Teeja KO lahara aayo barilai...
� Triiiiing� � Triiiiiiing� my phone rings early in the morning at my little apartment, I get up from the bed reluctantly, wondering who might have called at that time. I answer the phone in a very sleepy voice, to my amusement, I hear my Aama�s voice, �Aama� I scream with full of happiness. The sluggishness that I had while I was coming to answer the phone was all vanished after I heard my aama�s voice. As, always, the first thing was �Aama, sanchhai hunu huncha�? � Tyo radio alik kaam gara na, kehi suniena� exclaims aama to other members of the household. I could hear Teej music in the background, laughters, cheers, cries of babies. � Aama�, I go again. � Aaja daar khane deen ho�?
� ho , ho, taile tyahan ke garis ta chori�? � Je gare pani ramro sanga gar hai chori, bholi brata pani rakhesh, sriman bhaneko sriman nai hhunchha�. Aama told with a very deep sigh.
� eh, Teej pani aaisakechha� I think deep in my melancholy heart after hanging up the phone. When I was newly wedded, one of my friends said it was difficult just making it through what used to be the happiest days that were once shared with soul mate, I did show sympathy to her, who had lost her husband after 6 months of their wedding, but could never put myself on her shoe till it occurred to myself, and often wondered why she could not move on with her life. Today, after about 8 years of my wedding, I am surviving one of those days where everyone around you is celebrating and spreading good cheer, while mind is filled with memories and heart is heavy with loneliness.
Asim, my little daughter woke up and started crying. Crying was her usual routine during her diaper time, but today I felt, her tears were conveying something else than her usual discomfort, missing a father�s shed of love and care.� I am sorry, I couldn�t give you father�s love, honey� I breathed. She was looking at me with her curious eyes, as if wanting to know more about her mama�s life.
The peculiar vulnerable situation that her mama had to go through after coming to US in a dependent visa is unknown to Asim. �Neither immigrational rights, nor financial independence made mama�s life highly vulnerable to abuse. Isolated by language, without relatives or friends, foreign culture set made me feel disempowered, the daily tortures, either mental or physical had a deep negative impact on mama�s health.� Asim�s eyes were still wide open, trying to grasp my words as mush as she could. � Chori le mama ko kahani sunyo ta� I said trying to wipe my tears.
I look at the clock, was almost 8:00 am, dressed up Asim, packed her lunch, and dropped her off the childcare center and, went off to work. Though, I do not have any cherishing moments to recall about my married life, and to cherish in this �TEEJ�, I do want to Thank Asim�s father for giving me wonderful Asim to cherish my life.
For all Women who are cherishing this festive time of the year,
Enjoy the beautiful time.
Jyots
