Hiranakshi (part 7)

Hiran was nervous and worried. She appologized profusely to her husband and her mother- in- law, but they wanted an answer. Why had she done it? What had caused her to ruin her husband's hard- work? She did not know how to tell a clever lie, so she said a very foolish one instead. She said it wasn't her. It was a bangle- seller who visited her often. She had asked her to reduce the price of her bangles and an argument followed. The bangle- seller then proceeded to vent her anger by distroying what she knew was the most precious thing in the house. Everyone knew how much she loved her husband's paintings. Everyone did. So the bangle- seller marred them.

No one would believ that lie. Who could blame them? Hiran was very childish indeed. She had lost her husband's confidence and her mother- in- law's affections. She would now have to learn her duty as a wife and do all her house- work like before, but under the watchful gaze of her mother- in- law. If she had forgotten her role, she would have to be reminded of it.

The bangle- seller never came back. Hiran knew it was not because of the argument they had. She knew that could have been forgiven. The bangle- seller never came back because Hiran had broken the very bond of trust on which their friendship was based. She had blamed her for what she did not do. She had blamed her for the ruined paintings. Do you remember, the bangle- seller had said, 'as long as you remain true to me, I will'Hiran had not kept her part of the promise. But hold on, how did the bangle- seller know what had happened after she left? How did she know that Hiran had blamed her for the ruined painting? Hiran says, 'Oh that woman knows everything. She knows everything.'

So saying Amuma ended the story. I was appalled. What kind of a rubbish story is this Amuma? It makes little sense to me. 'Ah', said Amuma, 'That is what Hiran used to say to everything the bangle- seller told her.' I think Amuma needs to be put away.