NEW JOY

Christmas has always meant celebration and the coming of the New Year. Everywhere there is cheer & happiness. A spirit of ecstasy permeates the atmosphere. Every direction has joy unlimited. It is so, world over. Mamtha however never waited for Christmas. It brought back memories of those awful moments. Was Manya a mistake?

Life was not always like this. Tarun was someone little Tanya adored & Mamtha was her world. They made a picture perfect family- Father, daughter and mother. Toys were not very important to Mamtha's little darling, Papa meant everything to her & she thought HE WAS THE BEST. Mama was beautiful and many said that Tanya looked just like Mamtha. Tanya loved to listen to that. Mamtha was a beauty and Tanya was proud of her. Twelve years had passed and Tanya loved all the attention she got. She was growing to be a beautiful girl.

Suddenly everything changed. Mamtha had conceived. "How embarrassing!" said Tanya to her mother. “How can I face my friends? How could you not think of me? My friends are going to laugh at me!" she said and wailed. “Please do not come to school henceforth with your big stomach I would feel embarrassed to walk with you." said Tanya. Mamtha was shocked. This was not what she had expected.

Tanya once declared that she no longer wanted to stay with them & wanted to go to a boarding school. To please her, Tarun and Mamtha agreed to send her. She was soon preparing to leave. She was thrilled that she would be away from all, especially the embarrassment of having to see her pregnant mother. O how she hated her parents! Mamtha's heart broke at the thought of Tanya being away from them.

Tanya wrote the entrance test and did well. She was admitted to the school. She was thrilled especially since she would be away for most of the year. So she wouldn't have to see the little embarrassment. Mamtha overheard Tanya telling this to her friend and was shocked. She was not sure if they were doing the right thing by sending Tanya to a boarding school. But then, that's what Tanya had wanted and they were ready to do anything to please her. She was still someone they were proud of and wanted to please.


December 25th was when Tanya wrote her test and 15 days later she got the result. New Year till then was very special for the family as it coincided with Tarun and Mamtha’s wedding Anniversary too. But this year there was total silence. Was Mamtha wrong? This baby was not planned but then…

It was almost three Christmas's later that Tanya was at home. The reason: An accident in school. Manya was 2 years and Tanya had not even looked at her. She always kept her room door locked.



Manya however adored Didi. She loved Tanya because Tanya was so much like Mama.
As Tanya never fondled her, she never went near her. Her stay at home was brief and so Manya never really got to know her. This year was different.

Christmas passed and it was to be New Year soon. Life was no different. When Tanya needed help Mama was there, but dialogues were monosyllabic. Mamtha did not know how to talk to her. One day when Mamtha was busy cooking Manya had walked into the room, as the door was slightly open. Tanya was fast asleep. Manya climbed onto the bed. As Manya neared Tanya, Mamtha entered. Before she could react Manya kissed the sleeping Tanya and lay down next to her. Mamtha dreaded what is to follow.

However what followed shocked Mamtha. Tanya hugged Manya and started weeping. Seeing Mamtha shocked she cried loudly and said she was sorry. "I'm sorry Mama. I'm really sorry. I was so selfish and you still loved me for it. Thank you." This is all she muttered between her sobs. Hugging Manya she felt good & realized what she had missed. Manya did not realize what magic she had done, but felt good Didi was actually hugging her.

New Year was never like it was. The family photo this year had Tanya holding Manya and it was a celebration they all longed for in ages. A New Joy was what they found this New Year.

UNEXPECTED JOY BUT MOST WELCOME!

THE FAMILY HAD BECOME PICTURE PERFECT AGAIN!