked up the artificial tea cup and asked Aliza," Main bhi kheloon? Mein kaam wali banjati hoon"
~Thud~(SLAPP)
Jealous Aliza could not tolerate her next door girl to touch anything of her!"How dare you touch it. Get out of my house. It's all mine!".
Rujul was shocked! For her Aliza was everything! She was a year elder than Aliza but treated her with same dignity. She let her play with her own toys and sometimes bear the punishment of allowing Aliza take her things . She never complained!
contd in next blog
