Moon In The Sky

Tia and grandmother liked to spend the evenings on the terrace, they often sat on the swing and discoursed on the ways of life. They watched the moon peeping from the drifting cloudlets and the black sky during scattered thunderstorms. The breeze carried the fragrance of night jasmine and the howling of foxes somewhere in the distance.

Grandmother always had a perfect smile plastered on her face for the happy and blessed life she lived. Her eyes had the twinkle of stars when she narrated the tales from her childhood.

Tia asked grandmother what she did in the evenings when she was Tia's age. Grandmother's eyes sparkled and her voice whistled a happy tune. At her time there was no electricity in her village, people had their supper before the end of daylight or in the light of earthen lamps and lanterns. The family sat in the courtyard which was in the center of the house and open to the sky on big mats made of plaited or woven rushes and straw fibers. The grandparent's spined stories which mostly depicted the glory of good over evil.

Tia further coaxed grandmother to tell if she had any twilight adventures as girls were restricted to homes only. Grandmother said her father was a heterodox person who gave equal treatment to boys and girls. Once her mother had overstayed at her parent's place and her younger brother demanded a visit there at twilight. Her father in a fit of rage asked them to go, so grandmother along with her sibling sat out on a journey of 3 miles. The country road ran through an orchid, the siblings held each other's hand. The breeze was cool and the evening got darker her brother panicked and shivered as they were not carrying any lanterns. Grandmother wrapped her brother with her stole and convinced him saying moon in the sky was showing light to them by walking overhead. When they reached their mother's village everybody appreciated grandmother for her courage and intelligence.