She had been through a lot in life. She could have been anything, she could do anything, but here she was…a nokarni…who had failed to please her maliks

The room was full of guests and the atmosphere was of abounding extravagance. As women in sparkly clothes hovered around Laxmi, I walked straight up to the dulahi and handed her the gift. “Badhai chha! Don’t forget us now that you got your life partner,” I teased. In response, she just smiled and her eyes sparkled. She looked beautiful in a bride’s attire. It seemed like the traces of coyness accompanied by beaming hope only added to her charm.

I had barely put my first step forward to ascend the stairs when I heard her voice, “Baba! Eh Baba!”

I didn’t. She had a familiar voice but there was no trace of her face in my memory. Other teachers in the staff room giggled as confusion painted my face.

Prisons have always fascinated me, perhaps because one only hears about what goes inside its high walls, but can’t really tell how much truth there is to it.

It is mothers’ day and Shakuntala, who has just stepped into adolescence, is very excited. It is a big day for her. For the first time in her life, she’s buying her mother some sweets with her own money—the five rupees she’s been saving just for this day.