It is not often that work takes me to my hometown. Normally Mom is happy to see me, but when I reached home that morning she was not her usual self. "Something bothering you?" "No, not me... Suchitra Aunty called. Looks like Kavita has got into some trouble." Suchitra Aunty had been our neighbour for over 15 years before we moved to the suburbs. Kavita was her daughter. "Kavita is in college first year, right?" "No, she has just entered her 12th standard." "What is the problem?" "There is a boy." "Isn't she too young?" "That is what Suchitra is worried about." "It must be puppy love. She will get over it. It is part of growing up. Just let her be. Don't go poking your nose into her personal life." "What nonsense! How can we leave it like that? She is like my daughter. Today's kids watch too many movies... Well, her exams got over yesterday and Appa has asked her to come over. We'll talk to her." "Leave me out of this," I said. "If she realises even I am aware of this, she will die of embarrassment." I walked away shaking my head in disbelief at what was happening. Kavita had been a toddler when my brother and I were in high school. She practically used to live in our house. Kavita arrived the next day and went through her usual routine of hugs and war cries on seeing us all. She took the remote, plonked herself on the sofa, put the TV on, and told Mom what she would like for lunch and dinner. Dad and I left for our respective offices. Before he left, Dad warned Mom with his eyes not to raise the issue till he was back. That night, as we waited for dinner, Kavita updated Dad and me on how the day had passed, how she had made life difficult for 'Athai' [aunty, my mother]. A look at my parents' faces told me the chosen hour had arrived. I wanted to disappear and avoid all the embarrassment that was likely to ensue. But I was curious to see how my parents were going to handle this. Kavita was still chatting away excitedly as we started dinner. Soon Dad cleared his throat. "Sweetheart, what is this your dad tells me?" "What?" Kavita's monosyllabic response was characteristic of a teenager. "Who is this boy?" It was Mom's turn. "Which boy?" "The boy you are seeing..." "Look Athai, Maama, I am not seeing anybody," Kavita returned. "Rajesh is just a friend." "Look Kavi, you are still very young. You are not mature enough to decide." My mom was direct, blunt. "Of course I am mature enough to handle my own life. You are also just like my parents. Why don't you all understand?" She broke into tears. Dad walked around and put his hand around her. She cried her heart out, stuttering the story of how her mother had slapped her because a neighbour saw her a few times at this guy's photocopy shop. Rajesh, it came out, had been in their group of friends in school. He had dropped out after flunking the 10th standard, but they had remained friends. Kavita's elder brother had called her a disgrace to the family and her grandmother had asked her, she sobbed, to control her urges! My father let her cry. After she was done with it, we finished the dinner in uneasy silence. Next morning, Mom asked me to drop Kavita back. Kavita's freckled teenage face was all puffed up. She must have continued crying into the night. When we arrived at her neighbourhood, I said: "How would you like some coffee, kiddo?" "You drop me home and your Suchitra Aunty will give you coffee," she replied. "I am talking about going to this restaurant..." "If that is what you want. But no sermons, please." After we were seated, I started. "You have heard all the elders, so be patient and hear me out too." For some reason, she started to smile. I told her a slightly dressed-up story of two of my classmates who got engaged to each other in the first year of college and what all they went through. "Look Anna, first of all I am not in love as you think," Kavita told me when I had finished. "I know my adult years are just starting and I will meet a lot more men. There is going to be a lot of sorting out the jerks from the nice guys before I decide whom to marry. "I want to be a fashion designer. I want to get into the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, next year. I have to prepare for that entrance test. I also have to score enough in the school final to get me into a decent college if I don't make the NID. Then there are my dance and yoga classes. "I just do not have the time for love. I just tended a friend's shop during my free time to give the poor guy a break. And I was not even alone. Our entire group took turns at it. All these oldies are making a big issue out of this. I just got angry that none of them would even listen to me." Her monologue was delivered without so much as a pause for breath; her eyelids did not bat even once. And she was smiling throughout. I wished I had her clarity and conviction when I was her age. As I dropped her off and waved goodbye, I was certain of one thing -- her future was very, very safe in her hands. Hemanth Kumar G is also certain that Kavita will make it to the NID. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh Tell us what you think of this diary Be part of an exciting venture! Write a Diary!
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