“Hey Bhagwaan ye ladki! Kaise manage kregi tu sab akele itni dur?”

(Oh God this girl! How will you manage everything alone so far?)

Anokhi pouted when her mother hit her head lightly, handing her the lunch box.

“Ho jaayega na mumma. Abhi toh aap ho toh mai careless ho jaati hu. Akele rahungi toh jyada careful rahungi na.”

(I will happen mumma. You are here so I get careless. I will be careful when I live alone.)

She grinned, making her mother shake her head in worry. She was happy for her daughter’s success but was also worried about her managing everything alone.

Anokhi had got an offer from a big company based in Gurgaon. It was two hours’ travel from her place. For the first six months she would have to manage the travel but after she completes her probation period and got permanent, the company would allot her an apartment in Gurgaon itself.

That was what her mother was worried about. Anokhi had no experience of living alone or managing things on her own. Being the youngest child, having an elder brother and an elder sister, she had been very pampered and shielded from the world.

Her mother was constantly worried about her managing the world alone. But Anokhi was determined to show her that she could do it on her own. 

“Mujhe toh bhut chinta ho rhi hai abhi se. Kaise rahegi tu? Aur itne mahine aise travel krna….do do ghante. Raat ko 11 bje ghar mai ghusegi tu. Kaise hoga sab?”

(I am getting worried now. How will you live? And travelling like this for so many months…two hours daily. You’ll enter the house at 11. How will it happen?)

“Arre yaar mumma! Ho jaayega na. Aur mai toh pehle hi keh rhi hu. Merko Gurgaon mai ek flat dilado rent pr. Par aap wo bhi nhi sunn rhi.”

(Uff mumma! It will happen. I am saying it now also. Get me a flat on rent in Gurgaon. You’re not even listening to that.)

Her mother sighed and said.

“Mera mann toh job permanent hone ke baad bhi tujhe akela rehne dene ke liye nhi maan raha. Kaise rahegi ye Bhagwaan. Apne dhyan rakhna bhi nhi aata isse.”

(I don’t even want you to live alone after getting permanent also. How will she live God. She doesn’t even know how to take care of herself.)

Anokhi pouted again as her mother fed her sugary curd. She was going to her office to get the details sorted. Her job starts next week. Today was an official check in and handing over of the appointment letter. 

“Achhe se krna sab. Bhagwaan tumhe khub tarakki de.”

(Do everything well. May God give you a lot of success.)

She blessed Anokhi who grinned again. She took her bag and rushed out when she saw her cab arriving. 

The next morning, after breakfast, the bell rang and Anokhi’s mother went to check, a smile gracing her lips knowing who it was.

And as soon as she opened the door, she was pulled into an embrace by her elder daughter, Harshali.

“Arre mera bachaa! Kaisi hai tu??”

(My baby! How are you?)

“Mai bilkul thik hu mumma! Aap kaise ho? Aur papa? Aur Anu? Kaha hai wo?”

(I am fine mumma! How are you? And papa? And Anu? Where is she?)

She asked excitedly. Besides her, her husband chuckled at her antics and bent down to touch her mother’s feet.

“Khush raho beta. Bhagwaan aap dono ki jodi hamesha banaye rakhe.”

(Stay happy. May God always maintain this bond of yours.)

“Arre mumma! Anu kaha hai? Mai bolti thi na aapse…aap bina matlab preshaan hoti ho. Bhut talented hai hamari Anu. Dekho! Kitni achhi job mili hai.”

(Where is Anu? I told you…you used to get worried without any reason. She is very talented. See! She got such a good job.)

She said like a proud elder sister making her mother nod and smile. Before she could say any further, her husband called softly.

“Baaki baatein baith ke krle?”

(Can we chitchat after sitting?)

She gave him a stink eye and then turned to her mother.

“Dekho aap! Aise hi krte hai ye. Mai ek second extra khadi nhi reh skti. Inka raag shuru ho jaata hai. Harshu! Baitho! Baith jaao! Baith ke baat krlo! Nhi baithna na mujhe!”

(You see! He does this. I can’t keep standing for one longer moment. He started chating. Harshu! Sit! Sit down! Talk after sitting! I don’t want to sit!)

She complained, making him sigh and her mother smiled.

“Mai baat krne se thodi na mana kr raha hu. Pr baith jaao na, meri jaan.”

(I am not stopping you from talking. But please sit down, love.)

Her mother looked away, smiling to herself at the innocent endearment that slipped off her son-in-law’s tongue.

“Mohit yaar! Pregnant hu mai! Beemar thodi na hu ki rest chahiye mujhe 24 hours.”

(I am pregnant! Not sick that I need 24 hours rest.)

Her husband started to say something and Harshali could notice the stress on his face. Her health had always been his priority and even more so after she broke the news of her pregnancy. 

She decided not to worry him anymore and promptly took her seat.

“Khush? Aaiye ab aap bhi.”

(Happy? Come you also sit.)

All them sat in the living room and were soon joined by her father.

“Hai kaha waise hamari madam? Ussi se toh milne aaye the hum.”

(Where is our madam? We came to meet her.)

Harshali asked, looking around.

“Doston ke saath gyi hai bahar. Unhe party dene. Aati hogi thodi der mai.”

(She went out with friends. To give them a party. She would be back in some time.)

Harshali could see worry on her mother’s face and asked.

“Kya hua mumma? Sab thik hai na?”

(What happened mumma? Is everything fine?)

“Haan sab thik hai. Bas mujhe chinta hoti hai iss ladki ki.”

(Yes everything is fine. I just get worried about her.)

“Arre! Ab kis baat ki chinta. Ab toh itni badiya job bhi lag gyi.”

(Why worry now. She got such a good job.)

Her mother sighed and said.

“Wo bhi toh ek chinta hai na. Itni dur hai office iska. 2 ghanta ka rasta hai. Waha se 9 bje bhi chhutegi toh 11 bje se pehle ghar nahi pahuchegi. Safe thodi na hai itni raat mai akele travel krna.”

(That is also a worry. Her office is too far. It’s a 2 hour commute. She will get free by 9 and will come back by 11. It’s not safe to travel alone at nights.)

Harshali nodded, understanding her concern. Before she could speak, her father spoke up.

“Maine toh bola hai isse ki bache ko ek ghar rent pr dilwa dete hai jab tak company se allot nhi ho raha apartment. Par kehti hai ki waha ka rent dekha hai aapne. Itna toh save nhi kr paayegi jitna kharch ho jaayega bina matlab.”

(I told her to get her an apartment on rent until she gets her apartment allotted. But she says that the rent is too high. She wouldn’t be able to save much that she’ll spend.)

He said with a shake of his head. Mohit, Harshali’s husband nodded in agreement.

“Keh toh sahi rhi hai mummy. Jaha Anu ki job hai, waha pr apartment’s bhut mehenge hai rent pr. 50000 se toh starting hai papa.”

(She is right. The place where Anu’s job is, the rent is too high. The starting is 50000.)

“Mai yahi toh keh rhi thi na inko. Aur phir abhi toh package bhi bhut jyada nhi hai. 7 lakh ka package hai starting ka. Usme se 50000 rent ke chale jaayenge toh maine mai 10000 bhi nhi bacha paayegi.”

(I am saying the same. Her package is also not much right now. Its just 7 lakhs. If we pay 50000 rent she wouldn’t be able to save even 10000 a month.)

Her mother said and they sat silent for some time, until Mohit spoke.

“Usse ghar bhej do na mummy. Hamare ghar se jyada dur nhi hai. Mushkil se aadha ghanta hai. Aur phir Shourya bhi wahi jaata hai kaam pr. Toh aane jaane ki bhi problem nhi rahegi. Saath chali jaayegi uske aur saath hi wapas aa jaayenge dono.”

(Send her home, mummy. It’s not too far from our place. Barely half an hour. And Shourya also goes there for work. Commuting would also not be a problem. She could go with him and come back together.)

Harshali’s eyes sparkled at the prospect of her sister living there. She looked at her mother and nodded wildly.