They lay on top of Mrs.Ambetkar’s satin bijoux box. They had caught my eye on the very first day when I went to her room. Little jhumkis at the end with a small hook to place in my earlobe. They were also studded with white coloured stones that glinted in both sun and moonlight. No one had ever seen a prettier pair. All the aunties during those kitty parties used to remark and secretly envy Mrs.Ambetkar when she wore it. Stunning they were, I tell you.
I never even dared to touch them though. Too pretty they seemed for my dark fingers. But I always eyed them every time I was in her room (which was pretty often since I was close to her) and I would spend summer afternoons dreaming about wearing them until Rishabh would come and slap me out of my reverie.
Summer, Monsoon, Winter ; The months passed by but my longing for those earrings never faded. Infact, it grew with each milestone in my life. The better I performed in academics, the more entitled I felt to wear them. Extra-curricular achievements were an added bonus. All of these were the rungs of the ladder I was climbing. To reach those beautiful earrings. So beautiful they were I tell you.
I dreamed on and on. To wear one of Mumma’s blue saris and those beautiful earrings and a kutti red Bindi. Oh! How pretty I would look! All my classmates eyed me with indifference when I told them my dreams. They even mocked and teased me. It hurt. I used to cry under the Banyan tree behind the Chemistry Lab. Even there they would find me and pull my legs. Uff! But what did they know of those pretty silver earrings? They were priceless. They probably thought it was a petty dream. I assure you it was not. How could it be? Especially when every inch of my heart craved for those silver droplets? 'It is probably my lucky charm,' I thought. I did not know why I loved them so much. It was a wonder for me too.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Have you ever had that feeling of wanting a bar of chocolate so badly in the middle of the night? So bad that you just HAVE to have it? That… that horrible need inside you? Well, I got it that night. I just needed those earrings. Mumma and I slept downstairs in Mrs.Ambetkar’s house and luckily that day she had gone out of station. (That’s what I heard Mumma telling the dhobiwala- I don’t even know where out of station is though) I fervently hoped it was far enough so that I could get my hands on the bijoux box.
1:59 a.m. – Mumma was snoring away. Rishabh was fast asleep in his AC room. It seemed as though Mr. Opportunity had come knocking at my door!
It took me hardly a few minutes to identify that bijoux box (Mrs. Ambetkar was a very rich person. She had many bijoux boxes. I think around 10 of them. That too outside. God only knows how many more inside her large Godrej!)
I stood in front of the mirror and wore them. It was such a heady moment! They hung daintily from my lobes. I saw a small lipstick next to the hand mirror. I immediately whipped it out and lined my lips and pouted. How beautiful I felt! This was where I definitely belonged!
I sneaked back to my room and curled up on my reed mat. I would sleep as a thing of beauty tonight!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
“KRISHNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Mumma’s voice pierced through my sleep and I woke up startled. She was looking over me with a broom and next to her was Mrs.Ambetkar glaring at my face. No not glaring I realised when I looked closer. She looked rather perplexed.
“Murali!! What are you wearing???? What is on your lips??? Hey Raaammm!! What has become of my son!!!?” Mumma had lost it.
Mrs.Ambetkar took her in her arms and led her out of my room. They had a long conversation while I peeked from behind the door. Mumma was sobbing uncontrollably and Mrs.Ambetkar was reasoning with her. Rishabh stayed away from me too. It was all so very annoying. I wasn’t planning to steal the earrings you know. I had just borrowed them. But no one was listening to me at all. No one. I went up to Mrs.Ambetkar and apologised and gave the pair back. She winced and took it back. She didn’t look like she would forgive me very soon though.
In the end, it all turned out quite bad you know. I would never be able to forgive myself either. Mumma was not allowed to clean and cook for Rishabh and Mrs.Ambetkar anymore. I was taken to all the holy temples in the district to remove ‘evil thoughts’. I had to start working and abandon my studies as none of those kitty party aunties would take Mumma in. They would all look at me, giggle, and point and say “The Boy with silver earrings.”
Well, they wouldn’t understand would they? Those pretty silver earrings. Stunning they were. In moonlight and in sunlight…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
“One, Two, Three, Four! Open up the closet door! Five, Six, Seven, Eight! Dont assume your kids are straight!”
The voices come out now and then.
Till we un-taboo it.
Dedicated to the Rainbow Community.
I never even dared to touch them though. Too pretty they seemed for my dark fingers. But I always eyed them every time I was in her room (which was pretty often since I was close to her) and I would spend summer afternoons dreaming about wearing them until Rishabh would come and slap me out of my reverie.
Summer, Monsoon, Winter ; The months passed by but my longing for those earrings never faded. Infact, it grew with each milestone in my life. The better I performed in academics, the more entitled I felt to wear them. Extra-curricular achievements were an added bonus. All of these were the rungs of the ladder I was climbing. To reach those beautiful earrings. So beautiful they were I tell you.
I dreamed on and on. To wear one of Mumma’s blue saris and those beautiful earrings and a kutti red Bindi. Oh! How pretty I would look! All my classmates eyed me with indifference when I told them my dreams. They even mocked and teased me. It hurt. I used to cry under the Banyan tree behind the Chemistry Lab. Even there they would find me and pull my legs. Uff! But what did they know of those pretty silver earrings? They were priceless. They probably thought it was a petty dream. I assure you it was not. How could it be? Especially when every inch of my heart craved for those silver droplets? 'It is probably my lucky charm,' I thought. I did not know why I loved them so much. It was a wonder for me too.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Have you ever had that feeling of wanting a bar of chocolate so badly in the middle of the night? So bad that you just HAVE to have it? That… that horrible need inside you? Well, I got it that night. I just needed those earrings. Mumma and I slept downstairs in Mrs.Ambetkar’s house and luckily that day she had gone out of station. (That’s what I heard Mumma telling the dhobiwala- I don’t even know where out of station is though) I fervently hoped it was far enough so that I could get my hands on the bijoux box.
1:59 a.m. – Mumma was snoring away. Rishabh was fast asleep in his AC room. It seemed as though Mr. Opportunity had come knocking at my door!
It took me hardly a few minutes to identify that bijoux box (Mrs. Ambetkar was a very rich person. She had many bijoux boxes. I think around 10 of them. That too outside. God only knows how many more inside her large Godrej!)
I stood in front of the mirror and wore them. It was such a heady moment! They hung daintily from my lobes. I saw a small lipstick next to the hand mirror. I immediately whipped it out and lined my lips and pouted. How beautiful I felt! This was where I definitely belonged!
I sneaked back to my room and curled up on my reed mat. I would sleep as a thing of beauty tonight!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
“KRISHNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Mumma’s voice pierced through my sleep and I woke up startled. She was looking over me with a broom and next to her was Mrs.Ambetkar glaring at my face. No not glaring I realised when I looked closer. She looked rather perplexed.
“Murali!! What are you wearing???? What is on your lips??? Hey Raaammm!! What has become of my son!!!?” Mumma had lost it.
Mrs.Ambetkar took her in her arms and led her out of my room. They had a long conversation while I peeked from behind the door. Mumma was sobbing uncontrollably and Mrs.Ambetkar was reasoning with her. Rishabh stayed away from me too. It was all so very annoying. I wasn’t planning to steal the earrings you know. I had just borrowed them. But no one was listening to me at all. No one. I went up to Mrs.Ambetkar and apologised and gave the pair back. She winced and took it back. She didn’t look like she would forgive me very soon though.
In the end, it all turned out quite bad you know. I would never be able to forgive myself either. Mumma was not allowed to clean and cook for Rishabh and Mrs.Ambetkar anymore. I was taken to all the holy temples in the district to remove ‘evil thoughts’. I had to start working and abandon my studies as none of those kitty party aunties would take Mumma in. They would all look at me, giggle, and point and say “The Boy with silver earrings.”
Well, they wouldn’t understand would they? Those pretty silver earrings. Stunning they were. In moonlight and in sunlight…
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
“One, Two, Three, Four! Open up the closet door! Five, Six, Seven, Eight! Dont assume your kids are straight!”
The voices come out now and then.
Till we un-taboo it.
Dedicated to the Rainbow Community.