Another Family by P.G. (mobi reader android txt) 📕

was only after they had settled inside that he asked, "who is this young lady Deepa? never saw her before? She looks so much like you, is she your relative?" Ria's mother looked she is ready for a melt down, her aunt came to her rescue. "Oh, y?! She is my daughter! How would you know? She is always away at her boarding school."
"I see...", he looked curious. "Ria takes after he aunt so much. But anyway, why did you put her up in a school?" He was looking at Ria's uncle. Ria knew this was going to add up to a long story which it did. Ria was described as naughty brat who would not gentle up and with her little brother (Tublu) to look after she was sent away to school. Ria hated every minute of it knowing how much her uncle and aunt loved to see her and her mom in a helpless situation. Every time Ria sneaked into her mom's room to play with her bro, there was always one or the other relative of her father's around to make them uncomfortable. Her father's sisters gave her sympathetic looks. Two days later Ria was down with fever. As she pretended to sleep late into the mornings without any attention and an unaware mother, her thoughts went back to the days when she would be sick at home. She would get attention all day and giggle with her brother's chuckles. There was no shame nothing to hide from each other.

There was a knock. Ria almost knew it to be her mother. But it was the man they all dreaded. "Good morning? Why don you come down for some break fast?", he looked closer. It was strange how his eyes changed from a happy expression to an anxious frown." Are you not well! Let me find your mother" and he was gone. Ria drifted back into sleep.She was awakened by a gentle touch. Ria felt terrible, her weary eyes searched for her mother as she murmured "mamma"." I'm here sweetie". It was her aunt.She could not find her mother in the crowd that had gathered around her. Visibly upset she turned away and covered herself entirely with the quilt.Later when she lay alone her step father sneaked in." Ria, sweetie... i m really sorry, your mother wanted to be with you all day. But with your little brother, you know every body forbade her to be near any germs. I am here, call me when you need anything.ok. "ok dad", Ria was tired of feeling abandoned.What she absolutely wanted to avoid now was another lecture on maturity.Ria had been experiencing a strange transition over the last few days. She had drifted from being a girl desperately yearning a real family to a girl who had to pretend and lie to be a part of that real family. She was the abode of germs her own mother must completely shut out from her and her new found family.

Mind is the like a natural computer. It needs to be told every now and then that it is happy.Especially when it crashes after a serious emotional attack. It was a complete breakdown for Ria and no matter how much she tried to remind her mind of her success in making a perfect family reunion of her dreams, it was not content and continually went back from recalling her mother's affectionate smiles to this inexplicable hurt she suffered. Her heart forgave her mother telling her mind this was perhaps her mother's only chance of happiness but her mind refused to forgive.Little she knew about the greatest surprise that awaited her shortly.

She was startled awake by the familiar touch a little after dark. A drop or two of water fell on her cheeks. Her mother sat by her side all night.Next day was the big day. Ria felt much better and was dressed quite pretty by her mom. Neither of them exchanged any explanation about the recent developments. Ria noticed their set up has remained unchanged for the rest of the house. Mrs. Chanda was still the affectionate mother,only Ria now had an affectionate aunt in her mom.The ceremony went extremely well. It was time for little Chiru's family picture.Ria contrived to go out of the room lest her mom should feel uneasy.
The commanding voice thundered across the room. "Ria, I wish you to join us, my dear. I suppose you love Chiru as your own brother. You are the only big sister he has from his mother's side. You have a very important place in the family. I am sure little Chiru would love to sit on your lap."

Her mother looked relieved. Her step father looked grateful. Her grand father was welcoming her into the family. Ria never got to know what happened the day before and that if her grand father knew. For once she did not want to question . Ria was at last going back to the child hood joys again. She was going to enjoy playing with her brother, she was going to be the little girl of her mother.She would not have to worry and act mature for a long time for she would have her perfect family to pamper her now for years to come.


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Publication Date: 02-16-2010

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