Life`s Mysteries Part-1

Could she still be alive? This thought rang through Charu`s mind. Her mother, she had been told, had died when she was 12, but she hadn`t known how or where. To get started, she opened the mysterious book, and started examining and studying the word "HOME". There was something attractive about that word, something very, very attractive. . .What was the full name of the Hotel AB***? One thing you should know about Charu is that she was a curious girl, willing to chase down any mystery. Who was this mysterious woman? Why didn`t she have any eyes? The woman had a sad, bitter smile on her face, and tears streaming down and adorning her face. No clue where the tears came from, since she didn`t have any eyes. She seemed strikingly similar to her grandma, her mother`s mother. Her grandmother had sobbed & wept and had looked just like that woman when the news came that her daughter (Charu`s mom) had vanished. Her mother was last seen wandering in the river near Fort Kochi. Some passerby`s had clicked a photo. In the photo, she appeared to be bewitched. Behind a tall oak tree was a black, wicked witch, whose eyes glinted with evilness. Never wanting to come back again to that disastrous place, Charu waited impatiently till she was 20, then fled to New York, wanting to never return again to Fort Kochi. She had even requested her grandmother to come with her, but her grandmother declined her invitation to accompany her as she adored her life at Fort Kochi. But life wouldn`t be the same without her daughter for her gran.

Anyways, Charu flipped through the crisp pages of the last book – THE UPSIDE-DOWN KING by Sudha Murthy, because she loved mythology and history, but today, she couldn`t concentrate as her mind was on the strange lady. She cradled the 5th book, which had golden words inked on the brown hard cover, "LIFE`S MYSTERIES", and eagerly read it. "A lady loses her husband and daughter, and is left with her grand-daughter. Her grand-daughter doesn`t want to live there and goes abroad. The lady is left there alone, depressed, until one day she falls ill. That`s when the grand-daughter comes and takes care of her grandmother. Her affection touches the grandma`s heart, and one day, she calls her grand-daughter and says, "One day I will die. Don`t mourn my death. Continue with life. My blessings are with you." Charu found the lady`s life analogous to her gram's life and personality. She felt upset & sorrowful when she realized that she had run away from her grandma`s safe arms to New York. Oh, how she loved her grandma!

When she was around, with her sweet smile, Charu had never missed having no friends. Her grandma was her best friend and partner-in-crime. When mom hid the Halloween candies, grandma held her in her soft arms while Charu climbed the kitchen platform. Charu always adored her grandmother, and when the news that she was ill had come, Charu had almost fainted with shock! Thus showing her affection, Charu had immediately reserved the ticket for the first flight. Her grandmother had cheerfully greeted her in a hoarse voice when she had entered her room yesterday, and she hadn`t even bothered to reply or acknowledge her grandma. Suddenly, she heard a creak from the front door, as if there was someone trying to break it open. She raced to the front door immediately, and saw a young girl, around 14-15 yrs old, trying to open it. It was her younger sister, Zara. Zara had an inclination towards art and music and had a slender, beautiful voice. Anyways, Charu opened the door, and Zara sprinted inside. "Hey, Charu! How are you? After mother died and you went to New York, I have been pretty much alone in that horrible boarding school." "Sorry, Z, I just couldn`t live here. You know, it`s so difficult for me to live here amidst the ancient traditions, old rituals, and these things. . !!" 

"I understand. . .Why don`t you take me to New York with you?" 

"I won`t mind that, but I live in a hostel, that is, NO KIDS ALLOWED. Get that? That means, you have to wait for 4 more years until you turn eighteen." Their conversation continued until the talk turned to their 78 yrs old grandmother."

 Charu said, "Did you hear? Gran is so ill." "Yes, I got that news." Both sisters wondered if their life would ever have any ups. NYU School Of Law, the oldest law school in New York, had been honoured with Charu`s presence when she joined it in 2017. She loved studying law, but had been flatly refused by her father when she disclosed her inclination for law. She was now 23 yrs old, but didn`t favor celebrating birthdays, and never liked to drink to her birthdays. Now it was late afternoon. Charu was very courteous, invited Zara to sit in the garden and have coffee with her, and make many enquiries about Zara`s health, her school, and other info about her, being an elder sister. Zara explained, "My school broke up just yesterday, and I came in the local train. Dad sent me some money for the ticket, and grandmother also sent some of her scrumptious puri-aloo and delicious mangoes." 

Charu said, "I was staying in NYU Law`s hostel only, but when I got the news that grandma was ill, I came immediately. I was intensely worried." 

Zara replied that she believed that their father extremely loved them. 

Charu wasn`t sure of that, since her father was the person to refuse her. She said, "I don`t think so. Maybe I am wrong, but father doesn`t like me. He doesn`t want to let me pursue whatever I want." As if an attention-sucker, their thoughts turned to their grand-mother again. Charu said that Zara was now the only person she could confide her worries in. She told her sibling that she was worried that grandmother would die. Zara burst out crying and said that she already missed their dead mother, and a dead grandmother would only make her sadder. "No, Zara, you have to be strong.", lectured Charu. Zara wondered whether her mother could still be alive ... it seemed too improbable. "Charu, can mother still be alive? But if she is, then why would grandma and father break our tender hearts and tell us she is gone? Tell me, Charu."

 "Hold on, Zara. I am thinking." It was night already, yet Zara was restless for answers. Charu and Zara slept together and promised themselves that they would figure out the answers in the morning and discuss the matter over a tasty vegetable sandwich and a cup of tea or two.