The Dress
For the past five years, Sarasu has never failed to wipe the kitchen counter spotlessly clean. She loved performing this task because this is the last one, she must finish to leave to home. Removing the pan supports, rinsing and scrubbing it with Vim and leaving them to dry. Then rubbing off the food stains on the stove, firstly, with a wet cloth and then wiping it clean with a dry cloth. How well she has mastered this skill through the years! But today she had thoughts rumbling on her head.
Madam had never failed to give her salary on the first day of every month. Why hadn’t she given it this month? Maybe, she was busy with work. This week she hadn’t been home the same time I was here. But one month while she was on a trip, did she not leave the money with patti? Maybe should I ask patti if she had forgotten to give it to me? No, no, no! That wouldn’t be nice. What would they think of me? They have always been kind to me.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a voice from the dining.
“Sarasu, Sarasu.!”
“What is it patti?” Sarasu went outside wiping her wet hands on her saree.
“Can you wash this before you leave?” the old woman was holding to a small tumbler in her hands.
“Give it.” Sarasu got the tumbler from her and went inside the kitchen. She washed it and placed it along with other vessels in the small plastic tub. She wiped her hands with the already wet pallu in her saree. She stepped outside and looked at the wall clock in the dining room.
“3:15”. It was 15 minutes past her regular working time. Madam hasn’t come yet.
The television was loud enough for the person walking on the street that none missed to turn their heads to the house. The old woman was lying on the sofa with a small pillow underneath her head and watching her regular soap opera. Sarasu took her small pink bag which she always keeps near the main door and looked at the TV. The woman who had been attempting to escape from a forced marriage by running away from the marriage hall was still sitting in the same room as she was yesterday. Sarasu unsinterested said,
“I will come tomorrow patti.” Sarasu walked out of the door with her bag.
“Reach home safely, Sarasu,” was all she heard from behind. Nothing about the money. Not a word about the salary. She paused a moment outside the house. The door remained closed the way she had it closed.
Thoughts clouded her mind as she returned to her house. What was she going to say to Priya? Poor child. She would be dejected to hear the cancellation of the plan again. Madam has never done like this. She has never forgotten. Should she borrow some money from someone until Madam pays her salary. If so, who would lend her money during the time of festival. In no time, her feet automatically stopped in front of her house. Sarasu had no idea how she had walked here.
“Amma!” Priya flung open the door. “Amma, I am ready!” She flung her hands around Sarasu. “Keep your bag inside. Lock the house, let’s go!” Priya had tied her hair herself and had worn her sandals. When had she learned to plait her hair by herself, Sarasu looked at her. How much she has grown.
“Go inside Priyu kuti.” Sarasu entered the house without looking at her.
“Amma where are you going? We are going to be late.” Priya followed her mother inside the house looking puzzled.
“Do you want some milk?” Sarasu went inside the kitchen. She heated some water to make tea.
“Amma, we will be late. We must buy Diwali dress today.” Priya pulled her mother’s wet pallu.
“Priyu kuti,” Sarasu kneeled and held the little face. “Amma is not feeling well. Can we go tomorrow?”
Priya fell quiet for moment. “Lie! You’re a liar. You said you were tired yesterday and today you are sick. I need a Diwali dress today.” Priya’s eyes brimmed with water.
“Really Priyu kuti, Amma is very tired today. I promise we will go tomorrow.” Sarasu tried her best to make Priya not cry. But she failed.
“I hate you! All my friends have bought Diwali dress and crackers. You never get me anything at all.” Priya pushed away Sarasu. Priya ran outside the kitchen and buried her face in a pillow that Sarasu had forgotten to remove from the hall that morning.
“Priya, I swear I am not feeling well. I promise I’ll take you tomorrow.” Sarasu lay down near her and brushed Priya’s hair with her fingers.
“Get away from me. I don’t want anything from you anymore.” Priya wiped away the tears that flowed down her cheeks.
“Priyu ma, I am sorry!” Sarasu tried to console her.
“Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk to you.” Priya pushed her away and buried her head again in the pillow.
Sarasu suddenly realized she had forgotten to switch off the stove and abruptly ran inside the kitchen. Half the water had already evaporated. She switched off the stove and sat down on the floor. Without realizing it, she noticed her eyes were already wet.
She was thinking of how she was going to raise this child. No matter how hard she worked she was never able to buy anything the kid asked for. She always had to wait for the first day of the month. Now it was the fifth day. In three days, it will be Diwali. She hasn’t still got her daughter a dress. She should have bought her a dress when the thousand rupees was credited on the 15th of previous month in her bank account. But then what they would have done about the grocery? What about the loan interest? Pongal was just another month. All these thoughts engulfed her mind, and she didn’t know when she had falled asleep.
Sarasu suddenly woke up to a knock on the door.
“Sarasu akka, Sarasu akka. Are you inside the house?”
“Hi, how are you, Priya? Why do you look so dull? Where is amma?”
Sarasu immediately recognized the voice and wiped her face with her almost dry pallu. Adjusted her hair with hands and got up. There stood Madam wearing a wrinkled shirt and trousers with her crossbody laptop bag on the left shoulder. Her hair looked a little tangled and messy. She must have come here straight from office.
“Welcome madam. What happened?” she smiled at Madam. She gleamed with joy because she already knew why Madam had come.
“Sorry akka! I was heading a new project this month and got swamped with work. I even forgot to give your salary to amma.” Madam offered the money to Sarasu.
“It’s ok madam. I know you wouldn’t have forgotten.” Sarasu got it and smiled at her.
“I am extremely sorry akka.” Madam really felt guilty. Over the years, Sarasu had shared many of her struggles with Madam, and her amma, while making tea, sweeping the house, cleaning the stove and dusting the furniture. The least Madam could do was pay her salary on time.
“It’s ok Madam.” Sarasu couldn’t control her smile.
Madam took out a small box of sweets from the crossbody bag and handed it to Priya, “Here, take these Diwali sweets! Happy Diwali!” She pinched Priya on her cheeks.
Priya holding the sweet box in her hands made no reaction.
“Is she not feeling well?” Madam asked puzzled.
“No, no she is just upset with me about something.” Sarasu smiled at Priya.
“Ok then akka. I am already late. Amma would be alone. I’ll meet you tomorrow.” Madam said still looking at Priya.
“Madam, please have some tea.” Sarasu insisted.
“Next time akka, its already very late. I feel hungry. I have an online meeting at 7.” Madam walked out of the house and left.
Sarasu relieved went inside the house.
Sarasu still with her smiling face got the sweet box from her and placed it on a nearby stool. She counted the currency notes in her hands. Few notes were extra. Priya smiled a little extra too. In this chaos she had forgotten the Diwali bonus. Sarasu then let out a deep sigh and said,
“Can we go buy dress now?”
Priya looked at Sarasu with her eyes widened, “Are you saying it for real? You said you weren’t well?”
“I am fine now. Shall we go?”
“Sure amma. I am ready!” Priya shouted and ran to the mirror to tie her hair again.
Comments