Weed by Paro Anand

Author:Paro Anand
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9788186939413
Publisher: Roli Books

Everything changes

Hameed sat at Ammi’s feet. His hands massaging her ankle – her right ankle, exactly where it hurt after she twisted her foot many years ago. How did he know where it hurt her? Her right ankle, not the left one – the right one. How did he know? Had she told him, asked him to massage it, like she often, but not lately, asked Umed and me to? Had she really accepted him so completely that she allowed him to do something so – so, intimate? She didn’t even look up when I came into the room with the tea. In fact, she smiled at him, put her hand on his head and stroked his springy head. They were deep in conversation.

I hated him. Then.

I left the tea on the floor next to them. They abruptly stopped talking as I neared. She looked up and smiled. A more benign and peaceful smile than I’d seen on her for the longest time. I couldn’t stand it. Why had this stranger, who she hated the sight of, hated for the money he so smugly brought, suddenly found a place in her heart? How had he suddenly made her so serene and peaceful? More than I, her eldest son, was able to these past few months?

I hated him.

I took the remaining glasses of tea and went out to sit with Umed, leaving the door wide open, as though to expose him. But also to try to catch drifts of conversation that escaped through the open door. My attention still veered towards Ammi and Hameed, wondering, wondering what they were suddenly so immersed in. How had they found so much common ground to walk on, where none existed a few hours ago?

Umed took the tea from me. Not complaining that the glass was too hot. He usually yelped when he took his tea or milk, always complaining his fingers were grievously burned. But now, he held the glass as though he had a man’s hardened hands. Already.

And when he spoke, it was in a man’s voice, a somber man’s voice, ‘I will go,’ he said, ‘Bhai, Ammi has told me to sit and think over my decision very carefully. But I don’t need time, I’ve already made up my mind. I’m going.’

‘Even if there’s no coming back?’ my voice sounded younger, peevish, almost. It was as if we had reversed roles. He the older, the wiser, the decision-maker between us, and me the younger, gutless one, and who preferred a life with mother to the adventurous world outside.

‘I wish she had not put this condition, but, in a way, I can understand why she has. I can see that for her there is no turning back either. You have to be on one side or the other. I wish she had not, but it doesn’t change my decision, my choice. I will go.’

‘Doesn’t it worry you that your life may be harder than it is here?’

‘No.’ he said simply, and I saw he really wasn’t worried about anything.

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