The Cinderella Gown:

“Clean the rooms and bring your daughter in the evening, its our sons birthday today.”

But she never needed a reminder for such big event, the girls eagerly wait for their mothers arrival. Their father won’t be home till late, summers are long, so is the time of somewhat decent income. When bodies dies young, he drinks to his throat and lie lifeless over the plank. The three girls were asked to come a bit late as their mother needs to do some more chores for the hand that literally feeds them. They are all dressed, dressed in their frocks, devoid of looking pretty, and certainly resembling who they are apart from what they do wear. The dress almost cost their father a fortune and so they never do wish to wear it unless its always Durga Puja. As they tip toe over the slimy tracks, away from their home, they held each other’s hand and walked to the place they do aspire to go always. They drive down their memory lane to remember what they did witness the last time, the boy playing over his computer, the huge television drilled to the wall almost covering it, the dining table laden with fruits… and now they are hoping to get a glimpse of all of it one more time. As they nearly approached the place, they see a trail of halted cars, fainted buzzing of people. A little insecure, yet they strived to move forward. The elder one, hesitated but she knows she has to act brave for the rest two while the youngest one is simply leaping front. Once they get in, their search for their mum begins, knowing that she will be easily recognized, their eyes gazed through the unmounted crowd, tall people talking and laughing, kids playing around and evidently not running around, they finally saw their mother with the host herself. ‘The madam is a kind one’, one whispered in the back of her head. Indeed she was, she let them sit among the rest of the children present there. The girls simply didn’t disappoint the fair lady, and they slowly trailed away like the ducklings in a row. The corner place is the place they are suited the most, observant yet silent, they were looking at the kids playing with the gadgets they don’t witness too easy. It was then, they did spot the birthday boy, shinning off amongst the others, but they don’t talk… perhaps it’s the obvious strike of hesitation and the shy nature. The daughters tried their best to act and merge into the crowd, but their faces does tell the story. Although unlike any mainstream Bollywood movie depicting the lives of poor, they weren’t publicly humiliated or were brought remotely close to it, But its their genuine fright. The meal was served and with every wrong twerk of their hands, the slipping of their forks, the fear goes shrugging through their spine, no one wants to be made fun of… Meal was amazing, appreciated by many, but they know how good their mother cooks. Some serious occasions and they were rewarded by her delightful dishes. Everyone were seated, after filling themselves up, but these three young ones knew, it wasn’t their place to be anymore. So they met their mother and also the Generous Lady to make them aware of it and silently retreated. As they walk under the hazy moonlight yet again, flooded roads and narrow lanes. People looking at their bright dress and somewhat predicting what was the cause, they lingered through the mass of gut-filled drunk people, hoping to see their dad but maybe he went early. Once they reached their own thatch, no matter how much a tiny bulb lighten their nights, its always a lot warmer than the place they came from. Their mother will be late tonight and they did find their father laying almost lifelessly, just breathing. It was time for sleep, so they got back to their normal clothing, or the remaining bit of it, as they slowly inspected their frocks, almost looking new, this day was burnt deep like a map inside their heads. “Another year on the leap”.

source: Google Images