The Backless - Part 3

Though the store room had got dusted a bit, it was indeed a mess. Meera and me entered the room to immediately set to work going away in different directions. The first trunk I went through had some old rusted metal stuff. The next box I took had some really old broken toys that I didn’t remember seeing ever in life. It strangely made me wonder how many years of memories this room was holding. As I opened the third box, I was surprised to see it stacked with few school note books and dad’s novels. I noticed they were my dad’s since each one of them had his name and date when the particular book was purchased written over the first page. I eagerly started taking out the dusty books one by one to check out my handwriting when I almost started learn write. Then I lifted a few dad’s novels, and started going through them. My heart raced as I saw all of them were famous ones by very successful authors. Some of them were classics. Simply forgetting about the dust and dirt, I sat on the floor, scanning the books and wiping the dirt off my jeans. To me it was like this treasure box I found with every little memory a gem in its own way. “Those are your father’s” granny said and as I looked in her eyes I could see that her brain had traveled to some far off time. “Anyways, clear this up quickly, I don’t want these books to be lying on the floor” she said sternly. I muttered, “I will” to her back as she walked off.

All off a sudden, Meera’s loud voice “Wow!!” made me turn around. She asked me to come over. As I went over I saw she was holding this blouse in her hand. The blouse was very old but the way it was stitched surprised both of us. It was plain golden brown by color and the design was very contemporary. It had very short sleeves and it barely reached the waist and a V-shaped neckline that was deep. “Check out the back” Meera said and turned it. I saw that there was no back to check out but just a thin adequate strip of cloth joining two ends. “This ones the lower” Meera said taking out saffron lehenga with a dark brown border. It was a beautiful pair indeed. “This must be granny’s, I guess” I said looking at Meera and she gave me those weird expression on this. At first, I failed to comprehend but then it finally dawned on me. It was the irony that Meera was pointing about. I wondered granny used to wear such clothes that she doesn’t approve of when Meera does. I didn’t know what to say on this and we kept looking at it.

Granny came from behind and said smilingly appreciating the outfit, “Aah, That was mine. Isn’t it a beautiful pair??” I replied, “Indeed it is!” Granny was completely lost in her outfit ignorant of how Meera was looking at her, struggling not to question. I looked from granny to Meera, a very uncomfortable moment it was! Then granny all of sudden looked at Meera and said, “Didn’t you find the maroon colored dupatta with some work on it? Oh wait I’ll show you.” She bent down and took out a huge dupatta with a lovely embroidery floral border on it. “This would go on my head, and then the two ends would be tucked in the blouse in front. I can’t roam around wearing backless noo” she smilingly said. There was so kind expression in her large wrinkled, a little moist eyes. Meera’s expression changed. Meera and I looked at each other but that was not very comfortable somehow. Our gaze slipped n fell on the ground.

Embarrassed, we turned around, she went back to her box and I went back to mine with granny still holding the dress, to her past!

*

The Backless - Part 2

I got up at 8 in the morning and took a shower. I decided to wear very casual, the least baggy of all my outfits. Scanning carefully through my wardrobe I chose a pair of dark blue jeans and a simple round neck tee that fit me nice.

As I started climbing down the stairs, I could hear the voices and a few sounds from the breakfast table. Mamma, papa, kakosa, kakisa and granny were talking. I could hear some giggles too which told me that granny wasn’t that upset actually.

*

I could hear those very soft noises of spoons n forks against the plates, hot tea being poured from the kettle into the cups, stirring of tea. Tea had its own personality, very strong, independent, yet very pleasing as it poured out into the cup. The aroma of food was also so refreshing. I loved it when the smells of fresh fruits combined with that of hot sweet muffins! I loved listening to food!

I always loved these sounds and had this habit of waiting on the stairs for a minute to listen to them. This wasn’t the first time for sure and hence as Meera passed by me, she turned around to look at me and said, “Why do I always strangely see you standing here?” “What?? No! I mean I dint get you, whatever!” I said. I noticed Meera was covered from head to toe wearing dark black jeans, a tube top that almost reached her knees with a neckline deep enough to reveal her butterfly shaped pendant. She didn’t pay heed to my reply and wore a half sleeve black shrug that she was carrying along with her. She looked at me for a second and said, “Come jija” and walked off.

*

After everything was done and Meera and me were about to get up, granny all of a sudden said, “One moment girls” During the breakfast, she was busy talking so casually I had to force myself to believe that the incidents of the last night happened and they weren’t some dream. Now when she spoke these words, I felt like one half of me was telling the other, “See. This has actually happened. I told you!” Granny smiled and said, “It has been really long the store room has been touched. We need to go through and clear off the stuffs that we don’t want. So, see you girls in an hour.” Meera was clearly not happy about this but she didn’t retaliate and left reluctantly.

*

The Backless - Part 1

It was 12 am. I came out of my room and walk downstairs to get some water from kitchen. As I headed near, I could see the lights were turned on. I saw my twenty year old sister propped on the wall with this really huge slice of chocolate cake which had almost submerged in the chocolate sauce she must have poured over it. I must have been staring for quite long at her, as , reading my expressions she said,

“i’d heated the cake and put some chilled chocolate sauce over it. Try it. It tastes super..”

I was nauseated at this idea of so much chocolate at one go and turned away saying, “no thanks” Opening the fridge, pouring some water in the glass I asked, “So your partys over??” I knew she had just arrived back from her college party as she was wearing her party outfit. It was a plain red, backless one piece that reached her mid thighs. Her messed up hair was tied up in a pony tail that was strategically resting on her collar bone so that it would not keep her naked back from showing. Why was she so keen on flashing her skin and not the lovely outfit? Has that normal human tendency to flash new outfits disappeared? She wore my shimmering black Charles n Keith high heels that were very beautiful and made a statement. Nevertheless it made me wonder how she would have danced in those till 3 to 4 insane hours. But I always loved them.

“The party was obviously over and I was hungry” she replied. “Ohkey” I said “I thought you came back because of this intensive chocolate craving!” I closed this bottle of water in my hand. She rolled her eyes and turned away towards the sink to put the plate. The bare back was pretty prominent now. Plus the dress was pretty short. All that I could see was a thin strap of cloth of sufficient length. I didn’t like her wearing such minimal clothes. It wasn’t vulgar or cheap, neither am I against exposing or flaunting, but there is that perfect cut, that design, some style that is revealing but in all that elegance that sets a lady apart! I wondered how my grandma would react in case she sees her in such a dress and gave out a chuckle. She turned around sharply and suddenly shrieked.

*

I turned around to see my granny standing there right in front and it made me jump. It made me doubt whether she could read my thoughts.

“What on earth are you wearing Meera?” granny spoke.

I did not wish to get dragged into some kind of argument at midnight and started to walkout of the kitchen giving a little fake yawn. Somehow I stopped at the door and turned around. I didn’t possibly wish to miss the drama.

“You went out in such semi naked clothes? And is this the time you come home?” granny continued.

“Granny, we had this fresher’s party and I had to look good!” my cousin pleaded.

“You young girls look good by wearing such minimal clothes?? Is it?”

I stifled a giggle at this.

“What? Nope its that..” my cousin scared to protest but granny cut her off, saying, “Go to sleep Meera”

I immediately left since I was very sleepy, a little disappointed thinking granny ended this, but I knew it was to be continued the next morning. She would always make sure that the whole family was at the breakfast table by 8:30. I smiled myself thinking what was about to come and slept.

*