Sororicide

It was not done out of hatred, jealousy, rivalry or the love of a man.

Just after having the regular roti, rice and daal in dinner, she plugged in her earphones and called her mother while walking in the hostel corridor. '' How are you mom? How’s dad? Isha and Rohan? What you all are doing? ''

''All are good here. Some guests came today. I’m a lot tired. I am just planning to go to bed early today. Take care beta.''

''Give the phone to dad. Mumma....hello....hello...!''

A month later-

''Hello mumma, how are you?”

“We are good.”

“You people never call me! I'm very disappointed. I'm a bit far away but I’m still a part of family right ?”

“Saanjh..You will feel more homesick if we keep on calling you. You should concentrate on your studies and involve with your friends and in college events. Then you won’t miss us.”

“Isha never replies to my messages and Rohan just kisses a take care text every time. I'm not liking this mumma.''

“Isha remains busy in her projects and your bhaiya also has a hectic schedule these days. And your dad ….you know how the things are. Take care of your health okay. Sleep on time. Good night.'’

'' But mumma.......just…….aah. ……ok goodnight.”

This used to happen every time she wanted to talk to her family. The change was annoying and she was not able to deal with the detachment.

She took a leave from her college and went to see her family without giving them a notice.

At around 8p.m. she reached home. The faded walls of the house looked sad when she entered the main gate of their mansion. She called out but no one came out. Then, she went in by herself.

The silence was whispering something to her which could not be recognized.

Mom, dad and Rohan were happy to see her. Soon after their hugs, she asked about Isha. Her mother told her that she is out for some project work.

When she went to her bed in the room shared by both of the sisters, she heard the noise of opening of the door. She had laid the things she brought for Isha on her bed to surprise her. But when she saw it, she just threw them down and laid herself down without even sharing a smile to her younger sister. Saanjh accepted it as a fact that Isha might be tired.

In the morning, she woke up and had tea with the family. Isha was missing there. Mother said that she usually wakes up late. After breakfast, Saanjh switched on the TV while rest went to their work except Isha who was still sleeping. She went to wake her up. But she saw Isha standing in front of her room’s mirror looking at herself.

‘’Good morning Di….I missed you so much. How are you? My college is so amazing.

After all it’s THE ST. STEPHEN’S. And the hostel…the hostel is super cool. On the day of our fresher’s, many artists had come. And I got a new dress too for the party. Wait. I’ll show you the pictures. And you know….. ’’

‘’Is the breakfast ready? I’m hungry. ‘’

Isha didn’t give any response to any of her words. She went into the washroom while Saanjh moved to the kitchen. She served the food to Isha and wanted to talk again. But already a question came from the other side.

‘’ When are you going back to Delhi? ‘’

‘’ After three days Di!’’

Her phone beeped and she left her breakfast in the middle hurriedly. Saanjh asked her where she was going but there was no answer except a call for bye.

Saanjh was being kept in an illusion and sensed the change in her family.

A girl came out of the car and called for Isha, she stepped out of home in a short dress without informing her sister who stood upstairs, in the balcony. She couldn’t actually figure out what was happening around her at her home. This was the change she was afraid of. She decided to have a look at Isha’s belongings. She went in her room and tried to open the cupboard which was unusually locked like it had never been when she lived there. While throwing some papers in the dustbin after cleaning the room, she saw some cigarettes in the bin. Rohan and her father, none of them used to smoke or drink. That was still okay but when she saw her family photograph in the table drawer, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The picture had red cross marks on each face except Isha’s . Saanjh could not accept the hatred her sister had built for the family and she couldn’t either get the reason behind this.

When she heard the sound of someone coming at the door, she kept the picture inside and opened the door with a smiling face. While having lunch, she asked her mother that there is something wrong in the house which is being hidden. Rohan said, ’Gudiya, why are you raking your brain so much ? Everything is good. See, dad is good. Mom is as beautiful as you left and I’ m also working with same energy. ‘’

“Bhaiya, but Isha ……’’

“What Isha? She is good too. Just a bit busy with her work. That’s why she gives less time to family. ‘’

“No… I mean it, I can sense it. You people are hiding something. I’m not a kid now. I can see things the way you people do. I’m wise enough to judge the family problems‘’

The doorbell rang and Isha was at the door. As soon as she entered, she asked her dad to give her 50,000 Rupees as she wanted to move to Boston. She didn’t even specify the reason for this. Mother tried to cool down the matter as any other typical Indian mother for saving the accused child. Isha seemed like a troubled and dying breed to Saanjh by then. She could see Isha’s eyes becoming ferocious. She was actually bullying everyone and pretending as if she was the in charge of the world.

Unlike Valentine’s Day being the rebellion day in India, every day was a rebellion one for Isha who was an oasis of freedom, filled with everything the society and parents condemned. Saanjh was into deep thoughts while Isha kept on behaving wildly. Rohan gave the reasons, why they cannot send her to Boston. Father couldn’t speak and explain much due to his diseased health. Rohan was the one who kept hold on family being the elder. She was continuously shouting and abusing the family. Everything was in front of Saanjh still, she couldn’t understand how did her elder sister become such a devil. When Isha went to her room, loud banging noises were heard by them. Mom and dad fled to their room and so did Rohan. Saanjh was left in the living room sitting in the couch with her face between her hands. She was blank. There were millions yet zero thoughts in her mind. After a few minutes, silence spread all over the house. It seemed like a post thunderstorm silence but she was unaware that a bigger one was yet to come.

The next morning, at dining table, no human but only the forks and the spoons spoke.

Soon, everyone dispersed and went to their work. Saanjh was again left with her own thoughts looking at the walls that showcased her early childhood and a happy family. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She went upstairs and while passing by Isha’s room, she saw her getting ready and putting on her lipcolour. She didn’t care about what effect she was causing to all of them.

And once again, she went without informing her younger sister who was alone at home. She remembered, during their schoolings, how Isha used to ask her to close the door strictly and give her warnings about unknowns, when she used to go for tutions.

After Isha had left, Saanjh went into her room. She started picking up the stuff which was thrown here and there. As she broomed the floor, a beer bottle came rolling to her feet. She threw it in the bin. She laid her bed properly and went back with a heavy heart. It took almost an hour to clean the room. She was tired and fell asleep. She heard the doorbell .It was her mom who no longer had the glow on her face.

She gave her a glass of water and while she was changing, Saanjh went to make tea for her.

She heard the doorbell again. She expected her dad or Rohan at the door but it was Isha this time who looked depressed. She went in her room directly .Saanjh went back to the kitchen. When she was pouring tea in the cup, Isha came.

“Saanjh, where is your mother? ‘’

It was the first time that Isha called for Saanjh’s name since the day she has come back home. She told that mother was in her room. For a while she didn’t realize that her own sister didn’t call their mom hers.

When she went to give tea to her mother in her room, she heard some conversation going on between Isha and her mom. There were different tones heard, her mother’s being the low and tired ones.

“How many times did you visit your parents’ home? How many times did you help your brother’s family without Rohan’s and dad’s concern?”

“What are you talking about? Why would I ever go there when they left your dad at hard times of his business? My priorities are you people. !”

“Listen, listen. Listen! Let’s have a deal today. There is no need to panic.

Last month and several times before, I have seen you with them. And you had been to their home quite a few times for hours. So, take it easy. I know your secret and your weaknesses too .You know what my only wish is for now. You’ll also be in no bad emotional state or blames and I’ll also be happy.”

“Isha, how can you even think like this? Deals and disputes! You know well what our financial status is, we cannot afford sending you to  another country!”

“Leave everything beside. Just decide a thing, what you want? Your family which is said to be your priority or your brother’s, who are well enough to survive even without you.

Your wise decision should be like, convince dad and Rohan as soon as possible. “

Isha walks out and just before stepping out of the door, she said that she won’t take up this matter again once she gets what she wants. Saanjh stood hidden by the door. And went in after few seconds.

Her mother didn’t tell anything to her but she witnessed it in her own perception.

Mother was left in despair.

Finally, the next morning, she gathered the courage to talk to Isha about her present behavior. She called her name as she stepped into her room which was messed up with no thing at its own place. Isha was bathing. Her phone was constantly vibrating. Saanjh took the phone in her hands and within a minute went out of her room.

She wore a denim jean and a pink kurti with a scarf wrapped round her neck.

Isha was sitting with her back at the door’s side, busy in her phone.

“Di, I’m going to see my old friends in the Starbucks cafe. I’ll come before lunch. Take care.”

“Bye!”

She sat in Starbucks cafe, sipping her coffee and staring out of the window. The blood stained knife lay next to her handbag, covered with her blue silk scarf.

“You have to come before Rohan arrives home. He would be tired. I’ll send Saanjh out for some work. And I’ll be with Urvi by that time. Mom and dad will come late today. I’ll lock the house so that Rohan keeps himself comfortable. You hide in the kitchen till he comes there. I’ll keep the knife and gloves on the shelf. Be sure that the plan does not fail. We have to move, I desperately want to move to Boston with you. Rohan won’t let me do this otherwise. I love you Laksh. “

This message in Isha’s phone saved Rohan’s life.

This sororicide was not done out of jealousy, hatred, rivalry or the love of a man but for the reason that she couldn’t afford losing her brother and maybe her mother or father too and could not later kill her sister to avenge her family’s death .

She saw her family going home for lunch. Rohan, mother and her diseased father. There was a fear on their faces, a terror and sadness. She thought, they would never be the sad again except for crying for a few days in rituals.

She didn’t hurt her, keeping the promise of their childhood, she killed her real quick so that Isha wouldn’t feel a thing.