Black Rose-1
Clock strikes 4 in the evening and Meera goes to the kitchen to make coffee for her father and herself. She reminds that her paternal aunt family has arrived from Calcutta and they are sleeping in the other room after a long tiring journey. In fact, she is tired too because she has just come back from the funeral of her mother Suhasini. Yes, she is dead. She remembers the memories of her past and her soul aches. Although, she wanted to sleep, but she knows the moment she will close her eyes, will see her mother and it will be more difficult for her to accept that she has become a part of her dreams now. This thought makes her cry again and she wipes her tears and prepares to make coffee. When she begins to mix milk with coffee suddenly remembers how her mother made coffee and she stood by her side and used to ask Mumma, do you like coffee as much as dad likes? And her reply was always same, ‘I love your dad’ so I like coffee too because when we are in love, we start accepting the likes and dislikes of our beloved. Meera puts back the coffee jar and asks her maid Rani to bring tea pack from the market. Rani is surprised that no one drinks tea in this house but seeing the situation she keeps mum. Meera makes tea for her father and herself and goes back to her room. He gets little confused when he sees tea on the tray. Meeru, my girl, you know that I don’t like tea. I know dad but Mumma liked tea and she has left us. We both love her very much so we must also try to accept her likes because now she is no more with us and starts weeping. Oh Meeru, he wipes her tears and takes a sip of tea but his face expressions changes as if he has drunk something bitter. He keeps the cup aside and leaves for bathroom.
Meera notices every move of her father; he doesn’t cry but upset. He is missing Mumma but his expressions confuse her. She wants that her dad should share his grief with her but he is avoiding, But why? I know he is a man. But he is a husband and a father too and he can share his grief because now only father and daughter are left for each other for the rest of life. Meeru! her aunt calls. I asked Rani to prepare bhindi and dal for dinner. And right now I am preparing sandwiches for Pihu and Shyamu. Come and have some. Her Chachi says without noticing Meeru’s weird expressions and she replies rudely ‘do whatever you like I am not feeling hungry’. She leaves and goes straight to her bedroom and calls her fiancée Raghav. Raghav consoles her, and says that she was your mother and what you feel for her, don’t expect your relatives to also feel the same way. For them she has passed due to medical illness and it is an acceptable reason for them. I will join you on the chautha ceremony of Suhas aunty till then take care. He hangs up and deep inside she realises that he is right.
At the time of dinner, she only takes dal and papad and sees her Chachi family enjoying dinner. She has cooked fried bhindi, Arhar dal, papad, salad, raita and pickles. Suhas Didi makes excellent pickles she says while tasting khatta meetha achar, her father also eats like a normal routine dinner. Seeing her Chachi serving pickles to dad, she goes in the past when her mother served pickles and how her father used to say. “Suhas, why do you waste your time to make pickles when you know I only like my maa’s made pickle’’. Jitu, I am trying to make her way. You only know how to cook the food he replied rudely. I am a great cook she laughs. Meera notices water in her eyes and comes back to the dinner table. ’Mamta, don’t serve me pickles, I don’t like them and then Chachi sits and concentrates on dinner. Meera finishes her dal and goes to terrace. Jitender her father notices her but says nothing.
