Still Bleeding from the Wound by Ashokamitran

Author:Ashokamitran
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9789385890833
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2016-02-29T23:00:00+00:00

Children

The patriarch himself had come to the railway station. Although having to cover her head with the end of her sari was a bit awkward, Vandana felt pleased. Carrying her suitcase, her husband boarded the train first, located her seat and kept the suitcase safely underneath. Dhanraj got in with his father and sat near the window. Vandana picked up her bag and the food hamper. Her husband took them from her and stowed them conveniently inside. By this time, Vandana’s brothers-in-law had arrived on the platform. One was in a shirt with a floral print. The younger was in striking red. Both carried helmets and stood by deferentially in their father’s presence.

‘Um, get in,’ said Vandana’s husband. Gripping the handle on the compartment’s door, Vandana placed her left foot carefully on the steps. Leaning firmly on it for a moment, she climbed into the compartment. At home she was comfortable using her foot in this fashion. While boarding a train, however, she could neither forget nor hide it.

Her husband got down and stood with his younger brothers. ‘Dhanraj, let your mother sit near the window,’ he said.

‘Appa,’ pleaded Dhanraj. Vandana got up and stood beside her son, pulling the end of her sari over her face. ‘Sit, sit,’ said her husband. Vandana remained standing. Now her father-in-law told her, ‘Um, sit down.’ Vandana sat down on the edge of her seat. By this time, her red-shirted brother-in-law had brought four bottles of Thums Up, one of which he extended towards Vandana. ‘Take it, Amma,’ said Dhanraj.

The brothers were talking among themselves. Of the three, only Vandana’s husband was in ordinary clothes. Like the others, his face too had not seen a razor in two days. However, of the three, he was the one who spoke in a measured way. His younger brothers were unable to say anything without gesticulating freely with their hands.

‘Come on, drink it up fast. The bottle has to be returned,’ he urged Vandana now. She felt awkward, having to draw hard on a straw in front of her father-in-law. She managed to finish her drink somehow and held out the bottle. Her red-shirted brother-in-law went to return the bottles.

The patriarch said, ‘Look after your health. Don’t be careless like you were here.’ Vandana kept her head bowed.

Her older brother-in-law inquired, ‘Do you need anything, bhabhi?’

‘No,’ she replied, ‘I have brought plenty to eat.’

‘Chittappa, Chittappa! Wafer biscuit, Chittappa!’ cried Dhanraj. He was enormously proud of his uncles. Vandana placed a hand on his shoulder. Even so, a big packet of wafer biscuits arrived soon. Vandana collected it and kept it in the food hamper.

Signs indicating the train’s imminent departure could be seen. Not only had the crowd thickened on the platform, but a lot of people were rushing forward. At the same time, many who had come to see someone off stood waiting, looking visibly tired. How many times could they repeat, ‘Write a letter when you reach home, look after your health, give everyone my love, keep an eye on the luggage, count all the pieces, make sure nothing is missing.

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