Baby Doll Sone Di - The Golden Girl

Baby Doll Mein Sone Di!!

"All is rubbish!!What a boring journey?"  Shivani mumbled, kept the Cosmopolitan in her bag and closed her eyes. She placed her head on the grill of the window and started looking outside the train. The train was running at its usual speed and many things were being crossed. The green fields, working farmers, children playing in grounds were passing but she was not enjoying this journey. Her mind was totally upset. She was so lost in about her results and career.

Shivani Soni; a 20 year old college student, was returning from hostel to her home as her summer vacations were announced and all the students were leaving to their respective native places.. She was not interested in returning home but she had no other choice left. She decided to join her Aunt's boutique where she can utilize her vacations also and learn something new. It was a sunny and most humid day of the May; Shivani took her water bottle and gulped some water.  the journey was still 6 hours long so she decided to take a small nap. She unfolded her scarf, covered her head and adjusted herself close to the window. She tried to sleep but there was so much noise in the train which was not letting her to sleep. The noise of engine, chitchat of nearby sitting passengers and railway vendors kept disturbing her so she pulled out her phone plugged the earphones and started listening some music tracks. Hardly 20 minutes were passed, she heard a different kind of noise. It was like a song in a childish voice and a drum beating. The music was not so perfect but loud enough to attract the people. Shivani opened her eyes and took out the earphones from her ears. She tied her hairs in a bun and moved near the last end of her birth. Some people were standing and looking at the direction from where the voice was coming.

There was a small girl nearly 12 years old with a boy around 5 or 6 years old. The boy was wearing a torn t-shirt and shorts while the girl was in the getup of a joker. Her cheeks and nose were painted in red colour and she wore a small skirt which hardly reached till her thighs and a joker cap was on her head. She made the boy sat down on floor near a seat and smiled to everyone. Her skin was a slightly darker but she was looking beautiful. The kohl and colours on her face made her cute and her voice was really so sweet. She greeted everyone and folded her hands. The passengers looked at her. the girl looked towards them like she was seeking some permission. When she saw that people have started looking at her, she signalled her brother who was sitting near to her with a small drum and an instrument called damroo. She took out a steel ring from her She started rolling from a steel ring; she bent inside the ring like a trained gymnast, danced like a serpent and many moves she performed. She cracked some jokes, sung songs and funny poems, shayaris etc. and danced on some peppy bollywood item numbers.

After her 25 minutes performance, she bowed down her head and looked towards the people who were around her. She took out a bowl from her bag and stood in front of passengers with a big hope. Some people gave her coins while others turned their eyes in opposite directions. They covered their faces with newspapers or acted like falling asleep. Some of them gave disgusted look and uttered some abusive words about her and her parents. Women passengers started cursing the people who give birth to such children and pushed her away from them. Maybe even reflection of her shadow can make their branded sarees a dirty one. But she greeted every passenger with the same and constant smile on her lips and having dried tears in eyes. Her brother was silent and looking towards the people who were clapping few minutes ago and now pushing her sister with those same hands. He slowly called, "Cheenu! Please...."

Oh!! So her name was Cheenu aur her brother used to call her by this name. Cheenu looked behind and waved her hand towards her brother to have some patience and keep silent.

Shivani was observing all this very carefully. Few seconds later, Cheenu was standing in her front of her. The same smile, the same eyes, the silent prayer on her lips; Shivani could read them and understand easily. She opened her handbag snd searched for a 50 rupee note, but she was having only notes of 500. She looked at the Cheenu but she was looking at her brother. Shivani understood and took out the packets of wafers and biscuits which was kept for the meal by her hostel warden. Cheenu took them and smiled back and bowed her head. She quickly ran towards her brother and gave them to him. She tore the packet of wafers and started feeding her brother. Shivani was continuously looking at that direction suddenly she noticed that Cheenu's brother was handicapped and his fingers were cut. All he had only a palm and by that he can beat the drum. There were no fingers in his right hand.

Shivani looked at them and thought about their life. She was feeling sympathy towards both the children and cursing the destiny for their condition. After feeding the brother, Cheenu once more looked towards Shivani and got up. She held her brother's hand, took her small bag and drum and walked towards the next half of the compartment. Shivani turned her face towards the window and her eyes got stuck on the passenger who was  sitting opposite to her. The passenger was reading a filmy magazine. On its cover, there was a seductive photograph of a hot bollywood actress and the tagline was  boldly written, 'Baby doll mein sone di..!!!"

Shivani laughed at the society and its hippocratic mentality towards such children and mumbled, "Yes! That girl is a real baby doll sone di..A golden girl with a golden heart!!"

The End

Tarun Meghwal

The First Paddle

#MoreThanMoney

“No! I don’t want to talk to you. You don’t take care about me or my wishes. How can you forget my nail paint? It’s a very small thing to buy for me. ” Ankita was said loudly and moved to her bedroom.

“But baby! Please listen to me…” Ravi’s sentence left incomplete as Ankita shut the door.

******************************************************************

It was a pleasant evening of the 29th September, 2015. Ankita was waiting for Ravi as he had promised that today he will come early from the office and they will attend the sangeet ceremony of her friend Roshani.

In morning, when Ravi was leaving for his office, Ankita was busy in kitchen preparing breakfast for him.

“Ankita! I am going to take off.” Ravi said in louder tone, adjusting the knot of his tie.

“Please wait dear! I am coming.” Ankita replied from the kitchen.

“What Now? She has no idea that how much work I have to do today.” Ravi murmured and replied, “Okay baby! Please come fast.”

Around 5 minutes later, Ankita came out from kitchen, adjusting her hairs with her basen-filled hands. She was in her loose red t-shirt and black payajama. Ravi smiled looking her and grabbed her from her waist. Ankita tried to free herself but as her hands were filled with besan, she surrendered herself in Ravi’s arms. He hugged her tightly and whispered in her ears, “What happened? Do you want me to take a leave 

from my office and stay whole day with you.” and placed a small kiss near her ear lobes.

She responded immediately and dug her teeth smoothly on his neck. “Oooucchhh! What are you doing?” he screamed loudly while it was hard for Ankita to control her laughter. He loosened his arms and asked, “Can I go now? Ma’am!”

“Yes! But don’t forget that today we have to go to Roshani’s place as today is her mehandi-function and I have to attend it.”

“Ummm… Mehandi!! She will have a mehandi ceremony and my dear wife is still busy with her besan ceremony.” He laughed on his own joke and took his bag.

Ankita made face and took her tongue out to tease Ravi. She looked at her hands and called Ravi, “Wait-wait! Please bring the two dark crimson shades of nail paint from market.”

Ravi looked back and gave a surprised look. “Baby! How can I enter in a women ‘shop? What will I say to them? Look! I am not going to do this. You can buy on your own in evening when I will come from office. I will take you to the market in evening.” And he closed the main gate.

******************************************************************

After almost 30 minutes passed, Ankita opened the door of bedroom and sat back again on bed. Ravi entered slowly in room having some papers in his hands. He sat closely to Ankita and asked, “Are we not going to Roshani’s place?

“No!” Ankita replied making her eyes bigger than usual and turned her face away from Ravi.

“You know that I feel very shy buying any woman’s stuff. Why don’t you go and buy anything you want? Now don’t spoil the mood. Get ready.” said Ravi.

“I am not going anywhere with you. And tell me why do you feel shy in buying your own wife’s stuff? Before our marriage, you made so many promises that you will fulfill my all wishes and dreams whatever I want. And you can’t even purchase a nail paint for me.”

Ravi was noticing that Ankita’s eyes will soon burst into tears. To stop those tears, he handed the papers to her which he carried in his hands. “I can’t buy those small things. Look! What I bought for you? A plot of 4,800 square feet near Asha Nagar will on your name. Tomorrow it will be legally yours.”

Ankita took the papers but she showed no interest in opening them or reading them. Ravi stared on her face and lifted her chin, “Are you not happy with this?”

Ankita looked in his eyes for a couple of moment and smiled. She came closer and made Ravi to lie in her lap. She put the papers on the bed and brushed his hairs. She was silent while Ravi had closed his eyes. Ankita looked at his face and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead. Ravi opened his eyes and tried to get up.

But Ankita pushed her hand to his chest and said in slower tone, “Baby! I know that how much you love me and how hard you are working for our future. You work all day and night; go on tours and meetings to make money and more money. And you are doing all this to make me happy. May be you are doing right for us but one thing I want to say to you that my happiness lies only in small things which you do for me, not in these big things. What will I do with all these when I have chosen to spend my life with you? Either we live in flat or in a palace, my most comfortable place is in your arms. Whatever you do for me gives me happiness but those special moments when you do especially for me are more precious. You remember when we got newly married that time buying vegetables and fruits were more memorable than buying jewelries. Now we have a car but I still miss our bike ride because on bike when I hold you I feel more safe then in car when I am sit close to you but I can’t touch you so that you can look in front and drive carefully. You know that I am still a careless stupid girl which can get smile when you empty the whole cupboard to find your towel even when you know that I had already kept that in bathroom. No money or precious thing can bring happiness on my face but if you do your efforts to fulfill my needs gives me immense pleasure and happiness that my loving husband can do everything for me.”

Ravi listened carefully, smiled and put his hands on Ankita’s face. He kept his finger on her lips. “Now get ready. We are already too late. I am dying to see you in that dazzling lehanga in that ceremony. I want to see my wife more beautiful than the bride.”

Ankita punched on his shoulder, “Yeah! My so busy husband had bought me a land but he can’t afford the expenses of his wife and wishing that his wife should look more beautiful. Can I wrap these papers on my body and come with you.” She laughed with a small tear rested in the corner of her eye.

“Shut up you idiot. The whole pack of your nail paints is kept outside on table. Now wipe your tears otherwise you will ask to purchase new kohls and eye liners tomorrow. And I will again have to go in that store.”

#TheEnd

#taru