Thukpa

See, what's there? What's that? Oh, I think something is wrong over there. See that window. Where? Over there, yes, look straight to my finger. Yes, that house. Can you see someone hanging over there? Oh man! yes…oh NO, come on let's go there.

Manmaya was doing reeyaz. She was playing harmonium. Sa, Re, Ga, Ma………..

It was 7 o’clock in the morning. Suddenly two strangers enter Manmaya's home. They were restless, their breathing can be felt from the far-flung place of the room.

One of them says: "Manmaya jee !"

Manamaya comes to the verandah and says, "Namaste”

Both of them looks at her.

Manmaya smiles and says, “Please come inside.”

They go inside looking restless.

She continues, “So you are a journalist, who came here for my interview?" The other man says, "NO, NO, we came here to tell you that your daughter has committed suicide."

Manmaya gets shocked hearing those words. The crowd had gathered near her home. Everyone asks one another, what's the matter? What happened? Why have so many people gathered here?

People talk about the incident.

Someone says to the other person from the crowd, “Those two strangers tell that Manmaya’s daughter Saru had hanged herself in the hotel room. They said to collect the dead body from the hotel room.”

Every member of the house hustles to see the dead body of Saru but Manmaya stays idle grimly in the house. Tears rolled down towards her cheeks. She cursed herself for the dreamless passion to sing, not even trying to understand Saru's desire; she sobs, holds her photo and mourns.

10 years before when Saru cleared her School Leaving Certificate (SLC), Manmaya was then a struggling singer. She was a shy teenage girl. But she never led her aspirations to die. Saru was in her early teens.

Manmaya and Saru were like a friend and they would go shopping together. Manmaya loved her much, most of the time she prepared "Thukpa", which was Saru’s favorite cuisine. She felt happy to see her eating Thukpa, happily. Her daughter helped her in household chores.

Manmaya struggled in the musical arena. She had recorded some of the songs but was not popular at that time. She dreamt of being a popular singer and took music lessons.

Veteran musicians, who were her musical guru, praised Manmaya's voice. One of the musicians gave her a musical break. Various radio stations and television channels played her songs which helped her to become a popular singer.

She started getting busy as she was called to perform in concerts. Sometime some local as well as big companies called her to perform, as she had become the sensational star of that time.

Saru tells her mother to take her along where she performs. Manmaya lets her but after some programs she gets busy and also her daughter’s college is about to start. So, she couldn't take her along most of the time.

Manmaya went to various places to perform as her popularity grew beyond the country. Seeing her charm, the international company calls her for a concert.

She started living a luxurious life, never in her life she imagined that one day fame would kiss her feet.

When Manmaya gave birth to Saru, she was 14. She didn't want to get married but her parents forced her and after a year, she became a mother. All the responsibility came upon her regarding household chores. Her dreams and aspirations shattered, however her passion for singing made her strong to follow all difficult stages that she was going through in her life.

Saru was like a doll, Manmaya loved her like anything and most of the time she carried her at hips, tying choli at her shoulder, even washing and doing household chores and reciting Lori (Lullaby) was her daily task, soon, she became her ultimate companion.

Manamaya’s voice was melodious; her relatives liked and praised her. She would be happy hearing those words from them.

Saru wanted to be with her, but Manmaya was busy in musical programs.

Years went by; sometimes she returned home once in a while in a month. But Saru would keep waiting for her. Most often when she came home, either Saru would be in her college or busy with other works.

Manmaya sent her gifts but Saru didn't like those. The only thing she wanted was to be with her mom.

Slowly she starts remembering less of Manmaya. Indeed she finds solace and happy being with her friends.

Whenever Manmaya returned home she would ask Saru how she spent her day, then Saru would behave rudely and even she wouldn’t utter any words. She would directly go to her room.

Also, without uttering any word she would go to her college. After 2 years she completed her high school. But the results were not as good as what she used to get.

One day, Manmaya planned to give surprise to her daughter; she silently went to Saru's room. She was shocked. She found Saru in an unthinkable situation having a seductive time with a guy.

Manmaya was speechless. She even sees the syringe and some unknown tablets in Saru’s room but she doesn't speak any word.

Later Saru came down stairs. Manmaya questions but she sits quietly and goes away.

Later in the evening when Saru came home, again Manmaya interrogated but Saru kept mum, Manmaya turned angry, she even slapped her but Saru doesn't conversed in any word that time too.

Phone rang. Manmaya picked up the phone, she looked happy. She was called to perform and would be told to be paid Rs 32 lakhs, as her remuneration. She told her servant not to let Saru go out of home. She said that she'll talk with her only when she returns home.

Days went by but Manmaya didn’t return home. Six months later she came home. This time she finds Saru in a devastating condition. The entire house was transformed. She came to know that Saru threw the servant out of home. The house smelled horrible as the mess was all around. Lots of syringes and blood stains were scattered on the floors of her house. Tablets, some cocaine powder was dispersed on the table.

Two boys came with a beer in their hand and held Saru lustfully in front of her. Manmaya told Saru to let those guys out of her house.

Saru shouts, “who are you to say my boyfriends like that? You get out. Who are you?

Manmaya says, "I am your Mother"

Then Saru says, " Mother! who? You, shut up; you are not my mother. Go away.”

Manmaya is speechless. Saru kisses those guys and goes to her room.

Manmaya was ashamed due to her daughter’s behavior.

Saru's health was deteriorating. Even she lost her weight.

Later Manmaya came to know that Saru did abortion twice. She took Saru to the hospital as her health was worsened. Doctor presents Manmaya the medical report in which she found that Saru was suffering from HIV.

As always she was speechless and was worried as people knew her and if general people would know this news then her musical career may collapse. She tried her best to hide the news and took Saru far away from the village. There she was taken care of. Manmaya visited her regularly and sometimes stayed with her.

After 3 years they returned to their ancestral home. Saru was fine. New medical inventions helped Saru to be fit and healthy, but she was advised by the doctor to be taken care of from the cold.

Saru found solace as her mother Manmaya was with her, but deep inside Saru felt that her mother would leave her all again, alone.

Her doubt came true. Manmaya departs to perform. Saru was broken deep inside. She goes to a hotel and drinks heavily. Later she locks herself in the room.

But Manmaya came home that midnight as her show was cancelled. She thought that Saru might have gone to bed, so she didn’t bother to check her condition.

Early morning, when she was doing reeyaz, she hears that two stranger's saying that Saru had committed suicide.

THE END

By Moin Uddin

From: Nepal

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