Thursday, July 3, 2008

Yesterday...and Today


A few years back while coming back from school, a friend of mine had told me that the woman who stood with us in the queue in the auto stand-the woman who could hardly keep standing straight in the heat, who could barely keep her eyes open and who kept groaning out of pain-was actually one of the many women who came into the city from their villages for abortion. Women like her chose the afternoons to get back home, so that they could be home by the evening and no one would suspect a thing. On that auto ride back home, I pictured the groaning woman sitting next to me-dragging herself to the stove in the evening, and boiling rice for her family-with her sari tightly wound around her stomach, so that she doesn’t feel the pangs of the void left behind by a small spec of life, which was forced to see the light of day much before its eyes were ready for it.

Scary thought, isn’t it? I don’t know why I was reminded of all this yesterday.

You texted and we spoke of lazy afternoons waiting to be lived in Paris. I pictured us, a few years down the line-sipping coffee in some obscure café, on some nameless boulevard. Wouldn’t we then look back upon yesterday and discover that this was when time found a leak in its pipeline and dripped out into some hidden little pool? Wouldn’t we then talk of yesterday and say that this was when it all started?

P.S:Today, the woman who gave me life adds another year to her life…here’s to another year of lots of fights, loads of disagreements and a little bit of love :)

20 comments:

The Reluctant Rebel said...

"so that she doesn’t feel the pangs of the void left behind by a small spec of life"- You're stepping on dangerous and controversial territory with that last word.

little boxes said...

hmmm....freedom of expression is still applicable,i am hoping :)

Pongy Papaya said...

happy budday kamma!

sujaan said...

if women from the vilages do come ever so often to get abortions done in cities, i think it is a step towards liberation for them...of course, the pain of losing a child (despite being unwanted) is there, which u have brought out very crisply...

Vagabond said...

happy birthday,kakima! :)

Bone said...

bah, your mum shares my zodiac =D

also, you look khumpleetlee like her, don't you?

Neel said...

have you been able to figure out why were you reminded of such a thought out of the blue? makes me wonder.
...and may time find more leaks in its pipeline...

little boxes said...

@wolfie:umm,i dont think so :P

loony girl said...

your mum n i r zodiac twins! :D
belated happy birthday to her!!
and i wish i could comment on the post actually, but i somehow don't have the words for it..

UTP said...

we can never appreciate the MOTHER...enough that is why we should keep at it...

The Mad Girl said...

happy Birthday to kakima.:).
Little bit of love which is more than loads of love by others.!:).

Doubletake, Doublethink. said...

your posts always make me think.also, i saw you at jadavpur today, but was in a crowded bus.


and i have new url.

Lucid Darkness said...

This is random, isn't it? Don't get me wrong though. You touched on something which many would have much to speak on. Now what needs to be considered in such cases would be the circumstances that culminate in them. Food for thought, most definitely...

Here's wishing your mother the best!

little boxes said...

@LD:yes,a random recollection of a memory

onnesha said...

happy birthday to aunty.
=)

Anonymous said...

belated happy b'day to ur mom..
and seems like solo is finding twins everywhere these days :)

Ephemera said...

The wide eyed little kid in the picture just prevents me from saying anything on the post..really nice pic.

Phoenix said...

hey wish aunty a very happy birthday :)

little boxes said...

@dream baron: :) thanks...

Phoenix speaks.... said...

Beautiful.just.