Bharati!

It was a dark night- the dramatic kind- with the wind swooshing through the leaves and the thunder punctuating the silence. I was walking back home from work when I saw a woman trying to hail a taxi. Dressed in a simple kurta and jeans, she would have gone unnoticed, had it not been for the distress etched all over her face.

I stopped and asked, ‘Excuse me, mam, are you alright?’ She turned and looked at me with fear in her eyes. ‘What do you want?’ she asked with a trembling voice.

Mam, you look disturbed. Do you need help?’

No. Just leave me alone. All of you! Just. Leave. Me. Alone.’

Puzzling. I was the only one there.

Before I could react the woman broke down crying, hysterically. I looked around hoping no one would watch this scene unfolding and misunderstand.

Through tears she mumbled ‘I am sorry, I didn’t mean to be so rude’I am just going through a lot right now.’

Oh…I am sorry…”

She continued to sniffle.

You won’t get a taxi here. Do you want to walk with me to the taxi stand? I’ll keep you company till there. My house is nearby’

She hesitated for a moment before nodding her head.

What’s your name?’ I asked as we fell into step.

Bharati.’ She said in an accent I realized I couldn’t place.

Bharati’nice name.’

She gave me a half-smile.

So’are you okay, Bharati?’

Tears welling up again in her eyes, she replied ‘It’s just’my family, they are turning against each other. And I am stuck in the middle. They harass me and then try to claim me, trying to keep me from each other . I can’t understand how they can hate each other so much.’

I didn’t know what to say to that. We walked silently for some time.

Where are they now?’

They are… everywhere.’ She said, without further explanation.

And where are you headed?’

I don’t know. Away from this mess, this bloodshed, this suppression of our young ones…’

Uhhhh’bloodshed? Who the hell is this woman? And what have I got myself into?

To Be Continued..]

BharatiSeries