God's Reporter

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked Sarla aunty raising her eyebrows and giving that long smile all adults like to give when they ask this question. Maya stood there gazing at Sarla aunty's little twinkling star like ring tucked into her nose. It was impossible not to love Maya. She was gifted with limitless curiosity and a deep desire to know everything and anything. Her long face had a maturity you would not see in a sixteen years old girl.

Like the musicians gathered around the composer waiting for his direction; all the stars gave the spotlight to the moon today. It was it's special day. Maya watched as all the women of the house walked up to the terrace and prayed to the moon and said those golden words they say every year on this day:

"Like the gold necklace and the pearl bracelet…

just like the moon…

may my suhaag(husband) always shine brightly."

While the whole house was immersed into the celebrations, Sarla aunty chose to stay with Maya. She wanted to escape being dragged into the memories of Major Rana, her late husband. She was not particularly a religious person, but it is strange how death changes people. Every time someone tried to talk about Major Rana, she would repeatedly narrate the the legend of Satyavan and Savitri. She would say, 'Cancer took his life and I could not do anything about it. If only I was as strong as Savitri, I could have saved my husband. She had the strength to stop eating and drinking till the Lord Yama(the God of death) relented and granted her husband Satyavan's life….If only….if only, I was as strong as her'. 

The sweet aroma of the feast being served in the kitchen broke the silence. Sarla aunty glanced at Maya and gave even a bigger smile, gently asking her again, “Maya, my dear, tell me what do you aspire to be? Do you want to be a doctor like your mother or a smart engineer like your brother? What do you dream of?”

Like a wave coming to a shore only to merge in silence, Maya took a deep breath. Looking straight into her eyes, she firmly proclaimed, “I like to believe that I was sent by God to find out what is happening on the earth and record all the interesting stories to tell him when I go back. I want to be the God's best reporter.”

01.01.2014 - Written by Bansri Pandey