Madame Superstar

Happily, Mala closed the gate of her store and walked towards her home that was close by. Mala was just like any other woman of her neighbourhood till a few years ago. But now she had transformed herself into a super woman. Her admirers had given her the moniker, Madam Superstar. Mala had some super achievements to her credit. Being from a middle class family she was married early. Her husband was a thespian and a writer. Mala gladly tended to her family and was happy being a housewife. Her's was a joint family. She managed not only her own family but her husband's two brothers and their families all stayed under the same roof. The big joint family was a happy go lucky type and Mala managed all with a big smile on her face. Her husband's two younger brothers were better off in life but stayed together under the same roof to manage their finances better and enjoyed the guardianship of Mala.

Mala had given her eldest son in marriage early and then decided one day to start a grocery store being prodded on by her new daughter in law. After starting her new venture, now Mala found her hands full. However busy she may be by managing the store, she ensured to cook the daily meals for the big joint family. Because all the members of the family enjoyed the daily fares she cooked for them.

Mala managed her grocery store with efficiency and ensured her clients went away satisfied and happy. At the end of the month, Mala felt herself very happy when she calculated her profits. Due to her super quality and soft skills, her clients and neighbours had started calling her Madame Superstar.

But very soon a new challenge came and somehow shook the cosy world of Mala. Not that her life was devoid of challenges till now. Mala was a fighter all her life and would fight again if challenged.

Every festive occasion there would be a neighbourhood fair where Mala used to be a participant and would give a stall. This period would be very strenuous for Mala as she would have the additional duty of overseeing this stall in addition to her regular store and her family kitchen. This participation in the Fair not only brought good income for Mala but she used to get more close to her regular clients and some new relationships were also formed. During the recent fair that was put up during Saraswati Puja an incident occurred that led to a chain of events that brought out the resilient spirit of Mala. During the fair this time there was particularly lot of rush at the store given by Mala. Due to this sudden rush, Mala was finding it difficult to manage the affairs.

Then from nowhere appeared a young girl who started helping out in the store and managed the counting of cash. With this girl's help Mala could successfully wind up the day. Then after the stall was shut for the day, the young woman accompanied Mala to the house. Mala also absent mindedly let her follow her. Very much late in the night it all dawned on everyone that the woman must have a home and must return. The woman who called her self Ira started pleading with Mala that she be allowed to stay there for the night. Mala herself felt pity on Ira and as she had helped her she was grateful also. But Mala's family members were apprehensive with this sudden intrusion in their household by a stranger. Some also doubted this woman's integrity. But after lot of deliberations, Ira was allowed to stay over the night. Mala's younger son who was of the same age of the girl started impressing her to draw her attention. Ira had no other choice than to become friends with the son.

Giving shelter to Ira would lead to a lot of problems for Mala in the coming days.

Ira had a certain charm on herself that however impressed Mala very much. Ira herself had become a big fan of Mala, the superstar. Mala thought that Ira must belong to an affluent family and had a good quality education because of her behaviour and way of talking. Ira would say that Mala should now think big and start a chain of stores and expand her brand. These concepts were new to Mala but she felt motivated hearing Ira.

Next morning there was much activity in the house. The Police had come looking for Ira accompanied by her father and elder brother. The police threatened to arrest Mala for giving shelter to an unknown person and not informing the police. They would have arrested Mala had it not been for the vehement intervention of Ira. But they however lowered their strictness and allowed Mala to report to the Police station the next day with an explanation for this action.

Ira was taken home much against her wishes. She had a grudge against her father and her elder brother who were hell bent in giving her in marriage to a rich non resident Indian. Ira herself was a MBA graduate and during her internship had launched a startup for her employers that had done very well. She had some new ideas which she wanted to experiment and exploit. But her father and brother would not give her the freedom to do her own bidding. They were on the contrary jealous of her little achievements thinking that someday she would overshadow them and their identity. So they wanted to get rid of her by marriage. This marriage would also benefit them in another way. The affluence of the groom's family would help them wipe out their long standing Bank overdraft dues which the groom's family had agreed to fund. So Ira felt suffocated in this household every moment. She dearly missed her mother whom she had lost few years ago.

Ira's father and brother suspected some foul play and were doubtful of Mala and her role in keeping Ira with her for a night.

They made a formal complaint in the Police Station which made the Police summon Mala the next day. Not convinced with the reply that Mala gave, they put her behind bars. This was a big jolt to her household which was now in disarray. The madness in the household which had a method as long Mala had her presence and grace was now totally like a rudderless ship in the midst of a stormy sea. Ira felt stunned with this development and felt very guilty. Despite the opposition of her family, Ira arranged for bail for Mala with the help of their family lawyer. Then Ira threw another spanner in the thoughts of her family by eloping with Mala's younger son. Ira knew that to preserve her freedom she must get away from this sickening household. Mala then welcomed her son and Ira and arranged a grand wedding ceremony for them. Ira's family again brought Police to the wedding venue to arrest the groom and his mother Mala. Ira presuming this danger beforehand had alerted the women's commission who with the help of their lawyer had brought a pre arrest bail order from the court in favour of Mala and her son. With this the original marriage plans of Ira was foiled and her family was made to bite the dust.

Mala the superstar mom in law with her new daughter in law then formed a winning team and started their own business venture. Ira had earned her freedom and Mala had the backing of a business school mind backing her new startup.