Her eyelids flickered open to the buzzing silver and gold light. She closed them again, willing her mind to tumble back to the dream, where she was enjoying dinner on a massive carved table alone. Or was she alone?
She half-opened her eyes to see her husband, dressed up in his blazer and trousers, kneeling in front of her with his warm palms on her arms, whispering, "get up, get up..."
She woke up with a start. She glared around to see many people, all dressed up in their fineries, looking at her with an amused smile. Bobby's heart was beating fast as the realization seeped in about her surroundings. She jumped up from the plush cushion couch, smoothening the creases of her dress and smiled meekly.
After all, the cocktails had been organized in her honour, in the bada bungalow of Adabarrie tea estate to introduce the new bride. Bobby, only 19 at the time, was often mistaken as “baby” by many. She had a fierce sense of independence and an air of confidence around her. However, the assumptions of her being the saab’s daughter ran rife, owing to her petite and slim appearance.
She had begun to settle in the magnificent bungalow surrounded by greenery, embraced by the verdant tea bushes. The interior radiated warmth and serenity. She lovingly placed the curios and the souvenirs on the fireplace mantles and dressed the bare walls true to her traditional roots, yet merging them with a touch of modernity. But to her, there seemed to be something still missing– the essence to turn this into a home.
She decided to throw a house-warming party and with her husband’s help chose a weekend to invite over their colleagues. The bearer of the bungalow informed her that the local haat had a variety of vegetables and they need not travel all the way to the town in Tezpur. So much so that the fishmonger would be here at the bungalow’s doorstep and indeed, he was.
“Memsaab, memsaab, fish-waala is here,” she heard the mild knock early the next morning on her bedroom door. Hastily donning a pair of denim shorts and a tee, her face free of make-up, she stood at the kitchen door to purchase the fish.
She wanted the pieces of fish to be perfect fillets for the evening but the price quoted seemed alarmingly high and hence she started bargaining. After haggling for a few minutes, the fishmonger said, “baby, mummy ko bhejo. You will not know about the fish.” Exasperated, she rolled her eyes and ordered the bearer to do the needful.
That evening, her hospitality and the food was enjoyed by each one of the guests. Her bada memsaab even went on to say, “the love put into the dishes is evident. I could feel the warmth of the food, coursing through my veins, almost like a hug.” Cooking and feeding others had always been one of the ways that Bobby showcased her love. She was happy to have given a heart to the bungalow and come a step closer to feeling at home.
One morning, she stood in the exquisitely done up lawn of the bungalow instructing the maali, when she heard the vroom of a mobike. A young man dismounted and introduced himself as the new trainee assistant. “Could you please call your mother,” he requested.
She was irked but feigned an impassive expression. “Why?” she asked him.
“Sir wants the key of the factory safe.”
A storm of thoughts started brewing in her mind, as she made her way inside asking the assistant to wait. "Should I let it pass again? Or should I make a point this time?" She was in a conundrum but decided to take charge.
Changing quickly into a salwar kameez, donning a red bindi on and knotting her hair into a bun, she came out and asked, “yes, has Asif sent you for the keys?”
“Yes, good morning ma’am.”
Bobby was elated with this change. She retained the sweetness and the purity of her soul while stepping up with confidence into memsaab's shoes gradually.
Glossary:
Haat: Local farmer's market
Bada memsaab: Estate Manager's wife
Fish-waala: Fish vendor
Baby, mummy ko bhejo: Please send your mother, little girl
Maali: Gardener