"Aunty" Kitty Party

I sat in Grandma’s old couch reading a book in mom’s room. The maid was laying the chairs in the garden preparing for the guests. Before I made it to the end of the chapter, the cook came running asking after Mom.Mom squirmed out of the sofa, hoping to resolve his confusions before the guests came, while I propped up my head with the cushion watching the drama unfold in front of my eyes. Mom’s guests were soon to arrive. I wanted to leave; I had no interest in an “aunty” kitty party. But mom insisted I stay and gave me the guilt trip about how I never stood by her; how no one stood by her when she needed them the most. She was so proud of me, I knew that she just wanted to show me off. That’s what moms do!

“Ah! Mom! Not again!” In my gesture, I saw a twinkle of hope light up her eyes which I could not extinguish.

One by one, the guests arrived. Mom asked me to carry their coats to the guest room. They gathered around in the garden chairs, one by one complimenting mom on how young she looked. Of course, it is never a compliment, just a reminder that she is old and needs to continue paying attention to her looks and health as she did. I tried not to say anything judgemental and made as much small talk as possible. I heard someone ask me about my job, and before I could answer, I got up and excused myself.

I went back to my mom’s room, hiding behind my book. Mom found me there, “Why can’t you be more normal?” she chided me. “And stand by me?” She was visibly upset and had worked hard to make an enjoyable day for herself and her girlfriends.

As she continued to reprimand me, I made a face. What does she see in those shallow women, I wondered? Finally, I stumbled out of the room back into the garden.

I was worried that I might have taken it too far, but then, I saw giggles. All the ladies and mom burst out laughing.

It’s fun to play with these ones. I found saying to myself.

“Let’s play a game,” I said in a suggestive manner, to set the kitty moving. A childlike glint lit their eyes. “Which one John?”

“If you speak the truth while walking blindfolded over eggshells, they’ll break”. I had made up all this crap, upon seeing a bunch of egg-shells lying near us in the park. Some indolent moron must have done the honors. Mother winked at me, “Another one of yours! Anyway, let’s play”.

So, I spread the eggshells evenly in an area, blindfolded aunt Shilpi with my handkerchief and said loudly, “Did you ever get suspended from school on account of mischief?”. She suddenly burst into laughter and exclaimed proudly, “yes, once we spread honey on our teacher’s chair!” That was hilarious. She took a step forward and eggshells broke under her feet. I laughed uncontrollably and there she was flushing with childish anger.

“Ya ya ya, you remember all of it, you moron!”. My mother was yelling.

Each time an aunt was thrown a question. She took a step and shells cracked.

The onlookers were perplexed as to what these forty-year-olds were up to and that too in a park! Although a few of them might have understood the context.

I took a pause. There were no more shells, but there was one last question; it was mom’s turn to walk. “Do you really wanna divorce Dad?” I couldn’t hide the pain anymore. She stood silently for a few moments, then said, “Yes.” and took a step. No shells broke. It seemed as if a sudden gust of realisation had shaken her up and was fiercely dawning upon her.

The lawyer was summoned afterwards and told, “We’ll work things out, thank you!”

The court hearing was over, once and for all.